I want to start on my PhD in th Ernest few months, and due to circumstances, I want to do it online. I’ve looked at various online programs, and I’m torn between Capella and Liberty. I’ve done the evangelical Christian (B.Sc and M.Ed) and really want to get away from it, but it’s a lot cheaper than Capella, and being a private non-profit school doesn’t have the risks that come with Capella of losing a lot of money, etc. I’ve read some really bad reviews of Capella and don’t know how seriously to take them. Is Capella the better option? I know it is more well-known and accredited so will be more respected in the education field. I spoke to an enrollment counselor at Capella, and after telling her my goals and interests, she recommended the EdD in reading and literacy to me. I would like to be a university professor, and am interested in researching trauma and language learning, something that hasn’t really been done. I’m really thinking that a PhD is better for me than an EdD, but I’m not sure. I’m open to any and all suggestions and advice. Please help!
There are a lot of online EdD programs around. Don't make a choice until you check them all out. https://www.degreeinfo.com/index.php?forums/education-teaching-and-related-degrees.19/
If you've read some really bad reviews, perhaps you should take them seriously. Is Capella better than Liberty? Is a for-profit better than a non-profit? (Hardly.) Is a so-called online university better than one with a brick-and-mortar presence? (Hardly.) Is it more well known than Liberty? (Hardly.) More accredited? (Don't tell that to the students in Liberty's law school or medical school.) Remember - always remember - that an "enrollment counselor" or admissions representative is nothing more than a sales rep for the school. Their job is to bait you into enrolling. In any program at that school. That, incidentally, is one thing that Capella and Liberty have in common: the "enrollment counselors" are whores at both schools. That is the intrinsic nature of admissions reps. And you're right - a Ph.D. is better for you, both in terms of your research interests and opportunities to teach. But keep in mind that if you want to be, in generic terms, a "university professor," you've got a long road ahead of you and lots of competition, regardless of the field. Goals are nice, but make sure they're realistic or you'll just be one more unemployed person with a doctorate.
When it comes to for-profit colleges, being more well-known is a bad thing. If I had to go to a for-profit college, I'd rather go a lesser-known one than a known one because the known ones are often known for being awful. For-profit colleges are rarely known for producing high-quality research and graduates. There are so many EdD programs out there, you can find something far cheaper than Capella. It's not uncommon for Capella's doctoral students to spend over $100k due to multiple delays. They have a very high turnover rate among their faculty, and that's something you don't want in a doctoral program. I'll come back and post links to cheap doctoral programs in education.
These lists are for doctoral programs in leadership, administration, and special education, but you can always go to the websites of the cheapest schools to see if they have concentrations that are of interest to you. https://www.geteducated.com/online-college-ratings-and-rankings/online-doctorate-in-education-leadership https://www.geteducated.com/online-college-ratings-and-rankings/doctorate-in-special-education-online-programs
I’m torn between Capella and Liberty. I don't think you've done enough research. There are hundreds of options that offer online/distance doctorates. I’ve done the evangelical Christian (B.Sc and M.Ed) and really want to get away from it, but it’s a lot cheaper than Capella, Again, it's not Capella or Christian. Every state university and boat-loads of private ones aren't Christian. I know it is more well-known and accredited so will be more respected in the education field. Both have the same accreditation. (which coincidently is also the same as the boat-load previously mentioned) I spoke to an enrollment counselor at Capella, and after telling her my goals and interests, she recommended the EdD in reading and literacy to me. I'll send anyone a crisp $1 bill every time an enrollment counselor tells you to choose a college that they don't work for. Won't happen. They'd be fired. In my opinion, you should never discuss enrollment with an enrollment / admissions counselor. Your research and decision making should happen away from their sales force and promotional material. You must understand their bias if you're to make a good decision. When you finally decide to contact the college, you should have already decided to enroll. It's not like you're using a real estate broker who is going to help you find a house from the inventory available, it's like you're at a FSBO open house and the owner is suggesting his own house is a perfect fit. Well, duh. I would like to be a university professor, and am interested in researching trauma and language learning, something that hasn’t really been done. Hasn't really, or hasn't at all? You'll need guidance to conduct original research, and imo, you need to find a strong faculty that can support your research. Conducting original research is hard, and this is going to sound really harsh, but the research you've demonstrated so far is very rudimentary. You may be underestimating how important it is to choose your institution, your dissertation advisor, and the grind of doing research. If I woke up in your shoes, I'd find the one guy who has done research in this area and go where he teaches. I’m really thinking that a PhD is better for me than an EdD, but I’m not sure. That's a good place to start. All the best!
There are many affordable quality EdD available. You need to do a little bit more research. If Liberty and Capella or your finalists, then Liberty may be the better choice.
University of the Cumberlands gets tossed around here a lot. Affordable and bricks and mortar campus. If you are choosing between Capella and Liberty, I would suggest Liberty. Steve Levicoff points out some issues with Capella. One is a for profit (and known for profit). The other is a bricks and mortar university with a one and a half billion dollar endowment, law school, medical school, etc. They have been named a Carnegie Foundation doctoral level institution (one of 335 so designated). Also, will be designated as a National University by US News in their Best Colleges Guide. True Liberty has some political baggage. Becoming a tenured for professor at a non profit university is very competitive. Capella may leave you inclined more to for profits and adjunct jobs. Liberty would probably give you a better chance (understanding that the tenured professor market is tough).
https://www.geteducated.com/online-college-ratings-and-rankings/online-doctorate-in-education-leadership I couldn’t stop laughing after seeing the prices for NCU and Capella. The prices are ridiculously high. Too many great options are now currently available that it will be financial and professional suicide to attend institutions like ncu and capella. There was a time that they would have great options not anymore.
Interesting reading. For-profits on life support. https://theintercept.com/2019/04/12/betsy-devos-for-profit-colleges/
It's not the best written article, but it had some interesting info. I forgot that CEC had to fogive $500 million in debt in a settlement. They own Colorado Technical University, but I don't qualify for forgiveness.
I can't seem to wrap my head around why people continue to choose those institutions with exorbitant tuition and fees. Could it be that they find the nonselective admissions process attractive?! Or do they think the work is easier at those schools?! There are so many affordable state and private NFP schools offering online programs at way more affordable costs. You might have to submit writing samples, goal statements, recommendation letters, and in some cases, tests scores but I think it will be worth it in the end. I shied away from Nova's PhD in CJ because of the test requirement. I don't have a J.D (yet), nor did I complete a thesis in my master's in CJ. I'm glad I didn't pursue Nova though because their tuition is on par with FP schools. I'd be paying $1, 075/credit versus $447 that I currently play with my ERP discount.
I applied to Walden's MBA program because they were offering three months for free in their TempoLearning (competency-based) program. I was admitted in less than three days and got to start before sending official transcripts. I dropped out because I saw all the required busy work and determined that I didn't have time; I was already halfway done at University of Florida. Some schools, such as Capella, will order transcripts for you.
