Transferring my NA credits to an RA Bachelor's

Hello DI,

Does anyone have a list of schools that might accept majority of my NA credits towards a regionally accredited bachelor's degree (online)?

I already have a B.Sc. in CJ (120 credits) from Ashworth but I feel like I want a regionally accredited degree.

Back in 2013, I applied to St. John's University, NY and they accepted 51 credits from my AAS degree from Ashworth. I was also offered a $15, 000 transfer scholarship because of my 3.50 GPA. I was surprised actually, considering that St. John's is a well respected university. However, their tuition at the time was 37k which would mean I had to find 22k. Then I was a foreigner and didn't qualify for financial aid.

Anyway, I was checking Excelsior but they said they are in the process of accepting more NA credits but that hasn't been finalized. Please let me know if there are other affordable options out there.

Thanks!

 

Why do you need a another Bachelors degree? I felt my NA degree was not up to snuff for awhile, until I realized that no one else cared. Do a masters degree!

I think I was accepted at every RA school I applied at to do a masters degree except two or three.

 

I think there is a list somewhere. Maybe in here?

http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/27819-ra-schools-accepting-na-credit.html

http://www.degreeinfo.com/accreditation-discussions-ra-detc-state-approval-unaccredited-schools/33183-regionally-accredited-schools-accept-natonally-accredited.html

http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/29168-acceptance-na-credits-ra-schools.html

 

Thanks for your feedback. I already have an MBA and I'm 12 credits in the MCJ program at Lamar.

 

Thank you for these lists

 

I agree with b4cz28. One thing I have never understood is the inferiority complex some people develop by having an NA degree. They really need to get over this. A DEAC degree is USDOE and CHEA recognized. Are you really going to question the people that sit on the board of USDOE and think that they are ill informed? Anyways, continue on the path that you are already on. I had a great employee that worked for me for 15 years that passed away that was a graduate of Lamar. Great employee, great guy and one of the smartest persons I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

 

Very cool, H-Town!

 

You shouldn't be surprised. This wasn't a fluke. While Ashworth isn't Harvard it also isn't so horrifically below the standards of a typical community college, either.

Credit transfers are at the discretion of the receiving institution. UScranton accepted the bulk of my CTU credits when I (briefly) considered trying to just finish off the credits necessary to wrap up a B.A. there despite the admissions counselor rolling her eyes and assuring me that they won't accept "internet credits."

Listen, I understand the NA insecurity. I've felt it a few times as well. But the more I go on with my current degree (RA/AACSB) the more I feel that my NA and for-profit education wasn't just a load of crap. In many ways and in many areas the study was comparable.

I also felt the same stigma when it came to for-profit education. During the years when the Obama Administration was going full throttle anti-for profit I was convinced that my degree was about to be as well regarded as one from Everest. So I went out and tacked on another bachelors.

You know what? It was a waste of my time and energy. I was able to wrap it up because I had so many loose credits floating around. But, if I had a do-over, I would have spent all of that effort on my MBA. I'd be a year closer to my goal.

Were I in your shoes I would be shopping for the best RA masters degree I could find that would accept my Ashworth degree for admission. I'd get as much name as I could afford.

 

Why would you need an RA bachelors when you're about to have an RA masters?

In the CJ field in Texas, I would strongly recommend against getting an NA degree unless you plan to be self-employed.

 

Thank you for your feedback. I agree, I generally don't run into any problem with my degree. My first police department in the U.S. accepted me with my NA degree because they required 60 college credits. However, they refused to pay me the 2k extra because their policy stated that the degree had to be RA.

Anyway, sorry about your former employee's passing!

 

I would not recommend for your to transfer getting another Bachelor degree because you have two Masters. And one of them is RA degree. Don't waste your time and your money, at this point your Bachelor degree is just a check mark off the job application.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I guess it's the last degree that really matters. I'm currently enrolled at Lamar U, 12 credits in. Will be taking 6 credits in the summer. It's not the most prestigious university but it's pretty respectable. My plan is to get into the new D.C.J. program at Cal U of PA in 2019.

 

Agreed. My MBA which has been evaluated as an RA equivalent has allowed me to be granted admissions into 4 Ed.D and 2 DBA programs (3 for-profit and 3 non-profit).

 

There's also the issue of TCOLE not recognizing NA degrees in Texas. I don't know which state you're in now; but, in Texas, that is more money lost. Having a degree significantly reduces the amount of time to earn advanced certifications as a jailer and peace officer. Most police departments in Texas pay extra for advanced certifications. If you have an NA degree, you get no credit. Therefore, it takes just as long as someone with a high school diploma to advance to the next level. That's years of certification pay lost.

Only a couple of states require all police officers to have an associates degree. Most police departments, nationwide, require no degree at all. I told my students at an NA school, who wanted to become police officers, that they were wasting their time and money. None of the police departments in the area required any college credits, and the two largest departments would only give educational incentive pay for RA degrees. And, if they wanted to become a state trooper with DPS, they needed 60 credits from an RA school. They all looked like they had just been slapped in the face.

Then, I told them that the only schools in the area that would accept their transfer credits were very expensive for-profits. I told them that there were cheaper options online, but most of the students hated studying online. They even hated that our program turned into a blended one.

 

Since you're in the mood to throw away money, I've got a bit left on my student loan.

 

Thankfully I am not a resident of Texas. I worked for a large city department in Louisiana. I think most PDs across the U.S. don't care whether the degree is NA or RA. Most government agencies will tell you that as long as it's recognized by the U.S. DOE. Of course there as exceptions such as jobs in areas that require licensure.

While most PD don't require college credits, it's very important to have a bachelor's degree (master's preferably) if one aspires to become a chief or occupy a command level rank.

BTW, I am no longer in law enforcement. I transitioned to juvenile justice, which I have always been passionate about. I hope to become a professor at a 2-year college or tier 2 university, as I have no interest in continuous research and publication. Alternately, I want to become a director of juvenile justice in a governmental or non-profit organization.

 

Look into the meeting that yielded that result and you will be shocked by the ignorance of the NA rep that was there at the request of the State. He could not even explain the difference between RA and NA. So they voted RA only because that was what all major universities had. Really sad and stupid.

 

There are persons that attack verbally and humiliate persons with NA degrees equating to diploma mill degree.
Some people report being bullied on LinkedIN groups.
For example a group P.Eng over there any NA school degree is ridiculed.
Especially by the moderator of the group I'm told.
Others gang on NA graduates, they are basically fighting for the turf and can't accept the NA graduate who is employed as an Engineer without being licensed or graduate of RA, ABET.
When someone mentioned that there is DEAC accredited university with ABET accredited BScEET degree, the person posting in the group lost his membership in that group.
I can tell that some NA degree holders can have their confidence shaken by such attacks and by rejection.

 

I've heard of that sort of hazing with engineering as you mentioned, not so much in other fields I've seen but I'm sure it's out there somewhere.

The average person (even in HR departments) has no idea the differences and similarities between NA and RA, they simply go with the popular narrative. I've watched people get into long debates about why NA is bad, and why for-profit is the devil, yet they have no idea why they believe it and just keep repeating that opinion. It's really sad that so many people can't think for themselves.

As I've said in previous posts, LinkedIn really changed my view on all of this. After witnessing so many people with milled degrees and fake degrees in high-paying/important jobs, I came to realize that much of what's been debated over the years is pointless because it doesn't align with what's happening in the real world to the extent our debate stances have led us to believe.

What's surprised me is the caliber of school that's accepted Ashworth and Nations students. I spoke to an Ashworth grad that got into Cornell, and have read about Nations University students getting into Liberty and Notre Dame. Pretty impressive, but if one were to believe the anti-NA and anti-for profit maniacs, an NA degree couldn't get you into a barn.

 

This is indeed impressive. That is why it's important for an individual not to become disheartened by institutions whose website state that a regionally accredited degree is required. The worst they can tell you is "no." Furthermore, there are people in higher ed who don't even know the difference between RA and NA. Even on the issue of financial aid, I've seen on a Texan university website where it says "Only U.S. Citizens are eligible for financial aid." Not true!