State schools vs. other options

[Pats20]

Seems like I seen awhile back that ave WGU mba grads had a salary of $100k+. Which is right on par with MBA ave salaries. I don’t know for sure but I’d say it’s similar with most of their programs. To say it’s a poor education or poor choice of an education is just someone’s opinion and not based on facts or evidence.

[MDela3]

I just realized I skipped right on by this and didn't address it. Evidence, please. Did your "friends" do a handful of courses there before transferring elsewhere? Did they finish? If so, how long did it take them? Have they done coursework anywhere else? Was it ever a consideration that perhaps your "friends" are simply talented in those areas and that's why they didn't find it challenging (enough)? 

If you spend a full 4 years at WGU, yes, maybe the ROI is going to be poor. That'd be nearly $50k! But that's not what WGU is meant for. It's meant for gifted or otherwise qualified students to be able to complete their degree in 1-2 years. Some students are able to maximize transfers and finish in 6 months. There are a handful of schools where spending even $6k for a degree is too much, and WGU is not one of them. You say that WGU is not looked on favorably by employers, but again I want proof. I don't think any member of this forum who has completed a WGU degree has ever come back and said that they regretted it because they can't get hired. Maybe there are some employers who will look upon such a degree with prejudice, but that's true of any degree you get.

Let me tell you a secret: Your CUNY degree? Nobody cares. You might be hot stuff in NYS, but if you ever move to a different area then literally nobody cares. You're nobody in a sea of nobodies. Your CUNY degree is going to have to compete with all the other degrees out there. There are, broadly speaking, three categories when it comes to degrees: famous/prestigious degrees (Ivy League, specialist schools like Georgia Tech), infamous schools (University of Phoenix), and everyone else. You're in the third category, as much as you might dispute that fact. Except in some specific circumstances, your CUNY degree is no better nor worse than the degree that someone else got from WGU, UMPI, the Big 3, Purdue Global, or whatever other schools come up in this forum. I am not saying this to be mean; the reality is that most employers don't care where your degree came from, so long as you actually have a degree.

Also, another secret: you say that WGU is "high school" level stuff (which you haven't provided proof of), but that's pretty true of a lot of LL courses. It's not unique to WGU (assuming this is even partially true). Broadly speaking, an Associate degree is HS level, or only slightly above HS level. It isn't until you you start getting to the 3rd and 4th year courses that the difficulty curve starts ramping up. Some science courses can be difficult by virtue of the subject alone, but most degrees don't specifically require things like physics or chemistry. Also, some prestigious schools are difficult from the get-go, but the vast majority of students will never get the opportunity to go to a prestigious school.

This why the thread should have been properly splitted, to avoid redundancy in information and simplicity of navigation. 

Also this friend ended up going to another school online. I will ask him when we cross paths again. I don't think talent has anything to do with it. If you read my last post on WGU here, I state why is not a quality school. No going to repeat myself here. As for the data, I have a life outside this board. If you are the type to look at credible sources, feel free to research on your own.

Let me tell you a SECRET: Granted CUNY/SUNY is not ivy league prestigious; but it is renowned enough to build an amazing brand around their quality and affordability of education. Their brand carries across the US and internationally. If you did some research on SUNY/CUNY before typing, you would come across ample evidence that this university is well known and highly regarded. Also, CUNY/SUNY creates opportunities for their students to succeed. They truly invest in students that invest in their education. If I was ever to move out of NYS, I am confident that the SUNY/CUNY brand will be well regarded. No doubt in my mind. Of course a small town in the boonies, would not care. But, in cities, CUNY/SUNY is well known. They also provide ample resources for their students success. In reality, the weight of a person's school brand does matter at most level. It matters to a lot of places, not all. I can't expect you to understand this when you are drowning in your bias stance. 

Again, go look at the WGU curriculum, it is all high school level stuff. An associate's degree is not high school level. If that was the case, there would be no need for associates degree programs. An associate's degree is usually the first stage in higher education to prepare student for employment and/or a bachelor's degree. 

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I've been on this forum since 2011 (maybe even 2010) and then got active on it with posts in 2013.  I've made almost 15,000 posts, and read MANY thousands more.  I have helped people get degrees.

The vast majority of people who come to this forum are NOT looking for traditional paths; they don't have the time or money to spend.  They are in their 20's-50's, probably have some college credit gathered up over the years (although many do not have any), and are looking for "A" degree.  They want to get through it as quickly and cheaply as possible.  They may want something specific, in which case we tell them some schools with programs that might fit if The Big 3, UMPI, WGU, etc. won't really work.

The people on here who post the most generally speaking, have a degree, or have started on one, have earned a lot of credits via alternative credit providers like Study.com, Sophia, CLEP, or Coopersmith; and have seen it proven time and again that you CAN get a degree for much less than $10k in 6 months to a year or two.  We are helping people, for free, get a degree non-traditionally.  Yes, a few help with some other things like Pell Grants, Military TA, or whatever.  Many of us have experience in different areas that can provide some additional insight.

What I do not get is someone coming on here, bashing people who are helping people they don't even know on a daily basis, and being a total douche about it.  What is the point?

Go back and read all of the forum. You said all this and still managed to miss my point about CUNY SPS.

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Seems like I seen awhile back that ave WGU mba grads had a salary of $100k+. Which is right on par with MBA ave salaries. I don’t know for sure but I’d say it’s similar with most of their programs. To say it’s a poor education or poor choice of an education is just someone’s opinion and not based on facts or evidence.

I can say that your post is not based on facts or evidence, just hearsay and opinion. How are you going to try to shut down someone's stance based on lack of evidence with your own claims that lack evidence? LOL!!

[rachel83az]

I'm starting to think that you're just trolling. Or maybe you just have the reading comprehension problems that you're accusing everyone else of having. Here is the old thread that you accused mods of deleting and that you're now claiming I split improperly: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...for-StoicJ There is nothing relevant left in that thread. And, no, no posts in that thread have been deleted.

And, yes, Associate degrees in the US are little more than a repeat of the last 2 years of HS. There is a reason why other countries don't really accept them as valid college degrees. If you went to a very bad HS and a good college, then of course the first year or two of university is going to be difficult. If you go to a good HS and a bad college, the coursework you do is probably going to be beneath you.

CUNY/SUNY is highly regarded in NYS. That's it. The end. Nobody cares about them outside of NYS. Arizona State University used to be known as a party school, but now it has a reputation for having amazing archaeology & space programs. Georgia Tech (obviously) has a reputation for its comp sci programs. Not as good as MIT, but still pretty good. Rutgers is a research university. I have never ever heard a good thing about CUNY/SUNY universities. I haven't heard anything bad about them either. They're just... there. Nobody outside of NYS cares about your CUNY/SUNY degree, I assure you. Honestly, I'm also starting to think you don't even have a degree. A lot of this sounds like sour grapes from you. I don't know who made you so bitter about different experiences, but here we are.

And you are again making claims about WGU's curriculum without facts to back it up. What high schools offer courses in software engineering, computer architecture, and artificial intelligence (to name a few)? A handful, if that. Since you are the one making claims about how terrible WGU is, the onus is on you to prove it.

[dfrecore]

I'm from CA, and then SC. I couldn't tell you a single thing about CUNY/SUNY except the minimal amount I've learned on this forum. They definitely do not have an "amazing brand" or anything that "carries across the US." They are just a state university system like any other. Nobody knows if they're affordable or not, nobody cares a whit about them. Unless you are from NY in which case, awesome, go there and enjoy the low cost for in-state tuition.

Again, I have no idea why you're on this forum.

[Pats20]

Troll. This person joins the forum and digs up a thread from a year and a half ago and then tries to get a rise out of everyone.

IMO he/she is probably a flunkie wannabe who’s looking for some attention.
This is not based on evidence or facts , just the idiocy of their posts. What kind of idiot wastes their time for 25+ posts trying to delegitimize a school that they have absolutely no experience with ? Moron.

[MDela3]

I'm starting to think that you're just trolling. Or maybe you just have the reading comprehension problems that you're accusing everyone else of having. Here is the old thread that you accused mods of deleting and that you're now claiming I split improperly: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...for-StoicJ There is nothing relevant left in that thread. And, no, no posts in that thread have been deleted.

And, yes, Associate degrees in the US are little more than a repeat of the last 2 years of HS. There is a reason why other countries don't really accept them as valid college degrees. If you went to a very bad HS and a good college, then of course the first year or two of university is going to be difficult. If you go to a good HS and a bad college, the coursework you do is probably going to be beneath you.

CUNY/SUNY is highly regarded in NYS. That's it. The end. Nobody cares about them outside of NYS. Arizona State University used to be known as a party school, but now it has a reputation for having amazing archaeology & space programs. Georgia Tech (obviously) has a reputation for its comp sci programs. Not as good as MIT, but still pretty good. Rutgers is a research university. I have never ever heard a good thing about CUNY/SUNY universities. I haven't heard anything bad about them either. They're just... there. Nobody outside of NYS cares about your CUNY/SUNY degree, I assure you. Honestly, I'm also starting to think you don't even have a degree. A lot of this sounds like sour grapes from you. I don't know who made you so bitter about different experiences, but here we are.

And you are again making claims about WGU's curriculum without facts to back it up. What high schools offer courses in software engineering, computer architecture, and artificial intelligence (to name a few)? A handful, if that. Since you are the one making claims about how terrible WGU is, the onus is on you to prove it.

Nobody cares what YOU think about CUNY/SUNY. We, as in us, as in graduates only care what employers think. Hence, you are not cutting the check to feed me or anyone else. 

Make all the assumptions you want about me. I don't care. Do you even know what social mobility is? Do you even know how to read data? Probably not, because if you did, you would understand my stance. But, you clearly live on these education online forums and probably don't have a real job. Explains a lot about your inability do proper research, think critically and make sound judgements. I do not have prove anything. But, it seems like you are the bitter one through projection. Again, you are probably unemployed, bitter and struggling.

https://www1.cuny.edu/mu/forum/2021/08/1...nitiative/

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Troll. This person joins the forum and digs up a thread from a year and a half ago and then tries to get a rise out of everyone.

IMO he/she is probably a flunkie wannabe who’s looking for some attention.
This is not based on evidence or facts , just the idiocy of their posts. What kind of idiot wastes their time for 25+ posts trying to delegitimize a school that they have absolutely no experience with ?  Moron.

I am the moron and troll and you can't even formulate a proper stance without committing an ad hominem.

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I'm from CA, and then SC.  I couldn't tell you a single thing about CUNY/SUNY except the minimal amount I've learned on this forum.  They definitely do not have an "amazing brand" or anything that "carries across the US."  They are just a state university system like any other.  Nobody knows if they're affordable or not, nobody cares a whit about them.  Unless you are from NY in which case, awesome, go there and enjoy the low cost for in-state tuition.

Again, I have no idea why you're on this forum.

So, one person who claims they are from CA and SC states he doesn't know what CUNY/SUNY and now his opinion is fact? You people kill me with your ignorance. Who cares what you think. Are you an HR professional from wall street, big tech, etc..? No. So your opinion is invaild. 

Secondly CUNY SPS has low tuition for in state and out state students for their online degree programs. You would know this if you did actual research instead of typing ignorantly. 

Why are you even responding to my post if you are so bothered and have nothing of interest to add?

[rachel83az]

Nobody cares what YOU think about CUNY/SUNY. We, as in us, as in graduates only care what employers think. Hence, you are not cutting the check to feed me or anyone else. 

Make all the assumptions you want about me. I don't care. Do you even know what social mobility is? Do you even know how to read data? Probably not, because if you did, you would understand my stance. But, you clearly live on these education online forums and probably don't have a real job. Explains a lot about your inability do proper research, think critically and make sound judgements. I do not have prove anything. But, it seems like you are the bitter one through projection. Again, you are probably unemployed, bitter and struggling.

Projection, much?

Still waiting for that proof on WGU being HS level...

[jsd]

Why are you even responding to my post if you are so bothered and have nothing of interest to add?

Likewise, why are you even posting here if you are so bad at basic research and have repeatedly been proven wrong? If you're going to troll, make it less obvious and at least try to be clever.

[TINASAM]

Maybe if we quit feeding it the attention it so clearly wants, it'll tire itself out and take a nap.

[LevelUP]

The strength of WGU is its IT programs.  Students like it because the courses at WGU line up perfectly with the current job market.  WGU IT degrees include certifications that are respected by employers.

One 19yr old WGU graduate is living proof we’re in a new era of higher education
https://kulturehub.com/wgu-graduate-livi...education/