The Basic Approach

Overview
This is a simple outline of steps to take when starting out. First written up by forum user bjcheung77, it has been expanded on by wiki users. It serves as a basic introduction to the methods discussed at DegreeForum. This is "the basic approach." Nobody ever really gets to go through a process this simple, but this is the general outline of what you should expect to have to do in order to get through this successfully.

The Basic Approach

 * 1) Find out what you have credit for / what you already know
 * 2) Research the Big 3/WGU and similar schools to find candidate degree plans
 * 3) Decide on one or more schools and get an initial evaluation ($75 or so per school, plus the cost of each transcript you have to send in)
 * 4) Based on the initial evaluation, decide on a school and degree
 * 5) Build a degree plan using your unique combination of existing credits, CLEP/DSST/UExcel/TECEP tests, ALEKS/FEMA/Penn Foster/Saylor/Straighterline/Study.com courses, etc.
 * 6) To lock in a catalog, enroll at the school you have chosen. Alternatively, you can wait until you are all done (all courses/tests completed) to enroll in the school, however you risk the school changing degree plans as you're not locked into a catalog.
 * 7) Once completed and approved, pay the graduation fee, then sit back and wait for your sheepskin to arrive!
 * 8) Start planning on that Masters Degree as you aren't done learning for life!

Throughout all of the above: Read a lot over at DegreeForum.net and ask questions as needed for guidance!!

More Information

 * 1) Beginners Guide To Getting Cheap/Fast College Credit
 * 2) How/When To Start? Start Now For Cheap!
 * 3) Several Sources Of Cheap Credit
 * 4) The Spreadsheet - Track Your Progress - Reference Tool
 * 5) The ABCs - A, CBD, E, F, G - Accreditation, Competency Based Degree, Evaluation, Fees, GPA
 * 6) Overwhelmed - Too Long Didn't Read - Just Help Me Please, Step By Step!