Can any recent students or graduates from Capella University share their experience?

Enrollments are dropping and these profit oriented schools are scrambling for students. University of Phoenix always had pushy sales people who called themselves "enrollment counselors" but I'm disappointed to learn that Capella is doing the same thing. When I enrolled in the doctoral program at Capella almost 4 years ago, they were not pushy at all.

I am not an IT or a healthcare guy, so these questions might be ignorant, but isn't IT what it is in any field? Wouldn't a bachelor's in IT be pretty much the same even if it wasn't geared to healthcare? I'm sure there would be some differences, but would they be great enough to spend the extra money to go to Capella? I don't pretend to know the answer to that one; just posing the question. Maybe one of our IT gurus here could answer that.

______________________________________

 

I do not see an issue with employers accepting your degree as long is accredited. You can always do a dual degree or a major and a minor, or a degree in IT and certificate in health care or other way around (just a though and might be cheaper than Capella). Do not let them push you, you can kindly decline until you have finish your research.

 

Do not confuse IT with HIT. They are somewhat related but not the same. HIT focuses more on EMR and patient data where IT may focus on desktop support or network support. HIT has its own certification and it is different world then "IT" - ONC HIT Certification Program | Policy Researchers & Implementers | HealthIT.gov

Do some research and pick one of the two different fields.

 

What your really looking for is a degree in Health Informatics thats CAHIIM accredited. It is important to attend a CAHIIM accredited program if you wish to sit for a national credential exam (RHIT or RHIA) as only graduates of a CAHIIM program qualify to take these two exams. There are no other equivalency options for certification eligibility. Capella would be a horrible school for this. The degree isn't accredited by the proper agency. WGU's is btw. I'm in IT so this stuff isn't Greek to me. For-Profits will promise you the world, most students end up with something else.

The accreditation you want your degree to have.
Accredited Programs

WGU goes off a flat rate 6 month tuition plan. You can do as many courses as you want so it might be the cheapest way to go.
Health Informatics Degree | Online Bachelor

 

I did consider WGU at one time for health informatics but unfortunately where we are stationed at there are only 2 hospitals in the whole island and one is military and the other is not. There is little to no options for me here for an internship and WGU requires that otherwise i cant do the program. I can't even attend if i wanted to because i can't do the internship anyway.

For you IT gurus hopefully you can clarify for me and help me see clearly to the correct path. What i would like to do is work in IT but for a hospital or healthcare related setting that is more Healthcare related IT. This is why i was considering Health Information Technology as opposed to Health Information Management. Health Informatics to my understanding goes alongside HIM doesn't it which deals more with administration and management of that sort instead of the technology part that is in IT? Any insights or advice will be highly appreciate it. Does HIT also have somewhat similar jobs to regular IT? I worked in hospitals before for a few years and really got in to the whole IT department area, i became very interested in it. I apologize if my questions sound absurd i am still trying to research thoroughly on my own and really have little guidance :/

After a tedious battle of back and forth emails my enrollment counselor finally gave in and moved the date to next month.

Thank you everyone so much i appreciate all your help is truly helping me see much more clearly of what am looking for in a degree as well as in schools.

 

I would look at schools only with the proper accreditation. It's like blowing off an ABET school for a non-ABET school while having a goal to be a Professional Engineer. This stuff could haunt you.