RANT: Cost of Education

[Huck]

So I am getting myself ready to get into college for Visual Communications. The cost is very overwhelming. I get help with grants and loans, but still always end up having to pay. I am doing the online classes because my work schedule doesnt allow me to do it any other way. For just classes (no books, no software, nothing) its just under $60,000. Those that went to school or are going to school, does this sound right or am I being taken to the cleaners??

[kachina]

Sounds high unless it is a well-known private school. Also, I would steer away from totally online universities. Their degrees still have limited acceptance in the workplace and you don't end up with the personal network of fellow students. Just my humble opinion.

[Huck]

Being a 9-1-1 dispatcher, its hard to go to the local schools because of my work hours. I work 3p-11p making it really hard to go to evening classes. They say they have classes to meet anyones needs, but not when 1 class is only given at nights. I think about the long term effects of having to pay for my education. Guess your damned if you do and damned if ya dont.

[LoungeLizard]

As Rusty said, hard to tell without knowing the school. My last graduate degree was from George Washington University in Washington, DC, and the cost was about $35K for 27 credit hours. It was supposed to be 36 credit hours but I had them waved due to other graduate work.

[Huck]

Sorry this is for Westwood College. They have campus all over but the online is based out of Denver.

[bondarnes]

As a recent graduate from Westwood told me. "My degree and 75 cents will buy me a cup of coffee at Racetrac .......if I bring my own cup!" If you are really serious about doing photography as a profession, get a degree in business and intern with a working professional in your area. I do not know where Minco is, but I will look it up and see who I know in your area.

[epoh]

Roughly how many credit hours are required for that degree? Cost per credit can range from $40 to $1000. Generally, an in-state, non-private school is going to be in the $100-$200 range. Out of state non-private can be anywhere from $200-$600 per credit.

So, if you are pursuing a degree that requires 200 credits, you are paying about $300 a credit, which isn't bad for out of state tuition.

Class dismissed.

[Huck]

Maybe I should take a step back and relook at what I am getting into here. Maybe it all sounds good on paper, but when I think long term and what I have to pay back. OUCH!. I have heard good and bad things about the school. I have time still I can cancel and not be held responsible for the charges.

What i really want to do is learn how to work with my digital files and use and undestand CS2/3 and do photography on the side. I am not sure that my family could survive on me doing photography alone. I think its important to earn a degree. I have also thought about doing photojournalism. The degree I would be working towards with Westwood is a degree in Visual Communications for Web Design and Graphic Designer. Stuff along those lines.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by epoh

Roughly how many credit hours are required for that degree? Cost per credit can range from $40 to $1000. Generally, an in-state, non-private school is going to be in the $100-$200 range. Out of state non-private can be anywhere from $200-$600 per credit.

So, if you are pursuing a degree that requires 200 credits, you are paying about $300 a credit, which isn't bad for out of state tuition.

Class dismissed.

Its 192 total hours for the BS degree.

[bondarnes]

I found a few leads if you want to pursue them.
Don Emmerich OK City emmerichd@aol.com He used to write for Rangefinder magazine
Dwaine Horton Thomas OK horton@pldi.net does mostly H.S. seniors out in the country
Randy Taylor Edmond OK tmphoto@cox.net Really nice guy and a great studio.

[kachina]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

As a recent graduate from Westwood told me. "My degree and 75 cents will buy me a cup of coffee at Racetrac .......if I bring my own cup!" If you are really serious about doing photography as a profession, get a degree in business and intern with a working professional in your area. I do not know where Minco is, but I will look it up and see who I know in your area.

Best advice you'll receive all day! School is pretty worthless beyond a good liberal arts degree unless you are going into the sciences. This coming from someone with 3 degrees - #3 was a business degree.

[CaptainTom]

If you are looking for a general job somewhere, a degree is often required. They aren't concerned if it is in visual arts, or ornithology as long as you show you are intelligent enough to graduate.

If you want a job as a photographer, a degree wouldn't hurt, but an ass kicking portfolio would place you on the list even more.

Don's idea of business training makes more sense than running off to photography or PS, or digital arts schools. These are skills that can be learned elsewhere. A good basis in business will always be an advantage no matter what business you pursue.

I've worked as a full time photographer, and don't have a degree in photography. I have worked as a full time musician and don't have a music degree. I've had several of my own businesses, and don't have a business degree. I wish I'd had more business training.

[NoLight]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

If you are looking for a general job somewhere, a degree is often required. They aren't concerned if it is in visual arts, or ornithology as long as you show you are intelligent enough to graduate.

So True!!!!

[hbwise]

I have spent my fair share on education. The more I get the more I think it is over rated. Also, I have to agree with Tom's post.

My 2 cents worth. Make up a reading list. Topics that interest you and you feel are relevant to what you are trying to accomplish. Go to the library and get a book off the list. Even if your list is only one book long. As you read you will discover other books and interests. Of course the Internet is the biggest library on the planet. Just take everything with a grain of salt. Take what you can use from various sources and leave what you can't. spend a year doing this and you will be about $59000 ahead.

My suggestion for one of the best business books ever is Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers. I'll have to find it and post the ISBN. The best business education I got was running my own business for 8 years.

Second suggestion on the reading list. Lots of magazines. Do you know how many subscriptions you can get for $500 dollars?

Finally, don't let anyone convince you you can't do it. Don't listen to the negativism. This is not to say don't listen to constructive criticism, just don't let anyone talk you out of your dream. Ok, enough with the preaching. Good luck and let us know how it is going.

[kachina]

Check this one out as well. It is a good place to start:

http://www.amazon.com/10-day-MBA-Ste.../dp/0749914017