I need help deciding between the two....Help!!

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by JasmynHart, Jan 22, 2013.

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  1. JasmynHart

    JasmynHart New Member

    I've been doing research for an affordable online college. I've wittled the list to 2 colleges: Western Governers University and American Public University.

    As far as tuition goes, they are almost the same WGU being about $2800 a term (6 month terms) and APU being $250 per credit hour.

    I guess my biggest fear is going through everything to get a degree only for it to not hold any validity in the work force.

    If anybody has any info or opinions about these schools or can suggest something please let me know.


    Thanks,
    Jasmyn
     
  2. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    What are the programs of study you are considering?
     
  3. JasmynHart

    JasmynHart New Member

    Im considering a bachelor's in either communications or business administration.
     
  4. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    Neither is considered a top tier...or even near the top tier of schools, but both are regionally accredited. I wouldn't rate one over the other in terms of prestige.

    I will tell you that is you take advantage of it there is one significant difference...WGU can be drastically cheaper by thousands of dollars. At AMU/APU you will enroll in classes and work through them in a relatively traditional manner. WGU however is "competency based" so as quick as you can finish one course you go to the next. The trick is to work efficiently through your courses and finish quickly. WGU will let you complete an entire degree in one semester if you can work through the courses that fast.

    Also know that 3-4 courses you take at AMU will be over one semester of roughly 16 weeks that are defined by their academic calender. WGU's semester runs a full 6 months...so it's essentially twice as long for your money. WGU is the real bargain choice of these two.

    A caveat...WGU works on competency units and if you don't finish your degree you may have a hard time transferring your work back to a traditional school...You need to be pretty darn sure your gonna finish up at WGU if you start at WGU.

    What is the goal? One of the Big 3 might be a viable option if you like the credit by exam method.

    I ultimately chose WGU over AMU for the MBA and I'm really happy about it...but it's not for everyone.
     
  5. JasmynHart

    JasmynHart New Member

    Im aware that these schools are not top tier, but they wont put you in debt for the rest of your life like thos top tier school will. That is my uneducated opinion correct me if I'm wrong


     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Do the degree you need in the way you wish. Not a fan of the name used by AMU/APU. One connotes a military connection and the other public higher education, neither of which is true. But don't that stop you from earning a degree there if the price, timing, method, and degree are right.
     
  7. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    We're working via the inperfect medium of the internet so I can't tell if this is a question or an indictment.

    I chose between the two (and Western New Mexico U) because they are the cheapest legitimate choices I could find. I picked WGU (after trying WNMU for a class) and I'm very happy I did.

    Your right, either choice, particularly WGU can save you a ton of money...a very good thing indeed. :)

    One of the Big 3 can be even quicker/cheaper still....and yet remains legitimate.

    BTW....WGU doesn't give a GPA, its all pass/fail...probably not important but if you continue to Grad School, even some employers, they may want to see your GPA...can be problematic. It doesn't concern me though.

    Best,
    Mike
     
  8. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    I'm going to say it- everyone else is thinking it. It's a degree in COMMUNICATIONS that's going to turn people off, not the school. Get the business degree. There are top tier schools, so what? If you have a valid reason for needing top tier, then go top tier. For everyone else, there's everything else. Regionally accredited (check) you're good to go. Will you stand out? Depends on if your against non-degree holders. If so, then yes. Only 26% of people in this country hold a bachelor's degree. Now, if everyone you're up against DOES have a bachelor's degree (required for the job) you're going to need some resume bling to go with that degree so you can stand tall. Experience, internship, continuing ed or certificates, professional memberships, conferences, etc.

    (now I'll read 16 replies about the validity of a communications degree because so-and-so has one, while someone else will start concurrent thread about how liberal arts degrees don't prepare you for employment....if I had a dime for every time that happened.....)

    Also, the coursework for both is about as different as you can imagine. You'll be taking speech and media or you'll be in stats and pre-calculus. So, consider your skill set too. Good luck!
     
  9. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member

    Very smart. I just recently ran into yet another with $100K+ in student loans for a bachelors degree at a no name private university. It makes me physically ill every time I meet someone like this.

    As to your question, it is hard for me to answer. Both are solid options. AMU/APU is a for profit school, but it has one of the better reputations among the for profits. My instinct is to recommend WGU, but I am biased since I have been a fan of both their academic and tuition model from the moment I learned about them.

    The biggest difference I see between the two is POTENTIAL cost. AMU, with its fixed price per credit will give you a good idea of exactly how much you will pay for your degree. Since WGU tuition is based on the term (rather than the credit hour) your potential final tuition will vary depending on how quickly or slowly you finish the program.

    I learned about it because a lot of people in the tech industry are choosing WGU. If you are motivated, you can finish your degree blazingly fast, which would result in a very low cost. I know of someone who came to WGU with an associates degree and finished their BS in 1 term (6 months, ~$3,000). I know of others who completed their MS in Information Security there in 2 terms (1 year, ~ $6,000). Those are great deals for a regionally accredited non-profit school.

    Other programs to consider are "the big 3" (Thomas Edison State College, Excelsior College, and Charter Oak State College). Either way, you are looking at this issue from the right perspective, any of the 2 schools you mentioned or the 3 I mentioned would be a good choice. As long as you make some decision, you should be fine.

    P.S. My vote is for WGU :)
     
  10. 2peaches2oranges

    2peaches2oranges New Member

    Another option is a state school that offers an online BA in Communication for under $10K and you can do it in 12 months. University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

    Program Information - University of Texas of the Permian Basin

    Good luck in your decision. I have no ties to this degree other than the fact that I also attend an Academic Partnerships school - Arkansas State. I am trying to get my daughter to do this one though.
     
  11. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    Your link indicates the tuition is $271/credit, thats $32K....did I miss something? Where did you get $10K?

    120 hours in 12 months via 7.5 week courses sounds pretty cool. If you have six 7.5 week semesters You would have to complete 20 credits (7 classes!) per semester with virtually no time off...that's intense.
     
  12. 2peaches2oranges

    2peaches2oranges New Member

    Utpb

    It says $9756 here --> Tuition and Fees | Online Degree Program | UTPB
     
  13. GoodYellowDogs

    GoodYellowDogs New Member

  14. Jonathan Whatley

    Jonathan Whatley Well-Known Member

    Charter Oak State College is very flexible and friendly. Something to consider:

    If you pursued your bachelor's at Charter Oak, you'd only have to complete one concentration – subject of your degree, listed on your transcript – but you could optionally complete two, and both would be listed on your transcript.

    If you earned these 36 semester hours of credit, there's a concentration in Communication. If you earned these 42 semester hours of credit, there's a concentration in Business Administration. (Proviso: Grades of less than C aren't accepted within a concentration.)

    Meet the General Education requirements and, in total, the requirements under Degrees at a Glance, and that could form a bachelor's in either, or both. Here are all the concentrations Charter Oak offers.

    If you met the general education requirements and earned enough semester hours overall, and enough in liberal arts, you could also earn an associate's along the way.

    Excelsior College and Thomas Edison State College form a peer group with Charter Oak of very flexible and potentially very affordable schools that we call the "Big Three." All three are regionally accredited, and 40 years old give or take. Two are state schools. EC and TESC each have Communication degrees and Business Administration degrees, too, but unlike Charter Oak, they silo them off in different academic divisions with wholly different degree plans and titles.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 23, 2013
  15. JasmynHart

    JasmynHart New Member

    So the "Big 3" is APU, WGU, and Western New Mexico U? Good to know. I like the fact that WGU's terms are in blocks and you can take as many credits in that time period. I just want to be sure that my degree that I will be getting will be appreciated and recognized well when im ready to present myself to the workforce with it.



     
  16. JasmynHart

    JasmynHart New Member

    I am curious why WGU does not offer any Associates degrees. That would probably be my deciding factor because im not sure if Im ready for my bachelor's yet
     
  17. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    You could bang out the AA/AS at COSC or TESC via credit by exam...then transfer to WGU.

    I get what your saying...but I question the utility of a general studies AA...it just doesn't translate to employment very well. An AS/AAS can be quite the opposite, it can lead directly to employment...but isn't great prep for a bachelors.

    You can earn a BS/BA at WGU in less than 2 years if your motivated.
     
  18. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    I agree with the above posts that recommend the big three schools. You can minimize the cost to obtain an AA or BS degree.

    I also agree with Jennifer tht a communications degree is a poor choice (you can always earn some elective units in that area).

    In my opinion the Excelsior BSLS is the most flexible degree available in the USA in terms of meeting degree requirements.
     
  19. GoodYellowDogs

    GoodYellowDogs New Member

    Big 3 are Excelsior, COSC and TESC.

     

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