Business Degree - Good Online Schools?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by amberlt83, Jul 5, 2007.

Loading...
  1. amberlt83

    amberlt83 New Member

    If anyone knows of any good online schools to get a business admin degree please let me know. My fiance is looking to enroll in college ASAP and we are researching good schools online. I am currently attending APU for a bachelors in CJ. Any advice/info/help is appreciated!! Thank you in advance!

    Amber
     
  2. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    There are many of them out there. What are his goals? What's important to her in the degree (i.e., name recognition, low cost, etc.)?
     
  3. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster

    Hello ambert83,

    you may want to add more information:

    Degree Goals
    Budget $$$$$
    And types of accreditation

    So the Gurus here can help you! :)
     
  4. Fortunato

    Fortunato Member

    As an alumni, I'm quite biased, but I doubt you'll find a better all-around deal than the University of Wyoming's Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program. It is a AACSB-accredited program from a well-known brick and mortar state school, and it is priced right at around $135 per credit hour, fees included, for online courses (correspondence courses are slightly cheaper!). Exams and discussions are delivered online without a requirement for a proctor (except for correspondence classes), and most all of the professors have lots of experience in distance education.

    The only downside is that this is a degree completion program, designed for folks with an Associates degree, preferably in business. If you don't have an AA, you will probably find yourself needing prerequisites that aren't offered online through UW. However, I entered the program without an AA, and I was able to make up a lot of ground using CLEP and DSST tests. They are fairly liberal in accepting credit-by-exam - if you want to take an exam not listed for credit, you simply ask the department head of the subject you want to take for approval. I was able to get several exams approved this way.

    Compared to the Big 3, UW isn't the fastest way to earn a degree. I transferred about 81 hours from two previous stints in college into UW, and it still took me roughly four years to earn 48 credit hours at UW and pass seven CLEP and DSST exams to earn my degree. Had I heard of the Big 3 before starting at Wyoming, I would have seriously considered earning my degree through Excelsior College. I'm a big fan of credit-by-exam, and I know I would have been able to save a lot of time. Still, I've gotten a lot of utility out of my UW degree. It got me into graduate school, it bumped me up a notch in my employer's eyes, and I finally have something to hang on the wall next to my wife's undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. All good things!

    For more info on UW's BSBA program, click here. Best of luck in your search!
     
  5. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    Another option could be to earn an AA at a community college - (a plethora of inexpensive options abound), then transfer to UW or another 4 year school.

    Shawn
     
  6. amberlt83

    amberlt83 New Member

    Additional Info

    :confused: Cost is fairly important but not a huge deal. He would like a regionally acredited school (we heard that is the best). His goals are to advance in his current position (he is an account executive for a broadcasting company & he is also a real estate agent). He would also like to be able to run his own business or head another company in he future. I am not sure what all information is needed for you to help us, I appologize, we are new to this idea (any suggestions are welcomed!) :)...
     
  7. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    What concentration is your husband looking at (i.e. management, accounting, finance, marketing, international business, etc.)?

    Since you live in Idaho, I would see if any of the Idaho Community Colleges have DL programs (if you can knock out gen ed courses and intro business courses at a CC at a low cost, why not?). Once your husband earns the AA, then transfer. Again, not knocking the Big 3 (or anyone else for that matter), but if your husband earns a BSBA from the University of Wyoming - everyone in Idaho will know where the degree came from. I agree with Fortunado, an AACSB degree for $135/hour is a bargain.

    Best of luck in the homework.

    Shawn
     
  8. amberlt83

    amberlt83 New Member

    ???Stevens Henager???

    Does anyone know anything about Stevens Henager distance learning for a BS in Business???
     
  9. amberlt83

    amberlt83 New Member

    Additionally - I just read on the site that they are not regionally accredited, only nationally by Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), is this bad? What concerns could this raise, if any? Does anyone know the price per hour? Any further info??? They do have a campus here in Boise, ID. Thank you in advance for any info!!!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 6, 2007
  10. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    In your husband's situation, I'd say that the University of Wyoming was a great suggestion. You're right to prefer regional accreditation, and not only does Wyoming have that, but they also have AACSB, which for business programs is even better. If your husband doesn't have an Associate's, consider San Juan College, a community college in New Mexico with a comprehensive set of courses and a rock bottom tuition rate:

    http://www.sjc.cc.nm.us/pages/163.asp

    Good luck,

    -=Steve=-
     
  11. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    Stay away from an ACCSCT institution. They are not RA and it is extremely unlikely that any credits would transfer to an RA or DETC institution.

    Shawn
     
  12. Vincey37

    Vincey37 New Member

    "extremely unlikely"? Where do you come up with this crap? There are plenty of DETC and RA schools that will happily transfer credit from any CHEA recognized school.
     
  13. dlady

    dlady Active Member

    I have personal firsthand student experience in the DL format with APUS (APU/AMU), Aspen University, Northcentral University (NCU), Columbia Southern University (CSU); and in classroom settings with Temple University, Rutgers University, University of South Florida, US Defense Intelligence College, Florida State University, and probably some others I’m not remembering off the top of my head. I can whole heartily recommend them all to you.
     
  14. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    I didn't say that it was impossible, but in the vast majority of cases, schools that have RA accreditation only accept RA from other schools. I'm sure you can find exceptions to that rule - but why take the chance.


    Shawn
     
  15. Xarick

    Xarick New Member

    If expense is concern look at peru state. Very cheap but not AACSB accredited. I asked why and they said their faculty are practicing in their fields so they tend not the have the advanced degrees required to AACSB accredit the school.

    Moorehead is more expensive, but is aacsb accredited.
     
  16. Myoptimism

    Myoptimism New Member

    It is not regionally accredited, so transfer of credits will be more difficult (but not impossible). Also, at least where I am from (Utah), Stevens Henager College is sometimes looked down upon as a trade or vocational school. Of course, all distance learning is disrespected by some people (certainly no one here :) ). However, there is one HUGE reason I would recommend considering another school.

    COST

    This school is expensive (over $45,000 for a bachelor degree), and there are a ton of online options out there that have more accepted accreditation and are much less expensive. Three schools I would suggest to start with are Peru State College, Columbia College of Missouri, and Upper Iowa University.

    Also, before anyone thinks I am bashing NA schools, let me clarify. I believe some NA schools can be good choices. You know, the ones that are less expensive than the RA counterpart, and/or are competitively priced and offer something else the prospective student prefers (length of terms, learning methodology, et cetera), and/or have a unique program of study. But...why should anyone pay 2 to 3 times more for a similar program with less accepted accreditation?

    Tony
    (full disclosure - at one time I was an on ground student at Stevens Henager College, and while I thought the program was okay, the cost/utility ratio is not competitive.)
     
  17. amberlt83

    amberlt83 New Member

    Capella???

    We really appreciate all the info everyone has given, thank you all!!! I do have one more question: After deciding against Stevens Henager, does anyone have any valuable info on Capella???
     
  18. Steve King

    Steve King Member

    Capella

    My wife just started at Capella and thinks highly of the university and her program. Capella has a very good reputation among DL schools, in my opinion. The only concern I've heard is that Capella isn't inexpensive. But, maybe you really do get what you pay for. :)

    A search for "Capella" on this discussion board will surely yield some valuable insight. Good luck!

    Steve
     
  19. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  20. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    I can shed a little bit of light on Capella. I am a PhD learner with the school. In addition, I have taught Organizational Communication in the Capella School of Undergrad Studies.

    Typically, a Capella course consists of 10 weeks of work. There are no exams. A student's grade is based on a midterm and final project, weekly assignments, and courseroom postings. On average, a learner had to post two to three initial responses to discussion questions, along with two responses to other learner's postings.

    My experiences with Capella have been very positive. But as others have pointed out, there are less expensive options out there.

    Best of luck in the decision - and keep researching and asking questions.

    Shawn
     

Share This Page