DeVry University

[Targa Me]

My son wants to attend (actually its online) DeVry University; I'm looking at $60k
(3 years) to obtain a BS degree. Do any of you have any experience with DeVry?
Is $60k reasonable for a BS? He's looks for a degree in electronics.

What are you thoughts?
Thanks.

[regency]

Cal Poly? State College(s), UC's in the area? Does he have the grades to get into any of these or is DeVry the only school that offers the specific degree?

60K seems like a lot for an on-line degree, to me at least. Also, if your thinking about taking student loans, seek government types, private student loans & loans offered by the school are not a good deal, or so I've heard.

Steve

[Steve Viegas]

I know two people who have graduated from DeVry. Both of them are solid individuals. I have a friend who is a professor at DeVry. He received his degrees from UC Berkeley and UC Davis.

While I think your son will miss a lot not going away to college, I do not believe that education will be part of that.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by regency

Cal Poly? State College(s), UC's in the area? Does he have the grades to get into any of these or is DeVry the only school that offers the specific degree?

60K seems like a lot for an on-line degree, to me at least. Also, if your thinking about taking student loans, seek government types, private student loans & loans offered by the school are not a good deal, or so I've heard.

Steve

I have a friend with a DeVry degree and he has done very well (but he attended the school).

However I agree with the above $60K seems whack for a online degree.

Have you checked Harbor college, Dominguez, Alondra?

[Head416]

No experience with DeVry, but...

I would recommend community college, then transfer to a CSU to finish the Bachelors. Will cost much less. Plan for 4 years of hard work (longer if not taking 4-5 classes every quarter).

I don't understand why people would pay more when the state schools are available, unless you can't get into them. And - whether correct or not - there will always be people who view degrees from DeVry as "less" than a traditional university. Why pay more for a degree that some won't consider "real"? A degree is two things: 1) education 2) resume builder. It doesn't meet #2 if hiring managers blow it off. (Again: some will, some won't.) The relevance of #2 will also fluctuate based on the field he wants to go into.

My wife is about to start at a CSU after finishing her AA at a JC. We estimate $20k and 2.5-3 years for her to finish her BS at CSU. She spent three years at the JC, about $300 per semester... round up to $2,000 a year for books, etc. That's a total of about $26,000 and under 6 years. This is all while she is working full time. Can be done much faster if one has the time available.

I went to CSU from the start, and after 12 years just graduated. (Work, changing major, etc.) JC then transfer to CSU makes much more sense than the route I took. I did take a few classes at the JC and felt there was no real difference in the standards between the two.

[scottmandue]

+10000 to what Aaron said.

Plus the positive impact of social interaction at that age... I would be concerned if it were my child being isolated like that.

[URY914]

Bricks and mortar schools get you interviews and respect

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by URY914

Bricks and mortar schools get you interviews and respect

and maturity. There are tangible benefits to living on your own.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by Head416

No experience with DeVry, but...

I would recommend community college, then transfer to a CSU to finish the Bachelors. Will cost much less. Plan for 4 years of hard work (longer if not taking 4-5 classes every quarter).

I don't understand why people would pay more when the state schools are available, unless you can't get into them. And - whether correct or not - there will always be people who view degrees from DeVry as "less" than a traditional university. Why pay more for a degree that some won't consider "real"? A degree is two things: 1) education 2) resume builder. It doesn't meet #2 if hiring managers blow it off. (Again: some will, some won't.) The relevance of #2 will also fluctuate based on the field he wants to go into.

My wife is about to start at a CSU after finishing her AA at a JC. We estimate $20k and 2.5-3 years for her to finish her BS at CSU. She spent three years at the JC, about $300 per semester... round up to $2,000 a year for books, etc. That's a total of about $26,000 and under 6 years. This is all while she is working full time. Can be done much faster if one has the time available.

I went to CSU from the start, and after 12 years just graduated. (Work, changing major, etc.) JC then transfer to CSU makes much more sense than the route I took. I did take a few classes at the JC and felt there was no real difference in the standards between the two.

Absolutely!!!!

Get the lower division work done at your own pace at a Community College. Then transfer to a State College or University of California. The advantages to this approach are incalculable.

[Head416]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

and maturity. There are tangible benefits to living on your own.

Definitely true, BUT in my case it led to a big waste of money. Hopefully your son is a little more dedicated than I was at 18.

[Targa Me]

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions.
Thank you.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by URY914

Bricks and mortar schools get you interviews and respect

Would you wager $40K on that payback?

That's the conventional wisdom, but I think times are changing.

If you have a 2.7 GPA from an ivy league school (competition), or a 3.0 from a state school, or a 3.6 from JC then state, or a 3.8 because you learned better at your own pace online, would that still be true?

[Targa Me]

Kaisen... you have a story for us?

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Targa Me

Kaisen... you have a story for us?

Not my own story, but those of friends, friend's kids, dozens of employees, etc

Well, my own story too, I guess. I went to a well-respected private school and it has never paid off in any tangible way. Also true of my wife, who invested $150K in a highly-regarded private college. And that's been worth squat.

We both got 'good' grades, but no doubt our GPAs would have been higher if we went to Podunk U. Graduating with a 3.2 from an ivy league or 4.0 from Podunk U.... who would you hire (be honest).

Both of us, if we could do it again, would have done two years at JC and finish at a specialized program offered by a state school. Online? Maybe! Several state schools offer it too.

[VincentVega]

If he's set on online classes, check out the local public schools. The private schools like Devry charge a big premium, I guess it's up to you to decide if the cost of justified.

[URY914]

Originally Posted by URY914

Bricks and mortar schools get you interviews and respect

My wife works at University of South Florida here in Tampa as staff support for one of the master and Phd degree programs. Students with degrees from "for-profit" or on-line schools are ignored during the application process.

[Dave L]

For a brief time I worked as IT recruiter and most companies I did work for didnt look as favorably upon a deVry graduate as those from a regular college.

[TerryBPP]

I don't think they are accredited like most tech degrees. This means you cannot get a MD, PHD, etc. For engineers you cannot sit for the EI exam or get a PE license.

[looneybin]

have you read the disclaimer that states "units are non-transferable" that tells me that there are accreditation issues

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Moses

Absolutely!!!!

Get the lower division work done at your own pace at a Community College. Then transfer to a State College or University of California. The advantages to this approach are incalculable.

If I had it to do again that is what I would do.

And part of surviving in the real world is interpersonal relations, communication, dealing and negotiating with people.... experience I don't think you would get with an online degree.