Large Ashworth College Tuition Jump

Hi everyone,

I noticed that Ashworth College's tuition has jumped from $4,999 for the entire MBA program, to $3,000/semester for three semesters. I am assuming this means the entire program costs $9,000 and the $99/month payments for working adults program is gone.

Why would anyone pay so much for a DETC-accrediated degree?


http://masters.ashworthcollege.edu/index.html

Ramona
-----------------------------------------------------
BA (Math) Queen's University @ Kingston, ON, Canada
BSc (Honours Computer Science/Math) @ Queen's
BEd (K-12 Teaching Credential) @ Queen's
MEd (Math Education) @ Queen's (expected '07)

 

Perhaps because they were unaware of the thus only marginally more expensive, yet RA, distance MBA at Cal State University at Dominguez Hills?

Peace,

Matt

 

Wow, that is quite a large increase in tuition, particularly for a DETC-accredited school. Of course, Ashworth has been the rock-bottom cheapest MBA program out there for a long time. This price would bring them up to the same tuition as some other DETC-accredited schools, and even some of the cheapest RA schools, such as Amberton.

Also new at Ashworth is the offer of financial aid:

Ashworth College students are eligible to apply for low-interest loans under the SallieMae Career Training Loan Program. As a participating institution, Ashworth College has been assigned a school code, 606293. For an online application, visit www.slmfinancial.com. If you apply online, use “Registrar” as the school contact name. Or, call Customer Service at 1-888-272-4665. The mailing address is:
SLM Financial Corporation
3000 Lincoln Drive East, Suite F
Marlton, NJ 08053-0470

I have never noticed this before. Ashworth's website for its Masters degree programs also appears to be new.

Pehaps this speaks to the popularity of Ashworth's programs? I wonder how long it takes them to figure out their low price was their main selling point?

 

There goes the whole idea about Ashworth being a great deal for an accredited Masters. I dont know many that would pay that much for a Masters from Ashworth. $4000 on the other hand was an amazing deal.

 

I guess the best deal going now is Amberton's RA MBA for $7,200.

http://www.amberton.edu/MDegrees.htm

It beats Ashworth with a stick.

 

There are now even cheaper DETC-accredited MBA options out there. California Coast University, http://www.calcoast.edu/ offers an MBA with tuition running about $6,630.

Southwest University, http://www.southwest.edu/degreeprogs/mba.htm offers and MBA with tuition at $6,120.

Of course, this doesn't include books, but it will still be cheaper than Ashworth, and with the same accreditation.

 

Personally I like both of the above schools. Don't forget Andrew Jackson....a steal at around $5850

 

There are a numerous State schools with Online/Distance MBA's costing less than $10K.
For example: Florida Atlantic Universty and Florida Gulf Coast University.
There is no point in spending that money to get a DETC Accredited MBA. Thats just my thought.

 

and also...

Also, I see two new masters programs: Management as well as Marketing. Interesting timing. Perhaps their marketing efforts are "paying off"...
Glad to have gotten my MBA done with from Aspen for $4200 tution while I had the chance Theirs is $3000 more expensive even if you prepay the tuition nowadays.

 

That's what I believe as well. The only reason anyone should ever consider a DETC or a virtual DL RA school is if they offer something that can't be found in a traditional state school. I think price is a good reason, but there are probably several others (i.e. mode of access, programs, cirriculum, time to completion, etc.) The one reason one should NEVER, EVER attend a school is because of pervasive marketing (the political correct term for SPAM and browser popups! )

 

I think the main selling point of many DETC-accredited schools is the price, followed by certain online programs which can't be found at RA online schools. As DETC-accredited schools raise their prices to equal some of the lower-priced RA schools, they are eliminating the main reason why students choose their programs. I think it may come back to haunt them at some point. There was a time I may have considered an Ashworth MBA, but not for this price. I'll stick with an RA program.

 

Exactly my thought. The main benefits of DETC schools are:

1.) Flexibility of transfer credits.
2.) Work at your own pace.
3.) Price.
4.) Mode of education (i.e. paper and pen/ online, etc.
5.) Focus on distance education, not a distance education dept within a huge university where it is virtually impossible to get any customer service, though Ashworth has certainly got some service issues.

 

I think #5 is a mischaractization of the customer service of state universities. I've had nothing but postive things to say about the online or DL departments of Florida State University or the University of Florida. They were certainly as helpful and easy to work with has the representatives of COSC (I enrolled there briefly.) I'm not saying that they are perfect, but I doubt you could say that about any DETC school either.

 

Got an email from Ashworth today......

"Since you first inquired about our school, we've made some exciting changes. To keep pace with rising costs, though, we have increased the full program tuition from $4,889 to $9,000 ($3,000 per semester). The good news is, we will honor the lower tuition rate of $4,889 if you enroll no later than February 28.

We've also revamped the first course. It's an online Orientation that introduces graduate students to meaningful, easy-to-learn success skills you can use right away. You'll gain access to it the same day you enroll – so you'll be a master's degree candidate sooner than ever!

This is a LIMITED TIME OFFER to save $4,111 on the educational opportunity of a lifetime. Start enjoying a higher degree of success today."

 

Could be an incentive sales tactic.

 

Yeah, I think their one promotion for $199 off when you sign up has been going on for at least a year now..

 

This is a pricing mistake that is sometimes made by marketing novices. The psychology of implementing price increases is not the inverse of price decreases. Half the people will think they made a mistake in the past by charging too little and the other half will think they are unrealistic about the future. If they think they are significantly underpriced, they should increase the tuition 10% per year until they have repositioned the degree. Along with the tuition increases, I would expect them to make significant improvements in the website, curriculum, mode of instruction and the faculty. Traditionally, it has been easier in marketing programs to drop the product price significantly but only raise it in small increments.

Dave

 

But is a DETC-accredited masters degree from Ashworth "the educational opportunity of a lifetime"?

Dave