affordable distance MBA

I am seeking for affordable (say, less 15K), completely distance (online is the best), accredited (some way, see no reasons why not) MBA program with maximum flexibility and minimum additional requirements (GMAT, TOEFL, prerequisites for non-business degrees, etc).

So far I think about Columbia Southern university (DTEC accredited). But all info I know about it is from their site. Any feedback is appreciated!

Is there any advantages in another DTEC-approved (Andrew Jackson, California National for AS, etc) or regional accredited?

Most reginal accredited suppose that courses should be finished in a term. I couldn't say it is exciting: sometimes i have a lot to do at work and I couldn't predict when it happens. And usually they have a lot of additional requirements. If somebody knows any flexible RA MBA it will be great.

Thanks!

Alex

 

I don't know of any regionally accredited MBA programs so flexible.

Regis University, which probably is under the 15K range, seemed to be fairly flexible with their videotaped offering. Other than that, you might try one of the overseas gaap schools. You might find one by publication only.

Heriot-Watt is extremely flexible(except for the date you will have to take tests). Other than that, you study at your own pace from what I understand. HW is probably under 15K, too.

Bing

 

Alex:

Check out www.degree.net for RA MBA options.

Russell

 

I don't know if this piece has been mentioned on this board yet, but there's an informative article titled "My experience with Heriot-Watt University's Distance Learning MBA Program" at"
http://www.abbeyassociates.com/hwpage.html

The author gives a strong but qualified endorsement of H-W, the only major caveat being that the degree was twice cited as the reason why he wasn't considered for adjunct teaching posts at RA colleges.

 

Good afternoon, Alex!

If you visit Jonnie Liu's site at http://www.geocities.com/liu_jonathan/distance.html on the web, you will see that he has listed 138 US MBA programs and 56 non-US programs as of 04/30/01. His site includes links to the various schools, and he also has listings of other DL programs ranging from health care to engineering to business.

Good luck in your search!

 

The author also that a non-profit evaluator said that "Heriot-Watt's MBA is equivalent to a non-credit, US adult vocational program, not a graduate degree (reason: Heriot-Watt accepts students into the MBA program who don't have a bachelor's degree.)"

This is absurd. IMHO, HW MBA is a world-class MBA.

Ike

 

It is absurd. Bear reports this, however, noting that almost all evaluators considered it comparable to a U.S. M.B.A. or M.A. One came to the same silly conclusion about H-W, that it wasn't even equivalent to a bachelor's degree. When it comes to these unregulated agencies, shop around.

Rich Douglas

 

I think the Heriot-Watt approach serves many students' needs in terms of time flexibility and substantive rigor. I do wonder what H-W's brand-name recognition level is among typical U.S. employers. Has it developed a certain cachet yet, or is it still something that a job applicant has to sell a bit (though not necessarily "defend")?

 

Before this thread veers off on the topic of H-W, I'll suggest that you look CSU Dominguez Hills' online MBA.

It is 100% non-resident, is offered on-line (it's quite interactive), is regionally accredited, comes from a California State University campus, is open to students anywhere in the world, and it is very inexpensive by MBA standards. It currently totals $8000 for the 30 unit program (you pay by the course and can attend part-time). If your bachelors wasn't in business you may need to take some prerequisite coursework as well, but you will still come in well below $15K.

But it does require the GMAT for admission, and some kind of ESL test if your native language isn't English. It also operates on a normal semester schedule, so you will have due dates and stuff.
http://mbaonline.csudh.edu/index2.htm

 

David wonders "what H-W's brand-name recognition level is among typical U.S. employers. Has it developed a certain cachet yet, or is it still something that a job applicant has to sell a bit (though not necessarily "defend")?"

By the end of my seven-year involvement with helping to market the Heriot-Watt MBA (1998), we had been through more than 1,000 corporate approval processes, including 73 of the Fortune 100. About 80% were an automatic "Yes." Between 18 and 19% required a bit more information before saying "Yes." And about 1% said "No," usually because they did not pay for any non-US schools.

The only major company that said no was one of the more interesting situations. There were 12 people at a Texas location who wanted to go through the program together, but were turned down by the local head of HR. On appeal, he said he would be willing to talk, so I went to Dallas for a meeting.

He looked up and down the hall, closed his door, and said, "I worked my tail off doing my MBA at SMU fulltime. If you think I'm going to allow my people to do this namby-pamby spare time thing, and get the same degree I got, you've got another think coming. And if you tell my people, or say anything publicly about this, I'll deny I ever said anything."

So if you want to buy air compressors, truck air conditioning systems, microturbines, etc., you'll probably not be dealing with a Heriot-Watt MBA, unless . . . [time out. I just telephoned the company in Dallas and asked for this man. They said no person with that name works there...]

 

About two years ago, CSUDH said that GMAT is not required if the applicant has an US RA graduate degree. But now everyone has to submit the GMAT score. Is this because CSUDH is in the process to apply for AACSB accreditation?

------------------
Jonathan Liu
http://www.geocities.com/liu_jonathan/distance.html

 

Thanks. It is 139 as of today with Sullivan University in Kentucky joined the game recently.


------------------
Jonathan Liu
http://www.geocities.com/liu_jonathan/distance.html

 

Make that an even 140 should Jonnie choose to include Upper Iowa University's new offering - a generic online MBA . . .
http://www.uiu.edu/Prospective_Students/IDX_online.html

 

Thanks for replies!

I already spent a lot of time looking at different lists and following links. But wasn't very succesful. Sometimes you need to spend an half of an hour to find, for example, tuition on a university site and understand that it isn't for you...

It was reason why I sent the original message...

By the way, it is interesting that nobody comments "Southern Columbia University" or other DETC accredited (Andrew Jackson, etc).
It looks like they are most flexible.

What could be disadvontages of DETC-approved university comparing with a third-level RA- approved colledge?

If suppose that I definitely won't apply then for Ph.D. in BA (only objection I read so far)

Thanks!

Alex

 

In terms of the use of a DETC degree for the purposes of entry into graduate RA programs, documented significantly lower utility when compared to the utility of RA degree or the foreign equivalent of an RA degree (though there may be anecdotal testimonials recalling an acceptance here or there, few have been substantiated).

In terms of its use in pursuit of an academic appointment at a US RA college or university, probably zero utility, in comparison to the utility of an RA degree or the foreign equivalent thereof.

In terms of its use in pursuit of employment in industry, probably significantly reduced utility when compared to an RA degree or the foreign equivalent of an RA degree. I understand there is an effort underway by a contributor to this board to qualify any bias that may exist in this respect (among others - distance v. residential etc.). When that study is complete and published, then we'll know. . . something.


In summary then:

1) DETC degree not too useful if presented for the purposes of admission into RA graduate programs in lieu of RA degrees (even third-level).
2) DETC degree of little use when used to gain employment in academia, when compared to a third-level RA degree.
3) DETC degree holder MAY experience significant handicap in employment relative to an equivalent third-level RA degree holder.

Given 1), 2), and 3) above, and comparing the other relatively marginal differences in benefits and costs of DETC over RA programs, most considering graduate study may reasonably be counseled to consider RA options first and perhaps, exclusively.

 

Lawrie,

Thanks a lot. It's done.



------------------
Jonathan Liu
http://www.geocities.com/liu_jonathan/distance.html

 

I've taken the GMAT and applied for the University of Baltimore's Merrick School of Business WebMBA program. It's a bit more expensive, but U of Baltimore seems to be pretty well-ranked, is fully accredited, and matches my needs.

I found out about it by looking at BusinessWeek's online MBA guide. Specifically, check out
http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/00pt/#dist

(you might need to scroll to the bottom)

I figure that if a program doesn't even make BW's list, I'm not going to bother... your mileage will vary!

 

I won't bother commenting on DETC vs. RA recognition, since that has been covered already. I will say that the 2 schools you mention (Columbia Southern & Andrew Jackson) are indeed DETC accredited, but both have very shady backgrounds. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable with either school.

With the wealth of RA business programs available, I don't really see the point of considering DETC. But if you must, I would recommend;

ISIM University http://www.isim.edu (MBA)
American Military University http://www.amunet.edu (MA-Management)

Best of luck,

Bruce

 

- a generic online MBA . . .


As matter of fact it has 4 Areas of academic emphasis for this program which include:

Accounting
Human Resources Management
Quality Management
Organizational Development

Am enrolled in the Accounting.

Best regards

Vini