Excelsior vs locally named University?

[dfrecore]

You did not make it clear in your initial post that you had almost all of the courses you already need for EU's BSIT degree. If you post your credits here, we can tell you how they'll probably come in there, as well as WGU, and maybe even Purdue Global or WGU.

List by course number, full course name, number of credits, grade if less than a C. Also make sure to tell us anything important like if the school was RA or NA, semester or quarter, and the numbering system they used if it's not apparent.

[EDUxplorer]

You did not make it clear in your initial post that you had almost all of the courses you already need for EU's BSIT degree.  If you post your credits here, we can tell you how they'll probably come in there, as well as WGU, and maybe even Purdue Global or WGU.

List by course number, full course name, number of credits, grade if less than a C.  Also make sure to tell us anything important like if the school was RA or NA, semester or quarter, and the numbering system they used if it's not apparent.

That feedback would be wonderful and extremely helpful!

Here are the courses she has/is taking, all final grades are A or B unless noted:

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (RA. 3 semesters/year. 15 week terms)

• IT-100 Foundations of Software Development (3 credits)
  
• IT-105 Information Technology Concepts (3 credits)
  
• IT-101 Programming 1 (3 credits)
  
• IT-102 Programming 2 (3 credits)
  
• IT-111 Database Design and SQL 1 (3 credits)
  
• IT-112 Database Design and SQL 2 (3 credits)
  
• IT-212 Business Intelligence (3 credits) 
  
• IT-161 Java Programming 1 (3 credits)
  
• IT-162 Java Programming 2 (3 credits)
  
• IT-110 HTML with CSS and JavaScript (3 credits)
  
• IT-117 Web Programming 1 (3 credits)
  
• IT-218 Web Programming 2 (3 credits)
  
• SET-151 C Programming 1 (3 credits)
  
• SET-252 C Programming 2 (3 credits)
  
• CPDM-198 Object-Oriented Programming with Python (3 credits)
  
• CPDM-210 Systems Analysis and Design (3 credits)
  
• CPDM-190 Co-op Preparation (1 credit)
  
• ACC-110 Financial Accounting (3 credits)
  
• ART-110 Introduction to Art (3 credits)
  
• COMM-105 Interpersonal Communications (3 credits)
  
• COMM-110 Public Speaking (3 credits)
  
• ECO-105 Microeconomics (3 credits)
  
• ENG-101 English Composition 101 (3 credits)
  
• ENG-102 English Composition 2 Contemporary Issues - Honors (3 credits)
  
• ENG-104 English Composition 2 Technical Communication (3 credits)
  
• ENG-105 English Composition 2 Business Communication (3 credits)
  
• HNR-100 Orientation to Honors (2 credits)
  
• HNR-198 Honors Seminar - Origins of Punk Music (3 credits)
  
• HST-102 World History Since 1500 (3 credits)
  
• HST-111 American History through 1877 (3 credits)
  
• LAW-101 Business Law (3 credits)
  
• MAT-131 Statistics 1 (3 credits)
  
• MAT-151 College Algebra (4 credits)
  
• MAT-152 Trigonometry (4 credits)
  
• MAT-251 Calculus 1 (5 credits)
  
• MGT-101 Principles of Management (3 credits)
  
• POL-101 American-Government (3 credits)
  
• PHI-110 Ethics (3 credits)
  
• PHY-151 Physics 1: Algebra and Trigonometry-Based (4 credits)
  
• PHY-152 Physics 2: Algebra and Trigonometry-Based (4 credits)
  
• PSY-110 Introduction to Psychology - Honors (3 credits)
  

University of Cincinnati (RA. 3 semesters/year. 15 week terms)

• IT-1051 Fundamentals of Digital Media (3 credits) Taking now, the current grade is A. 
  
• IT-1080 Computer Networking (3 credits)
  
• IT-1081 System Administration (3 credits)
  
• IT-2020 Implications of IT (3 credits)
  
• IT-2021 Human Computer Interaction (3 credits)
  
• IT-3049 Web Game Development (3 credits) Taking now, the current grade is A. 
  
• IT-4020 Management in IT (3 credits) Taking now, the current grade is A. 
  
• IT-4045 Enterprise Application Development (3 credits) Taking now, the current grade is F. May need to withdraw and take a W. Advising has suggested disputing the grade and professor to the university. 
  

University of the People (NA. 5 semesters/year. 8 week terms)

• CS-1101 Programming Fundamentals (3 credits)
  
• CS-1104 Computer Systems (3 credits)
  
• CS-2204 Communications and Networking (3 credits)
  
• CS-2301 Operating Systems 1 (3 credits)
  
• CS-2401 Software Engineering 1 (3 credits)
  
• CS-3303 Data Structures (3 credits)
  
• CS-3307 Operating Systems 2 (3 credits)
  
• CS-4402 Comparative Programming Languages (3 credits)
  
• CS-4407 Data Mining and Machine Learning (3 credits) Final grade 79% C. 
  
• HIST-1421 Greek and Roman Civilization (3 credits)
  
• MATH-1302 Discrete Mathematics (3 credits)
  
• SOC-1502 Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
  
• UNIV-1001 Online Education Strategies (3 credits)
  

We are trying to find the best route to finishing a RA degree in Computer Science or Information Tech that would open the door to Georgia Tech's Cyber Security program.

She can finish at the University of Cincinnati, but she has five more classes to do in the Spring term and one year of Senior Project. However, if can transfer to another school and finish this coming Spring or Summer term, that would be even better by a year.

Open to any and all suggestions.

Thank you all again.

[dfrecore]

I would definitely apply to EU, I think that would be an easy one. Same with WGU, as they take NA credit (IIRC). Those would both be easy enough to do quickly. I might try Purdue Global, but probably not, if you're looking for ease.

The other thing is that EU graduates students monthly, so it's very fast that way (after 2 8-week terms). And WGU also graduates students as soon as they finish there.

TESU's BACS is also an option - it can be done entirely via alt-credit, and you have most of the needed courses. So it would just be a matter of finishing up whatever you don't have via ACE/NCCRS (they don't take NA credits so you don't have enough UL).

I'd apply to all 3, and then go with 1) ease; 2) cost; and 3) time to completion.

[ss20ts]

Personally, I'd get the bachelor's done ASAP. I wouldn't care whose name is on the diploma. The bachelor's degree is basically a check box today. There will be plenty of people in the area with degrees from other schools across the country. You already know she wants a master's degree. That's the degree I would focus on. That one I would look into the higher ranking schools.

[bjcheung77]

In addition to that and to answer your question, I would go the University of Cincinnati route as the first choice.  It's one of the largest public/state universities in Ohio.  It'll be more recognized than private non-profit institutions such as Excelsior, SNHU, WGU.  If you're in a rush to complete a degree faster and have the energy, money, time, then go TESU route as it also is a public/state institution, but in NJ.  You could do a dual degree at TESU as well if you wanted...

Ah! yeah so I was thinking the public/state university might be better for name recognition, however UC will require 3 semesters of co-op, adding a year or more, plus needing senior project there.

So it feels like stuck between a rock and a hardspot.

Excelsior lacks name recognition but it seems like I could transfer in all the credits possible, do 7 more credits, 3 classes, and done.
OR UC and do 1 year of senior project and 3 semesters of co-op, then done.

Tough... But yeah... ty your feedback is always AMAZING and I look forward to your replies, they have always added so much value.

You're welcome, I am not 'amazing', I just give people my opinion - what I would do in such situations.  Personally, I like to look at the whole picture and try to puzzle things together.  You pretty much have this all planned but you're trying to deviate by going 'faster' and taking the 'easy' way out.  You need to look at the ROI/Value and the goal as a 'long run', like investing in your education.  The more energy, money, time, you place into it, the better the experience, knowledge, and rewards or outcome.

Thread 1) Daughter has 100+ credits in CS/IT, almost done with the BS Comp Sci at U of People, also working towards BSIT at U of Cincinnati. Continuing on with industry certs, degrees, experience and working as well.  As a few members including myself mentioned, "Nice Roadmap" continue as intended, no need to change, focus on finishing.  https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...IT-Focused

Thread 2) Question in regard to Harvard Extension School and being accepted into the Masters with concentration in Cybersecurity when you are going for an MSIT at U of People.  Be honest and transparent with the transcripts, the IT degree at U of People is a more general degree, the HES ALM Cybersecurity concentration has enough "difference", it shouldn't be a problem. https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...-tell-them

Thread 3) PhD in Computer Science Online, options either internationally, NA, or RA.  My suggestion is to review your options after you're done with the certs/bachelors and working on a masters.  Your focus needs to be on the 'now', you don't need to be too far ahead and get off course.  I just updated this thread here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...nce-Online

There are countless ways of getting to your end goal, you will have people providing you an array of responses that you may follow and advice you may not, it really depends on the person and their situation, each scenario is different due to their own perception of what they would do and what their priorities are.  You need to make a balanced decision, not only on the cheap, easy, fast ways or by rankings/recognition of institutions or by ROI/Value, but by a mix of all these combined.  Recap TLDR - Stay the current roadmap pathway

You will have students that will go for RA 'no name' undergrad & grad just to get the degrees quickly, or somewhat known undergrad/grad (take your pick), or a well-known undergrad/grad combo, and lastly the ones who only go for the elite (internationally known/ranked) undergrad/grad option... An example, this person would like a top 300 undergrad & grad Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Pittsburgh

If you follow through with your current/original roadmap, you will get there in due time, if you deviate by trying to go faster, your chance of getting there actually slips a few notches and the reason is simple, there are many applicants that have similar backgrounds and education as you, what will set you apart?  If you read success stories on here, many of them have certs, degrees, experience beyond yours, this is to offset a lesser-known school.

You need to have a complete package for your application, one that shows you've gone through a senior project and co-op terms that signify you've gained on-the-field experiences.  Not only that, you can get letters of recommendation from a higher-ranking school, opportunities to work for those Fortune 500 you mentioned.  It's also easier to go from a reputable state university like U of Cincinatti to a higher ranking school, instead of trying to leap harder from Excelsior!  In short - opportunities knock with U of C, if you go the easy way, you have to knock more and face rejection...

[davewill]

I will note that IT is the wrong degree for that Georgia Tech program. From the page you linked to:

Prerequisite coursework
For admission into the Information Security Track of the OMS Cybersecurity program, all applicants are expected to have:

A Bachelor of Science from an accredited institution in Computer Science or Computer Engineering.

...

For admission into the Cyber-Physical Systems of the OMS Cybersecurity program, all applicants are expected to have:

A Bachelor of Science from an accredited institution in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or Electrical Engineering.

I guess you might get into the non-technical Policy track, but I'm guessing that's not what you had in mind.

[Bearcat999]

Hello,

I wanted feedback on a topic I'm sure has been covered, but I can not find much about...

Is there much difference between getting a degree from Excelsior and a locally named university?

Looking at the following options:

University of Cincinnati - Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Software Application Development
vs
Excelsior University - Bachelor of Science in Information Technology 

If applying to somewhere like Harvard Extension, University of Texas at Austin, University of Pennsylvania, or Georgia Tech for a master's, would one of these be better than the other?

Excelsior could be completed in the spring or summer of 2023, while the University of Cincinnati would be in 2024 or 2025.

Thanks a ton for the feedback!

Honestly, being a Cincinnati native and having one of my kids graduate from UC, I would say that unless your are coming out of the DAAP program or the music program, UC has little advantage over anyone else.  Locally you have Thomas More, NKU, My St. Joseph that all are comparable to UC, so I don't (personally) think the name is going to carry significant weight.  So Excelsior or any of the others will be viewed as equal. (Just my opinion).

[nomaduser]

University of Cincinnati is 100 times better for getting jobs

[LevelUP]

There is a concept called opportunity cost. 

The longer time you spend in college, the more opportunity it will cost you. This is why most of us here suggest getting your degree quickly. 

[nomaduser]

No, I don't believe that.

With a UC's IT degree, you can try to get into one of Fortune 500 companies.
Once you get in there, you can make lots of $$$ as a software developer.
You'll quickly forget about the opportunity cost.


With EC's degree, you may end up at an unknown company.
The amount of money you make there can be limited as well. I don't recommend that life style.

To live comfortably in US or Canada, you need to make at least $10k per month.
If you can, go to a traditional & well-known university.