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 

WGU: Awesome university. i was enrolled here and someone I work with, and plenty of people over at techexams.net attend WGU.

As far as acceptance, you will be accepted as long as you are prepared for the rigors of online learning. If you are good with time management, you should be fine. if you want to know more see here:

http://www.techexams.net/forums/jobs-degrees/51715-western-governors-university-questions-answers-threads-related-wgu.html

http://www.techexams.net/forums/jobs-degrees/52825-student-experiences-western-governors-university-wgu.html

UAT: I requested info from them online, and didnt hear back for nearly a year, all it was was a email for a recruiting seminar in my state. They look really good for a ground school, not sure how they will work as an online school.

ITT has been off and on my radar. I'm interested, but the schools rep keeps me away. Ultimately, if I dont go back to WGU, I may go here because its a ground school that is local.

Capella has good reviews, but it seems to have really high difficulty standards/ courses.

@kris, id be interested in hearing your lessons learned.

BS in Comp Sci (just off the top of my head no research) seems more like getting down deep into technology at the engineering type level. Thats a degree you want to get from a B&M school like CalTech or MIT. Imagine spending hours pouring over books explaining how to build a silicon chip. A BS in IT on the other hand seems more like a degree for the guy working on the system, either performing maintenance or administration.

Have you looked at University of Maryland University College (www.umuc.edu)?

They offer Computer Science; and unlike many I've found to date they offer "hard" courses; not programming in VB.Net. They also offer a degree in Cybersecurity, and are a NSA ACE institution.

Their classes are soon to be 8 weeks long (starting Fall 2011 I think; can't find email).

{for the lazy:
CompSci -> http://umuc.edu/programs/undergrad/cmsc
Cybersecurity -> http://umuc.edu/programs/undergrad/csia }

I'm a current student. They can be a pain to deal with at times, but so can any college.

I am completely unqualified to state if they are expensive, work pays. However
non residents pay $499/hr + a $13 Tech fee, or $1,536 per class.

Hope this helps.