Online graphic arts bachelor's with a solid industry reputation?

[passit1]

My recent success based on gaining my bachelors has my husband thinking of going back to school. I'm a business/operations nerd and don't know much about the art industry so I was hoping the experts here could ring in with some leads.

He has a semester of college credit circa 1989 from Montclair University, NJ and he completed DuCret School of the Arts (it's a non degree art school in NJ). And he's been unhappily working as a medical biller for a long time. He's been looking at Kubert recently but it's over an hour away, does not offer online for their full program and is (hold on to your hats) $20k a year. And the program is 3 years. At $60K, I told DH there are executive MBA programs with overseas cohorts that cost that much and he wouldn't be even have a bachelors degree once he finished with Kubert.

I googled online graphic design bachelors and there's many results...was wondering if anyone here had info before we start sifting through all the options. Thanks!

[bjcheung77]

My recent success based on gaining my bachelors has my husband thinking of going back to school. I'm a business/operations nerd and don't know much about the art industry so I was hoping the experts here could ring in with some leads.

He has a semester of college credit circa 1989 from Montclair University, NJ and he completed DuCret School of the Arts (it's a non degree art school in NJ). And he's been unhappily working as a medical biller for a long time. He's been looking at Kubert recently but it's over an hour away, does not offer online for their full program and is (hold on to your hats) $20k a year. And the program is 3 years. At $60K, I told DH there are executive MBA programs with overseas cohorts that cost that much and he wouldn't be even have a bachelors degree once he finished with Kubert.

I googled online graphic design bachelors and there's many results...was wondering if anyone here had info before we start sifting through all the options. Thanks!

What I look for in a college or university is threefold: Accreditation, Cost, and Reputation/Reviews.
That's the main reasons I am choosing TESU over the others, such as COSC and Excelsior.
BTW, I love your TESU video, it's pretty informative and provided a review to backup my choice.

Anyways, I checked the Big 3, Hodges, NAU, Patten, and finally WGU for a comparable program.
The only one available in that list was a program at Hodges. I decided to check it out a bit.
After reading it, I actually will recommend it because of the "Threefold" I look for in a program.

See Links : UPOWER - Self-Paced Learning | Hodges University
Digital Design and Graphics - Bachelor's Degree | Hodges University
Best Online Graphic Design Degrees | AffordableCollegesOnline.org

From reading Hodges benefits tab on their program page, this program is certified by ADDA.
It's the Top Ranked program on a review page, this is good, it's recognized/reputable.
Even though it has two $$ and there are a couple that show $ in the costs, I believe it's best value.

I've seen their videos and am very interested in their MS MIS program.
But I have to quickly finish my TESU BSBA in General Management first.
Hope this helps, Thanks.

PS. I think it maybe the cheapest program in the list if you go the UPower route and finish in 1.5-2 years.
UPower for undergrad is $2500/6 months, grad is $3000/6 months. Discuss it with the hubby.

[alleycat]

Does one of the local CC in your area have a graphic program?

The reason I am asking is because it's not as easy as one thinks. Many times it is much easier being in a colony of people in the same boat. Typography, color , digital design, illustration and such, are not easy classes. I know first hand. It was nice having an instructor right there. It was nice having lab time to get projects done.

[dfrecore]

What I look for in a college or university is threefold: Accreditation, Cost, and Reputation/Reviews.
That's the main reasons I am choosing TESU over the others, such as COSC and Excelsior.
BTW, I love your TESU video, it's pretty informative and provided a review to backup my choice.

Anyways, I checked the Big 3, Hodges, NAU, Patten, and finally WGU for a comparable program.
The only one available in that list was a program at Hodges. I decided to check it out a bit.
After reading it, I actually will recommend it because of the "Threefold" I look for in a program.

See Links : UPOWER - Self-Paced Learning | Hodges University
Digital Design and Graphics - Bachelor's Degree | Hodges University
Best Online Graphic Design Degrees | AffordableCollegesOnline.org

From reading Hodges benefits tab on their program page, this program is certified by ADDA.
It's the Top Ranked program on a review page, this is good, it's recognized/reputable.
Even though it has two $$ and there are a couple that show $ in the costs, I believe it's best value.

I've seen their videos and am very interested in their MS MIS program.
But I have to quickly finish my TESU BSBA in General Management first.
Hope this helps, Thanks.

PS. I think it maybe the cheapest program in the list if you go the UPower route and finish in 1.5-2 years.
UPower for undergrad is $2500/6 months, grad is $3000/6 months. Discuss it with the hubby.

This is great. And just to add to this one, they do take CLEP, DSST, and ACE-recommended courses (although they probably aren't as generous as the Big 3). My advice before enrolling in a program like this (and shelling out $2500 up front) is to maybe take some CLEP/DSST/SL courses to finish up Gen Ed so that he can prove to himself that he really wants to start and finish this, and then also so that when he's paying the big bucks (relatively speaking), he's taking the "good" courses that he's most interested in, and probably most likely to finish because he's actually enjoying them.

[cookderosa]

I've been looking into this for my 9th grade son. He has a strong interest in computers and making/editing movies and pics, special effects, and similar. He's completed every free class available through Alison and Udemy. I asked about this a while back because I'm finding that "graphic design" is not one thing. There are very artsy disciplines, where you're drawing and animating and the like, and then there are computer science type disciplines. I still haven't got my brain wrapped around all the options and the best paths within those options, but I guess I'd start by saying he needs to define what graphic design looks like in his world. From there, he can search out a program.

[passit1]

Thank you all - great info and something to chew on CC-wise.
I love these forums!

[SweetSecret]

I'm going to say what I tell everyone who asks about this, don't go to school for graphic design. Too many kids can just pick it up easy these days, as with most forms of art. I'd suggest going for the Adobe software certifications and looking at a degree in business or something else a bit more solid, which will be more useable in the long run.

[passit1]

Thanks to everyone - had a conversation tonight and hubby has this very funny cartoon strip he wants to get syndicated. But he feels he needs development in the art/timing/execution of that type of comedic medium. A school that has a specialization in that is what he's looking for. Here's a link: http://hoorayforthebadguy.com/

[AJ_Atlanta]

I'm going to say what I tell everyone who asks about this, don't go to school for graphic design. Too many kids can just pick it up easy these days, as with most forms of art. I'd suggest going for the Adobe software certifications and looking at a degree in business or something else a bit more solid, which will be more useable in the long run.

I must disagree, one does not "pick up" design any more than one can simply pick up algebra; don't confuse the tools (like Adobe) with design skills.