Northern Arizona University?

[ChilliDawg]

Now that I am ready to pull the proverbial trigger on a Masters program, I keep finding myself second guessing whether or not I am investing my money wisely(based on name only).   Concerned about future prospects in IT Management.

I think I am just going to forge ahead with WGU.  I am already rolling on the enrollment process.

Honestly, if you're in IT, the degree is nice but is mostly superfluous to certifications and experience. If you know your stuff, you don't even need a degree to go as far as you want in IT. I know a bunch of people in high-ranking technology management roles who have no degree at all. Everything they have they earned by proving themselves on the job. That said, if you're coming into a new company, the degree will help set you apart from other candidates who don't have the degree, but most hiring managers are more interested in what you have done to understand what you can do, so your resume and/or portfolio is key, with certifications coming in second, followed by degree(s) in a distant third place.

So realistically, it won't really matter where your degree comes from if you have the right stuff on the resume. And if you don't, you probably won't be hired anyway regardless of the degree. The only place where it may matter is if you're in the running for a role where you are neck and neck with someone else with the same experience and certifications. If you have a degree and they don't, or your degree seems more relevant, that could give you a leg up.

Merlin,

Like a few others here, I have been in I.T. for 30 years.  I have experienced and observed what you are saying. I have worked with many non-degreed I.T. workers. I have been very successful in that time with nothing more than experience and standard fare certs(MCSE, MCSA, Server+ Security+, etc.)  I have primarily served as a System Engineer(Active Directory, VMWARE, Nutanix HCI, etc.) for most of that time.  As I have been aging, I have been getting nervous about not having any degree.  That is why I decided to finish up a few Associates and the B.A. from TESU.  I knew that they wouldn't really change much for me, but they do put me at ease a little bit.  They will help me check mark that proverbial box on the application.  Last year, I made the move from Private Sector to government.  There is a HUGE push here for degrees.  It is now a hard requirement for management and Director positions. 

I think that my plan for now is to knock out my first Masters from WGU, then maybe transfer into a local B&M (UNF), and pick up their I.T. Masters, if I get bored later.