This article examines what elements students should look for in an online degree program, and how to select the right program for them. It not only provides an evaluation of program elements, but also provides a side-by-side comparison of three Master of Education programs from three top online programs from the University of Phoenix, Capella University, and Western Governor University.
Overview
If you want to earn more money, or advance your career in the field of education, a Masters degree may be a practical option. Studies have shown that people with advanced degrees earn 177% more than people with no degree. However, as a working adult you may think that you don’t have the time or money to go back to school right now to get your advanced degree. While in the past night school may have been your only alternative option to the traditional college classroom experience, today there are many accredited universities that offer quality educational programs that can provide you with the knowledge, experience, and credentials needed to meet your career goals. However, before you commit your time and money pursuing an online degree, you will need to find a school that is able to meet your educational needs, goals, and expectations. To do this you need to know some basic information about the programs offered including: (1) accreditation, (2) cost, (3) financing options, (4) admission requirements, (5) program completion time, and (6) applicable coursework and specializations.
To help you determine which program is the best fit for you, the next section of this article will be formatted to help you identify important features of distance education programs, and then provide you with a comparison of three different online university programs to illustrate how programs differ, and possibly highlight a program that you might be interested in seeking more information on. The three featured Master of Education programs in this article are from the University of Phoenix, Capella University, and Western Governor University. After examining these comparisons you will have the skills and information needed to either select one of these programs, or to conduct your own M.Ed. program search.
Accreditation
The first thing to look for in a Master of Education distance education program is to determine if the program has appropriate and verifiable accreditation. To make sure that the school you have selected has accreditation that will be recognized by school districts that you wish to work in, and/or other universities and educational institutions, you can employ a number of tactics. First go to the accreditation agency’s website and see what other schools have been accredited by the same agency. This will give you an idea of what kinds of educational institutions the online university is in par with, and what kinds of institutions will recognize your degree. The second tactic that you can employ to determine if the accrediting agency is legitimate is to see if the Department of Education has approved it. To determine this, simple go to the Department of Education’s website, they have a list of accrediting agencies that they have approved. The last tactic that you can use to determine if the accreditation of the online university is viable is to review the agency’s accreditation process. By this I mean that you should see if the accrediting agency accredits based on the quality of the education being delivered, or if they accredit anyone who pays their fee. A valid accreditation process should include an in-depth review of the material, facility, and faculty of the school with both on-site and off-site review processes.
Capella University was fully accredited by both the Higher Learning Commission and by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in 1997. These regional types of accreditations are the most common types received by major state and private colleges and universities, and they are recognized across the country. The North Central Association is a common regional accreditation that evaluates and credentializes state and private educational institutions. Accreditations granted from this agency are recognized by other regional accrediting agencies across the country. A few of the educational institutions that the Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association have accredited include Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.
The University of Phoenix is also accredited by both the Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association.
Western Governor University is accredited by four different agencies including the Higher Learning Commission, the Commission on Colleges and Universities of the Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. These particular accrediting organization have also accredited universities like: Northwestern University, the University of Wisconsin, Stanford, and many more.
In addition to these regional accrediting agencies, WGU also has a national accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. This accrediting agencies utilizes an extensive review of both off-site and on-site evaluations of the university’s operations and the quality of the education being delivered so you can be assured that you will be getting a good education at this school.
Cost
After finding a selection of universities that offer an appropriately accredited and credentialized program, the next consideration is its cost. Traditional colleges can cost $20,000 or more per year, which is well beyond what most working adults can afford. Online degree programs, on the other hand, are much more affordable, and are often times 25-50% less expensive than traditional programs are, making online degrees programs an affordable option. When deciding on an online university make sure you are aware of all costs associated with your degree program, because while some programs may have a smaller per credit cost, additional fees and monetary requirements may end up making the total cost more expensive then you can handle.
The University of Phoenix has straightforward pricing. They charge an application fee of $110 and have a base price of $450 per credit hour. Books and software are not included in the tuition price, and students should budget out between $150 and $200 per course for books and materials. Professional testing is also required in addition to the program materials and courses provided by this school, and all costs associated with these professional tests are the responsibility of the student and are in addition to the costs stated above.
Capella University has a $75 application fee, a $350 per credit hour fee, and a $350 graduation fee. Books and software are not included in the tuition price, and students should budget out between $150 and $200 per course for books and materials.
WGU has the most associated fees of the three featured programs. They charge $65 for their application fee, $288 per credit hour, a library fee of $45 per term, an $800 Demonstration Teaching Fee, and an $1900 Internship Teaching Model Fee. Like the other two programs featured in this article, books and materials are not included in the tuition price, and students should budget out between $150 and $200 per course for books and materials.
Financing Options
Lower overall cost for an online M.Ed. program may make distance education programs more affordable, but being able to finance the program may mean the difference between being able to meet your career goals and not being able to meet them. Federal financial aid, bank loans, corporate reimbursement, tuition reduction programs, and scholarships are all ways to make an advanced degree financially feasible.
The University of Phoenix meets the requirement for students to qualify for federal financial aid like Federal Stafford Student Loans, Federal PLUS loans, and Federal Pell Grants. If additional funds are needed then P.L.A.T.O. loans specifically designated for UP students are available. In order to reduce your out of pocket expenses you should also look into employee reimbursement programs at the company that you work for. Finally there are scholarship opportunities available that can be applied for through the University of Phoenix’s Alumni Network or through other sources.
Capella University also qualifies for the same federal financial aid as the University of Phoenix does, and in addition to federal financial aid, Capella also has a list of preferred lenders that give special discounts for Capella graduate students who need to finance their education. Again corporate reimbursement programs should also be considered if available. In addition to federal and private financial aid, Capella also offers a selection of special scholarships like the Robert C. Ford Human Services Scholarship, the Helene Krivoska Scholarship, Go the Distance Scholarship, and the Sallie Mae Fund.
Students can reduce the cost of their education program from Capella University further by transferring up to 12 credits from another accredited Master level program, and/or by earning up to 20 credits through prior learning experiences gained through nationally recognized examination programs, the American Council on Education Credits for Military Training, professional training programs, and other professional certifications.
Capella also offers a financial aid book advance of $250 to students so that they can purchase their textbooks and software before financial aid disbursements are made. To qualify for this advance in funds, students must have completed their financial aid application process, have enough financial aid to cover the advance, and have completed and submitted the Book Advance Form.
WGU, like the other two featured programs, also qualifies for federal financial aid, corporate reimbursements, and scholarships.
Admission Requirements
Another issue to take into consideration is that your background meets the requirements of the university where you would like to apply to.
The University of Phoenix has the following graduate requirements:
applicants must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university or college;
they must have a minimum g.p.a. of 2.5;
they must be employed when they enroll, and they must have three years of what the university deems as "significant work expedience;"
they need teaching experience in their specialization area; and finally
they need to meet state residency restrictions depending on the specialization selected.
Capella University requires its applying graduates to have:
a minimum g.p.a. of 2.7;
an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university;
have teaching experiences and/or have a valid teacher’s license; and
they must speak English proficiently.
As opposed to the other two programs, WGU applicants must go through a fairly rigorous application and qualification process including:
an intake interview;
a WGU Readiness Assessment;
have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university or college;
they must pass a criminal background check;
take an online aptitude test, and
pass state specific basic skills tests like the PAXIS I or other similar tests.
Completion Time
Knowing how long your online degree program will take will also help you decide on the right program for you. Most online M.Ed. programs should be about 48 credits and take about two to three years to complete. This is the case for all three of the featured programs. However, the exact amount of time will depend on transferring credits, specialization and your pacing.
Coursework and Specialization
Finding a distance education program that provides you with the skills needed to advance your career will also mean reviewing what courses or specializations are available. Select the program that offers you the specialization that most closely matches your personal career goals.
University of Phoenix offers the following specializations:
Administration and Supervision
Administration and Supervision Initial Administration License
Adult Education and Distance Learning
Curriculum and Instruction
Curriculum and Technology
Educational Counseling
Special Education for Mild to Moderate Disabilities
Special Education/Cross Categorical
Capella University offers the following specializations:
Leadership in Educational Administration
Curriculum and Instruction
Advanced Classroom Instruction
Reading and Literacy
Leadership for Higher Education
Postsecondary and Adult Education
Instructional Design for Online Learning
Training and Performance Improvement
Enrollment Management
And finally WGU offers these specializations:
English Language Learning (K–12)
Learning and Technology
Management and Innovation
Measurement and Evaluation
Mathematics Education (K-6, 5-9, and 5-12)
Science Education (5-9 and 5-12)
Endorsement Preparation Program in English Language Learning
Endorsement Preparation in Math (5-9 or 5-12)
Endorsement Preparation Programs in Science (5-9 or 5-12)
In order to determine which specialization you should select, review the job description of the position you want and compare it to the skills delivered in each specialization. In most cases you probably won’t find an exact match, but after a careful evaluation of several programs, you will be able to find the program that fits your budget and your dreams.