SMC University Very Cheap! - Printable Version

SMC University Very Cheap! - Printable Version

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SMC University Very Cheap! - armstrongsubero - 02-22-2018

Just as I was trying to get my head wrapped around this whole national and regional accredation, I encounter this school SMC University, is it legit or a mill?

https://www.smcuniversity.com/

RE: SMC University Very Cheap! - jsd - 02-22-2018

(02-22-2018, 12:08 AM)armstrongsubero Wrote: Just as I was trying to get my head wrapped around this whole national and regional accredation, I encounter this school SMC University, is it legit or a mill?

https://www.smcuniversity.com/

National vs Regional is a United States system, so it's not very applicable to this school in Switzerland (although a small handful of foreign schools have been accredited by US agencies).

They do have programmatic accreditation from acbsp (it's valid on the acbsp site). But I don't know anything about institutional accreditation in Switzerland (if they even have that there) so I can't speak to that. I would imagine that's something the ACBSP would be looking at? So that's probably a good sign. It passes a breif smell test, but i wouldn't take my word for it, I'd keep digging if you were considering it.

Anyone know anything about Switzerland? Big Grin

RE: SMC University Very Cheap! - dfrecore - 02-22-2018

The price is in Euros, about $9700 over 2 full years.

I don't think that price is GREAT, it's just ok. You could find other master's programs for roughly the same, but with the ability to speed it up or take a break or whatever. Or you could do a competency-based program for a LOT less.

RE: SMC University Very Cheap! - ajs1976a - 02-22-2018

First red flag for me --> .com not .edu

Second, their statement on accreditation. https://www.smcuniversity.com/about/about-smc/

"SMC is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), the leading specialized accreditation association for business education supporting, celebrating, and rewarding teaching excellence. ACBSP is a programmatic accreditation body in the U.S., recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation, CHEA."

While the statement may be accurate, including the part about ACBSP being recognized by CHEA appears to be some misdirection and trying to imply that from that association they are accredited by CHEA. I found a similar statement on an MBA which seemed out of place to me.

Third red flag, where is the academic catalog that defines their programs and policies? I know that not all schools publish it or make it easy to find if they do, but when I can't find it after looking for a few minutes, I start to wonder what they are trying to hide.

RE: SMC University Very Cheap! - jsd - 02-22-2018

Only schools with US accreditation are entitled to .edu domains. This is a foreign school.

RE: SMC University Very Cheap! - videogamesrock - 02-22-2018

They launder their degrees through University of Central Nicaragua for an extra fee to make the degree legit. People on the other forum have been able to take that second degree issued by the partner college and have it transcribed through WES/ECE

RE: SMC University Very Cheap! - armstrongsubero - 02-22-2018

Hmm still confused. Ultimately my aim is to have Dr. by my name...looking for the fastest route, so at TESU only have 4 courses remaining for the BALS...and one of those is the capstone, the other 3 are free electives. So I wanted to make Sept graduation, shopping around for grad school from now, I figure I can do the fastest, cheapest masters and doctorate I can find..I doing a BA followed by MS in computer science on the side but it seems like the BA will take about 2 more years to finish at my current rate of doing courses...yes I don't have a life, I like to study... Big Grin

Was looking at Patten with their MBA..probably management or IT...seems very cheap, I could totally take 4 months vacation and finish Patten..then I saw SMC..I really don't care about the name or scrutiny as along as I can get into a doctorate program with it...any doctorate...

Hmm competency based masters..I only know Patten and some guy was talking about Amberton, WGU is out of reach (I'm international), any other?

There is also the free Masters in Financial Engineering:

https://wqu.org/program

I know NationsU masters is accredited, how fast can one finish that?

Heck I was even thinking of giving up on the BA and MS in CS and doing a Patten or SMC masters and going straight into Aspen's DSc in Computer Science....din't want a DSc in Comp Sci though...it seems like more work than say a DBA or something in social sciences..

(02-22-2018, 08:39 AM)videogamesrock Wrote: They launder their degrees through University of Central Nicaragua for an extra fee to make the degree legit. People on the other forum have been able to take that second degree issued by the partner college and have it transcribed through WES/ECE

Hmm could you elaborate I could not find the post...

I was also able to find:

http://www.ous.ch/OUS/

RE: SMC University Very Cheap! - Ideas - 02-22-2018

NationsU is nationally accredited, not regionally accredited, which may limit your options later. But there should be some schools that take an NA Masters degree. I believe it could be completed in 9 months or less, but it really depends on if you have prior knowledge, if you can read a lot per day, if you have good writing skills, etc.

Capella has competency-based Masters degrees. I don't think Amberton is competency, but you can transfer in many credits and their degree is so flexible. I think Amberton is over $6000 though, not including the cheap transfer credits.

I'm somewhat considering doing a cheap, fast doctorate too, eventually. (Personally leaning toward knocking out an MBA at WGU.) DBA at Taft is doable in 2 years with hard work, and it's cheap.

RE: SMC University Very Cheap! - Ideas - 02-22-2018

(02-22-2018, 09:13 AM)armstrongsubero Wrote: Was looking at Patten with their MBA..probably management or IT...seems very cheap, I could totally take 4 months vacation and finish Patten..then I saw SMC..I really don't care about the name or scrutiny as along as I can get into a doctorate program with it...any doctorate...

Why would SMC be faster/easier? 4 months is pushing it.

You could get into some doctorate programs, but do you care about budget? Personally I care about budget. So if I'm looking for a doctorate that is reasonably priced, fast, and also takes an NA Masters degree, it's hard. Somewhat self-paced would be nice. I suppose I care more about the subject matter than you, but I probably have at least 6-8 fields I'd be open to.

Do you mind if the doctorate program is international? There are some good cheap ones.

RE: SMC University Very Cheap! - videogamesrock - 02-22-2018

Since SMC is not accredited they have a partnership with University of Central Nicaragua which is accredited. You pay an extra fee and the accredited school will issue a degree simultaneously with SMC.

quote="armstrongsubero" pid='253679' dateline='1519308819']
Hmm still confused. Ultimately my aim is to have Dr. by my name...looking for the fastest route, so at TESU only have 4 courses remaining for the BALS...and one of those is the capstone, the other 3 are free electives. So I wanted to make Sept graduation, shopping around for grad school from now, I figure I can do the fastest, cheapest masters and doctorate I can find..I doing a BA followed by MS in computer science on the side but it seems like the BA will take about 2 more years to finish at my current rate of doing courses...yes I don't have a life, I like to study... Big Grin

(02-22-2018, 08:39 AM)videogamesrock Wrote: They launder their degrees through University of Central Nicaragua for an extra fee to make the degree legit. People on the other forum have been able to take that second degree issued by the partner college and have it transcribed through WES/ECE

Hmm could you elaborate I could not find the post...

I was also able to find:

http://www.ous.ch/OUS/
[/quote]