My Three Choices....can you help?

College Search & Selection Online Degrees
1

Hi all. Glad I found this forum. I hope to get some input from you.

I have an undergrad in business already…and two years of grad work in public administration. That all happened 14+ years ago. I have decided to pursue accounting and sit for the CPA exam within the next 2 years. I have taken accounting refresher courses all year long at the local community college…which have been great.

So. I do not really need the “credits” to qualify to take the CPA, I just need the content classes. I need 32 quarter credits. So, I could just take those…or take a couple more classes and add a second degree. Here are the three options I am tossing around:

Local university…on ground classes. Could get second degree, or just take course work. The classes are offered at weird times and hard to fit into my existing schedule as Mom, business owner, part time accounting assistant. $149 a credit. They ARE accredited by AASCB.

Baker College…all online. $185/credit. Could get second degree, or just take course work. Looks like a great course offering, but I am a little unsure about the faculty (cannot find details on the website), and the reputation, and how well it would prepare me for the exam.

U Phoenix…all online. Could do undergrad…or actually take classes toward a masters of accounting for $612/credir. The whole course is tailored to the CPA exam, pretty much. It is not, it seems, equivalent to MS Acc degrees from other universities…as most of those require that all the 300 and 400 level work be done before enrolling. So…this is sort of like a second degree in accoutning…but “sooped up” to be a MS instead. VERY expensive, tho.

Here are my concerns:
Baker and Phoenix…my local university will not transfer ANY credits I would take at these two schools (I checked). This makes me a little nervous…as this local university allows the community college credits to transfer, but will NOT allow credits from these schools? Why? Why would Phoenix and Baker be seen as substandard even to a CC?

Ok…this is long enough…you get the gist. What do you think?? Can you offer any advice. Personally, I would prefer to do an online program. My CC classes are online and it works great. They do not offer upper level classes, though. So…what makes the most sense? And, am I overlooking any other reasonable priced (such as Baker College) online programs?

Thanks SO much for any advice you can share.

K

2

K- Have you checked out the U. of Washington extension catalog that just came out? They have an accounting prep program that is either summer intensive or evenings and goes all year. I have been looking at LSU distance ed. They have an accounting prep program and their courses are very reasonable. (I’m doing two- but by correspondence) No comments from the teachers, they just grade your work and return it. However courses are very well written and are easy to follow with the book. (haven’t tried the exams yet) I think the fastest way to figure what should transfer is to make sure they are accredited by the same accrediting body. (they are more likely to transfer courses if the accreditation is the same) I know what you mean about transferring–I looked into distance ed for homeschooling HS–some of the programs are reasonable as you pay for “one high school diploma program” but if you don’t finish it you can’t really take a portion of that program anywhere else. I chose Indiana for HS and ended up mixing and matching classes from 3 schools for D1. D2 will have 4 or 5 by the time she’s done! They also have a pretty good business school, and have some distance ed in that area but not sure if they have enough. (they now charge slightly more for OOS at the university level) I would say that the IU teachers, & courses are really good, and tests are tough, but fair. Oregon State has an ever expanding menu of courses, and they charge the same fees for residents or not. They seem to be in “Real Time” and you don’t have a year to finish like Indiana. Hope this is helpful!

3

Thanks for the info. I will look at UW extension. Tho, their campus is 4 hours away from me so the classes would have to be online.

My worry is that…if I want to get a Masters one day, that the classes I take at any online program will not be transferable. I would hate to have to take it all over again!

I checked out LSU too…very inexpensive and looks quite interesting!!!

I just got my financial aid award from my local university…so, I need to decide here pretty quick if I am headed the on-ground route or doing the online thing.

I would love input from anyone else out there in cyber land! Thanks.

Kat

4

Generally speaking, online classes through your state U will count in a way that online classes through an online college will not. Investigate this with your local U.

5

Other options:

<ul>
<li>University of Connecticut, [Master</a> of Science in Accounting](<a href=“http://www.business.uconn.edu/msaccounting/index.html]Master”>http://www.business.uconn.edu/msaccounting/index.html). 10 online courses at approximately $1,750 each. There is also a mandatory one-week residency on campus in Storrs, CT. The irony is that this UConn program, offered by a highly-acclaimed university, will probably cost slightly less than a similar offering from University of Phoenix even when travel and lodging costs are factored in. UConn is most certainly AACSB-accredited.</li>
<li>University of West Florida offers an online, 12-semester hour [Graduate</a> Certificate in Professional Accountancy](<a href=“http://uwf.edu/account/certificate_form.cfm]Graduate”>http://uwf.edu/account/certificate_form.cfm). An out-of-state fee waiver is available, which brings the cost down to $890 per 3 semester hour course. Although the UWF business school holds AACSB accreditation, as far as I know, the accounting program is not accredited by the same organization. </li>
</ul>

You might consider earning two certificates – LSU and UWF – to reach your credit hour requirements. Tuition for both programs should total around $5,000.

<ul>
<li>Clarion University of Pennsylvania – a state-sponsored, not-for-profit university – offers a 24-semester hour (8 courses), post-bachelor [CPA</a> Exam Eligibility Program](<a href=“http://www.clarion.edu/academic/distance/CPA%20Exam%20Eligibility%20Program.shtml]CPA”>http://www.clarion.edu/academic/distance/CPA%20Exam%20Eligibility%20Program.shtml) “completely online”. I believe each course costs approximately $750.</li>
</ul>

6

Thanks to all for the postings!

I guess my big concern is…if I take online classes I would really prefer that they be transferable. If…for some strange reason…I decide to continue my education and pursue a Masters or even a PhD. I am surrounded by PhDs in my life…so definitely know what that entails and am not sure I want to even go there…but, I want to leave that possibility open.

I would also love to hear from anyone who has done any of these online courses and who has taken the CPA exam…how prepared were you, etc?

elearningp…I will go check out the links you sent.

Hey, I prepared my first S Corp income tax return today (and all the bookkeeping and prep leading up to it). (under the supervision of a CPA…do not worry!) :stuck_out_tongue:

7

Yet another online option a little closer to home: Sacramento State University, [Master</a> of Science in Accountancy](<a href=“http://www.cba.csus.edu/mba/default.asp?pageID=MSaccy&txt=]Master”>http://www.cba.csus.edu/mba/default.asp?pageID=MSaccy&txt=). [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.csus.edu/schedule/Fall2007Spring2008/fees.stm]Tuition[/url”&gt;http://www.csus.edu/schedule/Fall2007Spring2008/fees.stm]Tuition[/url</a>] appears to cost around $1,200 per course for out-of-state residents. Sacto State is also AACSB-accredited.

8

Florida Atlantic University offers an affordable Masters Program in Accounting that is online ( [Forensic</a> Accounting Degree](<a href=“http://www.masters-in-forensic-accounting.com/]Forensic”>http://www.masters-in-forensic-accounting.com/) ) It is not accredited by the AACSB; but many accounting programs are not (you would be surprised).

9

[uopsucks.com</a> :: Index](<a href=“http://uopsucks.com/forum/]uopsucks.com”>http://uopsucks.com/forum/)

10

CPABoundK

I am of the opinion that you would totally need to look into wrapping things up for your career preparation as well as the future of your higher education at a University in your home state of Washington.

The only sure fire way that you can have things transfer about and the only sure fire way for you to just totally prepare for your future career certification (or whatever it is called with accounting, sorry) would be for you to keep things local.

For example, I think that LSU as a whole is awfully neat. But, Louisiana does indeed abide by the Napoleonic Code (of all things). That would adversely affect any of your accounting coursework if you were to work towards their Graduate certificate in accounting. For example, you would learn of things pertaining to the laws and rules of your career which would kinda sorta pertain more to the Napoleonic Code. I doubt that Washington is going to swap on over to the Napoleonic Code or something, really.

11

“However appealing an online MBA may seem, you are not going to be taken seriously with a diploma from the University of Phoenix. Great strides have been made in providing online courses that supplement an accredited MBA curriculum, but they will never comprise the entire program of a top business school.”

[NJIT</a> School of Management: MBA Curriculum](<a href=“http://www.mbanewjersey.com/curriculum.html]NJIT”>http://www.mbanewjersey.com/curriculum.html)

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University of Phoenix

13

Go to U of P it is the best in online!!!

14

Check out DeVry, Keller School of Management; Masters in Accounting and Financial Management.
The VP of my company (mgm mirage) raves about the Keller school. He told me that a common belief among upper level management is that Keller grads come out more prepared than a lot of other ‘top’ programs. Their emphasis on technology is a huge advantage.
They offer online, location, or a blend of both.
I’m seriously considering their Information Systems grad certificate when I finish my MBA.

15

If you want to know about the faculty at Baker College, then you need to go to ratemyprofessors dot com and search for the state of Michigan and then for Baker College Online in Flint. I don’t know if you are still considering Baker, but for me I really need to know if the professors can teach adequately or not and are friendly and helpful for one-on-one guidance. I’m taking brick and mortar classes but have been looking into taking some online classes as well. I was going to go with Baker, but after reading the horrible reviews of some of the professors (for computers and math, the stuff I’m doing), I’m opting against it. But everyone is unique in this respect and some students will find it does not matter of their professor’s general demeanor or helpfulness. It just matters a great deal to me.

And I have found ratemyprofessors dot com is very legit AND ACCURATE. I have been using it for the past year to select my classes and have noticed that the teachers I have chosen with ratings less than 3.8 or so (based on a 5 star scale, with 5 being the best) have been the toughest classes for me…the classes that would often force me to wander into the campus’ tutoring office. So I would suggest to choose wisely your professors…to everyone, not just you.

Also, Empire State College of Suny…their Center for Distance Learning seems to have a good amount of highly-rated professors and their cost is not too high, I think around $180 to $200 per credit.

BUT, my bottom line advice on this issue, from what I can tell after doing some research is that it probably is best to take most of your curriculum from a local college or university and then to take some online classes from these same local colleges or universities…or take some, and the key word is <em>some</em> classes from out-of-state online colleges or universities. I think this would look best to employers, to have most of your degree from a local college. I might change my major to physics, instead of math as it stands now but I have found that there are just no adequate physics or engineering degrees online. But there sure seems to be an abundance of computer related online degrees. But that’s just my findings.

Good luck in your pursuit.

16

Hello CPAboundk,

I would not suggest UoP. They are wonderful people do not get me wrong. The one problem I had with them was the “team assignments.” I have noticed many student are not as dedicated than others. Thus, you end up working harder to obtain a decent grade. I am only referring to the team assignment, which is 30% of your grade. Yes, they are extremely expensive…so if you do not want to pull your hair out and become frustrated with someone from a different state, seek an on-line campus that will benefit you and the grade you receive is solely the work that you have to do.

Good Luck :slight_smile:

17

Good morning CPABoundK;

First off, congratulations on your success up to this point. I have just a couple of suggestions on your school selection.

First, from your opening post you have said you intend to sit for the CPA exams in the next couple years. It happens that I am also working towards earning my CPA - harder in Texas because at least half of the 30 upper-level semester hours in Accounting have to be taken in face-to-face classes, so online courses are out for the most part. But the real focus in choosing where you take the necessary classes is the school’s effectiveness in helping you pass the exams. There is a very big difference between schools which simply teach the courses, and those which teach them well enough to help you pass the exams. As I am sure you know, 40-45% of candidates pass any one section of the exam at a time, and only about 10% pass all four sections on one attempt, meaning that for most students it will take multiple attempts to pass the tests. In fact between 8-16% of candidates who take the exam will never pass all four sections. There is a definite correlation between certain schools and your chances of passing the test.

Here in Texas the State Board of Accountancy publishes passing rates by school each quarter. I mention this because, as an example, no candidate from the University of Phoenix has ever passed even one section of the Uniform CPA Exam in Texas. Not one. So, while U of P may be a good school in some areas, I would frankly warn you off going there to prepare for the CPA Exam. The State of Washington’s Board of Accountancy does not publish results by school, but you can still get there by asking schools you are considering, how well their students do in the CPA exam. I am not as familiar with Washington as I am with Texas, but another student had a similar question and the University of Washington boasts impressive results:

[Foster</a> accounting grad receives top honor for CPA exam performance - Michael G. Foster School of Business - University of Washington, Seattle](<a href=“http://bschool.washington.edu/new/full_stories/accounting_grad_CPA_exam_2008.html]Foster”>http://bschool.washington.edu/new/full_stories/accounting_grad_CPA_exam_2008.html)

In general, while you can find easier classes and cheaper tuition, if your goal is to earn your CPA license the primary focus should be on schools which are best at getting you there.

Good luck!

18

I am not plugging my school, but FHSU offers certification, CPA prep and Masters programs, at $161 a credit hour. Classes are asyned so you take them when you can fit them into your schedule. They will accept your credits, and are transferrable to other schools. This is a brick and mortar school that does not charge you out of state tuition. That was a huge reason why I picked it for MIS. The professors are the most unbelievable teachers I have found yet, I already have favorites my second semester in. I am cranking up the classes to 16-18 per semester, and average A’s and B’s. I couldn’t do that without my advisor and professors.

Take a look at this school.

19

Here is what I would recommend from my experience looking into PhD programs and master’s programs:

<ol>
<li>Make sure the program you choose is AACSB accredited, large public accounting firms generally require this (or come close to requiring it).</li>
<li>Don’t worry about transferability, if you decide to pursue a PhD the school will not transfer credits regardless of the school you went to, the programs are generally designed with different goals in mind. Also schools don’t like to accept other schools grad credits and generally limit it to 3 classes or less in the same program (such as master’s).</li>
<li>Some affordable (relatively-speaking) online accounting programs that are AACSB accredited include UConn, Stetson University and the California state one (Sacramento) mentioned above. Stetson is the most expensive at 22k, but offers rolling start dates.</li>
<li>FAU offers a program also (someone else mentioned this) but it is cost-prohibitive, in my opinion (~45k).</li>
</ol>