Prz of Capella Confounds Experts...Expects Profitability in 03

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Orson, Nov 29, 2002.

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  1. Orson

    Orson New Member

    Story from Minneapolis Star-Tribune about President of Capella, says

    "Shank, 59, has confounded skeptics so far with the big cash infusions, averting the need for a takeover by a deep-pocket, traditional university looking for an online component. He also is approaching economic self-sufficiency with an accredited program that qualifies students -- a quarter of whom are minorities -- for traditional federal loans and grants. The program costs roughly what a traditional degree runs a student, without the hassle of two or three nights a week away from home."


    http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/3417773.html

    --Orson
     
  2. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    For what Capella charges, the university has no excuse for not making a profit.
     
  3. se94583

    se94583 New Member

    I sincerely don't know why traditional schools don't swallow up the DL market... minimal costs and maximum profitability: look at Capella & Walden: people are willing to pay.
     
  4. sulla

    sulla New Member

    Not so minimal. traditional programs charge a lot for out of state tuition costs (unless you're planning to go to a traditional program in your state), plus poor amount of transfer credits. Most traditional programs want you to be their own product, so they'll make you do another m.a or m.s before the doctorate even if you already have one.

    -S
     
  5. se94583

    se94583 New Member

    But still, Sulla, UC Berkeley or Davis, or any state school for that matter could use existing faculty and infrastructure to put out a DL program that would enjoy a higher degree of acceptability and recognition than a Capella or Walden degree, and they would not have to re-invent the wheel or incur significant expense to develop it.

    Even paying out-of-state tuition, you would come off cheaper than a Capella or Walden degree. After all, a PhD from the Univ of Iowa or Florida would be much more desirable and be much more marketable in the real world than one from an internet university that exists only on paper and in a few rented administrative offices. I'm sure Capella or Walden students put out good work, but in the end, the sad reality is that they will always have to justify their degree.

    I assume it must be prejudice by the gatekeepers towards DL in general that has forced the B & M schools to lag behind the for-profit "internet universities" in this regard.
     
  6. sulla

    sulla New Member

    Most of those top schools already have dl programs.

    This depends on the school.
    I agree that Capella is expensive and not for everyone but offers very good programs.
    But, like I said, most traditional universities already have dl programs. Some are very pricey and others cheap. I believe Duque's online MBA costs around 100,000 $.
    Other online programs from James Madison University charge $535/$535 per credit hour for the MBA.
    Florida State University's tuition for an online MBA goes around $718/$875 per credit hour.

    Capella University, in comparison, charges about $300 per credit hour for its MBA.

    These virtual universities that you mention are regionally accreditted and with a good reputation. There is already a lot of marketability with a degree that is accredited. And these are legit, real degrees. And I hear that in the IT and computer science world, online degrees are more desirable in the industry than those from traditional schools.


    Now, a PhD from Harvard would always be more marketable than one from a #40 Ivy League school, and an Ivy League school will be more recognized than that from a third tier university, etc, etc.

    -S
     
  7. Gary Rients

    Gary Rients New Member

    I'm genuinely curious to know where you heard this. I'll be trying to market a BA from TESC and an online MS from a relatively unknown school (Capitol College), so any leads to employers or recruiters who feel this way would be appreciated. I would think that if anything there would be an advantage to be gained through the name recognition of a traditional school, but I'm all for finding employers who believe otherwise. :)
     
  8. sulla

    sulla New Member

    Gary,

    I read this in a survey done back in 2000 I believe. I can't find it now but will post it when I do.

    It stated that most employers in the human resource field still had negavite perceptions of dl degrees (over 60%), and from those showed preference towards a dl degree affiliated with a reputable B&M school. Now, according to this survey, employers in the IT industry actually showed preference towards online degrees in the computer field than traditional ones. The study did not state whether the name of the school was that important.

    -S
     
  9. Howard

    Howard New Member

    [ I'm sure Capella or Walden students put out good work, but in the end, the sad reality is that they will always have to justify their degree.



    Interesting, I have never had to justify my degree. Not in academia nor in the medical environment. I am the Behavioral Coordinator at a CardioPulmonary Rehabilitation Center and no one has questioned the degree. This includes adminstration, medical doctors and psychiatrists. So, Capella must be very well regarded.
     
  10. simon

    simon New Member

    Quote from Howard

    Interesting, I have never had to justify my degree. Not in academia nor in the medical environment. I am the Behavioral Coordinator at a CardioPulmonary Rehabilitation Center and no one has questioned the degree. This includes adminstration, medical doctors and psychiatrists. So, Capella must be very well regarded.

    Response:

    There will be instances where employers, colleagues and friends will inquire as to, for example, what and where is Capella. Joking remarks may be made as well. However, the bottomline is that if the individual who possesses the degree is a substantial person with a credible work history and projects a level of professionalism, the DL degree, in the majority of cases, will probably not be an issue of signifcant contention.
     

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