I am considering a Ph.D. in Psychology and have narrowed my choices between Capllea and Walden. All things being equal between these two choices ( either will suit my needs ) , the cost is of considerable importance . Mainly because it is unlikely , for various reasons in my life , that I could recoup this money in anyway. The total cost will depend considerably on how much credit they allow me for transfer credits. Can this be negotiated beforehand ? Or is it better to pay $50.00 and go through the admission process and see what happens ? I know this question may appear crass to some readers considering were talking about education . But then they don’t have to explain all this to my wife. Well I guess there are more inappropriate forms of a mid life crisis then trying for a Ph. D.. ( joke )
Well... You probably can't get them to agree in advance how many credits you'll get (unless they're willing to do a full evaluation of your credits, etc prior to applying, which some schools *will* do)... but I'd suggest making it very clear to each school that while you'd be thrilled to go to their school, the financial aspect will be the deciding factor, so both transfer credits and whatever sort of financial aid/grants/scholarships the school can offer will significantly impact your decision. For the most part, DL schools are unlike traditional bricks-and-mortar colleges in that they are not nearly as selective; hence those that are for-profit entities are constantly hustling for students. And, as John Bear has pointed out in one or more of his books, as much as schools hate to admit it, tuition prices are negotiable at most schools. So no, I don't think it's crass. In my opinion, one of the biggest problems in higher education is the institutional arrogance that comes from having little or no responsibility to the bottom line. And as DL programs start to encroach on bricks-and-mortar schools, the idea that people shouldn't consider cost as a factor in education will, IMHO, go away.
