Opinions on ECPI University, please

Unistic

Hello,

I'm currently in the process of enrolling at ECPI University online B.S Computer and Information Science / Network Security.

The reason I picked this school is because the classes are only 5 weeks long. So if you take 2 classes per 5 weeks you can finish a bachelors in 2.5 years. With the credits I'm transferring in I could finish in under two years and I have two years remaining in the Air Force. So I will use my G.I Bill just because TA won't cover everything and I rather have the degree finished before I get out so I can get a job I do have a family to worry about.

With this degree plan you've given the chance to purchase 5 IT vouchers during your enrollment at only $15 dollars each. After you get your degree you can purchase 5 more at $20 each. So far it sounds good I've read a few online reviews stating that the IT degree are some what worth it but the price is too high but I don't have to worry about the price.

Once I'm done I'll have a few certs and I can use the remaining of my GI Bill for a Masters while I work a part time job.

Anyways if you have some experience with this school please let me know thanks!

WafflesAndRootbeer

Run far away from ECPI. Their graduation rate is pretty low, the cost is very high, and the curriculum is lacking at best with teachers that don't have actual credibility as industry professionals. Also, your GI Bill won't be as useful there as you think. I made the mistake of taking two semesters there and it cost nearly 20K out of my own pocket. The admissions people are actually hired and paid as "sales people" and they make commission, so don't trust what they say as "absolute fact". You can dig up plenty of ECPI horror stories on other forums if you look around.

Unistic

Thank you for replying. I was actually looking for to the 5 week terms. I hate 8 or 12 cause I get super bored as it goes on that I work ahead and have to wait till other students catch up so I can complete the discussion boards.

The only school that comes to mind for me would be Columbia Southern University which is really a great school but its National Accredited. They gave me 63 credits out of the required 120 credits. Plus using TA I could take the open term which I do all required work on my own and turn it in to them. It would be a BS in Information Technology. The only thing stopping me is the National accreditation. At two classes at a time I'll be able to finish in 18 months or less and all books are free.

Do you know of any accelerated online IT degrees with a decent rep. What school did you go to for your degree btw? Thanks!

jfitzg

Why dont you try WGU (Western Governors University)? Its very affordable, has a decent reputation, and you go at your own pace so the sooner you do your work and get it signed off on the faster you complete your courses. Sounds right up your alley to be honest. They do six month terms and you complete as many classes as you can in each term, heck if you work fast enough (and have enough credits transferred in), you may be able to complete a degree in 1 to 2 terms. I managed to start and finish a M.S. in InfoSec in 1 term! Granted im not the typical student but it is most certainly possible!

instant000

As a veteran, I advise you to NOT waste your GI Bill while you're still in the service. You can save it for a premium program once you get out.

You get 15 years to use the GI Bill post ETS. TA is only good prior to ETS. In this case, the optimal usage of benefits would call for using TA while you could, and you could use it while in.

If you're just after a regionally accredited bachelor degree, you can get it faster and a lot more affordably (that is, not costing you your GI Bill) with WGU.

Certifications are included in some WGU degree plans. (Though for the most part, they tend to be what slows down candidates the most, when they hit something like CCNA or some of the Windows tests that take a little longer to study for.)

In fact, some degree completion programs at one of the Big Three can also be pretty quick and you can use TA for those, also.

I advise you to check out the following:

CLEP Forum - CLEP Study - CLEP Testing - Study Guide and Strategies
^Forum especially focused on degree completion strategies, especially with regards to the Big Three

Degree Forum Wiki
^ Has some template degree plans for the Big Three

DegreeInfo Distance Learning - online degree forum
^ Good resource forum for nontraditional education, in general.

Hope this helps you most optimally use your educational benefits while you're in the service, as well as after you get out.

Take at least a day or two to think this over and research it out on other forums, prior to using your GI Bill.

Hope this helps.

Unistic

Thank you guys!

And I feel I should use my GI Bill. TA only pays for 6 classes a year and supposedly next fiscal year it will only pay 75% of a class but I have to wait and see on that. I have a wife and three kids so I can't really get out and just focus on school the BHA from the GI bill is only 850 a month. I will also be collecting disability which would be about 1300 a month. And I prefer to work completing this degree before I get out will allow me to do that. And even so I would still have 12 months or so left on it. So if I can't find a job right away I'll start a Masters and collect the BHA until I land a job.


And about WGU....
I would love to go that school but I currently don't qualify. I've heard good and bad stuff about that school. Mainly that you get certifications but the material they provide for the certs aren't helpful and people have failed a test so much they had to pay out of pocket to take it since you only get two vouchers.

I was actually going to open another thread but I'll ask here!
Can you please tell me the cheapest/easiest IT certification to obtain. I was told by WGU I only need a certification any certification to enter WGU. And please don't say A+ I'm leaning more towards Sec+. But you guys might now a cheaper/easier cert?

Thank you!

Ivanjam

Unistic wrote: »

Can you please tell me the cheapest/easiest IT certification to obtain.

This: CIW | Web Foundations Associates Are Skilled with Internet Technology
and/or this: Windows Operating System Fundamentals: MTA Exam 98-349

Unistic

Would WGU accept the MTA? They said I only need one cert. And the MTA looks super easy I don't think I have to study for it which is a plus.

I'm looking towards the IT-Security or the IT-Network Design. The IT Security degree looks tough seeing as I have no real IT experience the cisco certs could take me forever. What are you guys opinions?

Thanks!

Edit:

Any links to study material for the MTA i.e practice test questions to test my knowledge.

Ivanjam

@Unistic - check to see if the CIW or the MTA are in your degree plan.

Unistic

Yes it is, Thanks! Working on looking at study material and setting up a test date within the next two weeks. Then I can finally enter WGU!!!!

Ivanjam

Unistic wrote: »

I'm looking towards the IT-Security or the IT-Network Design. The IT Security degree looks tough seeing as I have no real IT experience the cisco certs could take me forever. What are you guys opinions?

I started the general BSIT degree thinking I could quickly complete it then move on to the certs I really need - CCNA, MCSA, etc. Then I found out that Cisco was retiring the current CCNA so I had to make a detour and get that cert. Then I thought, while the R&S knowledge was fresh in my head, let me knock out the CCNA: Sec. MS has been vacillating about retiring the Windows 7 and Server 2008 exams, so I think I had better get those out of the way too. So, in hindsight, I probably should have done the BSIT-Security degree instead of paying out of pocket for these exams.

VAHokie56

I went to ECPI in Richmond VA back in 2008 and 2009. They are a for profit school and at the time of my enrollment the staff and classes where a joke. The only class/teacher I liked was the guy for the Cisco courses and he was good, if it had not been for that class I would not be where I am now so it was a means to an end I guess. I ended up dropping out and just getting cert and did a class at the local community college. I would not recommend it.

NavyIT

I have no opinion about ECPI as I know nothing about it or have no experience with them. One thing I can tell you, as others have said, is PLEASE do yourself a favor and do not use your GI bill while you are still Active. Use the tuition assistance and fill out the FAFSA. Between TA and grant money that should cover most of your tuition at a school like WGU or UMUC. You should qualify for grants because only 1/2 of what you actually get paid is taxed so it looks like you make nothing. Work hard for your Bachelors and use all of the assistance programs you can while in the military and save that GI bill for a Masters!

Unistic

I'm using TA as much as possible and I don't qualify for the pell grant. When TA is burnt out I use the Post 9/11. I know you get BHA if you use it on the outside. But on the outside I won't have a degree and I have a wife and three kids to think of.

But I have some good news. Allied American University participates in the AU-ABC program so they will take a minmum of 60 credits from my CCAF in Criminal Justice towards a B.S in Computer Information Systems. So if I take 5 classes per 16 weeks (classes are 8 weeks long) I can have my BS in a year top. AAU is currently National Accredited but as of last year they entered candiacy for regional accrediation through WASC so hopefully more than likely they'll have it soon enough.

So if I knock out the B.S in a year I can jump on WGU for a masters and have both degrees before I get out of the military. And if I can't find a job when I get out I'll use the remaining year of my Post 9/11 and get a second masters.

Anyways that's the plan. What have you guys heard about Allied American University, I heard great things the only bad thing people are saying is the national accreditaion but as stated they're trying for regional. Thanks!

WafflesAndRootbeer

VAHokie56 wrote: »

I went to ECPI in Richmond VA back in 2008 and 2009. They are a for profit school and at the time of my enrollment the staff and classes where a joke. The only class/teacher I liked was the guy for the Cisco courses and he was good, if it had not been for that class I would not be where I am now so it was a means to an end I guess. I ended up dropping out and just getting cert and did a class at the local community college. I would not recommend it.

Are you getting calls from debt collection agencies since you left? I have and I know I don't owe ECPI any money. From what I've been reading online, it seems like they send debt agencies after students who leave their programs for greener pastures and try to extort huge amounts of money for supposed unpaid fees.

kgb

I almost went ECPI. Signed everything up til the final signature to release Student Aid to the school. My job became iffy and I didn't want to take on that debt. Best thing that happened to me to be honest. The comments about they being sales people is so true. I know some people have gone there and went off to do great things, but all I will say is do your own research. Don't count on what they say to be facts, especially starting salaries, etc. The lady flat out lied to me and when I did my own research all that came forward.

beantownmp

If you're using your 9/11 GI Bill while on Active Duty watch out. You can only receive BAH once, meaning either from the Military because you're authorized it or from the VA from the 9/11 GI Bill. If you're getting BAH from the military already (you said you had family right?) then that seriously impacts the value of the 9/11 GI Bill. Just something to consider cause the VA will eventually find out and come asking for all that money back.

safari___

ECPI is not all that bad.After all Darril Gibson is an adjunct professor at ECPI University.Besides him, all my Network Security and related computer courses were taught by retired Military.However it is important that if you make the most out of it! After the A+ course you will have to take.Go ahead and take the certification exam while it's still in your head! Same with the Networking... and hey a lot of people need some of those basic computer skills that you have take.Enjoy it and make the best of it! I did not take any certs while attending there.


Still learning from my...

WafflesAndRootbeer

safari___ wrote: »

ECPI is not all that bad.After all Darril Gibson is an adjunct professor at ECPI University.Besides him, all my Network Security and related computer courses were taught by retired Military.However it is important that if you make the most out of it! After the A+ course you will have to take.Go ahead and take the certification exam while it's still in your head! Same with the Networking... and hey a lot of people need some of those basic computer skills that you have take.Enjoy it and make the best of it! I did not take any certs while attending there.

Still learning from my...

The VA Beach campus, where Darril supposedly teaches if he's not doing the online classes like the other adjuncts, is their Mothership campus and that is where all the money and equipment goes in VA. The ECPI campus in Manassas is just part of a building tucked away on the backside of an industrial area and all the money there goes into the medical education program. Their graduation rates for the IT program are less than a dozen students on average of about 40+ who start in each class. Their advanced computer lab had iMacs in it while their other labs had Dells from pre Y2K. They had one Cisco lab for training and such but nobody was allowed to touch the equipment and the courses were all simulations taught by a guy who was questionable as a teacher and certainly was just there for the money. He actually took calls almost every day from his customers - often for several minutes or longer - while we were paying him to learn and he also took smoke breaks every ten minutes when he wasn't yapping on the phone to his business customers. The main IT teacher when I was there was an elderly - and soon to be dead - Iranian man who couldn't speak English at an acceptable level and didn't seem to know anything beyond some basic stuff about programming. I soon found out that before he was teaching at ECPI, he somehow suckered a local college, George Mason University, out of a +100K salary for a single year of "faculty instruction" when he can't even put together a sensible lesson plan or talk about technical stuff. The guy running the IT and Business program at that campus was another barely English-speaking Iranian named "Alex" (not his real name but that's what he goes by), a suit-wearing sleaze-bag to be frank, and he's also somehow a teacher at Wilmington College, where he gets horrible ratings as a teacher. Whenever he would come into the classroom of the other guy, they would carry on 20-minute conversations in Farsi and ignore the students. Both of them were very...creepy too. They were somewhat touchy-feely with the female students, which caused a few of them to file complaints.

Doyen

Unistic wrote: »

Hello,

I'm currently in the process of enrolling at ECPI University online B.S Computer and Information Science / Network Security...

...Anyways if you have some experience with this school please let me know thanks!

I had a good experience with ECPI and would recommend it. I graduated with an associates in information technology and then went back there years later to enroll in the same program you were considering. I made post about my ECPI experience HERE. Feel free to ask me whatever you like.