Online Universities

[Pythagrean]

I am looking to go back to school to finish my Bachelors Degree. I have looked at several online schools such as the University of Phoenix and Devry. They both seem to have very good online programs and both schools are accredited Universities. Has anyone heard anything good or bad about their online programs?

I also am worried about the worth of the degree when I enter the market place. Will getting a Bachelors degree from one of these schools be looked at as a good thing or a bad thing on a resume?

I see a lot of students going to UoP Online so it seems like there degree might be pretty good for me. I can?t see them charging $460 a credit hour and the degree not being worth anything.

Online school is really the only way I will be able to get my Bachelor degree because of work and where I live.

 

[BlueWeasel]

$460 a credit hour??!!

That's $1380 for a typical 3-CH class. My tutition at Mississippi State a few years ago was ~$1600 for an entire semester (15-20 CH).

 

[radioouman]

If you go with an online school, I recommend finding one that is an established school that has developed an online curriculum, not a school founded around the idea of an online degree (like Phoenix).

 

[Pythagrean]

Then I need some serious help finding a good school then. It is very hard and scary to try to find a school where I will poor a lot of money into and get a good education.

 

[radioouman]

I have not looked into bachelors degrees online. Devry is basically tech school, and I know one or two people that have graduated from there and they seem to be doing OK. If you already have full time employment, then your work experience is probably worth more than your degree (but you need the degree to open the door). If you have no work experience and a degree from Devry, I think that you will have a hard time beating out applicants that have a bachelors from a brick and mortar school.

 

[jammur21]

Where do you live? Look into something like this at your nearby University:

http://www.uclaextension.edu/

 

[LeonarD26]

I would not consider getting a degree from a place like Phoenix. Is it not possible for you to go somewhere locally? I would think there is a community college nearby? I would imagine many employeers would have a tough time getting over the stereotype of online universities... but I could be wrong since I have zero experience/knowledge about them.

 

[desteffy]

All I know about UoP is that all my professors make fun of it all the time. And other people too.

They are looked at by a lot of people to be a place where you "buy" a degree instead of earn it.

 

[denmalley]

Originally posted by: radioouman
If you go with an online school, I recommend finding one that is an established school that has developed an online curriculum, not a school founded around the idea of an online degree (like Phoenix).

I agree 100%.

Originally posted by: pythagrean
Then I need some serious help finding a good school then. It is very hard and scary to try to find a school where I will poor a lot of money into and get a good education.

start with spelling (incl. avatar name)

But seriously, UoP tries to make itself attractive to folks like you because they're marketing themselves as an online "alternative" to those "other" universities. There are plenty of known and respected schools that offer an online cirriculum for less money. Even if you don't spend a lot of time finding the perfect fit for you, if you go to *any* established university as opposed to going to Phoenix, you'll be taking a step up.

 

[DougK62]

A Bachelor's degree from some little online school is as good as an Associate's degree in basket weaving from the community college.

UoP and Devry MIGHT give you a good education, but those names on a resume is almost worthless.

 

[radioouman]

The University of Wisconsin, University of Maryland, and even Ohio State University offers some classes online. Try to find an established school with an online curriculum.

 

[psiu]

Originally posted by: desteffy
All I know about UoP is that all my professors make fun of it all the time. And other people too.

They are looked at by a lot of people to be a place where you "buy" a degree instead of earn it.

Univeristy of Phoenix Sucks.com

I've heard the degree is relatively worthless by others as well...you CAN learn there, but you can certainly get by without learning anything really, and it devalues the degree there (as a degree is simply stating that a person had to fulfill the minimum requirements and standards of the institution) which is a shame.

My dad got his degree from there (paid for mostly by the VA--USMC vet) and I know he busted his ass on his work and research.

 

[Pythagrean]

Sorry for the misspellings? I guess if I was perfect my name would be Jesus Christ!!!

By the way I use the name Pythagrean because I like it. I know it is spelled Pythagorean.

Anyway I called several schools to check on the validity of the credits that you earn at University of Phoenix. I called Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and Sam Houston State University and they all said that the majority of the credits would transfer into their programs with no problems. The only credits that Texas Tech would not allow to transfer would be the technical credits.

It seems like to me they are at least accredited to other Universities which I would think would speak volumes about their education.