Help Needed: Deciding Between Two Schools with Similar Credit Transfers!

[allvia]

I vote for TESU: BS Technology Management. TESU also has tuition discounts for military, and military can use TECEPs for residency.

[ss20ts]

Excelsior's BPS in Technology Management sounds interesting but they require certain courses you cannot transfer in (at least I could not find an equivalent) and must take there:

• TECH 230 Technology and Society
  
• TECH 330 Economic Analysis for Technologies
  
• TECH 340 Intro to Energy Utilization
  
• IT 390 Project Management
  

This is in addition to their mandatory 3 courses (7 credits), meaning you are going to have to take 19 credits there no matter what. That means tuition is going to be almost $10K without fees. You also need 9 UL credits for gen. ed. requirements, 15 UL in the professional component and 6 UL in the electives.

Also the IT Concentration sounds redundant to the degree title so I do not see the point is bothering with it.

My problem with all of this is a "Studies" degree should be the most credit transfer friendly degree and this seems like the exact opposite.

Did your calculation consider the military tuition rate of $250 a credit plus fees at EU? Does UMPI have a military tuition rate as well? After looking at the EU evaluation, it appears they awarded 19 upper-level credits in transfer and completion of military schools. You bring up a good point about a Bachelor of Professional Studies versus a Bachelor of Arts and its utility. I wonder if graduate schools may have issues accepting students with a BPS over a BS or BA? It may not be an issue.

UMPI doesn't offer a military tuition rate because you pay a flat per term fee of $1700. You can take as many classes as you can complete during an 8 week term for that amount. There are no additional fees and there are no textbooks. 

My experience with EU was awful. It took over a week to get my advisor to answer any question. Their degrees are on the semester schedule. Some classes are 8 weeks and some are 16 weeks. The tuition is high for an online program. I don't think I've ever recommended EU over UMPI, TESU, or WGU to anyone.

I was accepted into 3 grad programs with my BLS so a BPS will be fine. Will you get into Harvard? Maybe not. It depends on your grades and writing ability.

[Stonybeach]

Excelsior's BPS in Technology Management sounds interesting but they require certain courses you cannot transfer in (at least I could not find an equivalent) and must take there:

• TECH 230 Technology and Society
  
• TECH 330 Economic Analysis for Technologies
  
• TECH 340 Intro to Energy Utilization
  
• IT 390 Project Management
  

This is in addition to their mandatory 3 courses (7 credits), meaning you are going to have to take 19 credits there no matter what. That means tuition is going to be almost $10K without fees. You also need 9 UL credits for gen. ed. requirements, 15 UL in the professional component and 6 UL in the electives.

Also the IT Concentration sounds redundant to the degree title so I do not see the point is bothering with it.

My problem with all of this is a "Studies" degree should be the most credit transfer friendly degree and this seems like the exact opposite.

Did your calculation consider the military tuition rate of $250 a credit plus fees at EU? Does UMPI have a military tuition rate as well? After looking at the EU evaluation, it appears they awarded 19 upper-level credits in transfer and completion of military schools. You bring up a good point about a Bachelor of Professional Studies versus a Bachelor of Arts and its utility. I wonder if graduate schools may have issues accepting students with a BPS over a BS or BA? It may not be an issue.

UMPI doesn't offer a military tuition rate because you pay a flat per term fee of $1700. You can take as many classes as you can complete during an 8 week term for that amount. There are no additional fees and there are no textbooks. 

My experience with EU was awful. It took over a week to get my advisor to answer any question. Their degrees are on the semester schedule. Some classes are 8 weeks and some are 16 weeks. The tuition is high for an online program. I don't think I've ever recommended EU over UMPI, TESU, or WGU to anyone.

I was accepted into 3 grad programs with my BLS so a BPS will be fine. Will you get into Harvard? Maybe not. It depends on your grades and writing ability.

Good to know! I agree that EU tuition is "high" for non-military students. What is impressive is that there is so much positive feedback about all three of these schools. I recognize you had some issues with EU, but one cannot ignore the fact it has worked out well for thousands. Hopefully, we have armed the OP with enough facts to make the right decision.

[origamishuttle]

If you need a MSIT, you can complete that at WGU afterwards, I would only go for this if it's advanced technology classes you're looking for, versus extra credits for business or management.

To clarify, you're referring to the MSITM at WGU:
https://www.wgu.edu/online-it-degrees/in...ogram.html

I wouldn't describe the curriculum as advanced technology classes, but rather management courses focused on technology.

[rgran53]

Thanks, everyone, for all the great information! I decided on UMPI BAS MIS after reading bjcheung77's reply regarding the BAS to MAOL transfer classes. That was a big selling point. The competency-based model was also great, as I will use less of my lifetime tuition assistance (Navy) funds, which leaves more on the table for a graduate program.

[Pats20]

I can only attest to TESU. That’s my choice.

[rgran53]

I can only attest to TESU. That’s my choice.

1. How were the classes structured? 
2. What degree did you get?
3. Pros/Cons of TESU?
4. What influenced your decision to go with TESU?

I picked UMPI but I’m always open to other thoughts and ideas. It’s never too late for me to attend either school!

[allvia]

I can only attest to TESU. That’s my choice.

1. How were the classes structured? 
2. What degree did you get?
3. Pros/Cons of TESU?
4. What influenced your decision to go with TESU?

I picked UMPI but I’m always open to other thoughts and ideas. It’s never too late for me to attend either school!

When I originally picked TESU for you I didn't realize you had the AAS to opt for the UMPI BAS -MIS. Now realizing this, I think the UMPI option will be much quicker and lower cost than TESU. In the end the value to you on the resume will be equal, so I switch my vote to UMPI BAS-MIS. I know this is addressed to Pats20, but in my case I had so many existing RA credits when I choose TESU (don't regret it at all) it was the best fit. I'll add that at the time I decided UMPI wasn't an option, for the speed and low cost if I was looking to obtain my bachelor now - I'd likely opt for UMPI over TESU (for my Business Degree)

[Pats20]

I can only attest to TESU. That’s my choice.

1. How were the classes structured? 
2. What degree did you get?
3. Pros/Cons of TESU?
4. What influenced your decision to go with TESU?

I picked UMPI but I’m always open to other thoughts and ideas. It’s never too late for me to attend either school!

I feel like their degree plans are straightforward. I like being able to submit credit for courses as I go. Seems like I’ve heard UMPI you have to submit all your transfer credit at once. After that It’s difficult to submit more. I did the BACS degree, and actually I’m just the capstone from BS CIS, And 3 courses from BS Accounting. This forum and all its great members and their wealth of knowledge led me to TESU. Cons may be it’s fairly expensive for their courses , the $3200 residency waiver. Their academic advising has been excellent to me. I’ve been totally satisfied with TESU.

[origamishuttle]

Thanks, everyone, for all the great information! I decided on UMPI BAS MIS after reading bjcheung77's reply regarding the BAS to MAOL transfer classes. That was a big selling point. The competency-based model was also great, as I will use less of my lifetime tuition assistance (Navy) funds, which leaves more on the table for a graduate program.

Congrats, those are both solid degrees. I didn't go for the MAOL because I anticipated it would be more writing than all of my other degrees combined. However, I completed the BAS when there were still exams, so I wrote much less than what's required today. For people who prefer papers over exams, the MAOL is good. I'm working on the MSCSIA at WGU now, and I've actually written more than I expected for that degree, even with all the exams, so I guess it tends to be that way at the graduate level.