BS IT - need advice (WGU, EXC, TESU)

[ClayJ]

Hello All,
After several weeks on this wonderful forum as guest navigator I decided to register and ask for your help as I did not find the answer I was looking for.
I'm a 29 year old guy living in Europe and working in IT as a software developer for 5 years but I do not have any certifications.
Immediately after the high school diploma I enrolled at the university which I had to abandon after 6 months without being able to give the first exams for economic reasons.

So far I have never been concerned about the degree because I worked in contexts where the capabilities were considered before. Now that I am no longer a consultant and I am extraordinarily successful in being hired by a multinational in the technology research department I feel I need a degree to affirm my position and maybe open the door to future promotions.


I've read the wiki of the forum, so I'm already preparing to acquire the first credits from free courses and are undecided between these degree programs:

• WGU BS IT
  
• Excelsior BS IT
  
• (Bonus) TESU BSBA CIS
  

From what I've read, the WGU rewards most certifications already obtained, but I do not own it, while Excelsior is more inclined to recognize credits for exams from known sources, TESU is most cheap/fast way.

I need to graduate as quickly as possible, the budget is not a big problem.

I wanted to ask if any of you are following these programs (and could kindly share the spreedsheet with me) and if, considering my situation, there are some of the options that I should consider most.

Also, since I was not in the US, could I graduate from home (without fly to US)?

Thanks!

[dfrecore]

WGU will probably not be an option for you, since they only work with US Citizens (and mostly in the US):

International Students
Thank you for your interest in WGU. At the present time, WGU is only accepting applications from individuals living in the U.S., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as from U.S. military personnel and their families at overseas installations. WGU is also now accepting applications from Canadian residents in certain select geographic areas. (An Enrollment Counselor has more information about which areas are eligible to submit applications.)

Unfortunately, we have discovered that we cannot always guarantee that the educational experience for students living outside the United States will meet our high standards for quality and convenience. It is our expectation that these issues will be resolved in future years. We wish you well in your educational pursuits and regret that we cannot help you at this time.


TESU's BSBA in CIS is a true business degree, with a little computers thrown in. I would not recommend it for someone who wants an IT degree. It would be ok if you wanted a business degree though.

EC's BSIT is not about to be fully tested out of, so if that's an issue for you, you may have to rethink it.

Capella's FlexPath program might be a good fit, they have a BSIT in Info Assurance and Security. They are competency-based (like WGU), and do accept Straighterline courses (they're a partner) meaning they probably also accept other ACE-recommended courses.

University of Wisconsin Flex program has a BS in Info Science & Technology (also competency-based).

[sanantone]

Hodges and Brandman also have competency-based IT programs. I would choose Capella as a last resort due to it being well-known as a for-profit college.

TESU also has a BSAST in IT. I would choose that over Excelsior unless you already have a lot of IT certs for which Excelsior will award credits.

[dfrecore]

Hodges and Brandman also have competency-based IT programs. I would choose Capella as a last resort due to it being well-known as a for-profit college.

Are they well-known in Europe though? I would think that once you leave the states, no one will have a clue what any of these colleges are.

[sanantone]

Are they well-known in Europe though? I would think that once you leave the states, no one will have a clue what any of these colleges are.

I don't know, but the first thing that pops up on the side when you Google them is that they are for-profit. I don't know how Europeans view for-profit institutions. But, there are better options. University of Wisconsin will have the best reputation, but I believe they're also the most expensive. Leaving them out, I would rank the options like this

1. Northern Arizona University Bachelor's in Computer Information Technology (can't go wrong with public schools)
2. Brandman or Hodges (both non-profit)











20. Capella

[bjcheung77]

Just copying and pasting what I had here: http://www.degreeforum.net/showthread.ph...post243490

Good stuff. My recommendation of WGU (or other competency based) programs are a better fit than just a regular BSBA CIS/BA CS program.
A few other programs that are IT/Software Development based as well from several providers other than WGU... You should check them out!

Brandman University MyPath Programs (See BBA IT or BS IT) - https://www.brandman.edu/mypath/degrees
Hodges University UPower Programs & Tuition - https://www.hodges.edu/academics/academi...power.aspx

Capella University FlexPath Programs - https://www.capella.edu/capella-experien...-programs/
Capella University FlexPath Tuition - https://www.capella.edu/capella-experien...h/tuition/

Northern Arizona University Personalized Learning Tuition - http://pl.nau.edu/Tuition.aspx
Newly created program BS CIT - http://pl.nau.edu/ComputerInformationTechnology.aspx

WGU IT Programs - https://www.wgu.edu/online_it_degrees/programs
Tuition - https://www.wgu.edu/tuition_financial_aid/overview# , https://www.wgu.edu/tuition_financial_aid/tuition

University of Wisconsin - https://flex.wisconsin.edu/degrees-progr...echnology/
UW Flexible Tuition - https://flex.wisconsin.edu/degrees-progr...y/#tuition

Patten MBA IT - http://patten.edu/patten-online/online-d...echnology/
Patten tuition - http://patten.edu/admissions/online-tuition/

Note: I placed Patten in there as it would be a cheap/quick RA Masters degree when/if you wanted to do one after your Bachelors.
Several people finished the Masters program in 4 months and a grand total of $2 grand. You can't beat that with a rocket or a stick!

[Thorne]

1. Northern Arizona University Bachelor's in Computer Information Technology (can't go wrong with public schools)
2. Brandman or Hodges (both non-profit)

-∞. Capella

Fixed it fir ya

[sanantone]

Just copying and pasting what I had here: http://www.degreeforum.net/showthread.ph...post243490

Good stuff. My recommendation of WGU (or other competency based) programs are a better fit than just a regular BSBA CIS/BA CS program.
A few other programs that are IT/Software Development based as well from several providers other than WGU... You should check them out!

Brandman University MyPath Programs (See BBA IT or BS IT) - https://www.brandman.edu/mypath/degrees
Hodges University UPower Programs & Tuition - https://www.hodges.edu/academics/academi...power.aspx

Capella University FlexPath Programs - https://www.capella.edu/capella-experien...-programs/
Capella University FlexPath Tuition - https://www.capella.edu/capella-experien...h/tuition/

Northern Arizona University Personalized Learning Tuition - http://pl.nau.edu/Tuition.aspx
Newly created program BS CIT - http://pl.nau.edu/ComputerInformationTechnology.aspx

WGU IT Programs - https://www.wgu.edu/online_it_degrees/programs
Tuition - https://www.wgu.edu/tuition_financial_aid/overview# , https://www.wgu.edu/tuition_financial_aid/tuition

University of Wisconsin - https://flex.wisconsin.edu/degrees-progr...echnology/
UW Flexible Tuition - https://flex.wisconsin.edu/degrees-progr...y/#tuition

Patten MBA IT - http://patten.edu/patten-online/online-d...echnology/
Patten tuition - http://patten.edu/admissions/online-tuition/

Note: I placed Patten in there as it would be a cheap/quick RA Masters degree when/if you wanted to do one after your Bachelors.
Several people finished the Masters program in 4 months and a grand total of $2 grand. You can't beat that with a rocket or a stick!

The OP can't do WGU as an international student.

Fixed it fir ya

Thank you, but you missed my spelling mistake.

1. Northern Arizona University Bachelor's in Computer Information Technology (can't go wrong with public schools)
2. Brandman or Hodges (both non-profit)











-∞. Cahella

[Thorne]

Thank you, but you missed my spelling mistake.

Indeed, I did. How could I have been so foolish?!