Completed by:

The Unsilenced Advocacy Team

School

If you have received your diploma already, then you will not need to complete anything further if you’re wanting to go to secondary education.  If you have not gotten your diploma, then you may decide you want your GED (General Education Development).

GED

  • A GED is considered a diploma equivalency program, and once you complete this, it will enable you to be able to go to any secondary school.
    • For all information regarding your General Education Diploma (GED), click here. Here you will find all of the information required to study for, apply to take the test, and many other resources regarding the state you live in and their GED requirements.
    • If you need help navigating or have further questions about obtaining your GED, you can contact GED.com by clicking here.

Secondary Education

  • Community Colleges
    • Community college is a great option for many students. You can earn an Associates Degree from a community college and transfer to a university to finish your bachelor’s degree. Some states have programs that help students go to community college for free. Many community colleges also offer exceptional vocational programs that will help you become job ready in two years or less.
    • College Board Website – This page on the College Board website offers some good community college resources
  • College Application Process
    • College Bound – The following webpage has a lot of general information about how to apply for college.
    • Common Application – The Common Application is a service that many colleges and universities use to streamline the application process. It allows you to use one single application to apply to many different colleges or universities.
    • If you are wanting to attend secondary education in the form of a 2-year, 4-year, or trade school and are in need of funding then you will need to look into getting assistance.
  •  FAFSA/Tuition Assistance for Secondary Education
    • Learn about how Financial Aid works
    • Financial Aid Eligibility
    • FAFSA
      • Step 1 – Click Here and click start here
      • Step 2 – “I am a student and want to access the FASFA form”
      • Step 3 – Create an account. If you already have one you can log in to your already existing account. You will need an email address and phone number and your Social Security number to complete the registration process.
      • Step 4 – Once your account is created, choose “Start New FASFA Form.”
      • Step 5 – Follow the instructions. Read them carefully, you CAN skip the information regarding your parents or guardian.
    • Can homeless youth receive Financial Aid? Yes! Please click here for more information.
  • Pell Grants
    • A Pell Grant is money that is awarded to college students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree and have demonstrated “exceptional financial need.” In most cases, you do not have to pay back a Pell Grant.
    • Pell Grant Application – To apply for a Pell Grant, begin by filling out a FAFSA form.
    • Understanding Pell Grants – This link provides additional information about Pell Grants.

University Options

  • Community College – If you have residency established in the state, you may qualify for reduced rates or tuition waivers for community college depending on the location. Please check your local community college to see what options are available to you.
  • Public Universities – While not inexpensive, these universities usually usually carry a certain level of credibility with their degree programs.
  • Western Governors University
    • Distanced learning at your own pace
    • Nonprofit
    • Does not charge per credit. Flat tuition covers as many credits that can be finished in a term. This provides the ability to finish your degree faster without additional costs.
    • Competency-based to accelerate your pace.
    • Offers Bachelors and Masters programs.
    • Cost per 6-month term:
      • Undergraduate Business Programs: $3,575 + $200 Resources Fee
      • Graduate Business Programs: $4,530 + $200 Resources Fee
      • Undergraduate Cyber Security Program: $3,950 + $200 Resource Fee + $150 Program Fee
      • Undergraduate Cloud Computing Program: $3,790 + $200 Resource Fee + $150 Program Fee
      • Other Undergraduate IT Programs: $3,625 + $200 Resource Fee + $150 Program Fee
      • Graduate Cybersecurity Program: $4,295 + $200 Resource Fee + $150 Program Fee
      • Other IT Graduate Programs: $3,940 + $200 Resource Fee + $150 Program Fee
      • Undergraduate Nursing (RN to BSN) & Health Information Management: $3.998 + $200 Resource Fee + $350 College Fee
      • Undergraduate Nursing (Prelicensure) – $6,430 or $7,616 (depending on the term) + $200 Resource Fee
      • Undergraduate Health and Human Services – $3,650 + $200 Resource Fee + $300 College Fee
      • Graduate Nursing (BSN to MSN) – $4,367 + $200 Resource Fee + $350 College Fee
      • Graduate Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN to MSN) – $5,925 + $200 Resource Fee + $350 College Fee
      • Graduate Nursing – Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (BSN to MSN) – $6,350 + $200 Resource Fee + $350 College Fee
      • Graduate (RN to MSN) – $3,998 to $4,367 + $200 Resource Fee + $350 College Fee
      • Graduate Health Leadership – $4,240 + $200 Resource Fee
      • Post-Master’s Certificate Nursing Education – $4,367 + $200 Resources Fee + $350 College Fee
      • Undergraduate for School of Education – $3,575 + $200 Resource Fee + $150 Program Fee
      • Graduate Program with School of Education for Programs with Supervised Field Experience – $3,590 + $200 Resource Fee + $300 Program Fee
      • Graduate Degree English Language Learning Endorsement Prep, M.A. English Language Learning, M.S. Educational Leadership – $3,665 + $200 Resource Fee + $300 Program Fee
      • Other Graduate Programs in the School of Education – $3,665 + $200 Resource Fee
  • Southern New Hampshire University
    • Distanced learning at your own pace
    • Nonprofit
    • Offers Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and Certificate programs
    • Tuition:
      • $320/credit for undergraduate degees
      • $675/credit for graduate degrees
    • Offers degree plans for Accounting & Finance, Art & Design, Business & MBA, Criminal Justice, Education, Engineering, Healthcare, Liberal Arts, Math & Science, Nursing, Psychology & Counseling, Social Services, and Technology
  • University of the People
    • Distanced learning at your own pace
    • Nonprofit
    • Offers Associate, Bachelors, Masters, and non-degree programs
    • Offers “tuition-free” model where you only pay an assessment fee per course completed. $120 for the undergraduate programs, $200 for certificates, and $300 for the graduate programs.
    • Offers degree plans for Business Administration, Information Technology, Education, and Health Science
    • Biggest Con: Lack of regional accreditation
  • Harvard Extension School
    • Distanced learning at your own pace
    • Not-for-profit
    • Regionally accredited
    • Harvard on your resume
    • Tuition:
      • $495/credit for undergraduate degrees
      • $775/credit for graduate degrees
      • $1,500 for Certificate programs
    • Offers Bachelors, Masters, and Certificate Programs
    • Offers degree plans for Liberal Arts, Coding, Web Development, Communications, Social Justice, Anthropology and Archaeology, Biology, Biotechnology, Creative Writing and Literature, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Digital Media, English, Finance, Global Development, Government, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Information Management Systems, International Relations, Journalism, Management, Museum Studies, Psychology, Religion, Software Engineering, and Sustainability
  • Dakota State University
    • Distanced learning at your own pace
    • Public University
    • Regionally accredited
    • Offers a wide variety of programs for Associates, Bachelors, Masters, Doctoral, and Certificates
    • Tuition:
      • $354.75/credit for undergraduate degrees
      • $464.90/credit for undergraduate degrees for non-resident computer science courses
      • $470.45/credit for graduate degrees
      • $580.60/credit for graduate degrees for non-resident computer science courses
    • Offers degree plans for Artificial Intelligence, Banking, Business, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Digital Accounting, Education, English, Health Care Analytics, Health Informatics, Information Technology, Marketing, Mathematics, Network and Security Administration, Project Management, Software Development, and Web Development.

Universities to avoid

      • For-profit universities – Many times these universities are rife with huge tuition rates and substandard education.
      • Universities that lack accreditation.  Many employers and other universities will not recognize the degree/credits from a university that does not have accrediation

Is there a resource we are missing? Please email us at info@unsilenced.org so we may add it.