Lowest cost RA DL master's degree in U.S.?

Hello all,

I completed my BA from Thomas Edison, an AA from Charter Oak, and accidentally picked up two other associate degrees from the Community College of the Air Force.

My financial category could be accurately described as "the opposite of rich."

I am looking for the cheapest master's degree program that is:

1) Located in the U.S.
2) Regionally accredited
3) 100% distance learning

Confession: I'm seeking a degree for no lofty goal, just personal enrichment/validation/satisfaction. I am thus somewhat flexible on the course of study.

Any suggestions on low-cost U.S. RA 100% DL graduate degree programs would be greatly appreciated.

Bill

 

Are you still on active duty? If so, are you looking for classes under the TA cap? What are you interested in?

 

It depends upon your interests, most definetly.

If you still have TA options, use them... Then almost any program is affordable.

- at Four classes a year, Touro international is semi-affordable because no texts. But it does cost 2 grand per course, it might use up your cap. Degrees in Info, Ed, and business

- Edison has a neat MPS degree that lets you explore many subjects. So does Excelsior (MLS), but you need to take five classes somwhere else and transfer, unless you design your own via learning contract.

- Look at American Military University, they offer degrees in MANY subject areas, RA is probably coming soon. They are military friendly.

- Troy State U has 10 course DL Masters degrees in IR, Education technology, and business.

- Cappella is not cheap, but they give a 10 percent discount to the military. TA is the way though, they are expensive.

- without TA, look at State schools like Indiana, Indiana State, or U of Missouri, there TA is low. Most State schools will be cheaper than any DL specialist like TUI or Phoenix

- U of Phoenix is expensive, but military friendly.

Good luck.

 

If you are still Military TA eligible for this degree, Touro U may be the most affordable with their MTAP program that combines military TA with their own internal discount/tuition assistance program that will allow you to take up to 28 hours at no cost each year.

University of Phoenix used to give a 25% discount to military members for their online program -- I took this route about 5 years ago which with TA made it a rather affordable option.

If you are still active duty, take a look at the different residency requirements for schools you are interested in schools such as the UMUC will offer in state rates to active duty military members no matter which state they are stationed in -- I had a friend in North Dakota who was able to go down this path to save quite a bit for his bachelor's degree.

My personal advice, would be to figure out which course of study interests you before deciding on an institution, but that may just be me. While there are many inexpensive degrees out their, I personnally would not put myself through that much work just to get a piece of paper especially since your goal is for personal enrichment.

 

Amberton is $200 per credit.

 

Fort Hays State University in Kansas offers a Master of Liberal Studies program that is 100% DL. There are several concentrations available, and it is unusually inexpensive for a RA school.

 

For a fairly comprehensive listing of DL Masters programs (arranged by price) you should stop off at Lawrie Miller's site:
http://www.bain4weeks.com
It's perhaps the best site of its kind on the net.
Jack

 

Does anyone has any experience with FHU ? Anyone heard of or have taken their MLS program ? Any pros and cons ?

 

Fort Hays State University MLS

I just started the MLS program from Fort Hays State University. So far I think it is a good program.
Pros:
1. Cheap! $150 per semester graduate credit hour, $112 per undergrad hour.
2. Easy to enroll.
3. Easy to order course materials.
4. I was able to enroll for the first semester before submitting my application, so I could get started fast.
5. Lots of courses available.
6. Lots of concentrations, essentially you could tailor your own withing limits.
7. 31 hour masters, rather than 36+
8. Regionally accredited.
9. No campus visits required.
10. No thesis required - thesis option, project option, research option, internship option.
11. Video and CD-ROM supplemented on-line courses.
12. Lots of instructor input and support.

Cons:
1. 10 hour requirements in interdisciplinary studies - so far seems like coursework in how to think, read, and write at the grad level. Maybe okay for some, but a little slow for me personally.
2. The videos for the course I'm taking could be better.

I've also taken an on-line course from University of Wyoming, and that was also excellent.

Hope this helps anyone looking into FHSU.

BK

 

FHSU has a good academic reputation, in KS anyway. They are also known for their beer drinking as well, not that it would matter for DL classes

 

Re: Fort Hays State University MLS

I think instructor/tutor support is very important. Is the program tutor paced and cohort based ? or does one work independant and alone ? are the books and examination fees included in the course materials ? Are you planning to take CIS or INT concentrations ? I think CIS is video based and others online?

Thanks for the info.

 

FHSU

The cost of testing is included in the tuition; books are not.

The program is semester based, with a cohort like any other class.

The program is not tutor based, but rather moderated and taught by a regular member of the faculty; they teach both on-campus and through the Virtual College.

My concentration will be in public administration.

BK

 

Hey BK -- how does FHSU handle testing?

I spoke with someone at the school and they indicated that testing procedures (whether timed online, proctored or open-book) are at the discretion of the instructor. But I'm wondering what your experience has been.

Personally, I'm hoping to avoid too many proctored exams as the scheduling always seems to bog me down.

Thanks,
Dan

 

Testing

The class I am currently in requires 3 proctored exams; my supervisor at work is doing the proctoring, so that has not been a problem. The classes I am taking next semester do not require proctors. So, as they said, it depends on the instructor.

BK