Requesting Board Input Regarding DL BA Degree Completion

Boring Preamble

I hereby request the input of the world-class experts who use this outstanding discussion board. I'm sure that others have asked similar questions in the past, but my search parameters were too vague and results too numerous to find the answer which I seek. After several hours of combing through posts I've decided to (probably) once again pose this question.

The Question

What are the top regionally accredited institutions which offer online BA/BS degree completion. The specific degree is not important, could be business, IT, liberal arts/general,etc. I've read a lot about the big three but am not sure if that route is a good option (economical/quick) given my situation (holding AA degree only). The evaluation criteria, in order of importance to me, being:

1) Cost: Low
2) Time: Fast
3) Quality of Education: Good


Other Relevant Information

I hold an AA degree and have completed a few (maybe 12) additional credits at state university.

Have spent the past seven years working as a technical project manager so may be able to leverage some of that experience via learning portfolio or testing through courses.

I'm not opposed to taking courses (opposed to testing through the degree) but am clearly more motivated by getting the piece of paper ASAP than filling a void in my knowledge or education. In this competitive labor market I'm missing too many job opportunities based on the fact that my resume lacks a degree.

Thanks in advance for your thoughtful replies.

Brett

 

Considering you have an AA (as opposed to an AAS or AS) the time involved in completing a BA/BS may be pretty quick. Are far as cost is concerned the first thing that comes to mind:

Ohio University's Bachelor of Specialized Studies

I forgot the exact tuition; its pretty cheap though.

You can also goto the "big three" assessment colleges:

Excelsior College

Thomas Edison State College

Charter Oak State College

With these schools it is possible to "CLEP" your way through a degree (due to the liberal transfer rules w/ CLEP's, DSST's, ECE's, etc.).

Lawrie Miller explains how to do this here.

There are quite a few of online degree completion programs as well. Just do a google w/ "online degree completion" or something to that extent. You can also do the search function on this site and search it (a lot of threads addressing this topic).

Hope this helps!

Bill

 

Hi, Brett. Welcome to the board.

The first thing I would do is investigate what the state universities in my state (province, country etc.) offer. If you can get in-state tuition at a local state U., that will probably be your best deal.

Here's a degree completion program in Social Science, Breadth Option, from CSU Chico. It requires you to take 30 units from them, and lets you transfer the rest in.

Fees boil down to about $80/unit in-state and $360/unit out-of-state. That suggests that it might be very cost-effective for Californians, but others can probably find better deals.

http://rce.csuchico.edu/online/programdetail.asp?program=49

 

Given your needs, Ohio University may be a good bet. Ohio University sounds good and the fact of your being pursuant of a degree there might do the trick with your current or some prospective employer. Looks like the pertinent information is on this page.

Be aware that the tuitions stated are for quarter hours and not semester hours and that the degree will be titled just Bachelor of Specialized Studies and not anything specific like Bachelor of Business Administration. But that generalized titling is true as well of some of the other DL schools.

 

> I've read a lot about the big three but am not sure if that
> route is a good option (economical/quick) given my situation
> (holding AA degree only).

How can the Big 3 not be quick, given that they accept unlimited transfer credits? Just find the quickest RA courses you can anywhere else, and transfer them in.

You can also find the cheapest RA courses you can anywhere else, and transfer them in. You'll have to compare whatever you save by doing that with the Big 3's fees.

> The evaluation criteria, in order of importance to me, being:
> 1) Cost: Low

To keep costs low, make sure, if possible, that your current employer is willing to help you. The best solution might be learning contracts (where you get credit for learning stuff on the job). Next best would be (whole or partial) employer reimbursement of your tuition.

> I'm not opposed to taking courses (opposed to testing
> through the degree)

Why?

> but am clearly more motivated by getting the piece of paper
> ASAP than filling a void in my knowledge or education.

Isn't that a bit sad? If you were running a university, wouldn't you guide students seeking a piece of paper (parchment?) to courses that actually met their needs? How would that apply in your case?

> In this competitive labor market I'm missing too many job
> opportunities based on the fact that my resume lacks a degree.

Would those include opportunities for promotion by your current employer?