UOP vs NCU for DBA

I am in the process of researching DBA programs. I have spoken to a admission rep from UOP and waiting to hear from NCU.

My question , is anyone enrolled in the program at UOP or NCU? I love the price at NCU and the fact that it is 100% (per the website). However NCU does not participate in title IV funding.

My other concern is the statics that the rep from UOP quoted regarding the completion rate of doctorate canidates. He says because this rate is so low UOP's program is geared to develope the candidate throughout the entire 3 year program.

Any insite anyone can give me about these two programs would be a great help in making in final decision.

 

Have you considered other schools? Depending on your interests, you may find other schools - including my alma mater Nova Southeastern - to be worth considering.

Regards - Andy

 

I second Andy's observation. There are many other alternatives besides the two you posted about.

However, I'll offer my takes on both.

NCU: Self-paced (each course, anyway). Smaller. (I work with an NCU Ph.D.; I like what she has to say about their student support.) Might be faster than UoP. No residencies. Much cheaper. Loan programs available, but not federal financial aid.

UoP: Classes, not individual study. Team assignments (both a plus and a negative, depending on your learning style). Online interactions with your class. Strict schedule for each class. Residencies in Phoenix. (Both a plus and a minus). Expensive. Large. (Again, a plus and a minus. Large means substantial, but it also means impersonal.) Financial aid available.

The utility of either degree is likely the same, but UoP will, because of its higher profile, have more variability. Some will love you for doing it, others will reject you because of their impressions of UoP (fairly or not). NCU will likely fly under the radar.

Really look closely at how the UoP classes are structured. I've found over the last 2 years that many, many students underestimate the nature of learning teams and their impact on the degree process. Some like them, some hate them.

Returning to Andy's comment, I'd choose Nova Southeastern over either of your choices, unless I was paying for it in cash, in which case I'd at least consider NCU. The only reason I'd consider UoP is because I would get a 33% discount on tuition, making it barely affordable.

 

I am currently looking myself and it all depends what you are looking for.

UoP - I have ruled out, due to the cost, approximately $48,000. (teaching 5 classes will get you a 33% discount tho) and the team assignments which I am not a fan of, from either the teaching or learning point of view. I have a day job and keep odd hours, so that is not a fit for me. Also, very high pressure sales so far. Limited residency.

NCU - Cost effective, probably closer to $24,000. NO residency requirements, and have found that former students had very positive experience. Has a nice group of specializations that are a nice sell. Still looking into how good the online research resources are. Strongly leaning towards this one.

Argosy - Mentioned by aposter above, still looking.

Nova Southeastern - I ruled out due to the residency format (alot of weekends)

Nova may have an advantage in the areas where they have B&M campuses, but I haven't seen anything that would lead me to believe that one is necessarily more prestigous than the others.

 

Thanks for the replys. I did check into Nova, however they require a GMAT or GRE score. I need to be enrolled in a program by the end of the year, so I have no time to take the test.

In the last couple of months, according to the admission Rep, has changed the format of the DBA. While it is cohort based, you do not have team assignments. In addition, they now have site other than AZ for residencies. In my case, I would attend the residencies in Baltimore. MD.

 

Oh, right, I'd heard from them that they were doing some residencies in Baltimore. I'm not sure you can do them all there, though, but perhaps that is the case.

No team assignments? Really? That would be great!

IMHO, UoP uses team assignments largely to cut down on classroom time (therefore, overhead). I don't think there nearly as committed to them as they say. I think they're poorly administered in the on-ground program, and totally frustrating in the online program. Eliminating them would be very good news, even if it's at the doctoral level (where all the programs are online).

 

Have you looked at Australian Schools?

USQ - www.usq.edu.au

CSU - www.csu.edu.au

Uni of Newcastle - www.gradschool.com.au

All are 100% online and cheaper than US schools.

 

Thank you for providing the links to these schools. I have looked into each. Iam still gun shy about doing a program out of the country byt have asked for infomation.

I did speak with a nice admission rep at NCU. She answered all my questions and more. The fact that it is 100% online is a great selling point as well as the price. Still my only concern is how I would pay w/o financial aid. I looked into the two loan program they have and the interest rate are ok. I am going to see if I can move some money around to pay out of pocket, which might or might not be an option.

In any case I have applied to both UOP and NCU. So far I have liked what I heard about both schools. UOP start date is in my time frame, while NCU is not. Worst case I will start UOP program and switch to NCU.

 

Are there any reasons for not considering TUI?

 

To me, I think TUI(if you are talking about Touro) is as good a choice as NCU. We have had some students switch from TUI to NCU due to the fact that they did not like TUI's format. Others are pleased with it. Both schools have similar tuition. TUI seems to have a more extensive libary system...which could save money in the long run on disseration costs.

For me, the selling point of NCU was the fact that they offered concentrations in various areas and had a tuition my company would go for.

 

Do they require it by enrollment, or will they let you start without it? Some schools will let you start a program with the understandign that you need to take and pass the exam within a period of time.

 

Please reconsider this. Entry into a doctoral program should be based on a number of factors, not the least of which is the scholarly environment you're entering. Switching doctoral programs isn't like switching trains on the subway. You should enter a program only after you're convinced the environment is right for your particular way of studying, that it is supportive of your intended research topic/area, etc.

It seems strange to considering entering a doctoral program with an eye on transferring soon afterwards. And that doesn't take into account the extreme limitations on transfer credit--you might find yourself right back where you started, only thousands of dollars poorer.

Good luck!

 

OOF! I missed that!

Rich is absolutely correct. Credit transfers are limited at the doctoral level. Some schools say they will allow a certain number, but it isn't like transferring undergrad units.

When University of Sarasota changed its name to Argosy (blech) I looked into transferring to different schools. Some would transfer none at all, while some would transfer only 9 hours or less.

Unless someone has a gun to your head, I would take my time to look at how each school meets your criteria (you have other criteria than cost, no?). You will be living with the choice you make for sometime!

 

While NCU is an excellent choice and fits in my budget, I have a strict time table in which to start a doctoral program. I must be enrolled in a program before 12/31/05. UOP starts on 12/27/05. The rep at NCU is seeing if the January 2006 is set in stone. Hence my comment.

I wasn't aware that i could ask request that. In any case Nova redency requirements are numerous. Which is one thing I need to limit.

Yes, TUI does not offer a DBA

 

As you probably already know, NCU offers start dates on the first of every month. Providing you can be accepted in a program and enrolled in a class by 11/21/05, there is no reason you should not be able to begin on 12/1/05.

If you want to pursue NCU, keep on them to get your application approved ASAP. As long as your advisor approves your request for a class by 11/21/05 [a Monday], you'll make your timetable. Requests for classes can be approved within hours, so after you submit your request, call your advisor and get them to approve it on the spot.

Otherwise, you are looking at a 1/1/06 start date.

 

I looked at TUI, UoP, NCU, Argosy, Nova, and NCU for the PhD/DBA program.

TUI was not accepting students at the time and I really did nt like the format.

UoP was too expensive and required the residency in AZ. Also, some people will not accept it based on the name.

Argosy was a choice and I like the 51% classroom 49% online approach but I did not have the time to spend so many weekends in a classroom and it was expensive.

Nova required the GMAT or GRE and was expensive. If it wasn't for several factors: the GMAT, the fact that I would have had to take something like 4 bridge classes, and I had planned to relocate and did not know if a Nova campus would be by my new home, I would have accepted the one weekend per month and gone with Nova. They are well respected in Florida.

NCU was cheap, 100% online, does not have the poor "online image", has a concentration, and has great customer service.

First choice for me was NCU second was Nova.

 

Howzitgoin' so far? Are you pleased with the program? What should people consider (positive and negative) and expect, now that you're into it?

Thanks,

 

First, the customer service is awesome; right on par with COSC which blew me away.

The program is not overly challanging. I am supplementing my reading with other books. For example a final assignment for a management class was -
Compare and contrast the strategies of war planning and business planning. What internal (micro) and external (macro) environmental factors or forces are considered important for the success of planning in business and war?

I read The Art of War by Sun-tzu as a prep and Colin Powells rules on leadership.

The program is good...do I feel like it compares to a B&M program - no. Is it at the same level as Nova...I don't think so. Is it at the same level as TUI...yes, maybe a bit more difficult.

If you want a 100% online RA program that does not require 15 hours a week of your time than NCU is for you. I spend maybe 4-5 hours a week for one class per semester.

The instructors are responsive but the interaction is minimal. Will I have the name recognition of Nova...no. Will I have the stigma of UoP...no.

would I recommend this program to anyone else...yes. It seems somewhat easy to get through the classes. One class I was looking at has a text listed as an undergrad text. http://direct.mbsbooks.com/cgi-vb/ndBookpage.mac/top?&CSID=KC0TT0CQA0KMDQUUDCCT&UVAL=35748&FVFROM=adoptions&FVAKEY=4508915&FVBKN=635967&FVCLASSNO=1149185&fvCourseList=001149185%2C%22MGT5007%20Strategic%20Management%22&fvCourseKeyList=001149185

I know this is all over the board but these are random thoughts.

 

The instructors are responsive but the interaction is minimal. Will I have the name recognition of Nova...no. Will I have the stigma of UoP...no.

At the end of the day none of the on-line/DL schools have recognition??? If Nova, Walden, TUI, NCU don't have any (or poor) recognition why one would go there for education???

 

Nova is a traditional school with an online program. They have a great rep.