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Scoring Free and Cheap College Credits for Your Degree 🚀

twrix Follow May 01, 2025 · 9 mins read
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Scoring Free and Cheap College Credits for Your Degree 🚀

Hey folks! Want to earn college credits without draining your wallet? There’s a treasure trove of free and low-cost sources out there, perfect for stacking credits toward degrees at “The Big Three” (Charter Oak State College, Thomas Edison State University, Excelsior University) or Pierpont’s BOG AAS. From free FEMA courses to $5 Saylor exams, these options are like finding a zero-day exploit for affordable education. 📚 This guide, based on credit sources from 2020–2025, details free and cheap ACE/NCCRS-approved courses and exams, plus strategies to maximize them. Confirm current ACE/NCCRS status and transferability, as policies shift like a rolling distro update.

Big thanks to student communities for their insights on these credit hacks. Let’s optimize your degree plan like a finely tuned bash script! 😎

Note: Always verify ACE/NCCRS approval and transferability with your school’s registrar (e.g., COSC: info@charteroak.edu, TESU: advising@tesu.edu, Excelsior: admissions@excelsior.edu, Pierpont: registrar@pierpont.edu). Get approvals in writing to avoid surprises.

Table of Contents

Why Use Free and Cheap Credits?

Free and low-cost credits are a game-changer for non-traditional students:

  • Cost Savings: Free sources (e.g., TEEX, FEMA) and cheap options (e.g., Saylor at $5/exam) cut degree costs to as low as $350 (Pierpont BOG AAS) or $3,780 (Excelsior BS).
  • Flexibility: Most are online, self-paced, and unproctored or low-cost proctored, fitting busy schedules.
  • Transferability: ACE/NCCRS-approved credits transfer to COSC (up to 114/120), TESU (114/120), Excelsior (113/120), and Pierpont (48/60, as of October 2024, due to 12-credit residency).
  • Variety: Cover general education (math, English), business (finance, management), and electives (cybersecurity, disaster management).
  • Accessibility: No prior transcripts often needed, ideal for starting fresh.

Think of these credits as open-source software—free or cheap, widely compatible, and community-vetted.

Free Credit Sources

These sources offer 100% free credits, often ACE/NCCRS-approved or regionally accredited (RA). Verify ACE/NCCRS status at ACE National Guide and transferability with your school.

Clackamas Community College

  • Course: LIB101 Introduction to Library Research (1 credit, RA, ~0.67 credits at semester schools).
  • Cost: $0.
  • Details: Asynchronous, graded, quarterly model. Not self-paced, but no specific class times. Covers library research skills. Watch the intro video before enrolling.
  • Use: Fulfills elective or information literacy requirements (e.g., TESU’s 15 RA credits). Contact: admissions@clackamas.edu.

Jacksonville State University

  • Course: FIN 211 Financial Literacy (3 credits, RA, Credit/No Credit).
  • Cost: $0 (use code JSUTRYIT for Spring 2025).
  • Details: Asynchronous, covers personal finance. Counts as finance credit (e.g., TESU BSBA elective).
  • Use: Great for business degrees or electives. Contact: admissions@jsu.edu.

Pima Community College

  • Courses: STU/HRP Student Success (7 credits total, RA, $90; 4 credits free):
    • HRP 100 Success in Health Professions (1, free).
    • STU 100 College Success/Career Planning (1, free).
    • STU 107 University Transfer Exploration (1, free).
    • STU 106 Choosing Major/College Success (2, ~$44.89).
    • STU 109 Making Career Choices (2, ~$44.89).
  • Cost: $90 for 7 credits (~$13/credit), or $0 for 4 credits (skip STU 106/109).
  • Details: Asynchronous, instructor-paced (5–14 weeks), on Brightspace. Need 90% for an A. Free application, no transcripts required. HON 101 (3 credits, free) requires placement tests, so skip unless eligible.
  • Use: Meets TESU’s 30 RA credit minimum or COSC/Excelsior electives. Contact: admissions@pima.edu.

TEEX Cybersecurity and Disaster Management

  • Courses (13 credits total, ACE-approved, not accepted by COSC):
    • Cyber 101: Cybersecurity for Everyone (5 credits, post-November 2022).
    • Cyber 201: Cybersecurity for IT Professionals (4 credits).
    • Cyber 301: Cybersecurity for Business Professionals (4 credits).
    • MGT343: Disaster Management for Water & Wastewater Utilities (1 credit).
  • Cost: $0 (DHS/FEMA-funded).
  • Details: Online, self-paced, unproctored. Pierpont accepts 13 additional credits for individual Cyber course modules (26 credits total). Enroll at TEEX Cybersecurity and access via my.teex.org.
  • Use: Electives for Pierpont BOG AAS, TESU/Excelsior BS (e.g., Liberal Studies, Cybersecurity). Verify ACE renewal at ACE National Guide.

Modern States CLEP Vouchers

  • Exams: Up to 34 CLEP exams (145 credits possible, ACE-approved).
  • Cost: $0 (free vouchers + proctoring reimbursement via Modern States grant).
  • Details: Complete free CLEP prep courses at Modern States to get vouchers. Covers English (College Composition), math (Algebra, Calculus), sciences (Biology, Chemistry), social sciences (US History, Macroeconomics), humanities, and business (Business Law). Temporary program, duration unknown.
  • Use: General education or business credits for COSC (114/120), TESU (114/120), Excelsior (113/120). Contact: support@modernstates.org.

Cheap Credit Sources

These sources cost $5–$389 per course/exam, offering great value for ACE/NCCRS or RA credits. Confirm transferability and pricing.

Saylor Academy

  • Cost: $5 per exam (SmarterProctoring fee).
  • Details: Free ACE/NCCRS-approved courses with proctored final exams (like CLEP/DSST). Courses can feel disorganized, so use only when alternatives (e.g., Sophia.org) are unavailable. Examples: Business Law, Principles of Marketing.
  • Use: General education or business electives for Big Three. Access at Saylor.org.

Sophia.org

  • Cost: $99/month (February 2025), no course limit, no proctoring fees.
  • Details: Fastest for general education (70–86 credits possible). Includes Business Law, Principles of Finance for TESU BSBA. Courses use quizzes, tests, essays, or video assignments. See my Sophia Equivalency Guide.
  • Use: General education, business electives for COSC/TESU/Excelsior. Check for international student promos (free/discounted memberships). Access at Sophia.org.

Study.com

  • Cost: $235/month + tax (June 2024), RPNow proctoring included.
  • Details: Large catalog of ACE/NCCRS-approved exams, including upper-level (UL) credits unavailable elsewhere. Pair with Sophia for most Big Three degrees (e.g., TESU BSBA). Courses include readings, quizzes, and proctored finals.
  • Use: UL business, general education, or electives. Access at Study.com.

StraighterLine

  • Cost: $49–$69/course + $99/month membership (October 2020, coupons available).
  • Details: ACE-approved courses with coursework (75–80%) and proctored final (20–25%). Easy to pass with strong coursework. Examples: Macroeconomics, Financial Accounting.
  • Use: General education, business credits for Big Three. Access at StraighterLine.

Davar Academy

  • Cost: $70–$80/course or $199 for two business courses (January 2025), plus proctor fee (free local proctor option).
  • Details: NCCRS-approved exams with review materials, like CLEP/DSST. Equivalency tables for TESU/Excelsior at DavarAcademy.com.
  • Use: Business electives for TESU/Excelsior. Contact: info@davaracademy.com.

Coopersmith

  • Cost: $150/course, $200 for English courses (February 2023), ProctorU ($18–$30) or free Zoom proctoring via Smarter by 1 Degree.
  • Details: Over 200 NCCRS-approved LL/UL courses, accepted by TESU, Excelsior, Ana G. Mendez. No papers for arts/science courses. Examples: Psychology, Business Ethics.
  • Use: UL electives, general education for Big Three. Access at CoopersmithCareerConsulting.com.

CSM Learn

  • Cost: $54/course (November 2024).
  • Details: One ACE-approved math course (3 credits), counts as TESU’s quantitative literacy requirement. Guided mastery, repeatable attempts, no fail risk. Ideal for math-averse learners.
  • Use: Math requirement for TESU/COSC/Excelsior. Access at CSMLearn.com.

Google/IBM via Coursera

  • Cost: $39–$49/month with 7-day free trial (2022–2023). Free via The American Dream Academy (US residents) or Coursera for Campus Student (university email).
  • Details: ACE-approved certificates (e.g., Google IT Professional, IBM Data Science). Completable in 1–2 months (vs. 3–11 months advertised). Example: 12 courses, 79 credits in ~2 months via Coursera Plus/ADA.
  • Use: IT, data science, or elective credits for TESU/Excelsior. Access at Coursera.org.

Tips for Maximizing Credits

Treat credit stacking like optimizing a Linux kernel:

  • Verify ACE/NCCRS Status ✅: Check ACE National Guide for current approval. Confirm transfers with your school’s registrar.
  • Start Free: Knock out TEEX (13–26 credits), Pima (4–7 credits), Clackamas (1 credit), and JSU (3 credits) for 21–37 credits at $0–$90. Use Modern States for free CLEP exams (up to 145 credits).
  • Combine Sources: Pair Sophia ($99/month, 70–86 credits) with Study.com ($235/month, UL credits) for Big Three degrees. Add Saylor ($5/exam) or StraighterLine ($49–$69/course) for gaps.
  • Target Pierpont BOG AAS: Transfer 48/60 credits (free TEEX, Pima, CLEP) for ~$350, but note 12-credit residency requirement (October 2024). Contact: registrar@pierpont.edu.
  • Leverage RA Credits: Use Pima, Clackamas, JSU for TESU’s 30 RA credits (e.g., 11.67 credits for $115 with ASU’s CIS194, $25). See my TESU Guide.
  • Minimize Proctoring Costs: Choose unproctored (TEEX, ALEKS) or free-proctored options (Davar local proctor, Coopersmith Zoom). Budget $5–$30 for Saylor/Coopersmith proctoring.
  • Track Credits: Log credits in Excel (CTRL+C/CTRL+V) to hit 60 (Pierpont AAS) or 120 (Big Three BS). Ensure 30 UL credits for COSC/TESU/Excelsior.
  • Claim Transcripts: Use ACE Credit Registry for Sophia/Study.com/TEEX credits and Credly for Sophia. Request Pima/Clackamas/JSU transcripts directly.

Final Thoughts: You’re Ready to Stack Credits!

Boom! You’ve got a playbook to score free and cheap credits, as efficient as a well-crafted Docker container. With sources like TEEX (13–26 credits, $0), Pima (7 credits, $90), and Modern States (145 CLEP credits, $0), you can slash degree costs to $350 (Pierpont) or $3,780 (Excelsior). Your next steps:

  • Enroll in free courses at TEEX, Pima, Clackamas, and JSU (code: JSUTRYIT).
  • Grab Modern States CLEP vouchers at Modern States for general education.
  • Subscribe to Sophia.org ($99/month) or Study.com ($235/month) for bulk credits.
  • Confirm transfers with your school’s registrar (COSC, TESU, Excelsior, Pierpont).
  • Track credits in Excel to hit 60 (Pierpont) or 120 (Big Three).

You’re building a degree as lean as a custom Linux distro. Questions? Contact school advisors or student communities. Now go stack those credits and snag that diploma! 🌟

Based on credit sources from 2020–2025 and student insights. Confirm ACE/NCCRS status and transferability with schools.

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Written by twrix Follow
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