Considering Columbia Southern for MS in IT or MBA

[Randyb100]

So they're regionally accredited now and their graduate tuition is $349 per credit hour. That's right under 13k for all courses (plus miscellaneous fees). 16k is a good ballpark overall figure.

I had heard of the school before but found out through Purdue Global that they are a partner college and there's a transfer agreement between their masters programs and Purdue Global Law School's EJD program. They also give a 10% tuition reduction. It should shave off almost a year of work for the degree.

It's not the cheapest college, but it is fully online and their cost of attendance grants a high figure for student living expenses. You can get ~15k for living and personal expenses if you chose to go that route.  The university formerly known as Concord Law also allows for 15k or so in expenses for students.

This is going to be my 5 year plan, but I am a bit hesitant to do their IT program. I have an AAS in IT and my bachelor's will be concentrated in computer science, but Columbia Southern's IT program is basically an IT Management or Management Information Systems degree under a different name. I do like how the program looks, but prospective employers will most likely think I have more IT and less business knowledge than I really do.

I would like to get another master's from a better school (looking at you, Harvard Extension) but can't afford it for now. I may just do more Coursera programs and get industry IT certifications to pad my resume and fill my brain with relevant info instead.

[bjcheung77]

Yes, the journey at the next level is always interesting... So many various variables come into play, good luck in deciding, RA is the better option to go for, so you've got that covered. You're working on the mix/match of the trifecta, certs, degree, experience, you can play it safe by doing exactly that, more Coursera/Edx and other certificates, especially ones that give college credit.

[Randyb100]

Yes, the journey at the next level is always interesting... So many various variables come into play, good luck in deciding, RA is the better option to go for, so you've got that covered.  You're working on the mix/match of the trifecta, certs, degree, experience, you can play it safe by doing exactly that, more Coursera/Edx and other certificates, especially ones that give college credit.

Does anyone have any experience with their grad programs? It's still a toss-up for me, but I wanted to share the info I found between them and Purdue Global in case someone wants to go that route. 

I am still looking at A State for their master's in applied technology programs as well. It's quite an interesting program, in my opinion, and would let me combine the two tech fields I'm interested in as one degree.

[teejayb]

I'll most likely be doing their MPA-Fire Executive Leadership this summer. Columbia Southern is VERY will known in the Police and Fire circles right now and has zero stigma. Everyone I know who has received their degree from CSU was generally satisfied with the program.

[Randyb100]

I'll most likely be doing their MPA-Fire Executive Leadership this summer. Columbia Southern is VERY will known in the Police and Fire circles right now and has zero stigma. Everyone I know who has received their degree from CSU was generally satisfied with the program.

Yeah I was reading that they had a few degrees that were hard to find elsewhere. I'm looking at their IT program but it looks almost like their MBA does. I did call and speak to an advisor but she hardly knew anything at all about any of it. Just tried to tell me classes start every month. Didn't mention the "life pace" part at all, which I found out later. Couldn't explain the program to me at all, either.