Cheapest Possible Graduate Degrees? National Accredited OK

[Thorne]

So, I'm in a really unique position. After finishing my Bachelor's through WGU, I landed a well paying job with an absolute nightmare boss. About two years in, everyone in the company did a mass exodus and fled to greener pastures. I have a nice pathway to migrate to Australia, where any degrees I bring over are basically going to be seen without too much discrimination as long as they are accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education (HELLO DEAC, my old friend!). I mean, sure, M7 or Ivy League are better, but there's not much functional difference between the University of Texas, WGU, and The University of Randomness.

Basically, what are the cheapest and/or fastest options for degrees or certificates, graduate or undergraduate, that are available with at least National Accreditation?

There's obviously University of the People and NationsU (currently offering 3 months free tuition and is NA).

What are some others?

[armstrongsubero]

Well if you want a degree in anything fast. NationsU really is the cheapest option. If you want speed you can also look at Ashworth College.

[jsd]

Long time no see, Thorne!

Sorry about your boss, but i hope all is well otherwise.

Not as cheap as a WGU one (or even two) term MBA, but California Coast University (DEAC) has self-paced masters at a flat rate of about $8k (spread out over monthly payments). And it's literally self paced, not term bound like WGU and other CBE schools. They send you the study material and when you're ready to sit for the exam they'll send it to your proctor, who I believe you essentially select. They have a good amount of programs, even some EdD doctoral programs (though I think those a re bit more expensive and do require a thesis with in person defense).

Criminal Justice, Psych, MBA with various concentrations, Organizational Leadership, M.Ed... I'm probably forgetting some options.

https://www.calcoast.edu/

One draw back is that I believe (not certain) that you have to commit to the whole program at the flat rate. Even if you drop out, you're on the hook for the whole payment plan. Patten was like this too, but the stakes were lower because you could commit for just one term and not the whole program.

[Thorne]

Hey man! How goes it?

Hey, crap happens. I'm better off for it, minus some...gunshyness (not sure if that's a word)

Being put through the wringer of 16 hour days with school followed by 12 hour days (6 days a week) with a narcissist really showed me how far I can go before I start to crack.

Thanks to both of you guys for the suggestions. I'm not even sure I care an awful lot about pursuing this, but I figured it was worth considering due to the option. I've got a laundry list of DEAC schools to sift through and I'll have to see what tuition and the process is like for each of them.

[bjcheung77]

Before you look through the list of DEAC schools, I suggest you look through the list of RA Competency Based Degree programs. Most if not all of the Masters programs can be completed in a term. It will be cheaper/easier/faster and has the value of being more recognized than any DEAC school. See this thread: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...My-journey

I usually look at DEAC schools mainly to see who is continuing with their pursuit of RA and also retaining their DEAC accreditation, also to see what programs are only available through DEAC that isn't available through RA options. Check out the Not-for-profits such as Brandman, Purdue, and WGU first, you can then check out Capella, U of Phoenix, Walden afterwards. If for some strange reason, no RA degrees hit your fancy, then investigate the DEAC schools.

[Ideas]

I think it's worth the small amount of extra cash to get an RA degree. I feel like an NA degree would be as much work or more.

Walden in one term, with their half price deals, seems cheapest. Capella in one term. WGU in one term would be better than those two, because they're for-profits, but WGU seems like it would be slower because of the group project. Still very possible to finish in one term, apparently, but you have to work faster on the rest.

Purdue is expensive compared to the others.

[quigongene]

WGU in one term would be better than those two, because they're for-profits, but WGU seems like it would be slower because of the group project.

Not all of WGU's masters degrees require a group project.

[Merlin]

WGU in one term would be better than those two, because they're for-profits, but WGU seems like it would be slower because of the group project.

Not all of WGU's masters degrees require a group project.

Speaking of, WGU is actually dropping the group Capsim project from the MBA capstone in March. It is being replaced by a solo project. It may be the single-player version of Capsim (called Capstone) or it may be something else entirely. Details are still pending.

[jsd]

Wow, that's interesting... When this GT degree is done killing me, maybe I'll go back to WGU for the MBA

[HogwartsSchool]

WGU in one term would be better than those two, because they're for-profits, but WGU seems like it would be slower because of the group project.

Not all of WGU's masters degrees require a group project.

Speaking of, WGU is actually dropping the group Capsim project from the MBA capstone in March. It is being replaced by a solo project. It may be the single-player version of Capsim (called Capstone) or it may be something else entirely. Details are still pending.

@Merlin
I am starting the MBA program at WGU very soon (next month). Where did you hear about the MBA capstone project change to a single-player version?

Is there a good spot to learn about the latest happenings at WGU?