Is there truly a difference - NA/RA

Is there truly a difference between an RA/NA education? Even though I completed most of my course work at a local community college and obtained my AS from Excelsior College, I find my current studies at Southwest University much more challenging and demanding than either of the two. I believe it is up to the individual student to make what he wants out of his/her education, regardless of where they attend college. I am sure there are a few less than reputable RA universities out there that don't compare to the quality of education I'm receiving from an NA accredited school. Any thoughts?

 

Some thoughts

I believe that you'll find a range of challenge levels and quality among both RA and NA schools. If you randomly pick pairs of NA and RA schools, you may find cases where a given NA school is stronger than a given RA school and vice versa.

On the whole, however, the top US schools (using anyone's rating list) are certainly RA. I'd suggest that on average RA schools are probably stronger than NA schools. NA schools have a place, however, and meet the needs of some students.

Regards - Andy

 

When selecting some courses to meet general education requirements towards my degree I noticed some RA schools granted 4 semester hours whereas the same course offered at another RA school granted 3 semester hours. So even among RA schools there can be variance in credits earned for a course covering the same material, (e.g.) Calculus I.

 

I think of NA accredited degrees as being geared towards preparing for a specific profession without as much emphasis upon the liberal arts type of education. I do not see a big difference in rigour between the two, in fact between the ones that I have attended:

Kaplan University CPS (NA)
Ashworth College (NA)

Tarrant County College (RA)
Southwestern College (RA)

the coursework was very much alike. However at Southwestern almost everything was based upon research rather than testing.....which in my opinion fits more in line with the liberal arts approach (by which I mean understanding how to seek understanding) rather than career specific meaning (a body of knowledge to give you a working knowledge of a specific profession).

 

The "extra" semester hours for foreign language courses are usually attributable to the 1-hour weekly language laboratory requirement.

Do schools where 4-credit hours is the norm offer bachelor degrees of 120-credit hour duration or is the total credit hour requirement somewhat higher than 120?

 

Granite State, a RA school, gives 4 hours for courses typically woth only 3. They give 4 hours of credit for CLEPS also.

Pug

 

I've taken courses at RA and NA schools, distance and b&m. The RA schools have been LSU, BYU, and a community college. The NA schools have been Eugene Bible College, Briercrest, and Penn Foster. Briercrest's program and service was BY FAR the best of the bunch. Nothing else even comes close. I'd rate the entire list from top to bottom as follows:

1) Briercrest (NA)
2) BYU (RA)
3) Penn Foster (NA) this was a shocker for me
4) LSU (RA)
5) Eugene Bible College (NA)
6) PG Community College (RA)

Surprisingly, LSU is not only RA, it's AACSB, the "ultra gold' standard of accreditation according to many on this board. I'm not knocking LSU, I thought the courses were fine, but they were no more difficult, demanding, or informative than was Penn Foster.

Pug

 

I'll have to second the assessment of Penn Foster College. I have taken courses at a B&M university (University of Wisconsin) and Penn Foster is by far more challenging and informative than any class I took at UW. With most of the courses in their associate degree programs reviewed by ACE, Penn Foster is the next best thing to RA.

 

Hi-

Touro University International (RA) also grants 4 semester credits for all of their courses, with 120 semester credits required for graduation. This equates to only 30 courses for a BS, compared to the approximately 40 courses required at most other colleges.

- Tom

 

Yes, with the exception of a few 1 hour and 2 hour courses, all classes at Granite State are worth 4 hours, including CLEP exams. They work on a traditional semester hour system, 120 to a BA.

Off topic - A really cool feature to Granite State is their Life Experience policy. Instead of charging a prospective student by the credit hour, they charge a $250 fee per category of courses being reviewed for credit. In other words, a student that is applying for 12 hours of Life Experience credit would only pay a $250 flat fee if all 12 hours were in psychology. I REALLY liked Granite State when I talked to their admissions office people. They have a very cool BA/Self Design option as well. I may end up there at some point.

Pug

 

It sounds as if you did 100-200 level work for your AS and now you're doing 300-400 level work for your bachelors at Southwest University. Is this correct?

Maybe the difference you're feeling is due to the lower level vs. upper level factor. For me, there is a marked difference (as there should be) between the effort required for a 100 level class as compared to a 400 level class.

IMO (and I may be wrong), a 400 level class should be a 400 level class, no matter the accreditor of the school. If your current classes weren't harder than the classes for your AS, then you have a problem.