Life experience degrees… we have all heard of them. But do they really exist? Yes and no. Many reputable colleges and universities allow you to earn credit for life experience. They do not, however, allow you to earn your entire degree through life experience. Only diploma mills make those kinds of promises!
Life experience degrees… we have all heard of them. But do they really exist?
Yes and no. Many reputable colleges and universities allow you to earn credit for life experience. They do not, however, allow you to earn your entire degree through life experience. Only diploma mills make those kinds of promises!
How credit is awarded and assigned varies widely by university, but there is always a specific limit to the number of alternative credits you may earn toward your degree. Most of the colleges listed below offer a combination of credit by examination, military training credit, and portfolio credit.
Most individuals interested in gaining credit for life experience use the portfolio credit method. Using this method, colleges and universities evaluate your life experience, professional training and certifications, and so on. For example, if you are a small business owner, you may be able to get management and accounting credit, depending on your institution. If you are a human resources manager and have had formal management training, you might be able to receive portfolio credit as well.
Important considerations
Listed below are ten colleges and universities currently offering some form of credit for life experience:
If you feel that you have experience for which you should receive credit, then make that one of your criteria in selecting an online college. It will save you time and money!
Boston University now offers 8 online degree programs
Top-ranked Boston University now offers several online degree programs.
Care to test an online course?
In many ways, online college courses are more difficult than their traditional counterparts. Are you comfortable using computers? Is interacting with other students (in the traditional sense) important to you? Although you might not have the answer to all of these questions right now, it may help to know that numerous online colleges and universities afford students the opportunity to “take a test drive” before enrolling in their online program.
How online degrees affect your financial aid eligibility
The cost of tuition, both online and at traditional brick-and-mortar institutions, is on the rise. Knowing this, online learners generally depend on financial aid to finance their education, however, there are a few things prospective students should consider to ensure they will qualify.
