There will always be some courses you need which you cannot take a test for or write a portfolio for, remember to check your local community college.
Many have started a free two-year program, Michigan is here: https://www.michigan.gov/reconnect/about
GoEco has many opportunities, from assisting at a zoo to archeology. Most cover housing and food. Your only cost is getting to the location, the organization will pick you up from the airport. This will build your resume in a major way.
https://www.goeco.org/tags/
Online college-level courses for $99 a month
Try any Sophia course for free (through the first challenge of a unit). These courses are designed to transfer to 100+ partner colleges and have been reviewed for credit at more than 2,900 other colleges and universities.
Sign an Articulation Agreement: Join a growing network of 80+ colleges and universities that have partnered with Sophia to accept our courses for credit. Our partnership helps empower students to complete their gen ed course requirements through our flexible, cost-effective platform, ensuring a seamless transition into your institution’s degree programs..
https://www.sophia.org/
If you have ever served in the military, you have a transcript which can provide college credit. The form and format are already approved for registrars at any college to add the courses to your transcripts.
https://jst.doded.mil/jst/
Self-paced online courses you can transfer to your university — at a fraction of traditional tuition costs.
https://www.upistudy.com/
UPI Study offers NCCRS- and ACE-recommended college courses that can transfer to many U.S. universities, allowing learners to save time, reduce tuition costs, and stay on track to graduation. Our flexible, online format lets students balance education with work, family, and personal commitments—without rigid schedules or semesters.
Whether you’re returning to college, accelerating your degree, or lowering the cost of higher education, UPI Study provides a smarter, more affordable pathway to a college degree.
This site does a good, step-by-step job of explaining the content of an academic portfolio for credit process. They take you through the considerations and limits with good, solid examples.
https://www.stu.edu/news/how-to-turn-work-and-life-experience-into-college-credit/
One example is Marriott, they state:
Here at Marriott, we offer many opportunities for those just starting their careers, including on-property internships and apprenticeships around the world at our thousands of hotels, as well as a specific HQ Fellowship/Internship Program at our corporate headquarters just outside of Washington, DC.
https://life.marriott.com/topic/early-career/interns-fellows/
Very often companies will offer tuition assistance once you are accepted as a full time employee, this is an avenue worth exploring.
A great way to add international experience to a professional and academic portfolio!
WorkAway: Our ultimate aim is to build a community of global travellers who want to see the world whilst contributing and giving back to the places they visit.
https://www.workaway.info/
WorldPackers: We are the safest community for travel and volunteering. Connect with millions of conscientious travelers and welcoming hosts around the world and have transformative experiences.
https://www.worldpackers.com/search
GoOverseas:
A gap year work exchange allows you to travel the world with all your living expenses taken care of -- and you may even make money while you're at it!
In exchange for your labor, you'll often get accommodation, free meals, Wi-Fi, laundry, and other similar benefits. The possibilities for escaping the 9-5 grind are endless: you can be an au pair, work in a hostel, and be a part of the agriculture process on a farm, to name a few.
https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/work-exchanges
Modern States Education Alliance™ is dedicated to making a high quality college education accessible and affordable for any person who seeks one, regardless of wealth, nationality, or background. We believe that education is a basic human right and fundamental to making the American dream accessible to all.
https://modernstates.org/course/
About Yale Open Courses: Each course includes a full set of class lectures produced in high-quality video accompanied by such other course materials as syllabi, suggested readings, exams, and problem sets. The lectures are available as downloadable videos, and an audio-only version is also offered. In addition, searchable transcripts of each lecture are provided. Please note that we have recently removed Craig Wright's, "Introduction To Classical Music," and Ian Shapiro's, "Moral Foundations of Political Philosophy," from this site. Both courses have been updated and are now available through the Coursera platform. Please visit Yale's home on Coursera to enroll in all of our courses for free.
https://oyc.yale.edu/courses
Many courses are listed, build your portfolio or study for a CLEP, DSST or other exam.
The U.S. Department of State programs offer funding to study abroad. This experience can translate into far more than credit towards your education.
The U.S. Department of State offers many programs for American citizens wishing to go abroad for cultural, educational, or professional exchange. This website provides the information you need to get started.
https://exchanges.state.gov/us
Free and charitable clinics and charitable pharmacies rely on volunteers to be able to provide needed healthcare to medically underserved people in their communities. The spirit of volunteerism and giving back is a truly rewarding experience, one that is exemplified in clinics throughout the country.
https://nafcclinics.org/get-involved/volunteer/
This opportunity can be an excellent internship or portfolio experience.
Fill your resume and portfolio with something which makes a difference.
For 65 years, Peace Corps Volunteers have partnered with community members in more than 140 countries—putting their experience, skills, grit, and purpose to work on locally led projects. It’s been called the toughest job you’ll ever love. Tough because it asks so much of you. And the love part comes from knowing your work can transform lives and build bridges across cultures.
https://www.peacecorps.gov/serve/
Teach for Tomorrow
Work with schools and communities to support learning in math, science, English, and literacy.
https://www.peacecorps.gov/ways-to-serve/service-assignments/browse-opportunities/peace-corps-volunteer/?sectors=3Building a portfolio, for college and for professional purposes can be hard. This suggestion makes it easier. :)
Each year, the NPS recruits volunteers to serve as modern-day “keepers” at a handful of historic lighthouses, living and working inside—or just beside—these monuments to another age.
https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/national-parks/volunteer-lighthouse-keeper-national-park-service/
Teacher Record offers a free training course to get certified in TEFL
https://teacherrecord.com/tefl-certificate/1000
The aim of 120-Hour TEFL Course is designed to cover every aspect of teaching English from planning your first lesson to applying for your first Job abroad
Sites like https://www.eslcafe.com/ and https://www.tefl.com/ have listings of jobs all over the world that pay you to teach English. Look for the online learning lists. If you enjoy the work, they have placements all over the world, you can explore the planet while still working.
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