Hello, I work in higher education.
I work with transfer students and non-traditional students. I also work for a university that has two locations (43 miles away).
I recognize the decision is not going to be easy. The more information you can get from the universities, the better informed you will be. It may be difficult to get the same level of detailed information from a new university since they often do not offer academic advising and transfer credit evaluations until after you apply and are admitted.
I often ask students what is most important to them. I.e., Time/Length to Graduation? Cost? Location? Availability of Online courses? Ability to enroll full-time/part-time? Rank them and examine the pros and cons of each option they are considering.
Sometimes, students would start off prioritizing one thing until we dive into the details of that choice/option. If the impact is too great on other areas they are considering, they realize it really isn't their number one priority. For example i.e., the availability of fully online courses might mean you have to switch institutions or academic programs. This can result in expanding the time it takes you to graduate. The new university or program may not accept the previous coursework or may have prerequisites that the former program did not require. Sometimes, the impact is only minimal, like 2-3 extra courses, and sometimes the impact is significant to adding 2-3 extra years. Adding extra semesters or years is also an added cost. Many of the students I work with are also parents, so even with extra time to graduation, it may be more important for them to have flexibility in their schedule because they have small children. They have a spouse/partner who can help shoulder the cost. While, a single parent without financial support doesn't have that luxury, so they might switch their decision after discussing with a relative regarding childcare support for 15 weeks until they can get fully online courses.
My point is you know your life and the details better than anyone. However, you must really examine the pros and cons of your decision and understand that any choice you make is not going to be perfect and will require compromise. But, you can find the best option for you and what will have the least amount of impact on your life and overall goal.
Best of wishes.
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