Grand Canyon Doctorate instead of NCU?

I called about the Grand Canyon doctorate today. Interesting concept. It is $739.00 a unit with 61 units. At the beginning that sounds terrible with three residences of a weekend end in three years. But they will let me transfer in 12 Northcentral units and will give me a $5,500.00 scholarship. To complete at NCU, it would be $21,000 and climbing for me. To complete at GCU it would be $30,000. I would get a doctorate from a B & M school and could get a student loan, unlike NCU. What does the board think?

 

+1 GCU

Sounds like a small price to pay for a peace of mind and a doctorate from a B&M. The savings in interest and fees through lower-cost federal student aid will make the difference even smaller.

This program, right?: http://online.gcu.edu/education.php

 

GCU. Money comes and goes, the choice of school for your terminal degree is what you have to live with for decades. The residencies are a plus in my book, not a minus. GCU has their act together with admin support and course development. The deal sounds like a good one.

 

I called, too, and I got really excited about the program. The $5,500 scholarship, the cohort model, and the short residencies in a western state all sounded perfect.

Information on the web site is scant because this is a brand new program, so I wasn't surprised to find out the tuition listed for graduate credits ($400) did not apply to the doctoral program, but I was surprised to find out it was so expensive at $770.

There is no way I can afford such an expensive program, and it doesn't make sense for me to take out student loans -- although I understand that federal student loans are forgiven if I die before paying them off -- a distinct possibility at my age It does sound really, really good though, and I wish you well, thinktank, if you decide on that program.

Tricia

 

I contacted them today and found that they are willing to discuss transfer of several doctoral courses from other schools into their program. Plus they finally nailed down the dates of the first residency June 17-20.

Rich

 

who to contact??

Tricia, Rich, and Thinktank,

who did you talk to at GCU??

I'm also considering their program, but wanted to talk with the director.

thanks,
mike

 

I called the admissions line, and they transferred me to Donna Clark. She seems to be working the recruitment end.

She is very helpful and will work to get every question answered.

 

I, too, spoke with Donna Clark. She is very helpful and knowledgeable. You can reach her directly by using the name directory when you call the main number on their website.

I'm regretting writing off the program because of cost -- it really seems to have everything I'm looking for -- I hope to be able to apply in time for the summer cohort.

Tricia

 

IMHO, it depends on what you want your degree for. If you are an education professional (ie: teacher or administrator), salary raises are usually automatic if you get your degree from an accredited school. So you should go where you will be happy. I note that some JC's (such as in California) are on a similar system.

If you expect to get an tenure-track academic job at a university, it makes no difference because neither school's degree is likely to get you hired. Outsiders just aren't aware of how hierarchical the academic world is. NCU and GCU are just about at the absolute bottom of the that hierarchy.

 

Scholarship at GCU??

Hi Tricia and Thinktank!

did Donna give any explanation of why they offered you a $5500 scholarship??

she offered me $1000, but i havent even applied yet. We had only7 swapped a couple e-mails...

i was just wondering what might have triggered a higher assistance offer.

Thanks, Mike

 

GCU might be a bit better than NCU, at least has a campus and it is not a pure online school. I would think that GCU might look a bit better on a resume but I couldn't find any reference to a tenure professor using this degree.

 

I agree with the reasoning. But while its predecessor was founded in 1949, GCU is just new to offering degrees at the doctoral level, so it will be a while before they have doctoral alumni represented anywhere!

 

I am second to that. It is better to have a degree from a B&M institute via distance.