Editing College Comparison (section)

= Decision table = 

Now that you have a better idea of what is possible, the table below can assist in making the final decision:

{| class="wikitable" style="width:90%;margin:auto"
|-
! style="width:20%" | !! style="width:10%" | COSC !! style="width:10%" | Excelsior !! style="width:10%" | Peirce !! style="width:10%" | PUG !! style="width:10%" | SNHU !! style="width:10%" | TESU !! style="width:10%" | UMPI !! style="width:10%" | WGU
|-
| Theoretical maximum total transfer credits || 114 (95%) || 113 (94%) || 102 (85%)<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#Peirce_credits|1]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || 135 (75%)<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#PUG_credits|2]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || 90 (75%) || 114 (95%) || 90 (75%) || 90 (75%)<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#WGU_credits|3]]&rbrack;</sup></small>
|-
| Theoretical maximum alternate (non-RA) credits || 90 (75%) || 113 (94%) || 102 (85%) || 135 (75%) || 90 (75%) || 90 (75%) || 90 (75%) || 90 (75%)
|-
| ''Required'' minimum RA credits (not counting residency credits) || 24 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 24 || 0 || 0
|-
| Required residency credits || 6 || 7 || 19 || 45<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#PUG_credits|2]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || 30 || 6<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#TESU_residency|4]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || 30 || 30<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#WGU_credits|3]]&rbrack;</sup></small>
|-
| Required UL credits (including capstone/cornerstone, where applicable) || 30 || 30 || ?? || ?? || ?? || 18 || Varies || ??
|-
| Accepts NCCRS credits?<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#NCCRS_credits|5]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || No || Yes || Yes || No || Yes || Yes || No<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#UMPI_NCCRS|6]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || Yes
|-
| Accepts [[Accreditation|NA credits]]? || No || Yes || No || No || No || No || Yes<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#UMPI_NA|7]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || Yes
|-
| Lab science required?<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#lab_science|8]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || Yes || No || No || No || No || No || Yes || Yes
|-
| Degrees that can be fully completed by exam<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#exam_degrees|9]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || Yes || Yes || No || No || No || Yes || No || Yes<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#WGU_exams|10]]&rbrack;</sup></small>
|-
| Degrees that can be fully completed ''without'' proctored exams || No || No || No || Maybe || Yes || Maybe || Yes || No
|-
| Minimum tuition spend<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#tuition_calculations|11]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || $3479 || $4031 || $11000<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#Peirce_tuition|12]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || $5000<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#PUG_tuition|13]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || $9600 || $6604<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#TESU_tuition|14]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || $2800<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#UMPI_tuition|15]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || $3300<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#WGU_tuition|16]]&rbrack;</sup></small>
|-
| Minimum enrollment age<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#enrollment_age|17]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || 16 || 16 || 15<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#Peirce_age|18]]&rbrack;</sup></small> || 18 || 18 || 18 || 20 || 18
|- 
| Accepts international students? || Yes || Yes || Yes || Yes || Yes || Yes || Yes || No<small><sup>&lbrack;[[#WGU_international|19]]&rbrack;</sup></small>
|-
| English test (for International students) || TOEFL || TOEFL, MELAB, IELTS, English Comp UExcel, 9 RA credits || ?? || ?? || TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, PTE || TOEFL, IELTS || TOEFL, [https://umaine.edu/international/undergraduate-admissions/ Duolingo maybe] || N/A
|}

== Table Notes ==

<small>
# <span id="Peirce_credits"></span> For some Peirce College degrees, the maximum number of transfer credits is 90.
# <span id="PUG_credits"></span> Purdue University Global uses quarter credits instead of semester credits. The 180 quarter credits of a PUG degree is equal to the standard 120 credits that can be found at other schools. A standard class worth 3 semester credits would be worth 4.5 credits if transferred to PUG.
# <span id="WGU_credits"></span> In theory, WGU allows students to transfer in up to 75% (90 credits) of its degrees. As a matter of practicality, most students will only be able to transfer in 72-84 credits, due to a lack of viable alternatives.
# <span id="TESU_residency"></span> While TESU allows you to transfer in all but 6 credits, costs can actually be lower if you take 16 credits with TESU instead of just 6.
# <span id="#NCCRS_credits"></span> All schools on this list accept ACE credits. NCCRS course acceptance is less common.
# <span id="UMPI_NCCRS"></span> UMPI accepts a single NCCRS course from Study.com. Other NCCRS sources are not permitted.
# <span id="UMPI_NA"></span> UMPI will reportedly accept credits from University of the People. It is unknown if they will accept other Nationally Accredited schools.
# <span id="lab_science"></span> All schools require some sort of science. Not all of them specifically require a lab science.
# <span id="exam_degrees"></span> Does not include the required capstone/cornerstone courses, where applicable. Capstone & cornerstone courses cannot be completed via exams. All students will be required to write at least two papers for degrees that require capstone & cornerstone. 
# <span id="WGU_exams"></span> Most of WGU's courses require a proctored exam to complete. A handful of their courses may require papers or projects, but this depends on the degree.
# <span id="tuition_calculations"></span> Tuition spend assumes that students do not receive in-state tuition (if available). It does not count the cost of credits transferred to the school in question, nor does it take into account financial aid or potentially having to repeat a course. This is because these factors can vary widely from student to student.
# <span id="Peirce_tuition"></span> Some Peirce College degrees have a minimum tuition spend of $20000. This depends on the degree and the maximum number of transfer credits.
# <span id="PUG_tuition"></span> It is currently thought to be impossible to finish a Purdue University Global degree in fewer than two terms. Most students will likely need 3-4 terms.
# <span id="TESU_tuition"></span> This cost can be lowered to $4937 by using TESU's flat-rate tuition to complete a single 16-credit-term. 
# <span id="UMPI_tuition"></span> Most students need 2-3 sessions to complete their degree at UMPI. However, depending on what courses are being offered, it is technically possible to complete a degree in a single 2 month session for $1400.
# <span id="WGU_tuition"></span> Tuition at WGU varies slightly depending upon which degree you are pursuing. While it is theoretically possible to complete a degree at WGU in 6 months, most WGU students will likely require between 7-12 months to complete their degree. This doubles the minimum potential cost from $3300 to $6600.
# <span id="enrollment_age"></span> Under some circumstances, the enrollment age at COSC and EC can be even lower. You must have a HS diploma (homeschool diploma is fine) or GED to be awarded a degree.
# <span id="Peirce_age"></span> While there seem to be no age requirements listed on Peirce's site, the online registration form does not permit birthdays for persons who are younger than 15. 
# <span id="WGU_international"></span> ''Some'' Canadians are allowed to attend WGU. This is not applicable to all Canadians and does not apply to students in other countries. Students who are active duty in the US Military may attend WGU no matter their global location.
</small>

[[Category:Beginners]]