Total cost P.hD Business Finance - TUI vs NCU

Discussion in 'Business and MBA degrees' started by Shay, Jan 12, 2011.

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  1. Shay

    Shay New Member

    Dear all,

    Could you please help me estimate the total cost of a Ph.D. at TUI?

    At NCU, the current cost is 44,000 (including everything but books).

    Have a nice day,

    Shay
     
  2. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    I don't know much about TUI, but I can tell you that at NCU, you will probably end up having to pay more because of their delays with approving your dissertation and their new rules about constant enrollment. I bailed out of a PhD at NCU for those and other similar reasons. Student support there is also terrible. You could get through it but, IMO, NCU is not a good place to go for a doctorate.
     
  3. Dave Wagner

    Dave Wagner Active Member

    Considering all RA doctoral programs...

    One issue you should consider is estimating the out of pocket and lost income associated with earning a doctorate, which are a function of time spent working on the dissertation.

    The number of years you spend working on your dissertation is pretty much out of your control, so it isn't possible to predict the cost for comparisons.

    In general, if you propose something they are capable of understanding and they like you, you might finish the coursework and dissertation in six or seven years.

    However, if they don't understand your research and / or they don't like you, you might never be allowed to finish. You don't finish your dissertation; they let you finish.

    Again, completing a doctorate isn't really a matter of you wanting to finish or even trying to finish, it is a matter of them simply ceasing the practice of adding to your work and letting you graduate.

    In sum, if you really need a doctorate no matter what happens, I recommend allocating 100K for out of pocket expenses and about 10 years of your life. And then be prepared to file a lawsuit to get them to perform in the end. Sound ridiculous? Yes. It is true for some students? Yes!
     
  4. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    I think that DW is correct in his dire prediction of cost and time required for a doctorate, at least in some cases. I would add that his estimate is probably a worst-case scenario and your experience might not be quite that bad. But it will be an extremely tough and expensive venture.
     
  5. foobar

    foobar Member

    I love this! It is so, so accurate!
     
  6. okydd

    okydd New Member

    I am not confident of my math but I did a rough calculation using the current cost of $44,000 at NxU, 20% tuition increase every year, five years to completion. It looks like it will cost you over $65k in tuition to complete that PHD, assuming it’s a perfect ride.
     
  7. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    Sometimes I wonder why anyone pays for a doctorate. If you think you are smart enough to earn a doctorate then you should be smart enough to go work for an organization that will pay all your tuition.

    My last employer did and at last count were paying tuition for over 100 doctoral students (including at least 20 at Capella under a special tuition agreement, one doing the joint CSULB math degree, one doing one at UCI, and a few doing the Pepperdine Ed.D. in organizational leadership - the first being DL and the rest being part-time B&M programs). I also see lots of ads for full-time doctoral students in the various science journals I receive.
     
  8. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Can you please explain where you got 20%? When I started in 2004 and the tuition was $475 per credit. The tuition for 2011 is now $728 per credit. That is an average increase of 6.3% per year.

    2004 $475
    2005 $505
    2006 $537
    2007 $571
    2008 $606
    2009 $645
    2010 $685
    2011 $728


    At that rate in 5 years the tuition would be $930 per credit or about $50K.
     
  9. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Many years ago, NCU had dirt cheap tuition before they achieved regional accreditation. After they achieved RA status, I knew that their tuition would eventually reach the same levels as Capella, TUI, Walden and all the others. NCU now matches the tuition costs of the other RA online universities. American Military University is currently in this same category. They only achieved RA status a couple of years ago, which means that they too will experience "tuition creep" until it matches the tuition of all the other online RA universities. It's still a good deal now, but the tuition keeps rising.
     
  10. Shay

    Shay New Member

    That is not true. Not every wise guy could get his Ph.D. paid by his employer. But more important, it also a stupid reason for choosing a workplace because one should consider all the benefits involved within the workplace. An organization might participate in tuition but pay you low salary. How smart is working for such an employer?

    That being said, I think that what you said is irrelevant for this thread. Everyone has his own reasons to do a Ph.D. out of the pocket.
     
  11. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    I concur. Not all benefits are monetary.
     
  12. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    I agree - one should consider all aspects when hiring an employer - I worked for a major aerospace company and did so well financially I was able to retire early - but you would be surprised how many of my fellow employees did not take advantage of the many benefits such as a 6% matching for 401K contributions, education tuition (although a lot of secretaries did and became sopport staff after typewriters died), attendance at conferences, and in-house training.
     
  13. truckie270

    truckie270 New Member

    As far as the NCU PhD goes, there is pretty good evidence from those here on the board and elsewhere the degree will end up costing at least double what you project it will when you first enroll in the program.
     
  14. Shay

    Shay New Member

    At least 88,000$ for a PhD at NCU? I believe you went too far

    I do not quite understand how the degree will end up costing at least double. In my humble opinion, you are exaggarating. I still appreciate for the thought-sharing.
     
  15. Shay

    Shay New Member

    Total Cost (out of the pocket) TUI - NCU Ph.D (BA)

    NCU - Total cost of Ph.D. programme: 44,000 $

    TUI - Total cost of the programme consists of:

    Application fee: $75
    SPSS grad pack: $200
    44 doctorate hours at $575.00 per doctorate hour: $25,300.00
    Dissertation phase: $9,200.00 per year. That is, the total cost of the program is lineary correlated with the years for the dissertation completion:

    Total Cost TUI = 25,575 + 9,200 * (Years of Dis. Phase)

    If the dissertation phase lasts 1 year (that is, if you are extremely talented and aimed well) the entire programme only costs 34,775. As the dissertation phase gets longer the gaps between NCU and TUI are closing.

    The break even point is 2 years of dissertation phase. In this case NCU and TUI cost merely the same.

    Please note I am aware that is a very simplified anlysis of costs and I am also well aware of the fact other elements need to be considered before making a decision (as out of the pocket cost is one of many).

    You may enlighten me if you find it beneficial for the forum members (and for myself).

    Shay
     
  16. rmm0484

    rmm0484 Member

    When I enrolled in late 2004-early 2005, the total program cost was around 25-26K. Six/seven years later, the cost has nearly doubled. Truckie has a valid point. Earlier posts on this site should substantiate these figures.
     
  17. truckie270

    truckie270 New Member

    Sorry to dissapoint you, but I am not exaggarating at all. When I enrolled in the NCU PhD program in Dec. 2005 tuition was $1100 per three credit course. In the fall of 2010 the tuition is $2200 per course. $2200/$1100 = 2 or DOUBLE.

    There are also numerous fees and hidden costs that are assessed once you are in the program. NCU has also changed their process to one that now automatically enrolls you in a course whether you want to take it or not once you are in the program.

    I am sure if you use the search function here you will easily find confirmation on what I am talking about.

    Welcome to the board.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 14, 2011
  18. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    When I enrolled in September of 2004 it was $1,475 per class (I still have the tuition assistance forms) and now it was just raised to $2,200 in December. The other fees were a $2,200 dis fee and a $350 graduation fee but they have been eliminated with the tuition increase (so they say).
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 14, 2011
  19. truckie270

    truckie270 New Member

    My cost when I enrolled was $375 per credit due to the public safety discount and the rate was locked in for three years.

    I think the major thing that is going to drive the cost up is the continual enrollment policy NCU just announced which will accelerate the timeline for most and require more of a tuition outlay per year. I know that if I had to enroll in 18 credits per year while I was at NCU my out-of-pocket costs would have went up exponentially because my employer's TA would not have covered that amount per year for me.
     
  20. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Oh I agree - I counted on tuition assistance to pay for this and did not want to spend anything out of pocket. If I was starting it today, I would look elsewhere just because of the forced 18 credits a year.
     

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