Second Bachelors or Masters?

[jeff]

I have about 30 years experience in IT, mostly in the area of software development, implementation, and project management. I have certifications from Microsoft, CompTIA, and some other vendor specific certifications. I recently obtained a BA in Liberal Studies through testing with the intention of going on for a Masters in an IT related area. I don't necessarily need this degree but I decided to start pursuing degrees so that I might have an edge should my company experience an economic downturn like so many others. I have been researching different programs for nearly 9 months and nearly everything that I am interested in is not within my budget. I am currently putting two children through college so I don't have a lot of money to spend on my own education. My job is very demanding and requires travel, so I am also looking at something that offers a self-study component. I recently saw that Aspen University is offering a Masters degree for $100 per credit hour. The program looks interesting; the only thing that concerns me somewhat is that they are not regionally accredited. I am not sure that even makes any difference at my age, as I am already well established.

My question is, would it make more sense to spend the money on a second Bachelors degree in an IT or business related field or go with the Aspen University Masters degree in IT? Where would I get the best ROI?

[burbuja0512]

In my experience, a Masters always carries more weight than a bachelors. Typically a bachelors = entry to mid-level jobs and a masters = management. (of course that's not always true.. I've been in management but I'm in sales, so it's a little different.

That being said, I'm not sure that I would want to spend any money on an unaccredited school. It just sounds way too risky. Regardless of your experience in the industry, when you're getting hired, you usually have to go through a background check once you've been given the offer letter. No matter how much they want to hire you, you'll need to pass. The third parties that do the background checks really are getting tougher. Believe me, they will check your education and will list that it's an unaccredited school. You don't want to have people discount a degree that you worked hard for.

Is there another option? I would keep looking and see if I could find another placae to get my masters.

[lumpylump]

I have been in IT a bit over 20 years, have various industry certifications, recently earned a BA, and my company did experience an economic downturn when it collapsed under its debt load. I don't have a lot of money to finance my education.

I agree with burbuja0512 that a graduate degree will carry more weight over a second undergraduate. My forced sabbatical gave me the opportunity to catch up educationally, but now I need to up the ante.

Aspen was one of several schools I was considering, and to clarify one point, they are nationally (via DETC) but not regionally accredited. I am also looking at American Public University's MS in IT Project Management (total tuition ~$10.4K) and Western Governors University's MS in Information Security and Assurance (tuition ~$2.9K per six month term). Both of those are regionally accredited. I also have a few local universities with interesting programs but distance options are limited.

Now Aspen isn't my first choice but if the WGU application doesn't move forward I'll give them another look. From my research, Aspen has rigorous programs and they seem to be highly respected on other degree discussion boards. I do like the self-directed independent study options. The price is certainly right, at least through October.

[marianne202]

I will first say that I'm not in IT, but I did get two bachelor's degrees and am now working on my master's. I think the value of the a bachelor's over master's depends on your profession and the definition of a terminal degree in that profession. Some IT areas have AS or BS degrees as a terminal degree, that being said a second bachelors in a different subject area may give you more flexibility and put you in more demand. As companies downsize they look at employees that can do double or triple duty as being more valuable. That being said I encourage you to look at your long term goals. It sounds like you are in your 40's like me and you may not be looking to change career directions, unless forces beyond your control do it for you. In my case, I was happy to stop at a BS degree as that is all I needed for my current teaching job, but in thinking about the future and my needs if I leave academia I decided to pursue a second bachelor's so I could get into grad school sooner. Believe me at 47 I had no intention of embarking on grad school, but it just seemed like a smart choice since I'm already in the school mode. A master's is a terminal degree in my field, so I will be done.

As for the master's search, it can be daunting. I spent about 4 months researching schools. I can't get a degree from a nationally accredited school, because they are not recongnized by regionally accredited schools as faculty credentials. I would encourage you to seek out professional and certifiying agencies within your specialty and see what schools, degrees and programs they recommend, sponsor and support. That will give you an idea of preferred degrees, terminal degrees etc. I will also tell you that you can qualify for govt. grants for grad schools especially if you have children in college. My son won't start college until next year, but I still qualified for full aide at Bellevue University. I decided to only accept the subsidized aid and I'm supplementing the rest in cash. I could have taken far more unsub. aid but I wasn't going down that road.

With some research you can find a school that will fit your needs and pocketbook. It will take time. I will also mention that you may find a graduate certificate or two could fulfill your needs faster and less expensively. Think outside the box and spend some time researching your options and I bet you will find a very good fit.

Good luck!

[ShotoJuku]

Between the two....a Masters.:iagree:

[jeff]

That being said, I'm not sure that I would want to spend any money on an unaccredited school.

Aspen is accredited by the DETC. I am not sure what that accreditation means to employers in the business sector. I understand that there could be issues with that degree in academia.

my company did experience an economic downturn when it collapsed under its debt load.

Sorry to hear about your situation, hopefully things will turn around soon. We have been most fortunate at our company. We are very small and we have always tried to stay lean. My boss says lean and mean, I say overworked and underpaid.

Now Aspen isn't my first choice but if the WGU application doesn't move forward I'll give them another look.

I hope that works out for you. I looked at that program as well, but I don't think I would be able to devote enough time to studies to make it cost effective for me.

I do like the self-directed independent study options. The price is certainly right, at least through October.

Those are the two reasons that I continue to look into Aspen's program. I can't help but think there would be a good return on investment at that price.

I will also tell you that you can qualify for govt. grants for grad schools especially if you have children in college.

I hadn't even thought about grant money.

I will also mention that you may find a graduate certificate or two could fulfill your needs faster and less expensively.

That's a good idea. I really have only been focusing on degree programs. I'm guessing that anything beyond a Bachelors would carry more weight than two Bachelors degrees.

Between the two....a Masters.

That is what I was thinking in the first place. I only thought about the second Bachelors degree because I could probably test out of most of the requirements and it would cost substantially less than a Masters. I was not sure if two Bachelor's degrees would be perceived as being greater than or equal to a Masters.

Thanks for the feedback everyone, I appreciate it. I am going to shelve the idea of a second Bachelors degree and continue looking at Masters programs or possibly a graduate certificate.

If anyone has any thoughts on Aspen University or American Public University, I would be interested in them.

[Maniac Craniac]

I only thought about the second Bachelors degree because I could probably test out of most of the requirements and it would cost substantially less than a Masters.

Not if you catch Aspen while they still have their tuition deal going on. Remember that a test-out degree includes at least 9 more exams (probably more for an IT degree), a capstone course, enrollment and graduation fees. You would probably be talking about the same price as the Aspen degree.

Which is better? I have no clue, but if the mods don't mind me giving you the link*, I can direct you to a distance education forum that has a section devoted specifically to IT students, with plenty of helpful people with enough experience to be able to help you out.

*I wonder if it would look like advertising, since I am a Moderator over at the site I mention. I will PM the link to you, and if the mods here give me the O-K, I will post the link for other people here to check out.

[burbuja0512]

Aspen is accredited by the DETC. I am not sure what that accreditation means to employers in the business sector. I understand that there could be issues with that degree in academia.

I need a school to be ACE accredited. I am not sure what employers look at and for every recruiter that cares about schools, there are probably 10 that don't. I think that most of here don't care about school name and realize that it's uninportant for most things..

The reason I need it to be ACE accredited is that if I want to get tuition reimbursement from my work. (both past and current employer have this criteria), it has to be ACE accredited. So even though you aren't getting $$ from an employer right now, you just never know what will happen while you're going through the program.

ACE | Members and Associates Directory is the site where you can check on ACE accreditation and it does have an Aspen institute listed.. not sure if that's the same.


I guess in the end you need to go with your gut and decide what's right for you and regardless of what you decide, more education will be a benefit to you and your career.

[Maniac Craniac]

I need a school to be ACE accredited. I am not sure what employers look at and for every recruiter that cares about schools, there are probably 10 that don't. I think that most of here don't care about school name and realize that it's uninportant for most things..

The reason I need it to be ACE accredited is that if I want to get tuition reimbursement from my work. (both past and current employer have this criteria), it has to be ACE accredited. So even though you aren't getting $$ from an employer right now, you just never know what will happen while you're going through the program.

ACE | Members and Associates Directory is the site where you can check on ACE accreditation and it does have an Aspen institute listed.. not sure if that's the same.


I guess in the end you need to go with your gut and decide what's right for you and regardless of what you decide, more education will be a benefit to you and your career.

ACE doesn't accredit anything, they only recommend credit equivalences for courses and evaluations.

[burbuja0512]

ACE doesn't accredit anything, they only recommend credit equivalences for courses and evaluation tools.

Hmmmm.... not sure about that or why my employers have specified needing ACE accreditation. All I know is if it's on the link I just posted that it's a yes for reimbursement and they've both called it "ACE accreditation."

I wonder if anyone else has run into this. My past employer was a 50,000+ employee company and my current one is 30,000+ so big companies that have very set HR policies.