Can I get some recommendations for accredited online colleges?

zenhound

I always wonder that about the B&M schools that offer online degrees through a different school, whether they are more valued. CSU here offers CSU Global Campus and have a few degrees offered through it. Seems like it would be a good way to get a degree from CSU while working or whatever, if you can't get there. But do you have to list it as CSU Global Campus? And then it would just be seen as an online degree, and not everyone values those.. It seems to me like if that's going to be the case you may as well just go the cheapest route available, which is almost always going to be WGU I would think.

cmorris1441

zenhound wrote: »

But do you have to list it as CSU Global Campus?

Call them and ask. I called PSU and they told me a World Campus degree looked exactly the same as a degree from University Park, their main campus.

higherho

Yea my one friend graduated from Penn State and went to Main campus for some earth science / IT. Took him 3 years to find a job and he did it with me pushing his resume and recommending him in to the company. Arrogant fellow considering he came up and said
"my degree is more prestige than yours", I then said: so how did that work for you the past three years working at a local grocery store?

spend your money wisely, in IT the degree means jack after you get your foot in the door.

EDIT

Also you should put that you took the online degree, either way they will know the moment they get your transcripts.

erpadmin

zenhound wrote: »

I always wonder that about the B&M schools that offer online degrees through a different school, whether they are more valued. CSU here offers CSU Global Campus and have a few degrees offered through it. Seems like it would be a good way to get a degree from CSU while working or whatever, if you can't get there. But do you have to list it as CSU Global Campus? And then it would just be seen as an online degree, and not everyone values those.. It seems to me like if that's going to be the case you may as well just go the cheapest route available, which is almost always going to be WGU I would think.

Not for nothing, but what a degree looks likes (whether is has Colorado State or Colorado State Global) isn't what's gonna matter. Think about it, 9 times out of 10, you're not going to be lugging around your diploma to interviews. The most employers ever want to see is a transcript, and even that that's dependant on the job. HR departments will use a clearinghouse to verify that you attended such and such school.

The issue here is online degrees and whether or not paying a boatload of money to PSU (or any school with a name) to attend their online college is worth it over a degree like WGU. My contention has always been that a regionally accredited college that can get you into a reputable graduate program will always be a selling point for a school like WGU. (And it is--I'm in a reputable graduate program now.)

Online schools aren't going anywhere. WGU's enrollment is growing monthly. I believe they are over 30000 enrolled now. They're now in three states as bonafide state schools (albeit without the funding--Indiana, Washingston and Texas). Plus, WGU gives every student and alumni access to the National Student Clearinghouse, so you can see what an employer sees in terms of enrollment and graduation verification.

In your case, CSU-gloabal seems to be a good option if you want an online degree--you live in CO.

indyguycb25

I ma personally using WGU. I ma a excellent self study though. I pretty much and pushing 54 credit hours a 6 month period on my second degree with them. I am doing the Security BIS.

I get these certifications through the courses. What is nice you get two free tests so if you fail 1 you do not have to pay for your next one. If you happen to fail that one you get a reduced cost test 65.00 I believe. it costs me about 3k a 6 month period.

After about 24 months I will have a BS: Business Management: Information Technology, BS: Network Security, and if i keep this pace a MBA in information technology management.

The certifications I will have after the 2 BS's.

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA®)
• Cisco Certified Network Associate Security (CCNA® Security)
• Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT)
• CIW Web Design Specialist
• CIW JavaScript Specialist
• CIW Database Design Specialist
• CIW Web Foundations Associate
• CompTIA A+
• CompTIA Project+
• CompTIA Security+
• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows 7, Configuration
• Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Windows OS Fundamentals
• Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Web Development Fundamentals
• Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Software Development Fundamentals
• Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Database Administration Fundamentals

And
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Networking Fundamentals

Now if i do the MS and not MBA I can get Ethical Hacker Certs, but trying to weigh the impact of the MBA title right now. I will decide in 2 years.

indyguycb25

Sorry for double reply.

Do not forget to get your A+. Hiring managers are looking at this more and more. I have 4 friends who were turned down for IT positions due to no A+ the crazy thing is they are MCSEs. Remember your foot in the door is more about flashy titles as most hires are done by HR people and not IT trained people.

Also, WGU students are being actively recruited by Microsoft, Intel, IBM, and a few others. My experience may be different from most as i have 12 years of Cisco routing experience(No Certs). Plus a piece of the MAN technology was developed by me and sold to Cisco.i also hold the no longer given LCENT Frame/ATM certifications.

zenhound

erpadmin wrote: »

Not for nothing, but what a degree looks likes (whether is has Colorado State or Colorado State Global) isn't what's gonna matter. Think about it, 9 times out of 10, you're not going to be lugging around your diploma to interviews. The most employers ever want to see is a transcript, and even that that's dependant on the job. HR departments will use a clearinghouse to verify that you attended such and such school.

The issue here is online degrees and whether or not paying a boatload of money to PSU (or any school with a name) to attend their online college is worth it over a degree like WGU. My contention has always been that a regionally accredited college that can get you into a reputable graduate program will always be a selling point for a school like WGU. (And it is--I'm in a reputable graduate program now.)
....

In your case, CSU-gloabal seems to be a good option if you want an online degree--you live in CO.

Good points, all. Also to be considered, I'm not sure that HR even considers where a degree is from, they just check that you have one and pass it on to hiring managers. That's how it works with the state government here, at least. HR only really functions to eliminate candidates from consideration, then the managers make the decisions beyond that.

CSU-Global doesn't offer anything I'm super interested in--much more management oriented than I am--but I may do an online degree from Univ of CO Denver or something. It's probably going to come down to cost, whether instate online tuition is cheaper or WGU.

just_in_time

I would agree with others to select a B&M school. I got my A.A.S. at my local community college doing 60% of the courses online. I then attended Hodges University and received my Bachelors in Information Systems Management, all online. I will be starting my Masters in Information Systems Management next month. The courses I have taken at Hodges have really helped in my career. Also, I was able to study a little for certifications while taking these courses and then using the two week break to really cram and test for the certs. I would recommend Hodges University to anyone that asked.

the_Grinch

Name does matter, a lot of people don't seem to believe so, but I have to say I believe they are wrong. I've gotten a number of interviews based solely off the name of the institution I attended. Now, the other thing that has to be considered is the region you are in. I went to Drexel and in my region (Northeast) they are well known. Go to the West Coast, not as well known. As far as knowing something that only someone who attended on campus would know, they really depends on the size of the school. Thus far in all my interactions with Drexel alums who were doing hiring, no body has asked questions about things on campus. If you got into PennState and can afford to go, do it. Because when it comes down to it, if you have two candidates that have the same education and experience name could be the thing that gives you an edge. That's my opinion anyway...

erpadmin

the_Grinch wrote: »

Name does matter, a lot of people don't seem to believe so, but I have to say I believe they are wrong. I've gotten a number of interviews based solely off the name of the institution I attended. Now, the other thing that has to be considered is the region you are in. I went to Drexel and in my region (Northeast) they are well known. Go to the West Coast, not as well known. As far as knowing something that only someone who attended on campus would know, they really depends on the size of the school. Thus far in all my interactions with Drexel alums who were doing hiring, no body has asked questions about things on campus. If you got into PennState and can afford to go, do it. Because when it comes down to it, if you have two candidates that have the same education and experience name could be the thing that gives you an edge. That's my opinion anyway...

Drexel is very well known. In fact, in my national fraternity, it well known that the Drexel chapter has a huge mansion that's a historical landmark (our coat-of-arms is even in stone!) Outside of that, Drexel is very well known in this area, and God bless, if one can afford Drexel, then Drexel should be done.

At the end of the day, though, I have seen folks with either no degree, or a degree that might have come from a low-tier school making nice six-figure salaries. As someone else mentioned, the only great thing about a name-school, like Drexel (which isn't Ivy League, btw, but it might as well be...but I will stress that it's not Ivy League to tease you. ) are the alumni connections, and relationships can be forged even in a DL environment. Aside from that, that's about it...

I will always contend that it will be about how the experience is leveraged coupled with the degree that will allow that experience to be leveraged in the first place.

One last thing to note...in terms of hiring and education, the last degree earned is the only one that matters. Period.

the_Grinch

erpadmin wrote: »

Drexel is very well known. In fact, in my national fraternity, it well known that the Drexel chapter has a huge mansion that's a historical landmark (our coat-of-arms is even in stone!) Outside of that, Drexel is very well known in this area, and God bless, if one can afford Drexel, then Drexel should be done.

At the end of the day, though, I have seen folks with either no degree, or a degree that might have come from a low-tier school making nice six-figure salaries. As someone else mentioned, the only great thing about a name-school, like Drexel (which isn't Ivy League, btw, but it might as well be...but I will stress that it's not Ivy League to tease you. ) are the alumni connections, and relationships can be forged even in a DL environment. Aside from that, that's about it...

I will always contend that it will be about how the experience is leveraged coupled with the degree that will allow that experience to be leveraged in the first place.

One last thing to note...in terms of hiring and education, the last degree earned is the only one that matters. Period.

How dare you sully the Drexel name by saying we aren't Ivy League!!! (kidding of course) I've done some online courses and you are correct you can form connections through there as well. I always found it was great because you get connections across the country. You'd be surprised how many people end of staying in Philadelphia, instead of heading back where they came from. With DL, I have friends all over the country so if I were to go to those areas, I should be alright. So I'll maintain my stance, if you can go without putting yourself into a ton of debt, I'd say do it.

Valsacar

indyguycb25 wrote: »

Do not forget to get your A+. Hiring managers are looking at this more and more. I have 4 friends who were turned down for IT positions due to no A+ the crazy thing is they are MCSEs. Remember your foot in the door is more about flashy titles as most hires are done by HR people and not IT trained people.

This is why I choose to pay and keep my A+/Net+/Sec+ active even though I now have my CISSP... because some people are dumb.

Back near the actual subject, anyone know of places that do PhD levels? Capella is the only place I know of, I can't handle frequent trips back to campus (working overseas with the US Military). Capella has 2 required visits, that I could do, but some of the other programs either require whole classes on campus (no-go for me) or every couple months a campus visit (also a no-go).

erpadmin

Valsacar wrote: »

This is why I choose to pay and keep my A+/Net+/Sec+ active even though I now have my CISSP... because some people are dumb.

Back near the actual subject, anyone know of places that do PhD levels? Capella is the only place I know of, I can't handle frequent trips back to campus (working overseas with the US Military). Capella has 2 required visits, that I could do, but some of the other programs either require whole classes on campus (no-go for me) or every couple months a campus visit (also a no-go).

The one guy on this forum that you really want to talk to is Unixguy. He's actually looked into PhD programs and has very valid statements on how to look for a proper PhD program.

My take on them, any PhD program that doesn't require a dissertation defense in person is a waste of time and money. Any PhD program that doesn't care if you get published, is a waste of time and money. There are very good programs that you can do part-time that are the real deal, but you have to research, and research on what you want. I personally would not want to get a PhD from a for-profit school unless my goal was to teach at only for-profit schools. There are a lot of schools that are legit where you can go part time, and do the required residency in person (no matter where in the world it is.)

donzg

Hi Iris can you send me one too. Thanks