Well WGU offers BSIT - Security and it apparently covers everything for 10 different certifications and pays for the exams for those certs. They got stellar reviews also. Kaplan has good reviews too - INDECISION!!!

I really like the look of WGU. Besides being a non-profit, they offer damn good tuition ($2890/6 mo. term). I just talked to American Intercontinental University today and they seem pretty solid as well. They got gold accreditation and are featured in Wired. Anyone else ever heard of/had experience with AIU?
I think I'm gonna steer clear of ITT just cause I've heard some poor things and my cousin went there and said it was pretty weak. Capella looks promising too.
On another note, I was originally looking for a BS in Computer Science but all the colleges I've checked out have only offered a BS in IT. Are these two things the same thing? I want to focus on the technical side (CompSci) and not as much the business end (CIS). Would a BS in IT be the way to go? I think WGU offers a BSIT with specializations in networking or security.

Thats what I'm really going for: I want the certs to be the byproduct of education, not the other way around. Anyways, I've decided to go the college route and am currently looking at Western Governors, ITT, UAT, Kaplan, and Capella. Really like WGU but not sure if I would be able to get in. Maybe you guys can help me out. I have a HS diploma, 2.9 GPA, and my wife makes $44,000/yr. I'm unemployed do to it being very hard to find a job (especially when you have a felony  ). Think I'd be able to score financial aid? I'm at community college right now and they are giving me enough to pay for school and then some since I'm also 26 so no parental finance bs.

Alright, so I've narrowed down my choice on finding a good online college. Currently I share a car with my wife. However, do to a less than respectable rap sheet I haven't been able to find a job for over a year  so I've been attending small amounts of community college courses but even then it has been real difficult between my wife's schedule and mine. I've began searching for online degree programs but, as usual, would like to get some opinions from EH gurus before making any choices.

I'm looking for a degree focused in the security field. I love hands-on and tech also but I can see the market being much more demanding of security in the coming decades. Moreover, I'd like to have strong security knowledge in case the US police state gets any bigger. I love all things computer so I'm not really picky about the job necessarily. I wanted a well-rounded education (networks, servers, programming) but with a focus in security. I will also most likely be doing some independent teaching as well since I'll have so much time on my hands. As long as I don't have to interact too much with humans - j/k.

So I've been looking at the following colleges:

    Western Governors: BSIS - Security
       I really like the look of this college but wanted to get an idea of my chances of getting in before I fork out the $60 application fee. My HS GPA was around 2.9 but I have a diploma and even some prior college. Couldn't find numbers on admissions so I was wondering if anyone had tried WGU. Also, would it be better for me to go for the general BSIS or for the BSIS - Security.

    University of Advancing Technology: BS Advancing Computer Science
      I've always kind of had my eye on UAT because they have a wide range of opportunities in IT and a strong gaming wing (I have a vicious addiction to video games -  I have no idea how my wife puts up with it). Their BSACS looks really cool but their tuition is like $10k per semester. We make roughly $40k annual so would I even qualify for financial aid?

    ITT Tech: BS Information Systems Security
    Can't find any tuition info and I really don't want to have 20 brochures in the mail. I've heard lots of good things about ITT; I know they produce a lot of workforce. Just wanted to get outside opinions on the quality rather than the quantity.

    Kaplan University: BSIT/IT
    Capella University: BSIT -- has cool specialist courses
    Walden University: BSIT -- spendy at around $5k / qaurter
      These are some of the overly advertized online schools. They look alright but some of the online student reviews for these schools are abysmal. Anybody had any experience with them? All of them are more expensive than WGU.

So that's what I have it narrowed down to. Sorry for the long post, I just really wanted to give a good overall picture of what I have so far so I don't waste anyone's time. Remember, I'm looking for Bachelor's in CS or IT (not sure what the difference is really) with a focus on security but still a well-rounded overall IT education. I will be doing some self education along with it.

As always I'd like to thank everybody in advance as I'm positive the outcome of this post will be refreshing, honest, and inspiring 

So I think I'll check out the books you all suggested and the metasploit thing. I consider myself pretty apt with computers. Though I have no real programming knowledge, I figure I'll be starting with A+ which is more in my familiarity zone. I can upgrading and install hardware/software on windows no problem and have basic understanding of networking and troubleshooting so I think I'll just hit the books instead of fork out the cash for a fast track certification.

Well that makes me feel better. I was really worried that I would end up spending my money on the fast track instead of actually getting the education. Good ole book studies sounds like the way to go, but as for hands-on, I don't really have any spare computers to tear apart. Please understand, I have been using computers since I was about 10 and have pretty good operational knowledge of hardware, software installation, drivers, and networking. I have been using and upgrading my PC since a kid, but it is mainly the terminology that is a little rough for me. I just picked up Mike Meyer's 7th ED and the first chapters are all familiar. Is it plausible that I would do just fine with a few of the text books and a junker PC before hitting the exams? I would much rather go with hard studying than pay 7 bills for testout.

I already checked out InfoSec and they are way too expensive. I'm taking TestOut's 7-day free trial and I got the CBT Nuggets 2009 A+ videos. Do you think TestOut + CBT Nugs will be sufficient? I'm teaching myself out of my house, just taking mad notes and reviewing everything. I have a good knowledge of hardware and software installation and operating systems.

I've decided with my intermediate knowledge of windows and linux os that I am going to work towards the A+ certification and move on to Net/Sec+ and Linux+. I already got a bead on a few books I'm planning to get and wanted to get some opinions on the various online training courses and will be teaching myself python as I go.
I was originally going to go with CompTIA's elearning, but then found out about CareerAcademy with their money back guarantee and TestOut with their LabSim. Since I'm spending the wife's money, I wanted to make sure it is a good investment. Any suggestions? Personal experiences?

I actually have VMware on my windows 7 boot. I'm running a windows/ubuntu x64 dual. I have been looking at CompTIA.org with their elearning bundles but I've also seen careeracademy and learnkey are viable options. Any suggestions or preferences? I'll likely be teaching myself python as I go seeing as how I have pretty much limitless time on my hands.

I have been a computer user most of my life and know my way around windows and ubuntu. I know my way around desktop pc hardware but have no hacking or programming experience. I just started school and am planning on taking CIS classes in hopes of later becoming a network security admin and penetration tester as well as a comp hardware technician. Recently my financial aid was dropped because I didn't renew my fafsa and now I have 5 months of nothing to do as I am an unemployed felon (lol)
Now I've discovered several different courses of action in the last week as I have decided to go the way of working towards dynamic studies towards certification. I am considering CompTIA A+ because I've heard its a good place to start for someone with no experience in the field. However, I've also checked out Career Academy (which teaches CompTIA course) as well as elearn security and Hacking DOJO. I heard that CEH certification is not as thorough and deep rooted and is more the understanding of how to use specific tools. I want a full and thorough understanding for when the government takes over the internet XD

So my questions:

Where is the best place to start for a beginner like myself?

If CompTIA A+ is the best route, would I go with the CompTIA site's A+ courses or Career Academy's A+ courses?

I have a good number of reading material on the subject but as I have nothing to do for the next 5 months, I wouldn't mind spending my money where I have actual instructors and labs for which to get support and experiment with. Any other suggestions would be very appreciated. Thanks!