Reddit reviews The CLEP History of the United States I w/CD (REA) - The Best Test Prep for the CLEP (Test Preps)

Start out with CLEP courses. These cost about $90 and after taking the test grant you a full three credits for about an hours worth of work. Each subject has corresponding study material (These brand are the best I've found. They usually run under $20 per subject.)

For studying a few nights prior and one hour of your time you can knock out entire courses, saving both time and money. Be CERTAIN that you check whatever school you plan to attend accepts which tests, as it varies from school to school.

Next, attend community college for as many credits as you can. These are incredible deals money wise, and then you often get classrooms as small as 10 people and lots of one on one time with very competent and passionate professionals. You're much more likely to appreciate the help you get in that tough math class or the required foreign language class from a community college professor than from a TA trying to balance their PHD work with teaching for the first time at a very large university. Again, plan ahead and be CERTAIN that all the courses you're taking transfer (go to the school you wish to attend and search for transfer equivalents. They will normally have a page directly for your community college. Then just plug and play with each course. Plot out your whole degree plan and work your ass off.

Then when you've exhausted everything at the CC, apply to your dream school and attend for 1.5-2 years at the higher rate. You'll have gained a lot of credits, proper study habits for college (much different than HS) and now you can kick ass at your favorite school of choice. While there, network the hell out of the best professors you find. Sign up for your schools career fairs and job services programs, if applicable.

TL;DR You can save money all over the place in college and still have the education you deserve.

Here are the materials I used to pass US History I:

• CrashCourse's US History Series
  
  
• REA's Test Prep Book
  
  
• The "Official" CLEP book that you mentioned
  
  Honestly, I thought that CrashCourse US History was the best resource. I watched every video (up until 1877 year range) and made notecards of the notable facts.
  Good luck! :)
  
  Edit: I would recommend saving some cash and purchasing an older edition of REA's test prep- I used an edition from 2007 and it worked just fine for me