First, thanks for all who participated by either voting and/or leaving a comment.

Yes Dennis, you are precisely correct when it comes to the cost consideration and to the CSU PsyD program. Unfortunately the CSU program is too expensive for me (more than I am both willing to pay and able to afford) on an SA degree.

At this point in my life both RA/NA cost options are extremely prohibitive for me right now and before all of the RA or NA only advocates start to beat their drums - I apologize in advance for being poor.

I have been kicking the Ph.D or Psy.D question around for several weeks now. The issue for me is not so much of a "need to have it" but I "want to have it" and that the "want" must be rationale and affordable. I toyed with getting a graduate certificate in Managerial Leadership and enrolled with Rutgers but I really didn't like their program and in the end I just knew that I would probably still want to go after another degree; don't ask me why I just a glutton for punishment.

I have come to the conclusion that, for me, the quest for a Ph.D is more of a personal pursuit and not so much of a professional one. Like I said, I don't need one - I want one, and for me an SA level degree is just fine.

That being said the "want" had to be financially justifiable to my Wife as our Daughter was just married in Augu$t [$$$] and our oldest son is graduating from U$F [go Bull$] next month. Of course we have to get through the Holiday$ and then we are celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniver$ary next May 1$t.

The solution to this "degree want" and "fiscal dilemma" may be found with what I believe is the singular best choice found at California Pacific University www.cpu.edu . Although CPU is accredited as an SA (State Approved) school, they are a legitimate/legal school with a long history and come with great reviews. CPU is not a mill, and I would NEVER consider a mill but they have what I "want" and can even fulfill a "need" too (that being personal enrichment).

I had nearly given up when I read this quote from Dave Wagner - a member of degreeinfo.com: Everyone should seek as much education as they can afford. Does it really matter if people who are less educated laugh at you? No, it doesn't. Only someone who is insufficiently educated would laugh at another person for seeking education. Always consider that becoming better educated, even if it is through a non-RA degree, is better than doing nothing at all. - Dave Wagner.

I just took it to the next level, did my research (not just a poll) on quite a number of affordable and reputable schools and made my choice. If I decide to forge ahead I should be enrolled with CPU by December.

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ShotoJuku +
Senior Moderator

Congrats Brian on your choice. A person's academic and professional career is their own personal choice. As long as you are happy with your choices, that is all that matters.

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Ed.D Should complete in 2011

M.S. , M.Ed. ,
Director of Online Faculty Training and Management, Online Adjunct, Online Instructional Technologist, and Course Designer

Just some questions you may have already asked yourself, is this something that you need to do right away? Do you feel you will lose your momentum if you wait until you could afford an accredited NA/RA degree?

Those questions aside:

I agree, remember education is the only asset that, at the end of the day, can not be taken from you! If you are satisfied that a degree from CPU will meet your needs, that is all that matters.

__________________
B.C.S. Baker College
M.S. Rochester Institute of Technology(Only the capstone remains)
Visit my Linkedin page

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ShotoJuku +
Senior Moderator

Hi Brian -

Let me add my congrats too - you obviously know yourself well enough that the school choice that "feels right" to you...IS.

Just wondering what you thought in general of distance Ph.D. programs at South Africa's universities? They're pretty well all deemed RA equivalent and the fees are a SMALL fraction of those in the U.S. (The total bill might well be less than CSU!)

Lots about these out on the forums and I'm sure you've read plenty yourself. I've also heard that there are low-to-practically-no residency options designed for the distance scholar.

I'd sure like to know your thoughts on those...

Johann

In the position that I'm in, although CPU is an SA school, it is a USA school, something that obviously UNISA cannot claim; it will make a difference in the long run.

As for cost, the CPU PhD program is just 5400, less 1000 when you submit your tuition up front bringing the cost down to 4400 and I was advised there is also an 15% discount if you enroll w/in 2 weeks after receiving your enrollment package bringing the final cost down to around 3700. All-in-all a pretty good deal.

Thanks for the heads-up s***estion!

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ShotoJuku +
Senior Moderator

These two seem to run contrary to each other?

Just curiuos why it will make a difference in the long run?

__________________
B.C.S. Baker College
M.S. Rochester Institute of Technology(Only the capstone remains)
Visit my Linkedin page

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ShotoJuku +
Senior Moderator

Ok now I seriously consider California Pacific, at bargain price $$, MBA costs about $4550. international students pay $100 extra for each course (10 courses) = $5550 in total.

Someone who has experience with this school, pls share with me. I wish to start my MBA in February 2008.

CSU Dominguez Hills MBA Program
One of the Best Bargains in the Nation

MBA for about 8000 USD

CSUDH was the first accredited university in the nation to design an academic degree for the Internet.

GedEducated.com ranks CSUDH number nine among 120 accredited universities

CARSON, Calif. – The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Distance Learning program at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), has been rated among the top 10 least expensive among major universities in America according to a national survey. GetEducated.com, LLC has released its biannual survey of tuition costs at 120 accredited distance learning MBA programs, and has determined CSUDH ranks number nine in regionally accredited MBA programs.

After surveying a cross section of respected universities from throughout America, including Duke, Howard, Purdue and Carnegie Mellon universities, officials at GedEducated.com selected the online MBA program at Cal State Dominguez Hills in the top 10, the only California university so listed.

“To be ranked a GetEducated.com ‘Best Buy Distance MBA,’ a program must cost considerably less than the national average for an online MBA in its class,” said Vicky Phillips, CEO for GetEducated.com.

“ Costing close to half of the national average [$16,400 is the national average for a regionally accredited online MBA], CSUDH is an amazing bargain for prospective students nationwide,” said Phillips. “It is in fact one of the Top 10 Least Expensive options for students to consider when they are trying to decide among the more than 100 accredited options currently available in the marketplace.” The Distance Learning program costs about $9,000 at CSUDH. Phillips said only programs accredited by agencies recognized by the Council on Higher Education (CHEA) are permitted to list in GetEducated.com’s “Best Distance Learning Graduate Schools”.