Earning A Degree Online

I've decided to go back to college and earn a fully-recognized Bachelor's degree online. I don't need one, but college costs are so out of control I want to prove to my young friends it can be done for less than $10,000, while you are still working, and from anywhere. Here's my plan:

Institution: University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI)

Degree: Bachelor of Liberal Studies with Social Studies minor

Plan: Earn the first 90 semester units using inexpensive alternative platforms (primarily study.com) & finish at UMPI with the final 30 credits.

Pace: Self-paced with breaks as needed but aiming to complete 2 courses in each month I actually work on the degree. Courses are 3 units each so my progress target is 6 units per month and 9-12 units in each UMPI 8-week session. But I might do half that work & take 40 months for 40 classes, adding 8 months of breaks when I want & still not taking more than 4 years to earn a 4 year degree.

Cost: Currently, the first 60 units can be completed at my target pace in 10 months at study.com using their College Starter program at $95 per month (they don't have to be consecutive months), for a total of $950. The next 30 units, which will mainly or exclusively be Upper Level courses, require 5 months of the study.com College Saver program at $235 per month, or $1175. The last 30 units must be obtained at UMPI and, at the pace I mentioned, will require 3 sessions (again, they don't need to be consecutive) that currently cost $1700 each, or $5100. Total: $950 + $1175 + $5100 = $7225. Of course, over the 20 months of learning required, prices will likely increase a bit due to inflation. More for someone who goes slower or takes a lot of breaks in preparation (and less for someone who works harder & finishes in less than a year). With people spending $100,000 or more to attend college for 4 years, we're talking peanuts. Heck, at only 1 course per month & 2 in an UMPI 8-weeker, $1900 + $2350 + $8500 = $12750, still well under 20% of the conventional route. And with most of the cost in the final year, just meeting the target speed at UMPI to cut that part to $5100 brings the total under $10K. Slowness earning the first 60 or 90 units isn't that costly.

Study Buddies: There is a shocking number of people online doing this to provide motivation & support. I'll mention helpful forums as I proceed. Wonder if a pro dance teacher wants to join me & do a couple of courses at the same time. Hmm?

I've begun.