Is a Business degree worth all the debt?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by jlb8266, Dec 11, 2013.

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  1. jlb8266

    jlb8266 New Member

    My background: I'm 36 and I am very unhappy with my job. I've worked in healthcare all my life as a medical biller, coder and now transcription supervisor. I have an AA degree in healthcare management. I would likt to work in human resources in a healthcare setting or work in healthcare finance. I've been looking at bachelor's degrees in Business, but after reading some people's stories, a lot say that a degree in business is a dime a dozen and isn't really worth anything. I'm not sure which way to go - bachelor's in business, human resources or finance? Any help would be appreciated.
     
  2. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    Is the question "should you get a bachelor's degree?" or "should I go into debt to earn a bachelor's degree?"
     
  3. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I think the jobs are better in finance than HR, so given these parameters I'd vote for a BS in Finance. Just make sure you don't pay too much -- your local public university is almost certainly a much better deal than any university you see marketing heavily online.
     
  4. kered

    kered New Member

    I would have to advise the op to really dig through a lo of the threads on this board. Obtaining your BA is not as arduous a task as you may think, especially if you have your AA already.
    Sanantone's BSBA General Management - Degree Forum Wiki
    Best of luck!
     
  5. DanielC

    DanielC New Member

    I'm 36 and I felt pretty frustrated with my last job. If I were you, I'd network with people in the role/department you're aspiring to and figure out if that's truly where you want to be, and also whether the bachelors degree will help you get there. That's where I started about a year ago and about 6 months ago, I switched to a new job. I made the transition even before I earned my BS degree (which I just now completed, and happens to be in business administration, btw).
     
  6. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    If you are referring to a general business degree or a degree in management, honestly, I would avoid those. They really are a dime a dozen. You need to specialize in order to get a good job in business. I recommend either a degree in accounting or finance. That's where the money is.
     
  7. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

    As a director of finance in a healthcare authority, I will say go for the bachelor. Leverage your AA for maximum credits. Also try to get into the cheapest accredited business/health admin program. It is about out competing your coworkers for the higher paying positions. Put yourself in a position to be the boss.
     
  8. spmoran

    spmoran Member

    I know that this isn't what jlb asked about, but I still will mention this as a way to earn an RA degree in the field he/she is in, for a reasonable cost and time. You can leverage a lot of experience, as well as your AA degree, and be done is pretty short order.

    Healthcare Management Degree - Bachelor of Science | Bellevue University
     
  9. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    For the average Joe, no, it's not worth all the debt, particularly if it's a large debt. That's why it's important to shop around and get the lowest priced regionally accredited Bachelors business degree that you can find. There are low-cost alternatives that are readily available to you. Keep the cost as low as you possibly can -- and definitely get the Bachelors business degree (by all means).
     
  10. PilgrimPastor

    PilgrimPastor New Member

    Kinda funny logic right. Business school to prospective student: "let me show you how business is done. I'll enslave you to massive debt with tuition. End of lesson. Have a nice life... Oh... And I'll constantly hit you up for donations as an alumni to our school." End of lesson.
     
  11. jlb8266

    jlb8266 New Member

    Thanks everyone for your replies and advice/help. I am definitely going for the bachelor's degree, but still unsure which degree to get. I live in Boston and there a lot of jobs here in healthcare, finance and human resources. But I know that there is also a lot of competition, so I just want to make sure that I get a degree where I can compete with everyone else. I've been looking at Bellevue University as they have a few accelerated programs that I am interested in. Has anyone gone there?
     
  12. jlb8266

    jlb8266 New Member

    A BS in Business at Bellevue University would cost me about 7k out of pocket (this is after all the grants I will receive), and it's an accelerated program so it would take me 12-15 months. I'm really considering this program, but is a degree in just business without any minor or anything too vague of a degree?
     
  13. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    No, a Bachelors in business (without a minor) is not "too vague" of a degree. You will not find fame or fortune with a Bachelors degree. It's just a sheepskin -- that's all.
     
  14. spmoran

    spmoran Member

    My experience has been that the B.S. I earned opened doors that were closed before, but since I had a lot of experience, it was always just a "check off the box" degree. It did allow me to move around and travel, and I have been both a technical specialist, a project manager and "the boss" at different times. Since I paid as I went and incurred no debt, it was worth the effort and cost. My total undergraduate costs were about $15K over a two year period. It also opened the door for my current adjunct faculty position, which pays bupkus, but is the most interesting and fun job I've ever had. Some may disagree, but my experience has been that you cannot go wrong earning an RA Bachelors degree, especially from a college nobody has ever heard of, for a reasonable cost.
     
  15. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

    Right on. Excellent advice, especially for internal only competitions.
     
  16. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    If there is a lot of competition you should capitalize on your past experience. If you have zero background in finance and get a BS in Finance from a school without a strong name or local appeal I would feel comfortable saying you will not be a great contender for a finance position. If you plan to enter a competitive field with little background, go for a local school that offers an online option so you can take advantage of the networking opportunities.
     

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