Top 10 DETC universities in 2010?

Hello Y'all!

Very happy to find this website!

I am looking to study an online degree. I would like to choose a DETC school because of there experience in offering distance learning.

I'm new to this and would like to choose one of the biggest and best of the universities. I see there's like over 100 Could y'll help me by listing the biggest 10 cause I'm looking for something that has a strong reputation. I will need a federal loan. Thanx!!

 

I'm sure members will have good suggestions but it would be helpful to us if you'd say something about the subject area that you'd like to study.

 

I earned three master's degrees from three DETC schools--Universad FLET, California Coast University, and California College for Health Sciences (NKA: Independence University). Of the three, FLET was the most challenging and rigorous. CCU was relatively easy* except for a few courses in statistics. CCHS was somewhere between the other two academically.

*Easy for me due to having studied and practiced behavioral health for more than 20 years.

 

Just a point of clarification: If you want to choose a DETC school over an RA school then of course, that can be a sensible choice, and there are valid reasons to do so (lower cost being the only practical one I can think of offhand).

But if you are choosing a DETC school specifically because of there(sic) experience in offering distance learning then that's a completely misguided reason.

For example, University of London's external programme is one of the oldest in the world -- far older than DETC -- and it is meets GAAP accreditation criteria, which means it is equivalent to a regionally accredited program. Schools like Charter Oak, Thomas Edison and Excelsior have been providing exclusively distance learning programs for 20+ years, and all are regionally accredited. And there are also plenty of other extremely well respected programs, such as Brigham Young University or Ohio University - Athens that are regionally accredited and have offered distance learning programs for many years -- in fact, likely longer than any DETC accredited 4 year college and perhaps even longer than DETC itself has been in existence.

I'm not trying to rip on DETC, just saying that the most rational reasons for choosing a DETC school are not because of it's experience in delivering distance education.

 

I would be interested to hear which DETC schools are more rigorous. You seem to hear comments about RA schools and their pecking order, but not for DETC schools.

Perhaps if there can be some illumination placed upon the more rigorous, without the usual RA v DETC endless debate. I don't intend to go to either at this stage and I am sure that most, who view the threads, know the arguments for one or the other ad nauseam.

Internationally, the question is whether the degree is recognised by the US DoE. The RA v DETC debate is irrelevant, as nobody knows about it or cares. I concede that this may be diferent for US students, but, otherwise, US accreditation is a mystery to all but the most ardent educatonalist. I would like to hear something about the schools, other than don't go there for whatever reason.

The area of business or criminal justice may be interesting or, even perhaps, liberal arts.

 

For what it's worth, here are my DETC Top 10 picks:

1. American Public/American Military University (also RA)
2. Western Governors University (also RA)
3. Ellis University (also RA)
4. Penn Foster College (courses reviewed by ACE)
5. Aspen University
6. Harrison Middleton University
7. Andrew Jackson University
8. Columbia Southern University
9. California Coast University
10. Deakin University

If you need federal student aid, your options are going to be extremely limited if you are only looking at DETC accredited schools.

 

I would say that American Graduate University should be in the top ten - they offer very specialized courses/degrees in govt contracting and have been doing so for more than 30 years.
American Graduate University

 

What is this based on? I see that the top few are also RA. Are they on top because they are DETC/RA or is there another reason? I am just wondering if this is based on cost, first hand knowledge of quality, graduation rate, general feedback from the many people that visit this board, etc.

 

No need for federal loans with DETC!

A MAJOR benefit of some DETC schools is their payment systems. I know that Aspen, Taft, Penn-Foster and Ashworth and probably others let you bypass the entire federal student loan system and make direct payments. Usually these plans are very reasonable and allow you to start studying right away with a small initial payment. The system makes it possible to finish school without any debt.

Penn-Foster and Asworth are both excellent places with long histories and reasonable pricing. Penn-Foster has only undergraduate programs, while Ashworth has a nice graduate selection as well. Penn-Foster has the added benefit of being ACE approved and some RA schools will accept Penn-Foster transfer credit. A nice feature of both is that you don't have to wait for a new semester to start. Just pay your initial fees and your first course will come in the mail. I know that Ashworth's tuition covers the books and course materials and everything arrives at once. I think Penn-Foster is the same way. It's mass-produced education, but very affordable and efficient!

 

Deakin University is a fairly significant government run institution in Australia and would be considered a major university here. The standards there are very rigorous.

 

Well, this is all just my personal opinion, so this list is subjective. I picked the first few schools based upon utility. They are either also RA or have their courses reviewed by ACE. The next few schools were listed based upon rigor and things I have heard about the schools programs, and because of the variety of programs they offer. I put Deakin on the list because although they are not a U.S. school, they are a decent institution and well-regarded in Australia.

 

OK, here's my list:

Art Instruction Schools (I love art)
Babel University Prof. School of Translation (I'd like to learn another language)
Diamond Council of America (it's that whole "girl's best friend" thing)
Gemological Institute of America (see #3)
Henley-Putnam University (I can see it now - Kizmet, Professional Bodyguard)
Marine Corps Institute (talk about prestige, you have to be a Marine to get in)
New York Institute of Photography (it's that art thing again)
Perelandra College (creative writing is cool)
Sonoran Desert Institute (gunsmithing, Mmmmm)
W.H. Taft University (good range of programs)

Anyone who says that DETC does DL better than RA should be prepared to provide evidence. My list is designed to show that DETC does some things that RA schools don't do. That's their strength. BTW, I think those gem programs really are cool.

 

If you're into art, don't forget about the Sessions School of Design.

 

I think Deakin in Australia is one of those foriegn universities whose countries' education recognition is already equivalent to regional accreditation and doesn't need NA accreditation (I remember a discussion on why such schools bothered to apply for DETC accreditation at all)...

 

Combine that with Penn Fosters locksmithing and you have an interesting combo!

 

Just removing the NA/RA ones, since they are not really an NA only school, I would say CCU (since I went there they must be good ), Harrison Middleton University since they have a cool mix of Humanities degrees, and Aspen University (they have a strong mix of IT certificates and degrees).

I see it as any DETC school that is offering a PhD/DBA/EdD is a cut above. No real reason, just my gut feeling.

 

I have found that the University of Management & Technology has a partnership with two of the more prestigous universities here in Australia. Australia Graduate School of Management is jointly run by the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales.

I did a progam administered by AGSM a number of years ago and found myself in the company with very senior executives of major companies. I found the course incredibly hard. I completed the program, but I was exhausted. Unlike the executives, I was self funded and financially exhausted as well.

I do not believe that the AGSM would allow it to be linked to an inferior institution. Perhaps this university may be worthy of consideration.I would be interested to hear from US students about it.
International Programs :: Australia

 

Price, stability, efficiency and quality control are good ways to judge the DETC schools. None are considered prestigious, so judging them as a business entity that might survive and as long as you is useful. I wouldn't want a degree from a school that went out of business.