APU vs. Valdosta MPA opinions please!

I was heavily leaning towards Valdosta for an MPA based on the low price and the NASPAA accreditation. However when I stack these programs side by side I am leaning toward APU.

Valdosta:
Cons:
1. Requires a GMAT, GRE or MAT and may factor in GPA of which I have none (tested out at TESC).
2. Requires 3 letters of recommendation including a form that must be filled out from the referrors (a pain in the butt as far as I’m concerned) and must be sent directly from referror to the school.
3. Full semester schedule (16+ weeks plus summer session).

Pros:
1. NASPAA accred. (this is big).
2. About $1000+ cheaper all in all.

APU:
Cons:
1. Not NASPAA
2. About $1000+ more expensive
3. Name recognition (which may be moot since APU and Valdosta are probably equally “not” well known, which comes back to the NASPAA accred.)
4. Masters in Management, Public Administration concentration instead of MPA (although this could be a positive in light of my work experience in Purchasing and Administration).

Pros:
1. Easy admission with no red tape, letters, exams, etc.
2. 8 week terms (this is big)

I feel like jumping through hoops to meet Valdosta’s admission requirements is a waste of time and resources and just the kind of red tape that drove me away from higher ed in the first place. APU’s streamlined process assumes that I am professional enough to know what I am doing and I like that.

Questions for the illustrious forum gurus:
1. How big a difference is the NASPAA accreditation or does it really only matter if looking to teach at an NASPAA accred. school?
2. Does MPA carry more water than Masters in Management, Public Administration? Since my original choice was an MBA, I thought this might be a good middle ground.

Any input on experiences with either program is greatly appreciated!

Best,
Mike

 

Would an MBA, Public Administration concentration meet your needs?

 

Yes, I'm sure that would be a good choice, but I have not found and inexpensive, easy admission, RA option for that degree. Closest APU offers is MBA w/ concentration in Non Profit Management.

 

NASPAA should outweigh the inconvenience of getting letters of recommendation and the GRE in my view. VSU is cheaper and B&M.

I also work for AMU/APU - so I could solidly support them as well.

 

My choice would be Valdosta for an MPA:

• State school
• Good accreditation
• Low cost
• B&M school
• Availabilty of a follow-on DPA

I would sign up - take one or two courses (ones that could transfer to AMU/APU) - see how I liked it - if I did not like Valdosta then switch to AMU/APU and transfer the credit.

 

More school to choose from:

University of Montana

Indiana State University

Lewis University

 

Thank you. I appreciate the responses. Although everyone seems to make light of the "admission requirements" as though it's no big deal, I tested out so have no professors to provide references. I am relying on former employers all of whom offered to write a letter but that is not enough for VSU. I have to impose on them to download a form from VSU, fill it out, add their letter and send it directly to the school (signed across the seal no less). That's an imposition and a huge pain in the rear. With that I have to take the MAT (which I will ace in comparison to the GRE and GMAT where algebra will be a nuisance), and STILL have to explain away my lack of GPA. Bottom line is I may not even get accepted and there is no way I can get this done by Nov 15th to start in Jan. '10. On the other hand, I can be up and running at APU/AMU in half that time and put the effort towards my 1st six credits.

Again, is NASPAA that big a deal? I do not want to teach and the post masters program I am interested in requires an RA masters, period.

Red tape and bureaucratic obstacles annoy me to no end. I work for the government now and deal with those things everyday. Valdosta wants me to pay for the priveledge of doing it with them. APU does not. Maybe I'm answering my own question.

 

NASPAA is gaining importance, but it's not that critical. Harvard didn't apply for accreditation until recently, while Princeton's MPA, MPP, and MPA-URP are still not NASPAA-accredited (and so are any programs in Alaska, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and four other states).

Both schools you mentioned are RA, unknown, and offer some of the cheapest programs available. I'd go for the school that goes out of its way to work WITH students, rather than keeping them out. In the end, it's how you will use your degree...

 

Troy University's MPA program recently received NASPAA accreditation and offers five 9-week terms per year with several available concentrations. The tuition runs $365 per semester hour and they require GRE/MAT/GMAT test scores, one letter of recommendation, a personal statement and a resume. The personal statement and resume are new requirements and were not part of the application process when I applied back in 2004 so that may have something to do with the NASPAA accreditation requirements. Here's a link to Troy's online graduate degree programs:

http://www.troy.edu/ecampus/programs/grdegreeprograms.htm

I don't think the lack of a GPA would be much of a hindrance for you and I would recommend Troy University to anyone looking for a high quality DL graduate degree program.

abnrgr275

 

Lexus vs. a Pinto

My vote - Valdosta MPA

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