Western Governor's University [1] is a good deal for IT-related online degrees. They are $3920 per 6 month term, no matter how many or few classes you take that term. You can take the tests for most classes without having taken the class and get credit for passing, so if you already know a subject required for the degree would can satisfy the requirement that way.

The cost of certifications that you earn along the way are included in the $3920.

Here's a page about their IT degrees from WGU Washington [2].

As an example of the certifications included, here is what they bachelor's degree in network operations and security includes: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Project+, CompTIA IT Operations Specialist, CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist, Axelos ITIL®1 Foundation, LPI Linux Essentials, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Amazon AWS SysOps Administration-Associate, and Amazon AWS Cloud Practitioner.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Governors_University

[2] https://www.wgu.edu/online-it-degrees/it-certifications.html

I have a degree from an accredited online institution, and it holds literally no sway at tech companies. In fact, it’s a hindrance. I was self taught before I got the degree, and while you still won’t get past HRs screening for most interesting jobs, you will, at least, get industry props for being a “go getter”. With the degree I’ve hit more glass walls and ceiling’s because it’s not from a “good school”, and in their eyes I am no longer self taught either.

Think long and hard about doing an online degree, and what you think it’ll do for you.

I appreciate this comment. Being an "adult student" (30s+) is a rough road and I definitely understand the attraction of self-paced online degrees. That WGU includes certifications as part of its tuition is pretty appealing too. I'm slowly trying to whittle down community college credits so I can hopefully transfer to a state school, but it often feels like a helpless situation. I'm just grateful I don't have children - work, bills, and a wife are hard enough to juggle as it is.

Which online university? I think that's really weird that you've had that experience. Can you share specific examples of what problems having a "bad" degree has caused vs. having no degree at all?

My last internship was working on a textbook publishing tool. The whole reason I took the job is that it allowed authors and small teams to create beautiful books, publish them independently, and push updates rather than sell new editions. It did not take long for the big publishers that were partnered to cut off independent publisher access and continue rereleasing small revisions as new editions that had to be purchased at full price. * Some speculation, but this was the optics.

> My networking course recently changed from CCNA to CompTIA network plus content.

Wow, did the school just decide that they didn't want anyone taking the networking course?

Cisco changed the certificates but not the names, the low-level certs like CCNA are now on the same level as Network+ rather than being more valuable.