Northeastern Illinois University

[MSchemist80]

I am also considering a second Masters. In my case I am seeking a Master of Science in Accounting to replace my Master of Science in Chemistry (see my other threads about how science is a dying low paying career and I hate it). I think if you pass the CPA noone cares.

[Larry Siegel]

A friend of mine is a professor there and is absolutely top notch. However, he may be the exception. The students are not particularly well prepared and a NEIU degree is not highly regarded in the workplace or by other universities.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by UKUKUK

Anyone got any input on it? I'm in the process of just becoming a career student :P and was wondering how a second M.A. from there would be viewed? Do people in metro Chicago respect an NEIU degree?

respect an NEIU degree? I'd say the gap between our number one Chicago public university, UIC, and NEIU is miles wide.

The Chicago area is one of the most underserved of any in the nation for publicly financed higher education. For an area of 7 million people, we have precious few schools.

only two are major and respected institutions, UIC and NIU and NIU is so far, far out on the fringe that it serves little for students commuting unless they happen to live in the far west suburbs.

NEIU, CSU, and Governors are all rather minor institutions with low profile and none-too-thrilling academic rankings.

Compare this to NYC where CUNY covers the city and SUNY the suburbs. Or how about LA which not only sports UCLA, but too other UC campuses (UCI, UCR) and endless numbers of Cal State campuses.

The Bay Area offers Cal and UCSF and its own group of Cal States. Houston has the University of Houston.

and on an on. Chicago doesn't really measure up in this category, no matter how stellar we are in the field of private (U of C, NU) universities.

[UKUKUK]

Originally Posted by edsg25

respect an NEIU degree? I'd say the gap between our number one Chicago public university, UIC, and NEIU is miles wide.

The Chicago area is one of the most underserved of any in the nation for publicly financed higher education. For an area of 7 million people, we have precious few schools.

only two are major and respected institutions, UIC and NIU and NIU is so far, far out on the fringe that it serves little for students commuting unless they happen to live in the far west suburbs.

NEIU, CSU, and Governors are all rather minor institutions with low profile and none-too-thrilling academic rankings.

Compare this to NYC where CUNY covers the city and SUNY the suburbs. Or how about LA which not only sports UCLA, but too other UC campuses (UCI, UCR) and endless numbers of Cal State campuses.

The Bay Area offers Cal and UCSF and its own group of Cal States. Houston has the University of Houston.

and on an on. Chicago doesn't really measure up in this category, no matter how stellar we are in the field of private (U of C, NU) universities.

This is my sad realization. I've been in denial about it for years. I think they need to set up a non-commuter school in the northside or something! Chicago has so much potential and a greater student presence would only improve that.

[sydbarrett]

Originally Posted by UKUKUK

This is my sad realization. I've been in denial about it for years. I think they need to set up a non-commuter school in the northside or something! Chicago has so much potential and a greater student presence would only improve that.

Urm DePaul?

[grapico]

Originally Posted by Larry Siegel

A friend of mine is a professor there and is absolutely top notch. However, he may be the exception. The students are not particularly well prepared and a NEIU degree is not highly regarded in the workplace or by other universities.

professors at the universities don't matter so much if they have to teach down to the caliber of the students... there is much more of an overkill of qualified phd's right now, than high caliber students at universities like neiu. I would view it as a community college that offers a 4 year degree and a handful of MA's.

[SonySegaTendo617]

Originally Posted by UKUKUK

This is my sad realization. I've been in denial about it for years. I think they need to set up a non-commuter school in the northside or something! Chicago has so much potential and a greater student presence would only improve that.

UIC already exists west of downtown, though you have a good point that NIU should have at least a small Chicago campus. They do have one in Naperville, IIRC.

As for Northeastern, they're an okay school, but very mediocre. My 2 years going there, was more than enough to convince me that it wasn't worth continuing going there. If you come up with other collegiate options, I hate to say it, but I'd pick those options over NEIU. There is a reason NEIU is nicknamed 'Northeasy', after all....