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I have an Associate Degree in Computer IT from a community college. I have almost 30 more credit hours than I needed to graduate. I am trying to go to a University to get a bachelor's degree, but the only problem is very few credit may transfer as in less than 20, and I really don't want to go back to school for at least 3.5 years
I am curious about schools like ECPI, I understand that you can technically get a bachelor's degree, but I've heard they're not very valued. Some even told me that my associate degree is more valued. I have a job now, I worked with my degree for computer companies but all of the jobs are Technical Support, I can't seem to get any jobs other than Technical Support, and I am trying to get better, more valued jobs like System Administrator or Analyst.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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A relative got an advanced degree online from the University of Phoenix, and it resulted in a substantial promotion and raise at work. That, to me, seems the way those schools should be used. The employer often helps pay for the continuing education and rewards you for successful completion. For someone looking for a first job many companies do consider the source of the degree and look down upon schools like Phoenix and ECPI. That applies mostly to the larger national/international employers. Others, though, such as here where I work (only 2,000 employees) look for the degree but don't care where it's from. Interview questions are designed to help determine whether an applicant really knows the work.
It's because my degree is in Computer IT. If I had gotten the two-year transfer degree, then they would have took it as a package and I would have started as a Junior in a university. But, now they have to pick and choose each class separate that relates to my degree.
I have an Associate Degree in Computer IT from a community college. I have almost 30 more credit hours than I needed to graduate. I am trying to go to a University to get a bachelor's degree, but the only problem is very few credit may transfer as in less than 20, and I really don't want to go back to school for at least 3.5 years
I am curious about schools like ECPI, I understand that you can technically get a bachelor's degree, but I've heard they're not very valued. Some even told me that my associate degree is more valued. I have a job now, I worked with my degree for computer companies but all of the jobs are Technical Support, I can't seem to get any jobs other than Technical Support, and I am trying to get better, more valued jobs like System Administrator or Analyst.
Aren't those for profit schools? I think one of them is actually being investigated. They suck people in by making it easy to go there, but in the end you'll spend your money for nothing. Go to a real school. Anything super easy is not going to be worthwhile.
Cold, hard, fact: In most cases a 4 year for-profit schools (ITT, UoP) cost a LOT and are valued less than a 2 year degree from a community college.
I work at a college with system admins and analysts.
I live in an area with thousands of engineers that work at a NASA site.
I used to work in that industry, too, and we called on the system admins and analysts to get help get our work done.
UoP and ITT have a physical campus here, but 99% of the local technical jobs won't go to their graduates. I know people with UoP degrees, but they typically go to UoP for things like an MBA after they had a 4 year degree from a regular school.
Look at it this way. Figure out the cost of a degree from ITT. Then look up the cost for a comparable degree at your local college for a degree in something like MIS or Information Science. Then look up the typical salary for a system analyst in your area. With a few years of experience, you could probably earn around $70,000. Now that system analyst job is going to be harder to get with a degree from ITT, plus you will likely be carrying a LOT more debt than if you went to the local college. The extra years you will spend at your local college will pay off long term dividends. While you spend more time in school, you will have (1) less debt (2) a degree that is far more respected by local industry (3) potential networking and internship opportunities.
It's because my degree is in Computer IT. If I had gotten the two-year transfer degree, then they would have took it as a package and I would have started as a Junior in a university. But, now they have to pick and choose each class separate that relates to my degree.
Can you clarify? Do you have an AS, AA, or AAS? It would help to know which community college you attended.
Quoted for truth. While not my primary job, I work with HR on occasion to hire technical people to work on my projects. Anyone who's primary qualification comes from UoP, ITT drops in the list. For me anyway this for two reasons - I am concerned about the quality of their training but also about their motivation and ambition. It seems to me that many people who attend these schools are looking for an easy route and may not be so good at strategic thinking.
Petition to have as many of your credits accepted as possible and go to solid state school. The classes you may have to retake will be easy for you and should help get you an excellent GPA.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielWayne
Cold, hard, fact: In most cases a 4 year for-profit schools (ITT, UoP) cost a LOT and are valued less than a 2 year degree from a community college.
I work at a college with system admins and analysts.
I live in an area with thousands of engineers that work at a NASA site.
I used to work in that industry, too, and we called on the system admins and analysts to get help get our work done.
UoP and ITT have a physical campus here, but 99% of the local technical jobs won't go to their graduates. I know people with UoP degrees, but they typically go to UoP for things like an MBA after they had a 4 year degree from a regular school.
Look at it this way. Figure out the cost of a degree from ITT. Then look up the cost for a comparable degree at your local college for a degree in something like MIS or Information Science. Then look up the typical salary for a system analyst in your area. With a few years of experience, you could probably earn around $70,000. Now that system analyst job is going to be harder to get with a degree from ITT, plus you will likely be carrying a LOT more debt than if you went to the local college. The extra years you will spend at your local college will pay off long term dividends. While you spend more time in school, you will have (1) less debt (2) a degree that is far more respected by local industry (3) potential networking and internship opportunities.
ECPI is accredited by SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) which is one of the twelve regional accreditors in the U.S.. ITT Tech is accredited by ACICS (Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools) which is the same accreditor that accredited Corinthian Colleges, the college that one of the other posters was alluding to in an earlier post. Corinthian Colleges has ceased all operations as of 2015 and is one of the current whipping boys of all detractors of for-profit colleges. While ACICS might've fallen asleep at the switch in their accreditation of Corinthian, the fact remains that Corinthian brought their demise upon themselves.
Regardless, both of these accrediting bodies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Regional accreditation is considered the gold standard of accreditors. However, for those that turn up their noses at anything but regional accreditation, you must consider the source; meaning they're not the one that put any school through the process of accreditation in the first place nor do they represent the USDOE.
So what to do? Do your due diligence. Make sure that your choice now will serve you not only presently but in the future as well.
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