Aspen EdD cheap enough to make it work for me.

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by SurfDoctor, Jul 27, 2010.

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  1. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Just got off the phone with a rep for Aspen. The summer special on the EdD program is $7800 (reg. $19K) for all fees and tuition. You have to pay for the first three classes up front and you are locked in for that price for your entire degree. No fee increases.

    I am now extremely interested because, at that price, my automatic teacher's pay raise would more than cover the costs in just a few years. They have you buy your books from Amazon which offers used books for $20 - $50. So textbooks would not be too steep either, I'm sure there will be a few exceptions here and there. I expect I could get the whole thing done for under $10K.

    Questions:

    1. DETC is a US DOE approved accreditation, right? That is all that is required in my case.

    2. Will DETC schools hire an adjunct with a DETC doctorate? Or, are they as hypocritical as the B&M schools that graduate DL students and then refuse to hire them?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 27, 2010
  2. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member

    The answer to question 1 is YES! See the DOE webpage here: College Accreditation in the United States-- Pg 6.

    As for question 2, your best bet would be to call a few of the big DETC schools and ask them.

    As I've stated before, you seem like the PERFECT candidate for a DETC degree. At $7,800 it seems almost like a no brainer.
     
  3. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Yea, no brainer is what I'm thinking. As before, my issues have been poor ROI on a NCU degree and in this case ROI is guaranteed. Maybe not great ROI, but guaranteed nonetheless.
     
  4. TMW2009

    TMW2009 New Member

    Nothing against Aspen or its degree (and not even going to jump into the NA v RA debate)

    But does anyone find it strange that schools are packaging their degrees just like products and offering sales and specials on them? Buy one get one free! Low mileage!

    While the cost savings are nice, I'm not sure if I care for this aspect of for-profit schools' marketing.
     
  5. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Not me. Proprietary schools understand that higher education is a service like any other. We can romanticize it all we want, but doing so just adds dangerous emotion into what should simply be a calculated decision on a major investment -- emotion that's more to the benefit of schools than students.

    -=Steve=-
     
  6. siersema

    siersema Active Member

    I've looked at a few ads and from the ones I've seen they've only listed accredited or they say NA or RA. This goes for other NA schools as well, not just DETC. I mention this because there are a few big ACICS organizations.
     
  7. siersema

    siersema Active Member

    I'd certainly prefer lower prices all the time vs. sales but I'm glad to see steps taken that can help lower the costs of higher education.
     
  8. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member

    Welcome to capitalism.:D Personally, I like the system. They have a unique selling point and they are using it. You'll get no argument from me about it. They have to have some selling point to counter all of the folks that say "Why not just get an RA degree."
     
  9. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    I don't think it's strange because Aspen is a business. I would imagine that enrollment was down and this was a sale to increase customer volume. I think it is very good marketing. It is disconcerting to see school treated like a business, but that's the state of for-profit education.

    Does this sort of thing degrade the image of DL education? Yea, maybe it does. That does not negate that $7800 is a bargain for an EdD and I'm considering jumping on it.
     
  10. SoldierInGA

    SoldierInGA New Member

    How is that any different from a $39K/yr BA/BS or a $150K ABA JD. What justifies those tuition vs a $7900 EdD if this school can afford it within their business model.
     
  11. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    Can you teach at an RA school with a NA degree

    I posted this the other day under the "old thread" but it didn't show up. Since the issue has reemerged, I thought I would repost here.

    I am urging 2 of our adjunct faculty to earn MBA's at Apsen in order to upgrade their credentials. They have great experience, but since both of them do not have a masters, their course selection is limited.

    According to the HLC Guide on Qualified Faculty:

    Faculty teaching in higher education organizations should have completed a significant program of study in the discipline they will teach and/or for which they will develop curricula, with substantial coursework at least one level above that of the courses being taught or developed. Further, it is assumed that successful completion of a coherent degree better prepares a person than an unstructured collection of credit courses;

    Faculty teaching in undergraduate programs should hold a degree at least one level above that of the program in which they are teaching, and those teaching general education courses typically hold a master’s degree or higher and should have completed substantial graduate coursework in the discipline of those courses

    (You may access the full statement at: Publications | Information for Institutions).

    Since DETC is recognized by both the US Dept. of Education and CHEA to grant Masters Degrees, there is no issue. I confirmed this with an HLC Liaison while attending the HLC Annual Meeting last spring.

    Now, just because an RA school CAN hire someone with an RA degree, will they? I can only speak to the situation at my institution. We are a small tribal community college in rural northern Wisconsin. We have difficulty in finding qualifed faculty. So while an NA degree would be looked at very favorably at my school, it is probably a different situation at other colleges.

    Shawn
     
  12. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Very good to know, Shawn. Thank you. I remember reading your other post.
     
  13. davesaint

    davesaint New Member

    If you earn a degree at a NA school now and lyears ater it becomes RA won't you benefit from this?

    Dave
     
  14. StefanM

    StefanM New Member

    Perhaps from an increase in reputation, but your degree will not be considered RA.
     
  15. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    The trick would be to time it right and have them become RA right as you graduate.
     
  16. jackrussell

    jackrussell Member

    That is, if Aspen considering RA, but what if Aspen never has this plan in mind?
     
  17. siersema

    siersema Active Member

    Exactly. If you want to jump in because you think they might get it you should wait until they achieve candidacy status since that would be a good hint.
     
  18. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Correct - just like my CCU degrees are not really NA.
     
  19. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Of course. It is more of a "pie in the sky" idea. Sounds great, probably won't happen. I'm considering Aspen because it might make more economic sense in my circumstance. I have an almost guaranteed ROI.
     
  20. jackrussell

    jackrussell Member

    I am just curious, from my impression, DL is normally using DETC as an accreditation body but B&M uses RA. Is purely DL schools applying for RA normal or acceptable to the RA organizations?

    Add On : Honestly RA and NA thingy seems so complex that you can almost write a dissertation on it :)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 28, 2010

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