Looking for a good school to get a Master's at.

I may be asking for too much but this is what I am looking for. I would like to earn a Masters degree and would like to attend a school that is

1. Online. I have a 1 and 1/2 hours commute each way. The last think I can do right now is to be on a campus.

2. No group work. I have tried this before and it was a nightmare. The hours and projects I work are quite time consuming. I do not want to be held up and do not want to hold others up.

3. The school can be regionally accredited. If it is not, it is not the end of the world since the government agency I work only requires a legitimate school on the DOE's list.

4. Inexpensive and have a good tuition deferment program. I will be seeking tuition assistance from the government agency I work for but would like to know I will not be dropped just because they do not get the payment out quick, fast, and in a hurry.

5. No pressure.

Any and all advice on any schools would be much appreciated.

 

What specific area are you looking into getting your degree in?

 

Hi,

You can begin by not ending your sentences with prepositions! Just kidding!

Anyway, I think it would be helpful for us to know what subject matter you are wishing to study. What was your major as an undergrad? Does this subject still interest you enough to pursue it further at the graduate level? I can speak from current experience that it is very important to choose your graduate major wisely. As you know, at the graduate level, your course work will consist primarily (if not completely) of what you select as a major.

With that said, I wholeheartedly recommend Drexel University to anyone looking for a high quality education. Drexel is a well respected, regionally accredited school located in Philadelphia, PA (my home town). I attended the school (online) until recently as an (undergrad) Psych major. The only reason I left Drexel was the fact that I used up my $4200 tax free tuition dollars for the year in just two terms!

Anyway, Drexel has a number of 100% online graduate programs. Take a look and see if anything piques your interest.

http://www.drexel.edu - main website

http://www.drexel.com - website for online programs

Good luck!
- Tom

 

I am still working that part out. I have a computer-related BS and do not want to do a Master's in the same area. In order to get help on cost it has to be related to my job or "mission-related". I am currently an I.T. Specialist in the government. So if I do pick something total different, that is where the deferment program comes in. I will be paying out of my own packet and using the rest of some old G.I. Bill money I have left over.

 

Aspen has an MSIT, and a few other computer related master's. They are NA, but my State Government agency has no problem with this, as long as the school is accredited and "recognized" by DOE and CHEA. Aspen meets this criteria. Here is the link:

http://www.aspen.edu/programs/degree_programs.htm

Abner

 

Amberton University in Texas is RA and around 7k for the entire master program. They have MBAs and Masters in Management and a few other ones. I believe they have tuition programs where your employer can pay them direct but check their web site www.amberton.edu

 

Hi Nat - Try this Masters program on for size.
http://www.distancelearning.ufl.edu/program.aspx?p=27

 

Got ya. Perhaps a concentration in business, management or public administration might be beneficial. Some schools that come to my mind are Amberton University, Liberty University and Wayland Baptist or even American Military University these are just some of the many military friendly schools out there. Amberton is $200 per unit or $600 per class. Liberty offers a military tuition discount and keeps the cost under $250 per credit. I used military TA to obtain my masters.

 

Another inexpensive option...

Andrew Jackson University is DETC accredited and comes in at 235/hr. for grad courses. I am adjunct faculty there, but if a NA degree will work for you, you might want to consider them. NO GROUP WORK and self paced (to a point).

Shawn

 

It sounds to me like flexibility is a key thing you are looking for. You can't get much more flexible than the Heriot-Watt EBS MBA . http://www.ebsglobal.net

1. 100% DL
2. Absolutely zero group work.
3. The school is in Scotland, and has a Royal Charter, the equivalent to an RA degree.
4. Don't know how they would handle tuition deferment, but you can call their Miami office and ask about this. Nice thing is that you can pay per course.
5. No homework due dates to worry about , no time limits to complete the program, and no quizzes. 100% of grade is based on final. (Downside to this is that the finals are very hard.) But, if you feel you are not ready for it, don't take it.

Morehouse College (RA and AACSB), is now an approved partner of the EBS MBA degree. http://www.morehouse.edu/academics/busadmin/pdf/EBS%20Flyer%2095.pdf
Perhaps registering through Morehouse will take care of any tuition deferment issues?

 

If you were looking for a master's degree in the IT/IS arena, I would suggest Dakota State:

1. [GO] I believe the MSIS can be done 100% DL - check with the school to make sure.
2. [NO GO] DSU is big on group work. Three of the courses I have had so far all required group work along with individual assignments and exams. But, on a positive note, the people in the groups I have worked with have been exceptional. Everyone [so far] has been more than willing to pull their fair share of the work.
3. [GO] DSU is RA.
4. [GO] DSU is inexpensive.
5. [NO GO] DSU does expect assignments and exams to be completed by specified dates.

If you are willing to deal with #2 and #5 above, DSU is an excellent choice.

 

Aspen University www.aspen.edu is the way to go.

 

I am leaning towards a Organizational Leadership degree. It is pretty popular in the government next to Public Administration. Public Administration seems abit slow to me, so that is why I am leaning towards Organizational Leadership. Does anyone have any schools in mind for this type of degree?

Thanks!

 

University of Denver:

http://universitycollege.du.edu/grad/orl/info.cfm

 

Can't guarantee how many of your other conditions will be met by any of these, but the following is a list of legitimately accredited distance learning master's programs in organizational leadership.

American Military University www.apus.edu MA Organizational Leadership
Ashford University www.ashford.edu MBA Organizational Leadership
Baker College www.baker.edu MBA Leadership Studies
Capella University www.capella.edu MS Leadership
Chadron State College www.csc.edu MS Organizational Managemernt
Concordia University Minnesota www.csp.edu MA Organizational Management
University of Denver www.universitycollege.du.edu MPS Organizational Leadership
University of Findlay www.findlay.edu MBA Organizational Leadership
Fort Hays State University www.fhsu.edu MBA Leadership
Madonna University www.madonna.edu MS Business Administration/Leadership
College Misericordia www.misericordia.edu MS Organizational Management
National University www.nu.edu MA Organizational Leadership; MBA Organizational Leadership; MS Organizational Leadership
Northcentral University www.ncu.edu MBA Organizational Leadership
Peru State College www.peru.edu MS Organizational Management
Regions University www.regions.edu MS Leadership & Management
Saint Joseph's College www.sjcme.edu MBA Leadership
Southwest University www.southwest.edu MA Organizational Management
Spring Arbor University www.arbor.edu MA Organizational Management
Stratford University www.stratford.edu MBA Management & Organization
Sullivan University www.sullivan MBA Leadership
Thomas Edison State College www.tesc.edu MSM Leadership
Tiffin University www.tiffin.edu MBA Leadership

 

Perhaps a MPA would met your needs since you work for the government. There are plenty of on-line MPAs.

Also how about a masters in political science or similar topic?