Our mission: Reform the expensive and inefficient college system.
We created Do College Differently to help students use alternative credit to earn an accredited degree for a fraction of the time and cost of traditional college.
Questions? Text/call us at (951) 397-0687.
New: One simple, one-time payment. No monthly fees.
Apply and Try Free » Meet with a coach & try it out before paying.How It Works
Step One - Plan Your PathFree
Meet your coach. We review your transcripts, learn how you learn best, and build a plan around the degree you want.
Step Two - Try It FreeFree
We recommend your first course, and you get to try the process before committing.
If you pass it and can see yourself finishing your degree this way, you join the program. If not, you never pay us anything.
Step Three - Earn Most of Your Degree
After one payment, you get your full plan and earn most of your credits through alternative credit, with study resources and clear next steps.
Reach your coach on Zoom, phone, or text as often as you want, all the way until you transfer.
We also help you connect with an advisor at your transfer school who confirms your course choices and keeps you on track.
Step Four - Transfer and Graduate
Transfer to Thomas Edison State University, Charter Oak State College, or Excelsior University. Finish your last 30 to 40 credits online and graduate with a fully accredited degree issued by the university. Financial aid is often available.
- No monthly fees
- Try it free first
- Support until transfer
Course and exam fees are paid to the provider (free options available). Transfer universities usually charge an application fee.
Do College Differently is not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the colleges above. We help you complete the majority of your degree through alternative credit and then transfer to one of these schools where you will complete your final credits and get a regionally accredited degree.
How much time and money could I save doing this?
Traditional College
Community College + Transfer Path
DCD Pathway
Estimated costs based on typical student pathways. Actual expenses vary depending on study pace, course load, and university tuition.
What is alternative credit? How can you use it to finish my degree way faster and cheaper?
- About sixty-five percent of colleges accept it, and the universities our students finish at (Thomas Edison, Excelsior College, or Charter Oak) allow you to transfer in most of your degree through these options.
- This means you can complete the majority of your credits from home and then finish the last part of your degree at the university. You get the exact same accredited degree as someone who sat in classrooms for years.
- CLEP and DSST. We help you study. You take one exam. You earn the full course credit if you pass.
- These are the fastest and cheapest as there are ways to get CLEP exam costs waived.
- Sophia and study.com provide self-paced asynchronous courses you can go through as fast as you want. When you complete the course, you get credit for that subject.
What degrees do you offer?
Tap any degree to see the careers it fits
A great fit for elementary education and teaching, plus versatile roles in nonprofits, public service, and administration that reward broad communication and reasoning skills.
Ideal for careers in counseling, human resources, social services, and behavioral health, and a strong foundation for graduate study in therapy or psychology.
Well suited for education, law, research, writing, and government roles, and a popular pre-law path that rewards strong analysis and clear writing.
Perfect for writing, editing, publishing, communications, marketing, and teaching, and a solid foundation for law school.
A flexible choice for education, writing, media, and cultural organizations, plus management roles where critical thinking and communication drive the work.
Strong for law, ethics, policy, writing, and consulting, and one of the best majors for sharpening argument and reasoning before law or graduate school.
Built for careers in graphic design, illustration, art direction, and media, as well as creative entrepreneurship and teaching art.
Geared toward marketing, public relations, social media, journalism, broadcasting, and corporate communications roles.
Useful for social work, human resources, community outreach, research, and public policy careers focused on people and systems.
Fits roles in research, cultural work, nonprofits, market research, and user experience where understanding people and culture is key.
Designed for working adults moving into management, operations, administration, and leadership across business and organizations.
Suited for technical management, operations, and skilled industry roles where applied knowledge and supervising teams are valued.
Perfect for law enforcement, corrections, security, and paralegal work, along with government roles and a strong step toward law school.
Our Story
Hi, my name is Bryce, and I'm the founder of Do College Differently. I used alternative credit to graduate early and for a fraction of the cost, and so did my brother-in-law and many of my close friends. The problem is that most people don't even know these opportunities exist, and there is no clear pathway for using them toward a degree. That's why I've spent hundreds of hours mapping out proven pathways and strategies to make the process simple. My goal is to act like a personal trainer for your college degree by helping you choose the right alternative credit courses and guiding you toward graduating faster and more affordably. Above all, I'm building this company on genuine human connection between students and coaches, so you feel encouraged and confident as you conquer your bachelor's degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
One payment of $1,000. Founding families pay $500 for a limited time.
No monthly fees. You try the process free first, and you only pay once you pass your first course and decide to continue.
Course and exam fees are paid directly to the provider, and free options are available.
#1 A Coach Who Guides You Through Your Entire Degree
You get someone who guides you every step of the way.
No guessing. No confusion.
Meet or message them whenever you want, all the way until you transfer. No limits.
#2 Accountability That Keeps You Going
Most people do not finish because they lose momentum.
Your coach prevents that.
They check in, keep you consistent, and help you push through roadblocks.
You are never doing this alone.
#3 Study Resources That Help You Earn Credits Confidently
You gain access to the study tools we provide and guidance on the most effective and cost-efficient way to earn each credit.
You learn how to take CLEP exams for free or at a discount and how to pick the right self-paced courses when you prefer video lessons.
#4 A Simple Dashboard That Shows Your Progress
See your credits, requirements, and pace in one clean place. Seeing progress keeps you motivated and on track.
#5 A Clear, Transfer-Friendly Path to an Accredited Degree
Your coach guides you on exactly which alternative credit courses fit each degree plan.
You complete most of your credits from home.
You finish the last 30 to 40 credits at one of the transfer-friendly accredited universities and graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
Yes. You finish at a regionally accredited university.
Your diploma comes from the school you graduate from, with the same accreditation and recognition as any on-campus program.
They are respected by employers and graduate schools the same way as any other university degree is.
Your coach will evaluate them and build your roadmap around what you've already completed.
Most students with prior credit finish even faster.
No. For the majority of degrees, you can start with the general education requirements. As you complete credits, you will have time to decide which major you want to focus on.
Your coach will help you choose the right major when you're ready.
- College students who want a faster, more flexible, more affordable path.
- High school students who want to graduate high school with a bachelor's degree and a high school diploma.
- Working adults who need to earn a degree on their schedule.
- Homeschool families who love dual credit.
- Anyone who wants clarity and support instead of guesswork.
Do College Differently is a private coaching and step-by-step planning service. We are not a college and do not grant degrees. All degrees are awarded by regionally accredited institutions.