Penn state online...

[LOC4ME]

Wanted to get some opinions. The field that I'm going into requires a masters degree and is pretty competitive.

Everyone that I've talked to at the places I want to work, have not only highly ranked masters for our field, but also their bachelors degrees are from at least top 50 schools.

The Penn State degree, you get the same degree as those who are on campus.

It would add another 2 years to my undergrad and then 2 years for my masters. I just turned 39. Do you think its worth it to get a degree from Penn State or should I just continue with my original plan and complete my masters in 2 years and just do a lot of internships?

Thanks for any opinions/advice in advance.

[ryoder]

4 more years in total is a lot of time and represents a high opportunity cost.
There is a thread on degreeinfo.com about the PSU Global Campus degree and many say that you must put Global Campus on your resume but I am not convinced of that.
PSU is highly regarded but expensive. I am from PA and it was my default choice for college until my family moved to FL. My brother spent one year at PSU and his tuition for that year were 3x the tuition at Florida state schools so he just switched to USF and picked up a masters there.

Maybe you should finish your undergrad from TESC, a state school, and then do your masters at PSU? What masters are we talking about?

[cookderosa]

Wanted to get some opinions. The field that I'm going into requires a masters degree and is pretty competitive.

Everyone that I've talked to at the places I want to work, have not only highly ranked masters for our field, but also their bachelors degrees are from at least top 50 schools.

The Penn State degree, you get the same degree as those who are on campus.

It would add another 2 years to my undergrad and then 2 years for my masters. I just turned 39. Do you think its worth it to get a degree from Penn State or should I just continue with my original plan and complete my masters in 2 years and just do a lot of internships?

Thanks for any opinions/advice in advance.

I agree with Ryoder. Finish your undergrad as cheaply as possible and use that money on a grad degree. Besides if you are just entering the field, even with a PSU degree you might have to do a few internships.

[NAP]

Not to take this thread off-topic, but here is some information which may be helpful regarding the resume concern raised by Ryoder:

PENN STATE | ONLINE - Ask a Question

Basically, it states that the transcript and diploma will be the same as any PSU graduate and will not indicate online studies.

Best wishes on your decision!

[Ace_King]

Phew Penn State is expensive O_O

[rebel100]

I enjoyed how ryoder threw out "opportunity cost"....you get that at one uh dem der fancy schools.

At 40, and with kids either in or soon to be in college the choice has come down to money for me. If I was 10 years younger I might at least look at a top name state school...but the cost in time and money is too high.

I would finish your Batchelors at one of the big three and fins a respectable state U online to pursue graduate studies. (thats my plan at least). Be sure to include any coursework that a future masters might require as part of your Batchelors process. I'm scrambling a bit to add accounting, finance, and statistics to my transcripts so that i can qualify for admission to my chosen Masters program.

What masters are you looking at? I found out lst night that North and South Dakota State both have AACBS (is that the right acronym?) accredited MBA's cheap and fully online. You can tell future recruiters how tough it was going to school in the snow...builds character and all that

[bawhitsett]

[QUOTE=rebel100I found out lst night that North and South Dakota State both have AACBS (is that the right acronym?) accredited MBA's cheap and fully online. You can tell future recruiters how tough it was going to school in the snow...builds character and all that :)[/QUOTE]

I'm doing UND's MBA right now and with fees factored in it'll run you around $415 a CH. Lectures are streaming and they require proctored exams, at least so far. They offer 2 concentrations, accounting and international business, as well as the general MBA.

[scorched]

PSU is a great college in terms of distinction and is cheaper than what I have been looking at for Ga. Tech or possibly JHU, those are both over $1K a credit.

[ryoder]

$1k a credit! Whoa! Back in the day I paid $55 per credit at USF!

[scorched]

@LOC4ME
I will jump back in to say that I too considered the PSU undergrad, but ruled it out due to price. Why pay all that money when you don't have to. In the end it's a regionally accredited degree, just like TESC, EC and COSC and if the places I have talked to like Ga Tech, Johns Hopkins, and a few others will accept a degree if I get it there, then I just don't see how it matters.
So what masters do you need?

Also as a side if name means anything, try the Harvard Univ Extension
Harvard Extension School : Campus & Online Classes, Degrees, Certificates

Undergrad classes are $975-1100 depending on class, and grad are around $1900-1950 making it a fantastic name thats cheaper than PSU if liberal arts degree's are what you need.
Only draw back is, short residency requirements, usually done over a summer.