Better to go with lessor known school than one known for distance education?

In your opinion is it better to go with a relatively unknown small RA accredited state school or private university than to go with a school that is well known for offering distance education?

And just in case your asking about what field it could be:

Counseling
Forensic Psychology
Public affairs with concentration in non-profit

All Masters Degrees

 

Personally, I'd rather not try to create a general principle. I'd prefer to compare two specific schools. For example, I might pick Chadron State over the University of Phoenix but I might pick Walden over Chadron State. Then you need to actually compare the specific programs, the curriculum, the delivery method, etc.

 

I was thinking the same thing. Supposedly, Aspen is one of the better DETC schools -- I've even heard one of the best. But, would that be better than a degree from say.. ENMU, or FHSU? I'm leaning toward RA. However, if you're sacrificing on degree say.. MSIT vs. MSLS w/ concentration in.... maybe the DETC would be a better option?

 

It also depends on the person who will be looking over your resume (vita), some will not be interested in a online school and others will. I have heard that people who have earned their degree with online classes are actually preferred as online adjuncts at a few online schools. That's a poorer paying and much more difficult job than most realize.

That said, if you would allow me to over-generalize, it would probably be better to attend a lesser-known B&M than a famous online school. At least that way you would be guaranteed to escape the DL stigma, which only plays in your favor at some online schools. In most cases, a lesser-known B&M is fine. I would think that very few HR officers would pass over your resume just because it didn't say "Harvard" on it.

 

Definitely go RA. You won't be able to attend the majority(99.9% +) of RA universities for graduate school if you don't have an RA undergrad degree. Also, like others have said in this thread, attending a smaller, lessor known B n M won't signal any red flags. I got my undergrad from FHSU and am now attend a top 100 national university(according to US News and Rankings) for graduate school. You won't be able to do that with a DETC accredited degree. RA>National Accreditation every time. RA degree from a state school with a B&M presence and you'll be good to go(well, with the exception of those schools like TESC etc).

 

It's interesting that Excelsior College formerly Regents College started out more or less as a competency based school that accepted transfer RA credits, CLEP, DSST, GRE, etc. but had no DL or correspondence courses that I recall. Today,they offer numerous distant learning courses. So in essence, Excelsior has moved up a notch (in a ranking sort of way) because they went from RA competency based to RA with DL. I doubt they will ever have B&M courses.

In any case, their graduates have been accepted into well respected graduate schools throughout the country and abroad.

 

OKay that is actually really freaky because one of the schools I was considering was Chadron State

 

That is how I was leaning. As much as I hate to admit it DL schools that are known for it some people look down upon and I think even more so in counseling or other helping fields because some of them believe you can't get the same education.

FYI (anyones) my undergrad us RA so that is not an issue and I am not interested in any schools that are not RA.

 

And there are RA schools that aren't on the HETA list which accept NA credits/degrees ... Liberty University comes to mind as a large B&M and online university that willingly accepts NA degrees into their graduate programs, yet it's not on the HETA list.

 

Me too. They have a cute little Math program.

 

:hijacked: She's cute but not much muscle tone. What do you think her best time for a mile might be? She's just JV B-Team.

 

:hmmm: probably not. too competitive.

 

I might have gone there, if I could get anyone to reply to my emails. I had transcripts sent to Chadron, and I got a letter (via snail mail) telling me I was accepted. But I haven't been able to find out which of my previous courses have been accepted, or what courses I might have to take to fulfill any outstanding Gen.Ed. requirements. It appears that I would have to actually register for courses before I would get to talk to an advisor.

UISpringfield has a cute little Math program, too. And people who actually answer questions promptly.