Education for profit. Anyone have experience with so-called "Career Colleges"?

[devilgrrl]

I'd like to update some skills at work and went looking around for classes to take. Every search resulted in getting links to these "Career Colleges" like DeVry, Phoenix, Intercontinental, Westwood, etc... I clicked on a few of them and checked out the tuition costs:

This is from Westwood College's site: http://www.westwood.edu/financial-aid/tuition-california.asp

The average cost per term is approximately $4,500.00 and the average number of terms, should you want a degree, are 15 - which comes to a total of $67,000... :wtf: Did I figure that right?

After looking at some of those places, I've come to a conclusion that they most likely don't teach you anything that would help you find a better job and that their main purpose is to separate you from your money. These places have S-C-A-M written all over them.

Am I wrong to feel that way?

You tell me.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I had a cousin that went to DeVry years ago and it was a technical program of the

highest quality. Landed him an excellent job.

[devilgrrl]

2. Years ago.... how about now?

$67,000 is a lot of money for most people

[sinkingfeeling]

11. Looks like DeVry's highest cost would be $45,345 with a 139 hour credit program.

http://www.devry.edu/tuition/your_cost.jsp

[ieoeja]

4. Same for my ex-wife.

And I thought one of her classmates was pretty sharp as well ... until he decided drugs made him smarter.

[suninvited]

3. A friend of mine went through a couple of semesters

at Phoenix. Financial aid footed most of the cost.

She couldnt keep up with the math section. I even learned Excel just to help her with an assignment. (Which turned out well for me, a major part of my current job is writing excel spreadsheets). She ended up dropping out because she couldnt keep up.

From what I see, you have real assignments, it is not a give away (certainly not at those prices) diploma. I have no idea if anyone recognizes them as being "real" or not when it comes time to look for a job with your new degree.

I looked into it for myself, but as I do not qualify for financial aid there would be no way to afford that kind of tuition.

I am referring to the online classes at Phoenix, maybe not the same thing the OP is talking about.

[blue cat]

5. my ex is taking classes from phoenix

very expensive. nike is footing most of the bill. think there will be lay offs next year at nike so he is hoping that a this degree will help him find another job.

[devilgrrl]

6. I'm going to come out state that the costs are OUTRAGEOUS and DISGUSTING!!!!

and down with anyone who defends them. :thumbsdown:

That goes for traditional colleges and universities as well... FUCKING DISGUSTING!!!

Sixty-seven grand for a bachelors degree... un-fucking real!

:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:

[LeftyMom]

7. Here in CA community colleges teach the same skills for $20/unit

And they waive tuition for low and moderate income students, so with financial aid a lot of people actually make money getting educated.

[devilgrrl]

9. I'm checking out Glendale and LA CC's

Isn't what they (degree mills) charge a joke?

[LeftyMom]

15. I have no idea how they stay in business with rates like that. nt

[petersjo02]

8. Check out your local community college

Here in Iowa, our community colleges are top-notch and offer training in a wide range of fields at a reasonable cost.

[Iris]

10. Those schools probably serve some purpose - like for people who will benefit immediately from having

a degree - no matter how they got it. Like, my boss used one to get an MBA and doubled her salary two months after she graduated.

Other than that, I think they are bogus. My boss didn't really learn much - it was just a sheepskin.

I say check out public community/technical colleges (used to be called vocational school) if you just want to upgrade your skills. Also, these schools should offer an AA option, which would allow you to go on to a 4 year school for a BA, if that's what you want to do.

[Silver Swan]

12. A few years ago

My daughter taught online statistics classes for ITT Tech.

She was amazed at the amount of cheating that went on.

[Selatius]

13. In terms of tuition costs, most public universities and community colleges are far cheaper. n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. Before you do anything else, check out your local community college

A lot of the vocational skills courses are taught by recently retired or moonlighting professionals in whatever field you're interested in.

I took some computer courses at Portland Community College, and that was the case there.