APUS vs. EBS

Hey everyone. I'm just looking for some personal opinions. Here's the deal... After I'm done with my current schooling I will have 8 months of full-time GI Bill benefits left, and about 36-45 (having issues with the benefits counselor) months of Chapter 35 VA benefits.

I want to pursue a LLM (many years from now, maybe) but in the next few years I would like to get an MBA. I have it narrowed down to 1 of 2 schools. Edinburgh Business School or APUS. It's mainly for personal knowledge. I have read most of the prior post on these two, but haven't seen them compared to each other. Can anyone give any information? I haven't taken a class from either so I'm more interested on the class format. Thanks in advance.

 

Comparing APUS with EBS … Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh Business School is in my view hands-down the better option; a UK B&M university (offering on-campus and /or DL option) vs. a virtual only campus university (?).

One of our board members is an EBS MBA holder; hopefully he’ll offer first hand input.

 

Well, if you have narrowed down to these schools. Then APUS is what you're looking for because the VA doesn't fund distance learning for Foreign Schools. Correct me if I am wrong, I have searched the same question....and that what I found.

 

TEKMAN, you are correct (at least to the information that I have found) that the VA doesn't pay for the foreign distance learning programs. EBS would be funded in a different way, but any other U.S school would be through the VA. The cost isn't really to huge of an issue. As long as the program is around 15k, then I can have it fully paid for (probably should have said that earlier, sorry) . Feel free to recommend any other schools. Bottom line is that I don't really want to take the time out to study for the GMAT and complete business prerequisites for a MBA given that the degree would be purely for my personal knowledge. Studying for the GMAT is not a problem, but the MBA will be a distance 3rd as far as my priority's.

 

From what little I know the EBS degree consists entirely of exams (which reportedly are tough) whereas the APU degree involves combinations of homework, papers and exams (perhaps even multiple exams). For me the latter is the best format.

 

EBS is the better choice.
A few year ago EBS was named one of the top 100 hundred MBA in the world by the Economist Intelligent Unit.
Maybe it’s just me but I get uncomfortable with the comparison between a US online virtual for profit schools with distinguish and reputable foreign schools. For example, Grenoble with Capella, Lancaster with NCU or APUS with EBS. I am sure no malice is intended but it is like comparing NCU, APUS, Capella with other US schools such as USC-Davis, Wakeforest,Duke, Thunderbird.

 

If you're going for MBA, you should stay close to AACSB accredited institution as possible. Only going to solely distance learning school when the program is not available. There are several schools offer AACSB MBA without GMAT.

- Florida International University
- Colorado State University
- University of Colorado
- Northeastern University
- University of Houston @ Victoria
- Texas A&M University @ Commerce
- Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY)

and more....

 

The subprime of the education system, that is how for profit schools were described in an expose by CNBC, "The Price of Admission: America's College Debt Crisis. The program is on air at this moment.

 

Everyone raises some good points. I think I'm gonna step it up and just go ahead and take the GMAT. I guess I had a lazy moment. :iagree: TEKMAN, you have named some interesting schools. I thought I had done a decent amount of research but 10000 heads are always better than one. Thanks. Anymore info?

 

Ahh. I'm so in love with the Syracuse University iMBA. I don't have the 5 years work experience . I'm going to call and see if that's a "hard" rule.

 

Wow, that is a great list. First off, I didn't know Syracuse had an online MBA and I had no idea those other schools you listed don't require the GMAT. That's good news for somebody like me with average SAT scores.

 

You might also try this link for AACSB accredited online MBA’s NOT requiring GMAT scores.
AACSB Accredited Online MBAs that do NOT require the GRE or GMAT | Ratings & Rankings | GetEducated.com

BTW, the Syracuse (Whitman) iMBA is a [limited-residency] distance learning MBA program; requires 18-courses vs. APUS 12-crs vs. EBS 9-crs – both entirely via DL.

 

That would be me I suppose. As others have said, EBS uses proctered final exams for their courses. Other online MBA programs use a lot of group work and homework. Depends on what you are looking for.

 

Yes edowave you’re the one.

The thread starter originally mentioned the choices being “narrowed-down” to either EBS or APUS. Both programs’ design /appraisal are vastly diverse e.g. EBS (UK) final assessment determined by public examination (only evaluation of your work); or as you and Ian Anderson present … APUS (U.S.) assessment being based on a blend and on a rolling basis. American students might find it particularly challenging to be expected to summarize the work of an entire semester or year in an EBS single three-hour written examination period (?).

 

I didn't realize it was a final 3 hour written exam. That's exactly how we are tested on in school now.

 

Are you saying specifically that the VA will not fund DL at foreign schools or that they won't fund foreign schools? They definitely fund foreign schools as long as the school answers 15 questions and formally requests it. I haven't looked into DL though because I haven't had a reason to but that is interesting to know.

 

They won't fund DL at foreign schools. I found this out when I was in the University of Leicester's MSc Finance program. Fortunately, I had time left to use the rest of my GI Bill elsewhere.

EBS has a netwrok of alumni in the US, which is a feather in its cap.

 

Take a look at Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Auburn and the University ofFlorida. They all offer distance MBA programs and are all cheaper than Syracuse.