Computer Science from University of the People

**WantADegree** · 02-16-2012 08:28 AM

I want to get a degree that will not put me in debt. University of the People is tuition-free but is not accredited. Their program looks pretty good and it is approved to operate by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education .

How much will an unaccredited degree limit my employment opportunities? What if I get certifications along with my degree?

What do you think of their computer science program?
University of the People

**TEKMAN** · 02-16-2012 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by WantADegree

I want to get a degree that will not put me in debt. University of the People is tuition-free but is not accredited. Their program looks pretty good and it is approved to operate by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education .

How much will an unaccredited degree limit my employment opportunities? What if I get certifications along with my degree?

What do you think of their computer science program?
University of the People

New York University - Abu Dhabi is partnered with The University of The People....maybe you can continue to earn your master from NYU-AD.

**WantADegree** · 02-16-2012 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by TEKMAN

New York University - Abu Dhabi is partnered with The University of The People....maybe you can continue to earn your master from NYU-AD.

I live in the US and really only have time for online classes. NYUAD doesn't appear to offer classes online. Although, it probably doesn't matter because I don't think I'd want anything higher than a bachelors degree. I'm mostly concerned with whether or not an employer would accept this and if the courses are high quality.

**TEKMAN** · 02-16-2012 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by WantADegree

I live in the US and really only have time for online classes. NYUAD doesn't appear to offer classes online. Although, it probably doesn't matter because I don't think I'd want anything higher than a bachelors degree. I'm mostly concerned with whether or not an employer would accept this and if the courses are high quality.

If that is the case, then I would recommend you to stay with school has better reputation with regional accreditation. Nowadays, people don't plan to continue for a Master, but due to job requirement...most people ends up with a Master.

There are the Big Three , especially Thomas Edison State College offers FEMA courses evaluation for FREE.

**WantADegree** · 02-16-2012 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by TEKMAN

If that is the case, then I would recommend you to stay with school has better reputation with regional accreditation. Nowadays, people don't plan to continue for a Master, but due to job requirement...most people ends up with a Master.

There are the Big Three, especially Thomas Edison State College offers FEMA courses evaluation for FREE.

Do you know of a college cheaper than Thomas Edison State College? I can't afford $10,000 per year and I don't want to be in debt.

**AdjunctInstructor** · 02-17-2012 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by WantADegree

I want to get a degree that will not put me in debt. University of the People is tuition-free but is not accredited. Their program looks pretty good and it is approved to operate by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education .

How much will an unaccredited degree limit my employment opportunities? What if I get certifications along with my degree?

What do you think of their computer science program?

University of the People

I am not sure they are "tuition free" exam fees are $10-100 depending on country you reside. Also is that for end of course, program or what. So it could be a substantial cost regardless if it is "called tuition free". Appears to be a good unaccredited school.

**WantADegree** · 02-17-2012 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by AdjunctInstructor

I am not sure they are "tuition free" exam fees are $10-100 depending on country you reside. Also is that for end of course, program or what. So it could be a substantial cost regardless if it is "called tuition free". Appears to be a good unaccredited school.

They are not currently charging for exams, but even when they do, it'll only be for final exams and it'd bring the total cost of a bachelors degree to about $4000, which is much cheaper than any school I've seen.

Do you think employers would accept the degree as valid?

TEKMAN, Thomas Edison State College is too expensive. I can't afford a $40,000 degree. Their cost calculator says it'd be about $10,000 per year.

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**emmzee** · 02-17-2012 07:14 AM

University of the People is listed as a "First Time Applicant" with the DETC in the most recent DETC Bulletin (see page 6):

http://detc.org/actions/020912_AC_meeting_report.pdf

Of course this is NOT in any way a guarantee that they will actually get accredited, nor that it will happen anytime soon. However, in the situation that a person started a degree with University of the People and they became accredited before that person graduated, their degree would be considered accredited.

Also, the cost to get a degree from TESC would be much less than $40k. TESC is one of the "big three " schools that allows you to transfer in almost 100% of your credits to earn the degree, so very few of the actual courses would be taken at TESC itself. See here for an overview of the process:
Lawrie Miller's BA in 4 Weeks. Online degrees by distance learning. BA degree and graduate degees - Accelerated Master Degrees by Distance Learning.

Another possible option ... University of the Philippines Open University offers an online bachelor's degree, "Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies," relatively cheap ... oddly named but it does seem like broadly speaking it's an IT degree (and who wouldn't want an acronym of "BAMS" for their degree :D):
Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies

**okydd** · 02-17-2012 07:43 AM

For $10'000 or less you do not need to look any further. http://www.excelsior.edu/1374.*
Excelsior recommends to use Saylor,*http://www.excelsior.edu/media/10k/O...ewareGuide.pdf
Saylor can be found at*
The Saylor Foundation

**WantADegree** · 02-17-2012 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by emmzee

University of the People is listed as a "First Time Applicant" with the DETC in the most recent DETC Bulletin (see page 6):

http://detc.org/actions/020912_AC_meeting_report.pdf

Of course this is NOT in any way a guarantee that they will actually get accredited, nor that it will happen anytime soon. However, in the situation that a person started a degree with University of the People and they became accredited before that person graduated, their degree would be considered accredited.

Also, the cost to get a degree from TESC would be much less than $40k. TESC is one of the "big three " schools that allows you to transfer in almost 100% of your credits to earn the degree, so very few of the actual courses would be taken at TESC itself. See here for an overview of the process:
Lawrie Miller's BA in 4 Weeks. Online degrees by distance learning. BA degree and graduate degees - Accelerated Master Degrees by Distance Learning.

Another possible option ... University of the Philippines Open University offers an online bachelor's degree, "Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies," relatively cheap ... oddly named but it does seem like broadly speaking it's an IT degree (and who wouldn't want an acronym of "BAMS" for their degree :D):
Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies

The site you linked me to focuses mostly on earning credit via exam. Does this mean I'd be doing all of my learning on my own? How much do you think it'd cost to take that route? You mentioned transferring credits to TESC, so I was wondering what college you recommend earning those credits from?

okydd, Excelsior estimated $50,000 for me, unless you're suggesting that I do what emmzee has suggested.

**TEKMAN** · 02-17-2012 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by WantADegree

They are not currently charging for exams, but even when they do, it'll only be for final exams and it'd bring the total cost of a bachelors degree to about $4000, which is much cheaper than any school I've seen.

Do you think employers would accept the degree as valid?

TEKMAN, Thomas Edison State College is too expensive. I can't afford a $40,000 degree. Their cost calculator says it'd be about $10,000 per year.

If you don't mind I ask you this question. How old are you? Have you considered Military is an option for you? I paid $2,000.00 (maybe less because I sold my textbooks) at Troy University for my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science while serving active duty in the United States Marine Corps. I used my Post 9/11 GI Bill to finish up my Master degrees, and I still have benefits to continue for my Doctorate.

Keep in mind there is nothing FREE in this world, if there is...then you have to expect low quality. A College degree is an investment, which requires both finance and time. The University of the People might help for your personal enrichment, but might not help for your career. It might help other people in the third world country, where credential is not really important.

**WantADegree** · 02-17-2012 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by TEKMAN

If you don't mind I ask you this question. How old are you? Have you considered Military is an option for you? I paid $2,000.00 (maybe less because I sold my textbooks) at Troy University for my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science while serving active duty in the United States Marine Corps. I used my Post 9/11 GI Bill to finish up my Master degrees, and I still have benefits to continue for my Doctorate.

Keep in mind there is nothing FREE in this world, if there is...then you have to expect low quality. A College degree is an investment, which requires both finance and time. The University of the People might help for your personal enrichment, but might not help for your career. It might help other people in the third world country, where credential is not really important.

I'm almost 19. Military is not an option I'm going to consider. I work full time and I'm not going to leave my wife and dogs haha.

**ITJD** · 02-22-2012 02:03 PM

What I will say on this topic is rather simple.

There are projects out there that will radically change online education in the long term. University of the People, MITX, Udacity. All will provide a high-quality education for an incredibly low if any cost. I can see these projects killing the for-profit education model inside 15-20 years, especially if any of them mature to the point of regional accreditation.

In terms of right now.. if you do not have a degree and you want one that will be recognized for future graduate work you should consider a school that is already regionally accredited as there's no guarantee that any of the above will be by the time you graduate, though in the case of University of the People, they are exploring MBA provision as well.

If you have degrees already, it's wise to evaluate UoPeople and these other options, because you don't need a regionally accredited degree if you already have one and the cost of the school is near zero (especially if you don't live in the US.) In this case it's expansion of an existing skill set.

2c
ITJD

**WantADegree** · 02-26-2012 12:01 AM

What other affordable options are available? What about colleges in other countries? I look at the University of the Philippines Open University, but I think it's creepy that I'd have to take exams while being watched via webcam, and I'm not a big fan of the program.

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**Randell1234** · 02-26-2012 01:01 AM

Originally Posted by WantADegree

What other affordable options are available? What about colleges in other countries? I look at the University of the Philippines Open University, but I think it's creepy that I'd have to take exams while being watched via webcam, and I'm not a big fan of the program.

University of West Florida has that requirement - creepy, yes - uncommon, not so much. What about a local community college? You will not find a better deal for an AA/AS degree and you can decide from there. At 19 years old, get an accredited degree. You do not (I assume) have a lot of work experience to fall back on so why add something "questionable" to your resume?

**WantADegree** · 02-26-2012 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Randell1234

University of West Florida has that requirement - creepy, yes - uncommon, not so much. What about a local community college? You will not find a better deal for an AA/AS degree and you can decide from there. At 19 years old, get an accredited degree. You do not (I assume) have a lot of work experience to fall back on so why add something "questionable" to your resume?

I work full time so attending community college would be difficult. My work history is decent so far. I currently do tech support for a SHOUTcast hosting company and I have an internship at a web design company.

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