Cheapest, yes that's what I said, DTEC School for BA

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by St.Jayne, Sep 14, 2006.

Loading...
  1. St.Jayne

    St.Jayne New Member

    Money is a factor.
    Time is a factor.
    Money is a bigger factor.
    Online is the biggest factor.
    So is there a consensus on which DETC school is/would be the easiest and cheapest school for a four year degree?

    Areas of interest would be:
    Religion/Theology
    History
    General Studies
    These would be the top interests.

    Why is cheap so important? The money would be comming out of my pocket and most likely would not greatly impact my immediate earning potential. (Based on short term career goals, family factors and location.)
     
  2. JoAnnP38

    JoAnnP38 Member

    If the degree is not for your career (i.e. you don't care about its impact as a credential) and you are primarily concerned about money, why not just buy some books or visit informative sites on the Internet and learn on your own? This is a very cheap way to learn.
     
  3. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    Since you mentioned DETC and a Bachelor in Religion or Theology, you should look into Global University . The tuition per credit hour is only $99, and they have undergraduate degrees in Bible and Theology and Religious Education.

    Grantham University offers a bachelor degree in general studies. While they aren't necessarily cheap, they do allow you to finance or make monthly payments.

    Rescue College offers a BA in Missions, with an emphasis in Urban Missions, for $75 per credit hour.
     
  4. MrLazy

    MrLazy New Member

    Have you seen Lawrie Miller's site, BA in 4 weeks? While it is probably impossible to take all of the tests in 4 weeks, it is definitely possible to complete them all in about a year. Also, the cost per credit is hard to beat. Cost of most tests is $60 to $70 plus the proctor fee, which is usually $15 to $25. Most tests are 3 credit hours, some are 6 credit hours and the foreign language tests can be as many as 12.

    I have personally used this method to accumulate 45 credits in 10 weeks. With my prior college credit of 49 hours, I only have 26 hours left to get a Bachelor's degree.
     
  5. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    A DETC BA History or General Studies? American Military University www.apus.edu comes to mind; they just went RA through NCA, though they are still DETC. Harrison Middleton University www.chumsci.edu offers an interesting DETC-only BA in Humanities that follows the Great Books model. Can't think of any others off the top of my head.
     
  6. St.Jayne

    St.Jayne New Member

    Re: Re: Cheapest, yes that's what I said, DTEC School for BA

    The reason is because, unfortunately, early in life I labored under the misguided delusion that knowledge was not only it's own reward, but was respected and admired by others. So I read. I learned. I studied everything at one point or another. So today many consider me a fairly learned individual. I am proud of that. But then your hear the "...but he/she has a degree" or something similar. That is above and beyond the that is inspite of years of expirence you can not get past the first HR person without some sort of degree. That can be quite frustrating. Not that you can't do the work, you may be the best person for the job, but without the piece of paper... So that is why. For something to have like car insurance. You don't wave it about and you hope it will never be an issue, but it certainly is better to have it than not to.;)
     
  7. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: Re: Cheapest, yes that's what I said, DTEC School for BA

    Very true.


    Abner
     
  8. JoAnnP38

    JoAnnP38 Member

    Re: Re: Re: Cheapest, yes that's what I said, DTEC School for BA

    If that's true, then once again you are setting your goals way too low. IMO, your true goal should not be to waste a few years getting a degree simply for the credential, but you should also be very concerned about the educational value of the degree; otherwise, you will find this endeavor running out of steam just like your previous choices. Believe me, no one is as smart as they think they are. Finding the right bachelors program will give you the kind of background from where your confidence will grow by leaps and bounds. This my friend is the key to improving your career choices, not just the piece of paper.

    I'm not saying that an NA degree won't fit your bill; however, for my money I would *NEVER* choose any degree that wasn't regionally accredited. There are several affordable RA degrees available and to completely disregard them this early in your search would be a mistake. I'm not an expert in bargain basement schools; however, there are plenty of people here who share your need for walmart academics. So the only advice that I would like to reiterate is that you consider very carefully the educational value of any degree that you might want to pursue. Otherwise, you will just be meeting the minimum requirements of an HR managers checklist with little to show for it.
     
  9. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Re: Re: Re: Cheapest, yes that's what I said, DTEC School for BA

    Have you considered testing out with CLEP's? If you are full of knowledge, these will be easy. I earned almost 60 credits in about five weeks. You can transfer them to one of the "Big Three" and get an RA degree quick and cheap.
    60 credits X $60 per test = app. $1,200
    Admin fees for COSC = app. $1,000
    Total = app. $2,200 for an RA degree.
     
  10. Jonathan Whatley

    Jonathan Whatley Well-Known Member

    The best deal is almost always regionally accredited, either by examination or by low-cost distance learning courses offered by a state school at in-state rates for everyone, a state school at in-state rates in your own state, or a relatively low-cost private non-profit provider like $200/sh Amberton University. The lowest-cost or about the lowest-cost DETC or for-profit, $250/sh American Military University or American Public University aka the American Public University System, is DETC but also RA.
     
  11. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Cheapest, yes that's what I said, DTEC School for BA

    I couldn't agree more, especially for an autodidact like you seem to be.

    -=Steve=-
     
  12. Tylin

    Tylin New Member

    I was looking at DETC schools for my degree as well because of cost and convenience. In the end I decided on a Big Three school (RA) where I could transfer cheap classes from my home university and LSU (note: LSU has both independent study and online courses-- $229 per 3 credit SH class). I'm actually spending a little less than I would have at my chosen DETC school, the independent study courses are very flexible, and I have greater freedom in picking the courses I want to take for my major.

    Personally, I don't think there's any drop in quality between DETC and RA. In fact, some students find DETC curriculum more challenging. I think I could have gone either way and been satisfied with the opportunities. I would say, go with the school that fits your needs best.
     
  13. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Cheapest, yes that's what I said, DTEC School for BA

    I do agree that you are never too old to learn something new. However, I have a few issues with this post. I happen to be a student of a DETC-accredited school, and while I know I'm not getting a Harvard-level education, I am indeed learning something and earning credits at an accredited college.

    Perhaps you didn't intend it, but your post is laced with snobbery. The original poster came here looking for some advice specifically about a DETC-accredited school, probably due to price. That is why I chose the school I am currently with. That is not to say I "share a need for Walmart Academics". I just went with the price I could afford for an accredited program. You don't necessarily have to put somebody else's choice down just to make yourself feel good. For crying out loud, at least the guy isn't trying to buy a degree from a mill.

    This is not about NA vs. RA. I agree...RA is the best choice. However, to put someone down because you don't agree with their choice is bad form, and not very becoming.
     
  14. JoAnnP38

    JoAnnP38 Member

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Cheapest, yes that's what I said, DTEC School for BA

    Let there be no mistake, I am a snob when it comes to the difference between RA and NA degrees. In fact I am proud to be a snob in this regard and I encourge others to follow suit. I believe you have chosen a non-optimal path on your way to an education. I believe you have a better than even chance of being successful; however, you've chosen a degree from a college that doesn't have a long history of producing graduates and as such will not give you everything one should expect from a degree.

    I also find the rampant credentialism that is often evident on this board appalling. Personally, I think most people who are credentialists really have low expectations of what a college education is all about. I have to put up with this sort of wrong-headed line of thought every day; however, I almost never chime in. At least you can do is afford me my bit of snobbery which was clearly delineated as my opinion.

    As for my advice to the poster, I believe my advice is sound. There are several inexpensive options for an RA degree and it would be a mistake to exclude them this early in his search.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 15, 2006
  15. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    I work with people who hold bachelor, master and doctorate degrees. Thank God they don't share your opinion, or I never would have been hired. In fact, they were impressed that I am studying for a degree at my age. Accreditation did not even enter the picture. If they do share your opinion, at least they have kept it to themselves.

    By the way, I am studying at a school with a history which goes back to 1890. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and South African President Nelson Mandela are alumni of DETC-accredited schools, but I suppose you also look down your nose at them because of their educational choices.

    The fact that you have attended an RA school does not make you better than someone who has not.
     
  16. MrLazy

    MrLazy New Member

    IMO, anyone who wishes to truly improve themselves by getting an education that requires a real effort on their part deserves to be commended.

    Now back to the question of the thread starter. :) In reality, IMO, there isn't any reason why they shouldn't get an RA degree. My reasoning is the BA opportunities in the DETC realm don't appear to be that much cheaper than an RA degree. Especially if the person can take CLEPs/DSST tests to achieve a high number of credit hours. In fact, with some effort, will power and a good retention of knowledge, someone could obtain a degree from Excelsior, Thomas Edison or Charter Oak for about $5,000 to $6000 total expense.
     
  17. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    I agree with all of those points, but they asked specifically about DETC-accredited schools. :D
     
  18. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    To compare Unisa with lowest tier American schools because they applied to DETC is disingenuous. Unisa is considered equivalent to RA, DETC schools are not.

    That's not to say that NA schools are necessarily wrong for everyone, but in this case the original poster said he was good at learning things independently, making him an ideal canddiate for credit by examination, and thus an RA degree from one of the Big Three, which would save him money and give him more and better choices for graduate school.

    -=Steve=-
     
  19. St.Jayne

    St.Jayne New Member

    A part of the issue is location. I have thought about CLEPing enough to finish an AA but in order to go the BA route the closest test center is over an hour away. The closest test center for UNISA is about three hours away. That is part of the reason I started thinking about the DTEC route. They seemed a little more designed for my location situation.

    I looked about at some of the mentioned schools. I liked the idea of the Great Books theory, but their cost put them out of the running, I'm afraid.

    I have also looked at the BA in 4 weeks thing also. The same issue with the higher level (DANTE) tests seem to be a problem.

    Quite frankly this (a degree) has been a desire of mine for a while. Then when I start thinking of the cost versus impact it tends to get "back burnered". This is one of those cases I wish I had been smart enough to have gone straight im after HS before having a family to not only worry about/over but to spend time with. I am envious of those to whom school monies are not a concern. If that were the case I would love to go the Lampeter route for the BA degree in Social Anthropology among others. That is simply not the case however. So instead I am hoping to be able to obtain some degree that will count for something.
     
  20. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    First things first...maybe you should look at the Associate degree, then evaluate your BA options once the 2-year degree has been completed.

    If a General Studies degree works for you, you might want to start with Clovis Community College (www.clovis.edu). They are regionally accredited and offer an Associate degree in General Studies. Tuition is $110 per 3-hour class. You're not going to find tuition any cheaper than that, DETC or otherwise. Your Associate degree would cost $2200 plus books. Transfer those credits into a school of your choice for the BA later.

    If you can cope with a Business or Management degree at the Assocaite level you can also look at Penn Foster. They are DETC but nearly all of their courses in the Management program have been ACE evaluated and will easily transfer into a TON of RA schools and all NA school. Tuition is $900 per semester (4 total semesters) but it includes all of your books and materials. Once completed you can look for a school to complete the BA that offers the major you want: General Studies, Theology, History.

    Pug
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 16, 2006

Share This Page