Capella had introduced their Flexpath competency program last month. Online Learning Competency-based Curriculum - Capella University Anyone here have any communications regarding their program. Normally I avoid looking at 180 credit programs due to the extra costs involved but they do allow 135 credits transferred in. The costs seem MUCH higher though at $8000 a quarter. NAU and wgu are pretty straightforward that way at about $2500 for 6 months. I believe capella is about 10 weeks a quarter which to be honest is insane for someone who might start the program from scratch.
135 is three-quarters of 180. A typical, traditional transfer credit policy for a 120 semester hour program allow 90 semester hours in transfer credit – also three-quarters of the degree.
I like the FlexPath idea, even if it's a highly savvy money grab on Capella's part. It's more expensive than WGU or Patten, but might carry more weight in some circles. The price isn't unreasonable when you compare it against a number of decently priced for-profit alternatives (e.g. Bellevue, Trident, Ashford). If I don't end up pursuing a master's with WGU or Patten soon, I may look at the general MBA with Capella via FlexPath.
I have always thought Trident was reasonable. When it was Touro University International (non-profit), I paid $750 per 4 credit graduate class in 2004. When I took the same classes from Trident (2010) they were only $1,000. I did get a military discount.
If memory serves, some regional employers seemed to like Capella. I'm going to have to dig to find information, but I also seem to remember some industries (may have been military, or for-profit schools) that liked Capella. Trident is indeed reasonable, but any competency-based program marries potential speed-of-completion with low price.
Wow, this Flexpath business is very cool. Bachelor's and master's degrees available in a number of fields by self-paced, independent study, with competencies proven by submitting assignments. Very nice. FlexPath : Self-Paced Courses Online - Capella University
