How to Get College Loans Without Attending College Classes
Skip time-consuming lectures and expensive tuition: you can earn college credit or even a full accredited degree using the experience and knowledge you already have. Compared to the conventional path , Competence-Based Education (CBE) is often the faster and cheaper path to graduation developed by colleges and universities for employed working adults.
For more than a century , college courses have been built around study time: you must spend a certain number of “credit hours” in lectures or labs to complete your degree. However, for many, the time-based approach is not the best. You may have gone to college and dropped out, or dropped out to work full-time, but you have deep knowledge in the workplace. Or maybe you are an independent student who attends free online lessons and wants to earn an advanced degree for your efforts. This is where CBE comes in: you earn credits or a degree based on what you know and can do, not where and when you took the course. This is how it works.
Test outside the classroom or build a portfolio to earn an advanced degree
Instead of attending courses, continuing education students prove they have mastered the material through tests or projects.
You may already be familiar with standardized tests such as Advanced Placement (AP) , the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and DSST , which many colleges award as passing. However, these options are limited. Rules vary by institution, but some colleges only provide credit for electives, while others consider them an exception, which allows you to take a prerequisite test but not get credit for your degree.
Competency-based education programs may include the exams listed above, but they go beyond that. These programs are geared towards individual student learning objectives and you can get an assessment of work experience, training, military training, or online learning. Here is a video introduction from C-BEN , a network of colleges and universities offering CBE.
At least 40 colleges and universities offer competency-based programs of study, including Michigan State University, George Mason University, and University College of Maryland. These institutions most commonly award bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business (including marketing and accounting), communications, healthcare (including nursing and healthcare management), teaching, and information technology. Some of the other, less common degrees you can get through the CBE program include an MFA in Creative Writing, a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change, and an MS in Psychology. If you already have experience in one of these areas, you will get an advantage in one of these programs.
The types of assignments and tests you complete depend on your subject. Here are some of the estimates, for example used by Western Governor’s University , one of the largest and first institutions to offer CBE:
- Problem solving tasks. (e.g. science or information technology)
- Computerized exams consisting of 50 multiple choice questions, matching questions and other types. (e.g. math)
- Projects that require the student to draw up a lesson plan. (e.g. training)
- Essay Reflections on Case Studies. (e.g. MBA)
- Research papers on specific topics within the student field.
You can even take exams at home via remote control.
At other colleges, such as SUNY Empire State College , you can get credit for prior learning (known as PLA or Prior Learning Assessment) by working with a mentor to document what you’ve learned in a portfolio. Your portfolio may include professional certifications, work samples, or other supporting documents. As Thomas Edison State University describes it :
A Portfolio in PLA [Learning Pre-Assessment] is a written presentation that you collect and submit to earn points for your current knowledge equivalent to those you will teach in a particular course. Each portfolio contains a course description and learning outcomes through a written description and collection of evidence to support your knowledge and experience. The portfolio appraisal process is managed, submitted and verified completely online.
There is no limit to the number of credits you can earn through many of these programs, but there is one caveat: depending on the program, loans may not transfer to other colleges or universities, so be careful if you plan on transferring loans.
Learn at your own pace and enjoy the All You Can Eat prices
Rather than charging you per credit hour, most competency-based education programs charge a flat rate tuition every few months. You work online and at your own pace, taking as many exams as you like. This can save both time and money, provided you are motivated enough to work hard and perhaps have prior knowledge to build on to get your degree quickly.
One of the student reviews of the competency-based study program states:
I completed 72 qualification blocks in one six month period at a regionally accredited institution. That means I’m on my way to getting my Bachelor of Science degree within a year of starting the program, earning certifications along the way, and only paying around $ 6,000. I will finish my studies without debt in education. It takes commitment and motivation from me, but is perfect for my learning style and current position in my life path.
This may not be typical of every student who enters a competency-based education program, but it is an example of what is possible if you have the time and energy to get the job done.
Plus, since you are in control of your education, you may have a better chance of success. The Council for Adult Learning and Experiential Learning found that students who received college credit through the Pre-Learning Assessment had graduation rates two and a half times higher than those who did not receive the PLA credit. In addition, they were more likely to stay in the program and complete their degree faster.
Where to find competency-based programs
If you enjoy all of this, you have several options to explore. You can read about dozens of CBE programs at C-BEN , including those offered by the University of Antioch , Broward College, Seattle City University, Northern Arizona University , Rasmussen College, and the University of Michigan . Michigan State University also lists several schools with competency-based programs .
Another option is College for America . It is only available to employees of over 100 participating companies, but if your employer is one of them (among them McDonald’s, GAP, and Anthem ), you can get your degree for as little as $ 2,500 a year. College for America offers bachelor’s degrees in health management, communications and management, and associate degrees in health management and general studies with a focus on business.
Teachur is the latest on-stage CBE program that promises to deliver a bachelor’s degree totaling $ 1,000 . Tichur is not yet alive, but this is something to watch out for if you are looking for the cheapest route to undergraduate studies.
Before signing up for a competency-based program, however, you should ask yourself a few questions . Here are some of the big ones:
- What academic and career support will you receive from the program?
- Is he eligible for financial assistance? ( At least 40 of them )
- How easy is it to transfer credits to the program or get a loan for previous studies?
Competence-based education may not be for everyone. As with other self-study options, you need to be motivated. If you’re in no rush to take exams, the cost of your degree may match (or even exceed) the cost of a traditional college program. And, depending on the program, you may not have the social support or networking opportunities that other college students enjoy.
However, for busy adults who are looking for a way to get a degree without going into debt to get back to school, or who want to avoid sloppy commercial universities , this is a great, growing option. It’s never too late to get this degree, especially if you have a cheaper, faster, and more personalized option than the traditional rear-seat model.