Why wouldn't I want to enroll (Aspen University)?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by omarrod, Aug 12, 2010.

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  1. omarrod

    omarrod New Member

    I have been reading about what Aspen has to offer in regards to their master program. I am considering either an MBA or the MSTI.

    I am new to online education and after being away from school for so long, I think I am ready to do what I always wanted - get my masters degree (despite my full time job).

    I have read some of the comments on this board and they are on the positive side. To make matters a little sweeter, the current promotion that ends on Sept. 1st of $3600 would not break my bank at all - I find it hard to believe that any other online program would beat that. However, is it too good to be true? I mean, would I really get a good education? I know that a lot depends on the student but I am trying to find a darn good reason why it would not be a good idea to enroll at Aspen University? I think I read a post by a user who wondered about their biz model and how they could afford to offer such a low price.

    Oh yeah, I almost forgot that AU is NA and not RA (I am not sure what the cons would be in the long run....

    (Can I write it off tuition or is it just for RA schools?)
     
  2. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Aspen is a very good school that, I suspect, will someday be regionally accredited. I have heard that they even require proctored exams, which is a rare and very good thing, IMO.

    The only drawback, and it's major, is the fact that Aspen's DETC accreditation is not as widely recognized as it deserves to be. Someday Aspen and DETC might be universally accepted, but, for the time being, a degree from there will not be honored by the major RA schools. So transfer or continuing education at an RA school would be impossible. Some employers also will not honor a DETC degree. Banking, universities and some high-tech firms are not interested in DL degrees at all, and even more will not honor DETC. It's not fair, but that's the way it is out there.

    My advice: Check carefully to insure that the places you want to work will honor a DETC accredited degree from Aspen. If they will honor it, then go for Aspen. You can't beat the price. I was even considering it for my doctorate there for awhile and only the DETC acceptance issues steered me away. I think Aspen is bound for great things.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 12, 2010
  3. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    A good question.

    The IRS says this
    An eligible educational institution is one that maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly enrolled body of students in attendance at the place where it carries on its educational activities.
    Source: IRS Publication 970, page 5.

    I could see how this could be interpreted as yes or no in response to your question.

    My guess is 'yes' since DETC is an US Dept of Education approved accredition body. What I do with taxes is claim it and let the IRS tell me if I can't.

    I use the Lifetime Credit (Form 8863) almost every year.
     
  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    On what is your suspicion based?

    -=Steve=-
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 12, 2010
  5. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator


    Because Dr Lady is one shrewd businessman and I can see be taking the school to higher levels... :D
     
  6. omarrod

    omarrod New Member

    Michael,

    I am a little confused. So is AU accredited by DECT or not? I mean, if it is not accredited by anyone, then why waste money there. Now days, not everyone is interested in whether you got your degree online or not or if it is NA or RA (except for some employers). I am just unsure if the money I want to invest would be worth it or not.
     
  7. GeneralSnus

    GeneralSnus Member

    Aspen is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), which is NA.
     
  8. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    OK, I'll try to clear it up for you. Forgive me if I'm telling you a bunch of stuff you already know.

    There are two well-known levels of accreditation: National Accreditation (NA) and Regional Accreditation (RA). Aspen is fully DETC accredited which is a national accreditation.

    National Accreditation (NA) that covers agencies such as DETC and others is recognized by the Dept. of Education as a legitimate accreditation but it is not as highly regarded as some (more about that in a minute). Many trade schools are NA. Specifically, the DETC is probably one of the best known national accreditations, but there are many others. DETC holds high standards and most schools that are DETC are good quality schools. It's a shame that it is not more highly regarded.

    The most highly regarded and accepted form of accreditation is Regional Accreditation (RA). There are 6 regional accreditors. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. All of the major state and private colleges are regionally accredited by one of these agencies. UCLA, Harvard, all state schools, Etc. This is the gold standard and the only accreditation that is accepted in academia.

    Most employers will not care if your degree is NA (like DETC) or RA with a few exceptions. Some high tech firms, some banking and almost all academic institutions will not honor any online degree and especially not a NA (DETC) degree. This is slowly changing. There are a larger number of employers, outside of those areas, that only care if your degree is recognized by the Dept. of Ed. and, as I said before, the DETC is a legitimate and recognized accreditation. So a DETC degree will work in a great number of circumstances.

    I recommend that you contact people in the field you wish to enter and find out if DETC is a good enough accreditation for what you are wanting to get into. You can also tell us more about what you want to do and we may can shed some light.

    Is it a good investment? If you can land a good job with it when you couldn't before, then it might be. If you want to be a college instructor, it might not work.

    Hope that helps! :)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 13, 2010
  9. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Just a hunch.
     
  10. Petedude

    Petedude New Member

    I think you're making a subjective, intuitive call based on information processed subconsciously.

    OK, a hunch. :)

    But said information probably includes: Aspen's continual refinement of their programs, adding of new programs, and continual tightening of their standards. From what I'm seeing, some (or all) of their programs may be more rigorous than many RA B&M schools!
     
  11. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Yes, exactly. That's what I was sort of implying...sort of. :)
     
  12. omarrod

    omarrod New Member

    Honestly I never thought I could find an online Masters program for $3600.00. I am not very familiar with regular costs but it seems like a great deal. Have you seen tuition costs this low before?
     
  13. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    There are a few schools that I have seen offer MBAs in the $4k-5k range, all of them only offered them for in-state students. Also, that is around what you could expect to pay for a degree from a South African school (less if you finish quickly). However, there is no doubt that the Aspen deal is a great one.

    I would also trust Michael's hunch. I don't think that the comission he gets from Dr.Lady would influence his opinion even in the least bit* :D

    *I just want to clarify that this statement a joke, and should not be taken seriously, even though it is true# :D

    #Ok, fine, it isn't true. Thanks for killing the joke. :mad:
     
  14. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    You have heard of a counter-agent in spy movies, well I'm a counter-shill for Aspen. I pretend to an objective moderator but..... :) (JK)
     
  15. StefanM

    StefanM New Member

    It does seem like Aspen gets a disproportionate amount of free PR here on DI. :D
     
  16. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    Counter-shill, he he he!


    Abner :)
     
  17. omarrod

    omarrod New Member

    so, i have read that you can potentially obtain your MBA from AU in 1 year, doing 3 courses at a time. I am not sure if that is possible while working full time.

    How many study-hours is recommended to allocate per course?
     
  18. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Once upon a time we were all about Troy and then for a while it was all Peru State. Lots of schools have found themselves in the spotlight at degreeinfo and it usually has something to do with a combination of

    1) a popular program (like an MBA)
    2) good cost factors
    3) one or two active members who are students at the school

    Personally, I am all about costs and this is partially due to the fact that it's often very difficult to get inside information about a school/degree program. Having someone who is actively enrolled in a program who will then come to this board and post about their experiences is invaluable information for others who are trying to decide between various programs. Regular members may not be aware of this but we get a huge number of lurkers on this board. From time to time Chip mentions the traffic flow at degreeinfo and I can assure you it is BIG. At any given time there are ten times more lurkers (no exaggeration) reading our posts than there are registered memmbers. They are taking the information that we post and are using it to make big decisions. So keep those posts about your schools coming.
     
  19. StefanM

    StefanM New Member

    I was just kidding around. I just find it funny. We don't have Biebermania on DI....we have ASPENMANIA!
     
  20. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    I concur on that one. They have gotten a great deal of free publicity on this board. (I think I started a few of those threads) It's fortunate for them that there has been a buzz, just like Kizmet described.

    I would suspect that the buzz will die down once the special price is no longer available at the end of this month.
     

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