Need guide and help to choose Online Education University/School

Hi All
My name is Carlos and I'm from Colombia, I want to study and finish my degree on Computer Science, but don't have the time to go to a regular university.

I was looking for options on this matter and found the AIU, but then I read somewhere that the university is unaccredited.

Can someone please guide me to Universities that offer 100% Online degrees. Links to the sites, general information, accreditation, Experiences, anything that can help me choose what's best for my career.

Thanks in advance.
Forgive the bad English

 

AIU is accreditied but there are many options out there that are cheaper. Do you have any credits now? Do you have any certifications? Do you have any experience?

 

- I have experience, I have been working on IT by 5 years now. Mostly software design and development. (I can certify this)
- have some credits at a local university from about 8 years ago, so I don't know if those count.
- I'm on my way for certification as MySQL DBA
- Also have some small courses and certifications but that doesn't count, at least as far as I know.

 

Carlos - the AIU under discussion (American Intercontinental U.) is indeed accredited -- but there's another AIU that isn't. Maybe that's the one you heard about. That AIU is Atlantic International University - located in Hawaii. I won't link to their site because I don't advertise for seriously sub-standard schools -- but :

(1)They are completely unaccredited,
(2) They still have a .edu domain, allowed to keep it as they got it in the old (Pre Oct. 2001) days.

Now for a good school. You might want to have a look at Western Governors U. Online University | Online Degree Programs, Accredited Bachelor's and Master's . Many happy campers and the school can be relatively inexpensive. They're double-accredited, RA and NA. They're big on certification and I believe grads wind up with several valuable Industry certs as well as their degree.

Bonus: You pay by the semester, not by course or credit-hour. The more courses you can finish in a semester, the more you save. Have a look at them. I'm not an IT person, so others more in-the-know may have more appropriate suggestions.

I wish you every success. :smile:

Johann

 

Doggone! Every time I write the letters A...I...U together, a link is made to the GOOD A...I...U - even when I'm talking about the UNWONDERFUL A...I...U.

To be perfectly clear:

A...I...U (American Intercontinental) = good accredited school
A...I...U (Atlantic International) = substandard and unaccredited

Johann

 

I was talking about the substandard and unaccredited AIU.

So that's why now it all makes sense to me, I'm taking a look at the WGU and will let you know how everything goes.

Also I'm still looking for advise. And other options

 

I promise - last time on this topic. I said A-m-e-r-i-c-a-n I-n-tercontinental was a "good accredited school." Well, it IS accredited, and may be good -- I have no personal knowledge of that part. I forgot momentarily that there WAS a time back in 2006 when it was placed on probation by its accreditor --SACS -- for a bunch of shortcomings. It emerged from probation and changed its accreditor soon afterwards to North Central. No accreditation-related problems I know of since then.

Here's the story. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_InterContinental_University

Now, maybe some kind person can suggest some other schools Carlos can look at... :smile:

Johann

 

That depends on whether you mean American Intercontinental University (accredited) or Atlantic International University (unaccredited ).

 

Ted - we established the difference and which one Carlos had been talking about --a few posts ago, on 9/01.

No big deal. Moderators often have to skim, I guess -- there's just so much to wade through. Like some courses! :smile:

Johann

 

If you choose Atlantic Int'l University, then I would recommend you the University of the People's BS in Computer Science.

 

Yep! And if he goes there at this stage, he might learn a hard lesson on the meaning of "vaporware!"

Tekman - Carlos has already established that once he learned that Atlantic International was unaccredited, he was no longer interested. He's looking for viable DL options. I suggested W - G - U.

You're an accomplished IT scholar - surely you can suggest somewhere worthwhile for the OP - other than a school which is not only unaccredited, but barely "off the ground" ---or maybe not even so, yet.

Johann

 

Still looking

I'm still looking at the options out there, google hasn't been of great help on my quest.

I've found several institutions but as soon as I enter Colombia as my country the site says I need to be in USA to register.

- I need to be able to finish the degree online (All of it).
- Possibility to continue Master ASAP.
- Would be nice if I can save some credits/time with professional experience or previous local credits. (I'm not getting any younger )
- From low to middle cost.
- An unaccredited school is NOT an option.


Hope this helps.

Thanks for your help and comments guys, looking forward for what you have to say.

Thanks

Carlos.

 

Dunno why the tech gurus (and we have lots) aren't falling all over themselves to suggest schools. Oh well ---

Here's one for your consideration, Carlos: Online Bachelor's Degree in Computer Information Systems and Electronic Engineering Technology World College is DETC (Nationally) accredited, not RA (Regionally). Yes - you could start a master's after this -- but not at all schools. You should be able to pursue it at WGU though, as WGU is dual-accredited, RA and NA (DETC).

The school can be quite inexpensive. You pay by the semester (not unlike WGU) and the more credits you earn during that time, the more you save. Yes - 100% distance. I know a couple of people who have done well with these degrees. The school enjoys a good reputation. Many happy campers. Have a look.

MODS - Maybe Carlos would get more action on his request if the thread was moved to the IT section...just a thought.

Johann

 

By the way, Carlos. The school is called "World College" -- and the site says they don't discriminate by national origin (among other things) so -- I don't think your living in Colombia should present any problem to them, unlike your experience with some other schools. You might want to check with your local Ministry of Education authorities to see if a U.S. Nationally Accredited degree is accepted in Colombia.

I wish you the best, no matter which school you decide upon. ¡Buena suerte!

Johann