Cost! Cost! Cost!

Well, I appreciate the great insight all of you seem to have on the subject of distance learning. I am planning to start a doctoral program in 2002. Now, since my wife won't let me get a second mortgage on the house for this; and since most of the reputable DL-RA programs cost upwards of $30,000; has someone found a source for scholarships for DL programs? Or are there less costly alternatives than say Capella, Walden etc.?

By the way, I am thinking of doctoral work in either Human Services Administration or Public Administration. Thanks.

 

Your least costly alternatives are going to be Australian or South African.

The least expensive US DL program I can think of would be a Ph.D. in Business (may be able to focus it in your area??) from Northcentral U.
http://www.ncu.edu

They have candidacy. No residency required and they have a normal sounding name.

North

 

North,

Are you suggesting that Potchefstroom, Zululand and Orange Free State are not normal sounding names for a university?

Russell

 

As people have already mentioned, the least expensive option would probably be from Australia, South Africa, or the UK.

If you're really set on a US RA program, check out http://www.finaid.com for scholarship, loan, and grant information. It's totally free.


Bruce

 

Here is a unique name I came across, unfortunately doesn't appear to have any DL programs at this time:

Uganda Martyrs University
http://www.fiuc.org/umu/umu.html

John

 

North writes of Northcentral University, "and they have a normal sounding name."

Hmmm. I thought their original name, North Central University, sounded normal, but not after they inexplicably ran the words together.

Well, maybe it is "normal" in the internet era, where running words together seems necessary ("learntodancethemacarena.biz"), or I guess in the corporate merger world ("Pricewaterhousecooperslybrandmacdonaldsburgerking Inc.")

Johnbear

 

Hmm, I think that you're a bit off base here. Northcentral is a word of it's own, according to dictionary.com. Of course that is an internet source, so maybe it's suspect as well. Northcentral also fits in with those schools that have southwest, southwestern, northwest, or northwestern in their names, which is probably why they changed it.

 

It is amusing that Northcentral University is actually in the South West (Arizona).

There is a University of North West, South Africa. Too bad they couldn't fit East in there somewhere.

 

One reason they do not offer DL programs is that one must be a martyr to graduate. All degrees are awarded post-humously.

I think I will stay with Potchefstroom, if only I can ever learn to pronounce it.

Russell

 

South Africa is in the Eastern Hemisphere. So this university is in the NORTH WESTERN section of the EASTERN hemispheric country of SOUTH Africa. My only question is how do on campus students get to the nearest Water Buffalo Burger Boutique?

Russell

 

Don't ever try to pronounce Potch's full name, which is Potchefstroomse Universiteit vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys, in a room full of Afrikaans-speaking people. You will cause either laughter or shock, depending on the audience. Suffice it to say that the umlaut is important. Hoer means something completely different from Hoër, as you will see if you try the online Afrikaans-to-English dictionary. I have made this mistake myself (and will not again!).

 

Actually, it's not. It's certainly near the Northern border of the country, but actually slightly East of center. Potchefstroom is also in North West province, and is notably East of the country's center line.

 

I realize that Capella is a little bit pricey, but you can do it in 2 years if you play your cards right. I did my PhD in Human Services at Capella and I do not believe you will find a better DL-RA school anywhere. If you need further info you may contact me at [email protected]. Good Luck.

 

Absolutely Russell. What is strange to the ear depends on where you are from. Wallongong (?)(Aus) , Slippery Rock (USA), University of Saskatchewan (CAN), may sound perfectly normal or less so depending on one's location in the world.

North (hopefully someday a graduate of UNIZUL)

 

Defii,

The University of Nebraska--Lincoln offers a Ph.D. or Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Higher Education, which isn't *quite* the same thing as Public Administration, but the cost is absolutely fantastic: $204.00 per credit hour for an out-of-state student (vs. $139.00/cr. hr. in-state). FWIW, they bill their program as appropriate for administrators outside of the educational arena. Just a thought.

Cheers,

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Michael Wilson

 

The URL for the University of Nebraska--Lincoln program is <http://hou-edadone.unl.edu/welcome.htm>.

 

I'd stay away from Capella. Its a pricey vanity degree mill, notwithstanding its accreditation. Get an education, wherever you go, but just don't buy a degree.

 

Thank you, Michael, for your suggestion about the University of Nebraska. I'll visit their website. I'm assuming it's a Distance Learning program as well.

By the way, you seem to have had a bad experience with Capella. Anything you care to share?

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David

 

Howard, you seem rather sold on Capella. How was your experience? I'm also curious as to how you condense a doctoral program into two years.

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David

 

On what evidence do you base such a sweeping indictment of Capella University? Allegedly being an attorney, surely you know that when one makes unsubstantiated claims, eventually one will be called on them.


Bruce