This topic has really two subtopics: (1) MS in Computer Science (2) PhD in Computer Science. Here is my take:
1. MS Computer Science (Distance/Online)
Unless you're getting reimbursed by your employer I think it's not worth it. There are better distance MSCS options out there. UT Austin as already mentioned is only $10k for the entire MSCS degree. Another would be Georgia Tech. I don't know of any other top 20ish type schools that have cheap options. But if you have money to burn (Paypal me the money instead), or if your employer reimburses you, there are more recognized schools like Johns Hopkins, or USC.
2. PhD in Computer Science (Distance/Online)
I have been in the tech industry for a couple of decades, and I have come across engineering graduates from Clarkson and I'm on the West Coast. They were all good, so I would say although Clarkson may not be as well-known as USC or NYU, for example, I would argue that it's not a no-name school. This is where it gets interesting. Firstly, I would say, comparing Ph.D. from UT Austin vs Clarkson, Austin obviously wins. However, Austin doesn't offer a CS Ph.D. at a distance, so it's not a valid comparison. These are the schools that offer Ph.D in CS which can be completed online as far as I know and which I have ranked from best to worst (My rankings):
Schools listed: Mississippi State, Florida Atlantic, University of North Dakota, Clarkson, Nova Southeastern, Capitol Tech, Northcentral
Rank | School |Tuition |Units |Total | Comments
| | per | req |Cost |
| | unit | w/MS | |
-----|----------|--------|------|------|----------------------
1 | Miss St | 550 | 32 | 18k | R1 school; low cost
2 | FAU | 800 | 42 | 34k | Likely to become R1
3 | N Dakota | 900 | 60 | 54k | Likely to become R1
4 | Clarkson | 1.5k | 60 | 90k | Tuition just too high
5 | Nova S | 1.1k | 51 | 56k | Many ABD ex-students
6 | Capitol | 1k | 60 | 60k | Publication not req'd
7 | North C | 1k | 48 | 48k | Publication not req'd
Amongst these choices, I think Mississippi State is the best option, R1 and cheap. FAU is R2, but they're growing and will likely be R1 in 2024. North Dakota is next because they are a flagship state school (for their state), and should get good government-funded research projects. This is just hearsay, but I've seen in other forums that a lot of students exit Nova ABD, so it seems they don't get very many research projects. Northcentral doesn't seem to be actively involved in any research areas, as far as I can tell, same as Capitol Tech. I went to their websites and looked at the faculty pages to see what students are working on, and I didn't see any. Florida Atlantic and Mississippi State have faculty pages, and they have active research labs, so they look like excellent options as well. I ranked Mississippi State higher because they're cheaper, and a slightly higher ranking. Did I miss any schools?
I hope you don't mind me saying, but can you please tone down the sarcasm a bit, "I mean, it's only $1533/credit and you just need 90 credits". Have you been over at degreeinfo recently? It's overrun by people making sarcastic remarks and personal attacks, and the moderators there seem to have let everything get away from them. In fact, there's a thread there called "personal attacks" lol. Degreeforum is run much better (thank you and other moderators for that). Anyway, back to the topic...
I agree with your post. $90k is just too much. If it were MIT or Stanford, I'd pay the $90k, otherwise, it's hard to justify. I went to a private school similar to Clarkson (top 100 but not elite). Awesome experience. Excellent staff, and everyone there willing to help you. I also went to top tier public school. Horrible experience. Staff and professors had horrible attitudes. Sarcastic, rude. I was glad when I graduated. However, when I interview, hiring managers would mention the public school, "good school...", and not mention the expensive private one.
1. MS Computer Science (Distance/Online)
Unless you're getting reimbursed by your employer I think it's not worth it. There are better distance MSCS options out there. UT Austin as already mentioned is only $10k for the entire MSCS degree. Another would be Georgia Tech. I don't know of any other top 20ish type schools that have cheap options. But if you have money to burn (Paypal me the money instead), or if your employer reimburses you, there are more recognized schools like Johns Hopkins, or USC.
2. PhD in Computer Science (Distance/Online)
I have been in the tech industry for a couple of decades, and I have come across engineering graduates from Clarkson and I'm on the West Coast. They were all good, so I would say although Clarkson may not be as well-known as USC or NYU, for example, I would argue that it's not a no-name school. This is where it gets interesting. Firstly, I would say, comparing Ph.D. from UT Austin vs Clarkson, Austin obviously wins. However, Austin doesn't offer a CS Ph.D. at a distance, so it's not a valid comparison. These are the schools that offer Ph.D in CS which can be completed online as far as I know and which I have ranked from best to worst (My rankings):
Schools listed: Mississippi State, Florida Atlantic, University of North Dakota, Clarkson, Nova Southeastern, Capitol Tech, Northcentral
Rank | School |Tuition |Units |Total | Comments
| | per | req |Cost |
| | unit | w/MS | |
-----|----------|--------|------|------|----------------------
1 | Miss St | 550 | 32 | 18k | R1 school; low cost
2 | FAU | 800 | 42 | 34k | Likely to become R1
3 | N Dakota | 900 | 60 | 54k | Likely to become R1
4 | Clarkson | 1.5k | 60 | 90k | Tuition just too high
5 | Nova S | 1.1k | 51 | 56k | Many ABD ex-students
6 | Capitol | 1k | 60 | 60k | Publication not req'd
7 | North C | 1k | 48 | 48k | Publication not req'd
Amongst these choices, I think Mississippi State is the best option, R1 and cheap. FAU is R2, but they're growing and will likely be R1 in 2024. North Dakota is next because they are a flagship state school (for their state), and should get good government-funded research projects. This is just hearsay, but I've seen in other forums that a lot of students exit Nova ABD, so it seems they don't get very many research projects. Northcentral doesn't seem to be actively involved in any research areas, as far as I can tell, same as Capitol Tech. I went to their websites and looked at the faculty pages to see what students are working on, and I didn't see any. Florida Atlantic and Mississippi State have faculty pages, and they have active research labs, so they look like excellent options as well. I ranked Mississippi State higher because they're cheaper, and a slightly higher ranking. Did I miss any schools?
(05-03-2022, 02:24 AM)bjcheung77 Wrote: I mean, it's only $1533/credit and you just need 90 credits... Let me see, even if you transfer in 30 credits, that'll leave you with 60. That's close to 90K still for a somewhat well known PhD... still a lot more than I would afford, sticking to the ones under 30K for now unless I get scholarships.
I hope you don't mind me saying, but can you please tone down the sarcasm a bit, "I mean, it's only $1533/credit and you just need 90 credits". Have you been over at degreeinfo recently? It's overrun by people making sarcastic remarks and personal attacks, and the moderators there seem to have let everything get away from them. In fact, there's a thread there called "personal attacks" lol. Degreeforum is run much better (thank you and other moderators for that). Anyway, back to the topic...
I agree with your post. $90k is just too much. If it were MIT or Stanford, I'd pay the $90k, otherwise, it's hard to justify. I went to a private school similar to Clarkson (top 100 but not elite). Awesome experience. Excellent staff, and everyone there willing to help you. I also went to top tier public school. Horrible experience. Staff and professors had horrible attitudes. Sarcastic, rude. I was glad when I graduated. However, when I interview, hiring managers would mention the public school, "good school...", and not mention the expensive private one.
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