Transfer From Education Direct?

Peru State

I don't have any experience with Peru State College's undergraduate courses, but I am finishing my first two graduate courses this week (8-week terms). The staff is wonderful and it definitely has the small-college feel, both the good and the bad.

The good:
Personal attention from the staff. I've exchanged calls and e-mails with the dean on several occasions, and all staff members respond quickly. Last week I received a PSC Online T-shirt and a letter from the president. Okay, it was a form letter, but the T-shirt was still a nice touch.

The professors are very supportive and provide good feedback. They know your name and don't treat you like a number. I'll also be taking several courses from the same professors, which could be a good or bad thing depending on whether you get along with the professors. I haven't had any problems at all and I like that I'll be able to build relationships with them.

The lessons and assignments are relevant; it's not backbreaking work and I don't have any previous graduate work to compare it to, but I felt sufficiently challenged.

As noted above, the tuition is VERY reasonable. I don't know how often they increase tuition, but their last increase was only $5/credit. Also, I like that they don't kill you with fees (again, I don't know about undergraduates). I had no application fee, technology fees, resource fees, flu-prevention fees, etc. They charged me a one-time $10 enrollment fee when I registered for my first classes and that was it. They're also advertising "no fees" for transcripts.


The bad:
Some of this is probably due to the fact that my program is brand-new in an online format, but some of the online information was inaccurate. They had an admission requirement listed incorrectly, some of the information didn't match when it was posted in two different places, some of the forms haven't been updated to reflect the new program, etc. They have been quick to change it when I brought it to their attention though.

Their Blackboard orientation was also somewhat sloppy. I pointed out some of the problems with the orientation but I'm not sure if they were fixed.

Their e-mail system has some problems. It's usually easily fixed by refreshing the page, but it's a little annoying sometimes. They warned about possible Blackboard issues but I haven't had any yet.

Overall, I'm very impressed with PSC. I had applied to Amberton and was completely turned off by their attitude toward students; PSC puts them to shame in that regard. Their offerings are limited at this point, but their enrollment is increasing. I would highly recommend them.
Shawn

 

Thanks for the info. I'll definately consider Peru. I hope they will consider an ED degree for transfer credit.

 

I thought I would update this thread. I mentioned this in another thread, but Peru State College now leads my list of contenders for schools to transfer to for a BS once I finish at Education Direct. A dean at Peru said the college will accept a degree from ED for transfer credit. Tuition at Peru is $114 per credit hour, and they charge the same rate whether or not you are a resident of Nebraska.

TESC and Upper Iowa University remain my backups. Now I've just got to get crack-a-lackin' on my ED degree!