Choice between California Coast Univ & Columbia Southern Univ MBA programs

Does that sentiment only pertain to non-traditional vs. traditional programs, or does it extend to regionally-accredited vs. nationally accredited programs?

I'm not trying to start a NA vs. RA debate, I'd just really like to know if that has been your experience. To be honest, I'm still grappling with the decision whether to enroll in an undergraduate program at a NA college, or do my best to enter a RA program. Cost and time are the biggest considerations for me, and testing through CLEP/DANTES is difficult because I can't take the tests during the hours the testing centers in my area are open.

The "dream school" for me at this point would be RA, very inexpensive, with classes 8 weeks or shorter with exams done online or no final exams at all. I personally have no problem with NA schools, but I'd like to be able to enter an MBA program at a decent state university after getting my undergrad.

 

Getting back to the original post that initiated this thread it is important to keep in mind that a decision to obtain an NA or RA degree should be based on the individual needs and purpose for the degree! For instance, as Spyder noted he does not have to be concerned about whether the degree is either RA or NA due to the fact that he has a job. Therefore, he appears to have the latitude to complete an MBA program from either accreditation source based on his personal preference. However, if the individual is in a position of seeking employment and needs to be as competitive as possible then an RA degree would appear be a more viable choice to enhance one's employment opportunities.

It will be interesting to observe whether the advent of doctoral programs under the auspices of DETC will result in diminishing the perceptions of superiority of RA degrees in the future. Time will tell.

 

CSU-DH is nearly double the tuition of the others. That's fairly significant. I don't think CSU-DH is worth double the difference, though. It's RA but it's at the bottom of the rung low tier for prestige. There is a chance that CSU-DH will gain AACSB accreditation in the near future. That would certainly jack the prestige up. Right now, they are working on getting that accreditation but it takes time. I think they have been working on it for quite some time.

 

Chadron is only slightly more expensive than CCU........I think $60.00 an hour.

As far as I know they are already ACBSP accredited.

TCord.........in reply to your most recent post, you should give a strong look at Fort Hays, but I believe you will lose NA credits.

If you don't like Fort Hays then Peru State College is my next best bet. They accept NA credits (remember to tell them to look up the school, don't mention accreditation) and they are dirt, dirt cheap.

 

From what I saw--we offered the BS and MS IT degrees at our campuses--the IT program was poorly designed and even more poorly executed. More of a management program with an IT flavor, and they had a terrible time getting and keeping good, qualified faculty members.

I didn't understand how you could teach an IT program without extensive access to a computer lab, which UoP definitely doesn't provide. But I'm not an expert in that area, so I want to reserve judgment. But students didn't like it much, it seemed.

 

According to both my doctoral dissertation and DETC's own surveys of graduates, there is less acceptability of NA vs. RA. But I think the gap is less in employment circles than we see in academics.

I suspect many (most?) graduates of NA programs never experience any difficulties with the acceptance of their degrees, but I don't know their proportion to the overall NA population.

With RA schools, you don't run into this. True, some RA schools' degrees carry more weight than others, but you won't get categorically excluded.

I don't think NA schools exceed any RA schools in terms of prestige. Given that, why not take a degree from an RA school, even one no one knows about? It just seems safer, and there are affordable options around.

(I don't think anything less of degrees from most NA schools. I just recognize the limitations of the degrees they issue.)

 

Are you talking about entering Fort Hays or Peru State College with a NA undergrad? I wasn't aware they had MBA programs.

 

But isn't it so that there are almost no degree programs from NA schools that are not also available from one RA school or another at a comparable price? I'm sure there are a few exceptions, but I think this is generally so. Other than finding an easy program, or a unique one, I'm not sure there is a solid reason for choosing an NA program. I've been waiting years to hear it.

 

Rich,


My work schedule is sometimes unpredictable. Thus, having the flexibility of a self-paced program is a definite selling point. That's one of the reasons I chose CCU. Also, many schools both RA and NA require synchronomous remote participation that is difficult to do because I may not know where in the world I will be next month.

You have a valid question because you are thinking in terms of “9 to 5". For someone with an unconventional lifestyle like mine, an unconventional and flexible (NA) education is the perfect fit.

Pepe

 

WGU
Excelsior
TESC
COSC
Touro U. International
NCU
Any UWW
Empire State
Union Institute and University
...and many others offering self-paced, individual study, along with regional accreditation.

Nope, that learning methodology isn't unique to NA schools.

 

Yes at this point in time RA degrees are generally perceived as being the gold standard! That being said we need to keep an open mind regarding the future possibilties of NA degrees being elevated in status due to CHEA's approval allowing DETC to accredit doctoral programs. This may result in a number of DETC schools evolving the quality and depth of their degree programs, methods of online instruction as well as the development of comprehensive online library and support services for their students. In addition, how well graduates of these doctoral programs ultimately do in the labor market will also provide us with insights as to the viability of these degrees and whether they will be competitive with RA degrees.

 

I hope, too, that someday DETC-accredited schools will be considered on par with RA. But that isn't a reason for choosing them. It is a risk that should be mitigated by an opportunity. (A "plus" to offset the "minus.")

We know the disadvantages of such a choice. But what are the advantages? Seriously, no one seems to be able to articulate one.

(IIRC, CHEA isn't the body deciding whether or not DETC can expand its scope to non-Ph.D. doctorates. It is the U.S. Department of Education.)

 

Those were just individual study. Asynchronous online classes are available from many, many more schools, including:

Capella
UoP
CSQ
USQ
JIU
Bellevue
AMU
And many, many more.

So, instructional delivery isn't the issue, and cost is not either. What is? What is the advantage to attending a DETC-accredited school? I could see it if one wanted to study a unique program like Concord, St. Augustine, or Harrison Middleton University. But other than that, what would compel one to decide on a DETC-accredited school over a regionally accredited option?

(Again, please don't paint me "anti-DETC." I'm anything but. But no one seems to be able to articulate a clear advantage for students to attend these schools, in general, but the disadvantages are obvious. I'm just curious.)

 

I can tell you why I am currently studying with a DETC accredited school, and for me it was a big advantage. At Penn Foster College, I am allowed to attend school and make monthly payments of $35. Now, not all DETC accredited schools offer these same "pay as you go" plans, although CCU does have a $100 a month payment plan. I don't know of any RA college with a $35 a month payment plan.

You were probably looking for something related to the curriculum or the actual educational experience, but cost and monthly payments at Penn Foster were a big plus for me.

 

TCord, I am speaking of undergrad degrees.

 

SIMON: In fact it has been articulated! There are students who benefit personally and professionally from completing DETC degrees. Apparently these individuals felt that the curriculums, teaching/ learning protocols, lower tuitions and perceived level of difficulty of these DETC schools were congruent with their needs and future goals resulting in their selecting these programs. So in cases such as this there is no need for them to consider RA options, regardless of the fact that RA degrees are considered to be the gold standard, because THEY decided that they made the right decision for themselves. In fact, we have observed on this forum a significant number of posters who obtained such degrees enabling them to gain admission into graduate schools, obtain jobs and promotions they were seeking.

 

*Sigh* Sorry Spyder, it looks like this thread has been hi-jacked by people insistent upon sparking up the NA vs. RA debate (even though you specifically asked for this NOT to happen here).

 

I believe his question has been asked and answered....and it looks like CCU was the favored choice of those responding. From a cost standpoint, I would have to agree.

 

Simon,

I couldn't agree with you more. I would guess the reason why people choose DETC schools and earn their degree(s) at such institutions is to study for an education and earn an accredited degree. Isn't that the reason why people attend college?

The only people who get caught up in who the school is accredited by is a few select individuals. Prentiousness about accreditation is really absurd and it gets old. It's not going to make you any more or less successful in life, whether it be personally or professionally.

The probable reason as to why you don't hear about DETC graduates griping about their degree(s) or lack of utility is that there is no need. There have been some where a DETC degree didn't fit their needs. So be it, then enroll somewhere else.

With over 120 million DETC graduates and 4 million currently enrolled, I think these are pretty good statistics of successful graduates. If there was such a lack of utility, do you really think they would have this amount of graduates and currently enrolled students? Do you think the DETC would have 80+ years of experience if there was such a lack of utility from there graduates? I believe DETC graduates are more focused on the important things in life such as family, career and friends. There not out there trying to defend their degree(s) because there is no need to do so.

An education is what you make of it and not about who its accredited by. Its not about where you went to school, but its what you do in life that defines you.

The reason why I enrolled into a DETC school is because they are the only national accreditor that "specializes" in accrediting distance education and they have a rich history in doing so. I didn't want to enroll into a B&M school that was trying to dabble into distance learning. Most of the RA distance learning only schools (i.e., Capella, Northcentral) were and still are too expensive.

I'm a proud DETC graduate, now teaching at three different accredited universities, an advocate for distance learning, increased my salary, now enrolling into law school and alumni president for my alma mater.

 

No, no. This is a very nice and relevant point. Money is always a big issue. But borrowing money to pay tuition--which is what you're doing when on a tuition payment plan--can also be facilitated through Stafford loans, as well as other forms of borrowing (like bank loans). Almost all RA programs participant in the student loan program, which not only allows you to spread out your payments, but to wait until graduation to begin them. (Subsidized Staffords don't accumulate interest during this time, unsubsidized Staffords do.)

The cost, especially at a relatively affordable RA school, can be dealt with.