Gateway U - New Competency Based Degree Provider

[bjcheung77]

Awesome!  This seems like a very good program for everyone, especially the ones who can get the financial aid as I mentioned, it'll only cost you $35/term as per their webpage and my post earlier.  Here's an updated email response from the Director.

Hey Bryan, 

I hope you are doing well! Thanks for reaching out and for your patience. My initial response to your email went to my drafts. Answers to your questions are listed below.

1) Is this program available for anyone? 
Students can access the program from anywhere. They can be out of state or international. An international student may need to complete additional steps during the application process. These steps depend on what kind of international student they are.  

2) Are there additional charges at SNHU? Or do all the fees listed on the site the only fees applicable?
All the fees are included within the 2,333.33 per term, which totals 7,000 a year (3 terms per year)

3) Instead of completing 120 credits, are we able to transfer in say 75% of the program credits through CLEP and acceptable courses SNHU accepts?  SNHU can asses your credits to see how many you have that are able to transfer.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Saymah

[TINASAM]

Ok who has a buttload of credits that want to test to see how many actually transfer in since they're not helpful in stating "oh yes up to 90 credits can be" or whatever, lol.

[dfrecore]

Ok who has a buttload of credits that want to test to see how many actually transfer in since they're not helpful in stating "oh yes up to 90 credits can be" or whatever, lol.

Well, we know that SNHU will bring in 90cr from other sources including ACE, so that won't be a problem; it's more of a thing of which credits you've taken and if they'll fit.  This guy can't say, since he's not the registrar and doesn't want to make statements that sound like a promise that he can't keep.

[vintage_jacket]

I'm wondering what projects they're looking for in order to complete the class. For me, I don't think I'd be able to speed through enough courses to break even on the $7K, but it sounds like this might be a viable option for some. Looking forward to hearing about anyone that graduates.

[bjcheung77]

@vintage_jacket, from reading their info, it seems all "work related" projects. So, what I believe it to be is more of an assessment and assignment from completing your "projects" at work. Seem like a pretty good deal if you gain a degree and continuously work towards a project. It could be a project to get a specific department at work into a more effective/efficient form, or to help processes and procedures to be more conscious and resourceful.

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Oh, and in regards to the tuition, it seems cheaper than UMPI even.  For example, it's 3 terms a year, so that's 4 months per term at $2,333.33... at UMPI it's $2800 for 2 sessions (4 months).  Just like UMPI, with financial aid, you can possibly get everything done and be left with some change too, with enough grant, the money left would be paying back what you used to get the alternative credits.

[ss20ts]

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Oh, and in regards to the tuition, it seems cheaper than UMPI even.  For example, it's 3 terms a year, so that's 4 months per term at $2,333.33... at UMPI it's $2800 for 2 sessions (4 months).  Just like UMPI, with financial aid, you can possibly get everything done and be left with some change too, with enough grant, the money left would be paying back what you used to get the alternative credits.

I wouldn't assume a term is 4 months without confirmation. If they're having 3 terms a year, then they could be 15-16 weeks long like a semester. A term at SNHU is not 4 months long.

[dfrecore]

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Oh, and in regards to the tuition, it seems cheaper than UMPI even.  For example, it's 3 terms a year, so that's 4 months per term at $2,333.33... at UMPI it's $2800 for 2 sessions (4 months).  Just like UMPI, with financial aid, you can possibly get everything done and be left with some change too, with enough grant, the money left would be paying back what you used to get the alternative credits.

I wouldn't assume a term is 4 months without confirmation. If they're having 3 terms a year, then they could be 15-16 weeks long like a semester. A term at SNHU is not 4 months long.

4 months = ~16 weeks

[ss20ts]

---

Oh, and in regards to the tuition, it seems cheaper than UMPI even.  For example, it's 3 terms a year, so that's 4 months per term at $2,333.33... at UMPI it's $2800 for 2 sessions (4 months).  Just like UMPI, with financial aid, you can possibly get everything done and be left with some change too, with enough grant, the money left would be paying back what you used to get the alternative credits.

I wouldn't assume a term is 4 months without confirmation. If they're having 3 terms a year, then they could be 15-16 weeks long like a semester. A term at SNHU is not 4 months long.

4 months = ~16 weeks

And there are probably breaks due to holidays. Rarely do schools start a term the day after the previous one completes. Like I said terms at SNHU aren't 15-16 weeks long.

[vintage_jacket]

@vintage_jacket, from reading their info, it seems all "work related" projects.  So, what I believe it to be is more of an assessment and assignment from completing your "projects" at work.  Seem like a pretty good deal if you gain a degree and continuously work towards a project.  It could be a project to get a specific department at work into a more effective/efficient form, or to help processes and procedures to be more conscious and resourceful.

---

Oh, and in regards to the tuition, it seems cheaper than UMPI even.  For example, it's 3 terms a year, so that's 4 months per term at $2,333.33... at UMPI it's $2800 for 2 sessions (4 months).  Just like UMPI, with financial aid, you can possibly get everything done and be left with some change too, with enough grant, the money left would be paying back what you used to get the alternative credits.

Good point. Perhaps the projects will be a good alternative. And you did mention that the program is from College for America.

For the financial aid, I believe if you apply for out-of-state school, the financial help you receive is a bit less. I'm not sure (never applied out of state). But if that's the case, that's something to keep in mind for anyone applying that's not in the SNHU area.

Here's an Instagram post with a bit more information, https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ48rv3rO0o/ . Something interesting to note, is that on the last slide, it says that anyone with a GED or high school diploma can apply. I'm guessing this program is not for anyone who already has an associates.

It seems like all the information can found after you meet for an information session. I may look into this program.

[vintage_jacket]

@vintage_jacket, from reading their info, it seems all "work related" projects.  So, what I believe it to be is more of an assessment and assignment from completing your "projects" at work.  Seem like a pretty good deal if you gain a degree and continuously work towards a project.  It could be a project to get a specific department at work into a more effective/efficient form, or to help processes and procedures to be more conscious and resourceful.

---

Oh, and in regards to the tuition, it seems cheaper than UMPI even.  For example, it's 3 terms a year, so that's 4 months per term at $2,333.33... at UMPI it's $2800 for 2 sessions (4 months).  Just like UMPI, with financial aid, you can possibly get everything done and be left with some change too, with enough grant, the money left would be paying back what you used to get the alternative credits.

Good point. Perhaps the projects will be a good alternative. And you did mention that the program is from College for America.

For the financial aid, I believe if you apply for out-of-state school, the financial help you receive is a bit less. I'm not sure (never applied out of state). But if that's the case, that's something to keep in mind for anyone applying that's not in the SNHU area.

Here's an Instagram post with a bit more information, https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ48rv3rO0o/ . Something interesting to note, is that on the last slide, it says that anyone with a GED or high school diploma can apply. I'm guessing this program is not for anyone who already has an associates.

It seems like all the information can found after you meet for an information session. I may look into this program.

I took the info session and it all sounds really good, but there's still some follow up questions I have so I'm waiting to hear back. Below are my thoughts.

General

• This is a Hybrid College. I don't know if that alters the transcript for SNHU graduates from Gateway U or other hybrid colleges.
  
• The terms are 16 weeks, however, there's unlimited credits you can take as noted on the website.
  
  
• You need to meet regularly with your coach. Scheduled details TBD, I see both hybrid sites note weekly/monthly.
  

Transcript/Grades

• What do the grades look like on the SNHU transcript, since the website states you receive an A after mastery? The gentleman replied that I do receive an A after the master. 
  
• However, I found an expanded transcript key for SNHU through an online search (I couldn't find the same pdf on the general website). It seems to me that I might get an A in the class, but it does not become part of the GPA, much like CLEP or an ACE credit.
  Mastery (MA) Grades: “MA” grades are issued for direct assessment competency-based education programs once individual competencies are mastered. “MA” is equivalent to an “A” grade on a traditional grade scale. There are no grade points associated with MA grades, therefore there is no GPA for students in direct assessment competency-based education programs.
  
• Can you transfer the credits from SNHU to another college? They gentleman said yes, and SNHU is regionally accredited.
  

Another Hybrid College

• NobleForward is another hybrid college online partnered with SNHU and they have a disclaimer on their page that this program is not for everyone, https://www.nobleforward.org/admissions-...ge-content. 
  You are hoping to transfer to a different institution to complete your degree: Transfer opportunities may be limited because of the program format, which is competency-based. While the program is rigorous and accredited, competency-based education is a relatively new type of education that many other universities may not accept at this time. Transfers between institutions are always at discretion of the receiving institution.
  

Questions for Forum Users

• For those of you on this forum that have attended a College For America program, how has this degree worked out for you?
  
• For those on this forum that have applied to a master's program, did having a degree mostly with CBE classes affect your application or limit your options? No? Or if so, how? I've never applied to a Master's of PhD programs, but I'm trying to see how this decision might affect any future plans.