The Playing Field Narrows: MBA Saga Continues

Hello all,

In my continuing saga of finding a new MBA program I believe that I have spoken to and researched close to 75 schools, universities and colleges.

My final 3 pick for an MBA program is as follows with a pros and cons list.

At the top of the heap is Ashford University http://www.ashford.edu/home/index.php?width=800


The Good:

These guys are RA

They have a small student body with lots of instructors for future growth. As of now they have a ratio of 12:1

They were originally campus based, thus have a campus, with baseball, basketball, etc. This is important to me because the “online only” schools have a stigma attached to them by people I work with and who are fairly conservative about education period. People are sometimes funny like that because a NA school that has a campus will be better regarded than a RA school with no campus…and I have no idea why but there it is. So being campus based and RA puts most people at ease, even when they have an online program because I guess somehow student sneakers on campus grass means more rigor in their minds.

They are willing to defer my tuition until my FAFSA kicks in, which is great, because I tapped out my savings paying for enrollment, books and courses at St. Joe’s.

They are 6 week semesters, which I had at Southwestern, using blackboard which I am familiar with. I have an intense work ethic but a short attention span. So, score!

They seem to be very eager to grow their student body. Recently celebrating a 14% increase in enrollments from the year before from 300 and change to 400 and change students on campus and 2 or 3 thousand online learners, a small school indeed but one that is sure to grow.

I really like the MBA in Organizational Leadership since they do have leadership orientation towards that program following a core. Even though I can’t do St. Joe’s MBA in leadership that doesn’t mean I changed my mind on the importance of leadership at the executive/managerial level.

They have recently had a tuition drop to $445 an hour….which albeit is expensive compared to some, this puts them at $16,020 plus books vs. the St. Joe’s $15,750 plus books. Thus the difference is in reality $270. BUT, Ashford has agreed to pay for my first 2 class’s books. About a $300 value, which puts them about $30.00 cheaper. Suffice to say the difference in price is negligible.
The Bad:

Ashford is relatively new, which provides the mixed blessing of small student numbers, high faculty to student ratio and motivation on their part to bend over backwards to get you into their program. BUT, who knows if they will still be with us in 10 years. The campus will surely be there, but Ashford as and entity? Who knows….since they are for profit anything can happen.

I’m not crazy about getting into debt, even if half of it is offset by reimbursement, but unless I’m going to do a NA MBA like Aspen, I’ve no choice. There are less expensive options like Chadron or Amberton, but I will not be reimbursed for leveling courses….either way, with the reimbursement at Ashford I’m looking at approximately $6,000 to $7,000 give or take for the MBA. Which ain’t bad I suppose.

The Ugly:

Ashford is for profit. Okay, call me a Republican at heart or something, but I believe that for profit schools are actually good for both the student population at large and for academia. But some look at this negatively. So it’s not bad or good 100%, just ugly.


Next on the heap is Bellevue University MBA http://www.bellevue.edu/


The Good:

They are RA

They are not for profit and over 40 years old.

They are campus based, in fact, several campuses at that. The online is just another facet of their operation and I gather from what I read, is not their primary bread and butter.

They’ve been online since 1996.

They will accept my Economics credit transfer from St. Josephs College…which puts me at 11 more classes.

They’re only $340 a credit but will go to $370 a credit in July. This seems to be a universal trend for all colleges now. Placing them at about $12,000 to $13,000 for the degree. $3,000 less than Ashford.


The Bad:

I don’t know if they will start me off without my putting up cash for the first couple of classes. I’ll find out Monday.

Also they have statistics. Did I ever mention I dread statistics? Oh, I’ll do them if I have to, I did for my BSCJ, but they were not fun then, they’ll be less fun now.

They do not have a “leadership” emphasis.

Their semesters are 12 weeks. I’d rather take one class at a time at 6 weeks than 2 at 12, but what can you do right?

The Ugly:

They have been criticized for recruitment tactics like a for profit. I don’t know if this is good or bad, so I’ll call it ugly.

Last on the docket is Brenau University http://www.brenau.edu/


The Good:

They are campus based.

The MBA is only 10 classes long, with 1 leveling course, making for 11 courses for yours truly.

They are RA.

They are somewhat small.

The semesters are only 8 weeks with 7 weeks assigned work.

The Bad:

I think the first class will be out of pocket before FAFSA kicks in.

They are a women’s university, which has weekend, nights and online programs for men, but primarily a women’s university. Maybe I’m being chauvinistic but I had a friend who received his AS from Texas Women’s University, and the stories he could tell trying to justify why he chose that school to other men…

I have to take the GRE, GMAT or MAT exam.

The Ugly:

I’ve not heard much about these guys good or bad. They pretty much are under the radar which can be good or bad I suppose.

Given these 3 schools Ashford is my first choice unless Bellevue comes through on the FAFSA stuff. In which case I guess I could suck up statistics and the 12 week semesters in exchange for my Economics credits transferring over.

Bellevue is a close second and Brenau is a distant third.

I’ll contact Touro International U. on Monday

Did I miss anything on any of these guys?

I personally do not think any one of these schools is going to be more prestigious than the other being that they are not top tier B-schools. That being the case it comes down to the little things like price, curriculum and support.

Any comments? Advise? Cheers or Jeers for a particular school?

 

First of all, I have not taken classes with any of these schools. I have visited the web sites of each at some point in the past while investigating my DL options.

If it were me, I would opt for Bellevue University. I understand they have a pretty good reputation in their area, and I have heard nothing but positive things about them from students who have earned their degrees through Bellevue.

On the other hand, I have heard some negative feedback about Ashford, mainly having to do with the way their distance courses are run. Like I said, I have no firsthand experience, but what I read about them was not good.

Brenau, from what I understand, is a small but good school. It reminds of of St. Mary of the Woods, another women-only university which has opened their DL offerings to men.

 

Friendorfoe,

Since I have no personal experiences with either of the schools I'm not going to give advise on where you ought to begin your MBA studies - but if you should have to take Stats along the way, let me know. I have a couple of flow charts that will help you - and I do teach stats at the community college level.

I don't think you will go wrong however in any of your options. Best of luck.

Shawn

 

Shawn, I appreciate the help. So you're volunteering to be my personal tutor?

I like Bellevue for sure. The 12 weeks thing is irking a bit.

I've only heard one or two people complain on Ashford, both when Ashford was brand new and both were undergraduate. I've googled the crap out of them and only found 2 people saying anything bad. And it may even be the same person twice.

 

Did you ever talk to Touro?


You should run a poll on which school we think you should choose.

 

Okay, I talked to Touro, they have an MBA with a Criminal Justice emphasis which is interesting.

One point against Touro is that the name Touro International belies the fact that your degree was from their 100% online program. Touro College is their campus program. I'd feel better if the school itself considered the 2 interchangable.

I also spoke to Bellevue, my FAFSA would kick in before classes BUT, I just found out I may be required to do proctored testing for some professors. Not that I'm 100% against that, but I'm not really for it either. It's kind of a pain in the butt.

So even though I like Bellevue, the 12 weeks and the testing center and the statistics course, really aren't ringing my bell. I don't really want 2 classes at a time, even at 12 weeks.

So far I only have 1 gripe against Ashford, their tuition is posted anywhere on their site, which is 445 an hour. They may change it on me half way through the program, but why not, everyone else does.

My 1 concern is the speed of the courses and that I'll be buried. But I dig a challenge.

 

Hi. I don't understand why you persist with all this navel gazing about an MBA program...

Did you go up the ladder at St. Joe's to discuss FAFSA?

I doubt whether your point against Touro means anything at all, since you will be matriculating an online program that is far from your residence; will you not be facing the defense of an online program no matter where you attend? Will prospective employers immediately know that TUI is the online campus of TC? Will you lie if someone asks you if it is an online program? See, you're nitpicking instead of looking at the big picture.

Dave

 

Dave, I spoke to the head person in financial aid today. No dice. It's done. It's over. I don't want it to be, they aren't excited about me leaving, but there it is.

Navel gazing? Hardly. I have to stop just as I start and try to figure out what to do now.

I am nit picking, but that's because all of these are great schools with MINOR differences....but once I'm committed, I'm in for good. So I'm trying to not overlook a single issue.

As for the campus thing, I'm not saying I'm going to a campus program, but some people view a campus based online program as being more legit than just an online school. I don't know why, but I've been in "educational" conversations for it NOT to be a factor. The campus programs somehow legitimize the online programs at the same school in the minds of some of our less informed peers.

 

Not exactly, but if you are having a mental block I'll give you a hand. If you have to take stats, let me know what text you'll use - that kind of helps me.

Shawn

 

I'm in my seventh MBA course at Bellevue and I must say I love the program. Of the seven courses three had proctored exams, one of which was statistics.

The most difficult to date is my current course Operations Management. The work load is read 2 chapters per week, submit 5 to 6 homework problems per week, complete a three part group exercise, perform a field exercise that requires a 12 page paper, take two take home tests (~24 hour time limit), answer one discussion question per week, and repond to at least two students discussion questions. The professor also provides "personal perspectives" and weekly instructional videos that run 1 - 2 hours per week.

The other six courses that I've taken have had similar workloads but did not include instructional videos.

 

Most people aren't going to ask if you are in a DL program, and if they do, you can answer them honestly.

Dave