Question from a military student

I know of just two on-line schools that enable military students to complete an undergraduate degree at 0 cost (this include textbooks). TUI charges $750 per course and that includes the CDs (no textbooks per their website) and AMU provides books along with the course registration. Does anyone know of any other schools that provide a similar advantage using the TA reimbursment for coverage of both class and instruction materials? I don't want to tap into my GI bill just yet (something tells me not to use this while on active duty) and with the TA cap of $4500 per year I am limited to just 6 courses per fiscal year. I'm looking at Peru College out of Nebraska, they have a much lower tuition rate (three hundred some odd bucks per undergrad course if I remember right) so I can complete 13 courses per year and not exceed my TA cap. I would shop at amazon or half.com for used textbooks. Any input or suggestions from the many on this board that are much smarter than I would be most appreciated by this newly registered user and long time guest!

 

Look Into These

I am a Navy Command Career Counselor. Look into Grantham University - www.grantham.edu. Grantham sends you the books at no cost as well.

If I think of any others, I will post them.

Good luck in the meantime.

 

One More . . .

LSU has distance learning. Their courses are $229.00 per course and accredited. You will have to buy the books though.

 

Re: One More . . .

Thanks, I'll look into LSU as well. I noticed Grantham University is DeTC and I'd like to stick with RA colleges. I've read many a thread on the DeTC/RA subject and I'd feel safest sticking with the regionals.

 

NCU has a good deal for military. You would have to pick up the tab for the books.

http://www.ncu.edu/info.asp?i=107

Of course I haven't seen any university beat Peru State College in cost for a DL RA program.

BTW - CollegeBooksDirect.com has pretty good prices on textbooks.

 

Have you consulted your base education center?

 

Yes, that's why I came to this forum (they weren't alot of help). They want to steer you to colleges teaching on base or in the local community. That's not for me I need the distance ed format. They pointed me to a bookshelf that had a torn up 7 year old Peterson's guide.

 

You might want to rethink tapping into the VA "top up" along with tuition assistance. You'll still have a good bit to pursue a Masters (or higher) if you manage it right, and it could pay off very well in the end. A lot of it depends on how long you intend to stay in, or what point in your career you’re at. If under ten years, I’d maximize TA and let the VA GI Bill pick up the remainder, or alternately, finish the undergrad via GI Bill “top up” and utilize TA for certifications (a lot of loopholes there with the Air Force…).

If closing in or retirement, I’d concentrate on the undergrad at all costs and conserve as much of what I could of the GI bill benefits for a Masters/terminal degree/professional certification. As for myself, I’m retiring from the AF in about 15 months, finished the undergrad, and conserved the benefits for later. My point is that it all depends on where you can get the most benefit from the options available to you, and how best match it with your experiences and skills. The military teaches you a lot of marketable things, and don’t discount them – many folks I’ve worked with secured civilian jobs as much for “What they did” as opposed to “What they learned”. The key differentiator seemed to be how well they matched the degree with the experience. Good luck to you, and kudos to actually executing some career planning for the future!

Dave

 

Touro has a military discount that lets you take an additional class (for a total of seven). http://www.tourou.edu/cba/mtap.htm

I went to Embry-Riddle and used a small amount of top-up when we only got 75% TA. If you have it, use it.

IMO, 13 classes a year is a lot for someone on active duty.

Have you checked out the Dantes website? http://www.dantes.doded.mil/dantes_web/danteshome.asp?Flag=True

 

What did you think of Embry Riddle? I am considering their online B.S. in Technical Management. I don't know anybody that has done their online program at all.

 

The Technical Management degree is a solid management program. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in a management degree.

I have only positive comments on my Embry-Riddle experience. I took 18 classes through the Extended Campus: nine online and nine in the night/weekend format. Classes were well structured and the administration was easy to work with.

 

I'm a retiree - thank you - I've just applied at NCU to finish my dissertation.

 

Hopefully I didn't mislead you.

The rate I quoted above was for military using TA.

For military not using TA, the graduate rate is $285 per semester hour. I pay $855 per course, which is making my GI Bill go a lot further.

 

No, you did not mislead me - but $285 per semester hour is a great deal.

With any luck, I will finish by May and "max out" the pay scale at work.

Plus, Ill be the first doctorate of 7 brothers and sisters

 

Put it another way:

At Nova I will be paying approx. $13,000 to finish up.

At NCU it will be approx. $7,000.

 

That's terrific!

How does NCU handle ABD applicants? Does NCU require you to just complete the 21 required credits for the research and dissertation courses or are you required to take the doctoral comprehensive and a course or two in addition to the research and dissertation coursework?

I just finished my fundamental coursework and just started my specialization coursework. Needless to say, I have a long way to go.

 

I don't know yet. Their website indicates you can finish the last 24 credits (the dissertqtion phase) - I'm asking for 18-21.

 

NCU's dissertation phase is broken down into four 3-credit research courses (chapters 1-3 of your dissertation) and three 3-credit dissertation courses (chapters 4-5 and the oral defense). This would mean 21 credits are required for the actual dissertation. The other three credits (of the 24 total for the doctoral coursework) are for the doctoral comprehensive.

I wonder if NCU will exempt you from the comprehensive. That would be nice.

 

Well, I am in the Marine Corps...and I just completed my Bachelor degree with Troy University. I used all my TA every fiscal year; which is $4,500.00 for 9 classes.. plus my Military training courses, MOS school, as well as CLEP and DANTES. I finished my degree within 2 1/2 years. All I spent for only textbook, sometime I sold it and get money back. At the end of the year, I file for tax.

I think it is a smart way to do. Also, most of the textbooks I bought them at Amazon.com.

You should stay with one school to earn your degree, don't switch to different one...ending up losing credit.

 

I would not worry about using your GI Bill, either as TA Top Up or as just the plain old GI Bill, though they will only pay up to the rate of the cost of the courses as long as it is below the max for that month, no profit allowed lol. Anyway, finish your degree now, and use all available resources to do so. I am active duty Army and the Army just changed the way it handles TA, they only will pay up front for schools that use their electronic payment format, which as of now I do not believe that my school does this, so now after a BS and working through 15 SH of my MBA through Morehead State University, it looks as if I will be forced to pay the school up front and seek reimbursement after I complete the course, then apply for Top Up to pay the remaining cost, a real paperwork run around. I am not to happy with these changes, but alas, the bill will eventually get paid, though this will mean using student loans to pay for the courses then paying off the balances as I go along. So as I stated, go for the best education you can using all available resources, especially before other changes go into effect.

W Parker
BS Accounting Upper Iowa University
MBA Morehead State University--Current Student