"Big 3" degree value?

[jackzack87]

As we all know that "the big three" are not well known or highly touted colleges, and therefore may be looked down on by a future employer just, as would one of many other degrees from many other obscure universities.
Debating the value of a degree such as many of us have or are pursuing has already been hashed out pretty good here, but I concur that a bachelors is not worth as much as it used to be, and the masters is the new bachelors. Which, to the savvy consumer, behooves us to get our bachelors degree with little fuss and cost. This is where TESC or EX come in handy.
The line to repeat here is "regionally accredited". It is. And it's what counts.

I would suggest to the original poster that choices such these would probably not be a frontrunner if cost is not an issue, because apples to apples, a degree from a well known state school or private college would be preferable on the open market.
Some people here might know that Toyota makes Lexus cars. Same engineering, same frames, but different body styles, emblems and price tags. If you'd like a Lexus and don't mind the price, go for it. I'm perfectly comfortable in a Toyota.

We are starting with Harvard and working down from there. TESC is not Harvard, but it is accredited from the same place as Princeton. Thus a Bachelors from TESC is not exactly fropm a cornflake box. I certainly have had to work for my credits. Thats why I am seeking relief with a few CLEP courses. Everything helps. That all said. A Bachelors in my neighborhood [is little more than a HS Diploma anymore] Thus I think the correct formula is strive for a 3.0 GPA and get into a name brand Grad Cert. Look around--there are some great name brand universities offering 12 credit Grad Certs, e.e. Penn State, Univ of Florida, Berkeley, Tulane, etc etc. I think the smart strategy is to bank out the bulk at e.g. TESC [on the cheap] and then top it off with a 12 credit Grade Cert from a Top Tier. It is sort of smoke and mirrors, but trust me on this, Employers will be looking at my Grad Cert and life experience, not my TESC bachelor which was actually the vehicle to get me to the GRAD CERT. Same thing with the CLEP course. They are just a vehicle tpo get you to the Bachelors quicker and cheaper. (in my opinion) Don


:nopity:

[CLEP101]

If you'd like a Lexus and don't mind the price, go for it. I'm perfectly comfortable in a Toyota.

I like Chevys, Toyotas are still too expensive for me milelol:

[PonyGirl93]

I like Chevys, Toyotas are still too expensive for me milelol:

Personally, I'm a fan of my '97 corolla, I call them the supercars My dad got 316k miles on one :hurray:

[burbuja0512]

As we all know that "the big three" are not well known or highly touted colleges, and therefore may be looked down on by a future employer just, as would one of many other degrees from many other obscure universities.
Debating the value of a degree such as many of us have or are pursuing has already been hashed out pretty good here, but I concur that a bachelors is not worth as much as it used to be, and the masters is the new bachelors. Which, to the savvy consumer, behooves us to get our bachelors degree with little fuss and cost. This is where TESC or EX come in handy.
The line to repeat here is "regionally accredited". It is. And it's what counts.

I would suggest to the original poster that choices such these would probably not be a frontrunner if cost is not an issue, because apples to apples, a degree from a well known state school or private college would be preferable on the open market.
Some people here might know that Toyota makes Lexus cars. Same engineering, same frames, but different body styles, emblems and price tags. If you'd like a Lexus and don't mind the price, go for it. I'm perfectly comfortable in a Toyota.

I love the "Masters is the new Bachelors" quote. It's not true of all undergraduate degrees, but yes, in most cases it really is true. We saw the same thing with our parents and grandparents' generation. High school used to be enough.

I'm not sure if the only issue with a B&M school is money saved. For me it's time. No, I am not in a rush to get a new job. Thank goodness I have a good job and getting this degree won't increase my income. (though it will help my resume) Time is HUGE. Even if you have the drive and determination now to finish school, will you feel the same four years from now? Yikes.. with kids and full time work and travel and husband, I can honestly say that if I hadn't found out about CLEPping, I wouldn't be able to get my degree for several more years, and probably wouldn't even have considered a graduate degree. The path to a masters degree is VERY long without testing.

There are many alternatives to the big 3 that we don't talk about as often as we perhaps should.. compromises to the almost-100% testing route. For someone who's not pressed for cash and has time available to take some B&M classes, I've seen some schools with generous CLEP acceptance policy. One could find a college that accepts, let's say 60 testing credits. Then you'd still have to do a couple of butt-in-seat years, but still huge time savings. lol.. of course I'm so addicted to the instant gratification I get from a CLEP. I enjoy it so much that I love to test as much as I can!

[jackzack87]

Right, For the engineering major, (something you really cant get a BA/BS in online anyway) a bachelors is very handsom by itself. Likewise with nursing or other hands-on major.

Good point on the time - most of us have gone/are going to the schools we are because of the generous test-out ploicy, but there are several other schools that offer 30, 45 or even 60 credits as you mentioned. We all have our reasons for going where we went and like you I couldn't rationalize 4 years in college.
I don't think anyone here is against 'traditional" learning butt-in-seat style, or blindly promoting "the big three" - yes, there are other schools with similar policies - I'd like to know more about them, and expand our horizons on this board. Maybe a thread should be started on this...


[QUOTE=burbuja0512]
I love the "Masters is the new Bachelors" quote. It's not true of all undergraduate degrees, but yes, in most cases it really is true. We saw the same thing with our parents and grandparents' generation. High school used to be enough.

The path to a masters degree is VERY long without testing.

There are many alternatives to the big 3 that we don't talk about as often as we perhaps should.. compromises to the almost-100% testing route. For someone who's not pressed for cash and has time available to take some B&M classes, I've seen some schools with generous CLEP acceptance policy. QUOTE]

[MA2]

I can certainly understand the "use the online degree as a pathway to getting your Masters" arguement... but I was just asking about the 4 year degree on it's own

[Potatoloco]

Right, For the engineering major, (something you really cant get a BA/BS in online anyway) a bachelors is very handsom by itself. Likewise with nursing or other hands-on major.

My wife is an engineer for the state of Oklahoma. While a degree is great to have, without passing the FE cert and giving yourself a chance at a PE cert, you'll be vastly limited as to what your salary can be and most likely be stuck at a low salary band until you can get those certs.

[skybirds]

I plan to travel and work overseas. A degree helps. IMHO a domestic
employer better pay me premium for a job that a high grad can do
If they demand a degree. Excelsior offers me choices at a price I
can afford. I can tesyt when I'm ready.

[SWarehouse]

In your situation, I would probably get an Associates Degree through Excelsior or TESC in General Business and then get the Bachelor's Degree at a school with AACSB accreditation, which is the top accreditation body for Business Administration and Accounting degrees. That way you get your basics done quickly but don't have to worry about that perception question with one of the "Big 3" schools.

[Yenisei]

AACSB isn't as big a deal at the undergrad level (most employers won't even worry about it for a bachelor grad, and almost certainly not one overseas). I'd suggest minimizing your costs with the bachelor's degree and looking for an AACSB MBA if you really want AACSB.