Could Capella be worth it at this price???

[Tedium]

My honest guess is that places like Capella, Walden, UoPx aren't that great quality-wise.

I don't think that's fair. I've read a number of accounts from people who were surprised by how much work they had to do to get through those schools, and how their instructors added a lot of value. And on a personal note, two of the best courses I ever took, at any degree level, were at Strayer.

That said, I also think they're all too expensive for what they offer when there are cheaper alternatives out there, and for that reason I can't see recommending any of them. But that's not the same thing. And I wouldn't hesitate to hire someone who'd earned a degree from one of them.

That's not fair because it's a blanket statement. It's not true in every program or every class. @sanantone taught at an NA institution. The school may be awful, but I have a feeling that, as much time as she puts into her education and into helping the members of this board, her class was very insightful. My wife is going through the Vet. Tech program at Penn Foster, and I've been pleasantly surprised with the rigor of most of her courses so far. 

But when you look at the amount of busy work PUG makes you do for an undergraduate degree in their competency program, it's easy to see how some people and institutions can conflate amount of work and rigor. I don't really think COSC, TESU, or EC are that great rigor-wise, but I can back up my future diploma with outside knowledge, so it's not an issue for me. 

I was more trying to make a point that it doesn't much matter when you just need a credential and the information is available free to everyone. I wouldn't not hire someone who attended any of those schools or took the path that I'm taking. I also wouldn't look at those people and think they put themselves through a rigorous program. However, they would get the same shot as everyone else to prove they can get the job done, and that was the point I was getting at. If you just need to check an HR box, rigor doesn't matter. 

I decided to follow up and ask more questions.  The FlexPath is available from the start for an MBA… if your undergrad GPA is 2.8 or higher.  (Mine is not).  If your GPA is above a 2.3 (Mine is), then you can submit some stuff for review and potentially get accepted to FlexPath right away.   The pricing is only for the Flexpath.  It is a specific deal they worked out with the company for specific degrees.  The Guided Path is only a 10% discount (which would not be a good enough deal for me to bother with them).   In order to finish in a year, I would have to be able to do 3 courses per 12 week term.  So that’s the big question for that part.

First, can I get FlexPath from the start?  Second, can I do 3 courses in 12 weeks?

I suppose if I do a term at TAMUC this summer, it could answer those questions.  First, I’d know how much I got done in a 7 week term. Second, I’d know my grades.   If I bomb out, then I could scrap the whole idea and go back to my Coursera and Sophia and just keep learning for learning’s sake.

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Oh… or…. Instead of TAMUC, I can do the ASU graduate certificate.   Then I’d have some graduate level work and possibly some transferable credits if they fit in to the program at all.

I would strongly suggest the ASU Thunderbird program first. It's free. TAMUC isn't going anywhere. I would love to have a bunch of people to guinea pig TAMUC with me because the program looks so cool, but I also think the free option is going to be better for your immediate situation.