Bears Guide question to John

Dear Dr. John Bear:

In the past guides you used to provide the cost of the degree
program in the form of $ or $$ or $$$$$$$$

My friends and I loved that little indicator, it was very useful.
Why it was stooped?

Maybe this can be done in the future.
Regards,

Misha

 

Ops not stooped but

Why it was stopped?

Misha

 

Oops not ops but......

 

da doo ron ron ron da doo ron ron

 

John answered this in later editions. It is difficult to keep up with costs of programs; they change both frequently and dramatically. Even relative measures like "$$$$" can change.

In times past, one would have to write or call the school in question, often waiting days or weeks to receive information. With the internet, things like costs can be determined immediately. This renders listing cost information unnecessary.

 

We do explain why at the start of the schools chapter (p. 96 of current edition).

Main problem was (a) impossibility of coming up with a 'standard' cost for a degree. Someone coming to Edison with a great many units and/or relevant experience could pay 10% as much as someone coming with little or nothing; and (b) it was always so subjective. Some might argue that a Stanford distance master's at $20,000 is a bigger bargain than a Heriot-Watt one at $10,000, for instance.

We do indicate in the listings if we think a program is especially expensive or a good bargain.

But I miss the dollar sign info, too -- and I even miss the 'hats' rating that I used for one fateful edition nearly 20 years ago, and still haven't lived down.

Maybe whoever takes over the book for the next edition (assuming Ten Speed decides to keep it going) will come up with some way to deal with this.

John Bear