Why Capella University?

Dr Wagner, are you sharing with us what your experience was while earning your doctoral degree from TUI University? Would you say that you enrolled "in an astronaut training school that doesn't have any astronauts, rockets, or even an airplane"? I want to believe otherwise, and I think many here do too. The scenario you described sounds inversely proportional to the ever increasing number of dissertations published on ProQuest. Or is the dissertations found on ProQuest some conspiracy?

 

For the record.....Sullivan contacted me today and provided the information for the PhD program. It looks like a solid program.

Based on my calculations the cost is about 24K per year. $700 per hour plus $50 per hour online class fee=$750 per credit hour.

You take two courses per quarter for 4 quarters; $3,000 per class x 8=24K annually. The costs could be significantly reduced depending on the number of transfer credits awarded.

Otherwise, it looks interesting.

 

Jay,

Have you made your decision applying Sullivan University? Did you submit your GRE/GMAT? Well, Capella University's tuition is cheaper, if you are taking 3 course per quarter ($4,485.00 flat = $ 373.75 per hour). In short, you spend about $17,940.00 per year, but you can burn out 48 hours. I'll be taking only 2 courses per term, which is 32 credits per year due to my second Master at Georgetown University. It seems I don't have to pay anything 'cause Post 9/11 GI Bill plus Yellow Ribbon Program pays itself.

Well, keep my posted...I have submitted my application to Capella University. Somehow the waived $75.00 application as well as all transcripts request fees. Hopefully to hear back from them within 2 wees, so I can start my financial aids.

 

Tekman:

Capella waived my application fee too. I have submitted an application to Sullivan but have not completed the process yet. Honestly, I am still trying to decide between Sullivan, Capella, and Grand Canyon. I can start Capella's Doctor of Public Administration program on Nov 8th or Grand Canyon's Ed.D on Nov 18th. I am passionate about leadership and public admin so I could easily do either program. I have to pay cash or loans so Grand Canyon's price is looking most attractive to me right now.

 

Well, Grand Cayon University's program doesn't attract me because of Ed.D instead Ph.D. I don't know why they offer Ph.D for those organizational specializations instead Ed.D. If I want Ed.D would be Northeastern University with specialization in Organizational Leadership and Communication.

 

Actually, the only nationwide study came up with an overall average of about 50% doctoral attrition, though different majors had different rates of completion. It's still pretty alarming that 1/2 of doctoral students do not receive their degrees--mostly due to changes or challenges in financial, job, health or family situations, although others get stalled out during the dissertation and never finish.

 

Posting one word of advice as I'm currently in the middle of discovery with a few schools that provide online doctorates.

One question I ask doctoral admissions advisors is "now that I've learned about your program, know that I'm also speaking with X, Y, and Z schools as well. Maintaining decorum, of the students in a position similar to myself or who have transferred into your program; why do they choose your program over others?

Ive received multiple answers advising me that Capella students who can't handle multiple doctoral courses per term have transferred into other schools programs due to some combination of cost and frustration. Therefore be sure to evaluate your time and finances carefully.

Thx
IT

 

Have you asked them about graduation rates of students that have been admitted to the doctoral program? With that information you can estimate your chances of getting your degree conferred.

 

Can't say I agree. You can only see what others have done and this does not consider the reasons for drop out. If there were an exit survey, that would be a better gauge. If a person loses their job and can not afford to attend any longer, that is not an indication of someone elses "chances" of graduating. If may open peoples eyes to reasons why others dropped out but all points and reasons must be considered.

 

I haven't. Reason: I have no reason to believe that I'm within the middle fifty of the population of applicants. I'll have three degrees by the time I fully apply and I've been published as an undergrad. Only reason I'm looking at online modality for a doctorate is I don't really want to give up a six figure salary to be a TA for 3-8 years.

 

With your tuition math, it sounds like Capella has the lowest tuition among all doctoral granting online-only schools. However, when you add the cost of residencies which include a fee, as well as charges for hotel accommodation, flight tickets etc., then the overall cost (hidden cost) of the program increases. I must say Capella's tuition breakdown is not bad at all, that is, if a student can take three courses per term. Goodluck with your choice.

 

Cyber,

I treat residencies are just like vacation, getting away from work/home once per year. Therefore, it is not a big deal; only if you want to accumulate how much you spend on the entire program.

 

I understand Capella's residency requirement is what many like about their program. As someone with very limited resources, it makes sense to avoid any unnecessary expense if possible. So Capella's residency requirement is the reason I have not enrolled there. About 6 months ago, Chicago was one of the cities that those residencies are held for PhD in IT students. Looking closely on their website now, Chicago is exclusively reserved fro their DBA residencies only, and their PhD students must attend residencies at other cities around the country. Since I reside in Chicago, and also, since i'm not interested in a DBA, I have to attend three residencies at other cities. I'd rather put the cost of residencies toward my course tuition only since I have to pay out of pocket. So no Capella for me for now. I will continue to work toward DSU's Doctor of Science in Information Systems due to superior course availability, the flexibility of the program, and most especially, the low tuition cost (which is $343.75 per credit hour).

 

AACSB is the gold standard. AACSB puts business programs through a rigorous set of requirements. ACBSP is an easier group for a university to join, though it does indicate a good level of quality in courses, internships, library resources, faculty credentials, and other factors important for any university.

 

Has anybody experienced this at Capella University? It was automatically registered OM8004 - Managing and Organizing People for my first term at Capella University. The total cost is about $ 4,024.25...I registered for 2 more courses. A day later, I checked my schedule, all my registered courses were dropped from the system. Are they forcing the student to take only one course for $4,024.25? That's expensive for one course.

 

Is that the typcial cost of each class? How much will the PhD end up costing?

 

Why should they allow you to register for 3 classes at lower tuition when they can force you to take only one class at the cost of over $4k? Ofcourse, their reason will be so as to test your readiness and ability to handle one or more classes. Except someone else is paying your tuition, taking out student loans, for example, to pay $4K plus for one online class is akin to insanity. The truth remains that these operations are structure to suck as much money from people as possible, and very little to do with educating them (after all, don't online schools throw all the work for you to do with almost no support or teaching as in traditional face to face classes?). The word is enough for the wise: stay away from these money sucking operations unless, again, someone else is paying for it, or because you feel the need to defend the school as a graduate. I know some folks, who now realize it was a mistake to take out over $70k to pay for one of these online doctorate, want others to make their same mistake so they are not the only ones "taken." Some of us simply refuse to fall for it and I happen to be one of them.

 

Tekman,

2 things:

1. Call Capella and find out why.

2. If you are using VA or military benefits, call Nicole Lovald. She is the Manager of Military Marketing at Capella. She was a godsend to me. Tell her that I sent you. She is a master of cutting through red tape.

Shawn

 

Dr. Randell,

No. According what they told me that $ 4,024.25 per quarter for Veteran after 10% discount. Student can take 1 to 3 courses per term; if 3 courses, then it is a good deal. However, if only one course. I rather attend Northeastern University, or Lancaster University.

Cyber,

That's what I fear about the price tag at Capella University.

Dr. Shawn A,

I contacted my academic advisor. She said she did not know why these courses were dropped. She'll investigate, and get back to me tomorrow. Another thing is, I have no choice which session/instructor I want to choose. Oh, well...if they force me to take only class, and charge $ 4,024.25.They assigned me the instructor that has bad reputation at RateMyProfessors . Then I'll steer to Lancaster University's low residency Ph.D in Management.

Thanks for the advice, sir!

 

AACSB is, indeed considered the "gold standard," as it focuses upon the research capacity and outputs of the program's faculty and is the best choice for those seeking faculty positions at universities where the priority is research. As Cyber noted, ACBSP is easier for those business programs that are not primarily researched based (which is why ACBSP has many more institutions than AACSB). ACBSP and IACBE (both of which were founded by the same individual) looks more closely at student learning outcomes and curriculum design, rather than research. It looks as though IACBE is on track to receive its CHEA recognition (January 2011, if I recall correctly).