California Coast University Comments

Does anybody have pros/cons on CCU's MBA program?

@Dorally, i loved my CCU MBA program and learned a lot. I had a previous master's degree in a different field from a big regionally accredited brick-and-mortar university.

Several of the CCU MBA courses were infused with Math. Managerial Accounting, Financial Management (really this class was Financial Markets and money supply), and Management Science (which was mathematical modeling) had considerable math and software elements and I appreciated that. Research Methods was essentially research design & statistics. All these courses were very appropriate for graduate-level work.

I have the benefit of comparing my CCU MBA with a previous traditional master's. I worked equally hard in both programs. I learned a lot in both programs. Whenever I contacted CCU for any reason, they were always knowledgeable and professional.

Bottom line: education is what you make of it. As a child I went to a high-end prep school abroad. Some of my classmates there were lazy, while others were serious about studying and learning. I saw the same variety in work ethics in college and graduate school.

CCU was state-approved for a long time before going for DETC accreditation. Before my MBA enrollment there, I called the California state agency about CCU. They said CCU had never tried for regional accreditation and that they had no reservations about its academic seriousness.

If your university is rloignaely accredited, which it is, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, you should be just fine. The national accreditation is what students need to worry about. For the question about ABET, that may be a problem if you will be pursuing something more than a Bachelor's degree. I did not know Tier ratings went that high. I think you are confusing Tier 1 (which is the highest/best ranking) with anything lower (Tier 2 or more). The higher the Tier the farther it is from the top where for example Harvard, Princeton, and MIT would be. Good luck and hope I enlightened you a bit.

Krystal,

CCU is not set up to accept financial aid...you typically have to pay $100 a month directly to the school once you enroll in a degree program. They send you an invoice in the mail every month. You need to strongly consider the fact that they are NOT regionally accredited. They only hold national accreditation and this is a major consideration that may hinder your job prospects should you earn a degree with them. Good luck.

Sullivan University in Kentucky accepts credits from nationally accredited schools.

Thanks for your response, Don! It is good to hear your hard work paid off for you! Do you think you might ever pursue another degree through CCU or another DETC NA accredited school? 

I earned a CCU Bachelor Degree in 2006 and it has helped me get good job opportunties in adult education and workforce development. In State of Virginia

I have heard a number of success stories from those who have earned Masters and Doctorate degrees from California Coast University. I would like to know if anyone with a CCU Bachelor degree has had success due in large part to their degree. Please share your story, and if you don't mind, also share which state or part of the world you live in. I am compiling some statistics on the success ratio of those who have achieved success with a nationally accredited undergraduate degree and NOT a regionally accredited degree combined with a nationally accredited graduate degree. Thank you for your input! 

Kyle,
Have you considered searching by school names on LinkedIn?

Jonathan,

American Public University (also known as American Military University) is the only regionally accredited college I know of that will willing take nationally accredited classes for tranfer. This is because they have both RA and NA accreditation. Just google them for their address. Good luck.

There are other RA schools that will accept NA credits.  Some do not state so directly or will accept them on a case-by-case basis.  I believe Bellevue U is another one.

Fisher College in Boston, Providence Co, & So. New Hampshire Univ. are just a few that accept credits from Calcoast University. The perceived gap between RA and NA is
narrowing and rightfully so.

Fisher College in Boston, Providence Co, & So. New Hampshire Univ. are just a few that accept credits from Calcoast University. The perceived gap between RA and NA is
narrowing and rightfully so.

Anonomous,  you can't be serious.  Did you really think that CCU or any University for that matter would allow you to get your transcript and/or degree with a balance due.  If they did that, then what incentive or recourse would they have to get the balance due, if you already have your transcripts and degree?

Warning - What they don't tell you about the Payment Plan is that the balance must be completely paid before they release your transcripts or grant the degree.  It's not financing, it's lay-a-way. This may be fine if you have the cash, but don't mistake it for student aid like I did. I'll write a more extensive review after I graduate.

I'm a working professional with two kids. I started college about 18 years ago--at two schools--and wasn't able to finish due to finances. Now that I can afford it, I'm completing my degree through CCU--and it's perfect at this stage in life. 

I highly recommend CCU for folks in my position. For those that are "surprised" to find out that another institution won't take NA credits, that's their responsibility. Frankly, it takes about two minutes of research to find out if a graduate school will accept a degree from CCU--and most do, depending on your field of study.

I have a CCU PhD in Psychology (1980) when it was Cal.West. Uni (I paid small fee to have certif converted to "CCU"). I notice in a Wikipedia article that CCU has some transfer arrangements(not detailed) with regionally accredited orgs. Can anyone tell me the most cost/work-effecient way of converting my PhD to an accredited,(regional or national) PhD (if not in Psychology then Counseling would do fine for my purposes). Thankyou, Vic

Anyone who says a degree from California Coast University is not valid they are mistaken...I received my commission as an officer in the United States military with my CCU degree.

I love this school Awesome tuition prices, accelerated and easy book rentals made this school one of my favorites.There is nothing I don't like about it.I was able to complete my degree in less than a year although I have had 3 years at another school I found the online BA in Psychology super fast and at a great price.Staff were very helpful and they accepted a lot of my transfer credits -big plus.Also even though you don't get financial aid I think this school had awesome tuition prices with no interest Huge plus also!   
I highly recommend this school it will get you started and you are able to learn at your own pace. Tuition is great it will also get you in the door to pursue graduate degrees at other schools in my case at the New England graduate school.  

I am currently looking to switch schools.  The only drawback I see with CCU is that it appears to be a pay-out-of-pocket school.  This is not a plus for my wallet.  Do you know if they accept financial aid or if there is any way to put off payments?  Or would I have to pay monthly>  Thanks for any input.  I'm at my wit's end trying to find the right, affordable, online school while still getting a great education.

I highly recommend California Coast University's doctoral program without any reservations! If you want to know more about my doctoral journey at CCU, you can email me at joewill68@gmail.com

The California State agency that previously inspected and approved CCU programs was eliminated in budget cutting. The approvals remained valid, but the periodic inspections are no longer done. Written agreements covered the programs for a while in the transition. Some other colleges closed if they were not able to get accreditation with DETC.

When CCU was accredited by DETC, one of the first rules DETC applied was that CCU was obligated to complete all of the degree programs for existing students under the state approval, even if new students could not be brought into the same programs under the accreditation.

State approval is the world wide standard of quality control in education. That’s what people have who studied in France, England, Germany, Japan, or China. In USA state approval was the original standard that was largely replaced by non profit accrediting agencies in the 20th century. Many of the smaller states didn’t have the resources to do a good job, or they thought they could save some tax money by putting the job off on a private agency. Other states had politicians who were against big government. It is the familiar choice between government regulation or self regulation. With accrediting agencies, the universities regulate them selves and each other.

CCU is not for everyone. It is a testing organization and documentation organization more than a teaching organization.  If you want to teach traditional college, then you should study traditional college. If you can’t defend a thesis, then you should probably not write one. 

There is a lot of nonsense written about non traditional education. When it gets too extreme then the cases go to federal court where the CCU people have a history of winning. Notice that most Federal Judges went to accredited colleges, but they uphold the rights of CCU graduates.

Anyone who has a CCU degree can use it in any correspondence or resume in USA. It’s a constitutional right. 

If it’s the state approved program, it might be helpful to say so, especially in foreign countries.

No one is obligated to recognize it or any other degree from any other college except where agreements have been made. CCU publishes a list of organizations that have accepted the degrees or paid the tuition. Most prominent are military organizations and large corporations.

Persons who choose CCU may become a test case. There is a history of federal court decisions in favor of CCU graduates.  Most often the cases involve a political attack against a person in public life.  

CCU has historically been targeted mainly toward mid career adults who have years of experience in their major fields, especially those people with employers who were willing to pay tuition for non traditional education. 

For people who want to get a professional license, neither regional accreditation nor national accreditation will be sufficient. Every profession has a separate accrediting agency that is usually required by law for meeting license requirements. Accredited colleges do not give good advice on this unless the student presses for precise information. Some times the BS program is covered but the Masters program is not,  or maybe only the PhD program is covered.

The Texas test case went to court and was decided in favor of the CCU claimants.

Hebert, et al v. Shepard, et al
Case Number: 08-50531 
Filed: May 28, 2008 
Court: U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit


Here’s the address of one of the lawyers who sued on behalf of CCU graduates.

Edward D. (Ed) Burbach 
eburbach@gardere.com 

The case ended with a type of consent decree in which lawyers for Texas accepted the legality of CCU degrees in order to prevent the rest of the Texas law from being overturned in the federal court.

During the case it was discovered that Texas recognizes DETC as a legitimate accrediting agency.

The decision applies to all CCU degrees, not just the DETC accreditation.

It really depends on the employers. Some prefer RA. Others don't really care if you have an RA or NA degree, as long as it's accredited. So if you want to work for a particular company or organization, then you should really check with the HR department first. Then again, HR will be looking at the applicant's overall work knowledge, skills, qualifications and experience and not just the degree...

I wish RA and NA was not important, but in my own experience it is a big deal to a majority of employers I have come across. You can and will be rejected or passed over with a degree that is NA.

I have an associates, bachelors, and masters from RA universities.  I was enrolled in a doctoral program at an RA university.  However, I switched to California Coast University, because they are alot more affordable. As a high school principal, my primary concern was would I receive the doctoral pay increase when I completed the degree.  Once I received the letter from the GA Professional Standards Commission, stating that I would receive doctoral level pay when I complete my Ed.D. in 2012, then I enrolled in CCU.  I have just finished my first course, and there was absolutely nothing "easy" about the course.  I look forward to completing my Ed.D. at California Coast University!

VEry simply, degree is a degree.  Who cares about RA or NA.  What good is it when we're all struggling to find jobs while unemployment rate is sky-rocket!!!

I bet you in 10 years or less there will be more on-line college/univ and most NA will eventually turn to RA.

8/2010
I just completed the BS Business Administration degree at CCU. I previously attended USC(in Los Angeles) and Cal Poly Pomona. I also took 3 classes through University of Phoenix, but did not like the group projects at UofP(group papers and power point presentations)& University of Phoenix is expensive ($1400/per class).
CCU was fine, but some of the things they do is more like a correspondence school. IE: not use the Internet & e-mail fully, relying on the U.S. mail to send documents. Writing assignments are graded and the review is sent by U.S. mail, not e-mail. The university president also sends you a "good job" letter when you complete a course, which I found strange-a regular university does not do that.
CCU uses the same textbooks as "regular" universities and the same course content and exam questions. There is not as much "busy work" at CCU compared with the other universities I attended. I like that all the courses are self-paced and you do not have interaction with other students. Of course the BIG negative: CCU is not regionally accredited. If you want to go on to graduate school-most regionally accredited schools WILL NOT accept CCU units.

I also wanted to mention that I checked out North Central, American, and Southern Columbia universities online before enrolling to CCU.  After month of research and speaking with the faculty staff members, I decided to go with CCU.  It was far better than University of Maryland (UMUC) and University of Pheonix even though they are RA.  I can't speak too much for the private sector and other civilian jobs in stateside, but CCU is perfect for career advancement within military and civilian govt employees.  Hope this helps.

I had an Associates degree from an RA traditional classroom setting Community College prior.  Not only was RA costlty, it was very time consuming for busy working adults (like many of you guys) with families.  It became a scheduling nightmare!  Not only that CCU accepted over 60+ credits, they also accepted work experience, skills, and other vocational credits.  So I was able to take 2 classes completing between 4 to 6 weeks and so far I have to say CCU is the best!  I agree with many others that you learn more with thorough reading, writing assignments, and critical thinking during Unit exams and final proctor exams.  It's never easy but you can see your progress 24/7 within CCU website (Student log in page).  I'm few classes shy from getting my bachelors degree, and planning to pursue masters degree right after.  I currently work for the U.S. government overseas and many of my civil service and military friends highly recommended CCU.  Indeed, I made a best decision ever!  And... all paid through tuition assistance.  I'm in my mid 30s and I can truly say that it's never too late to further your educational goals, thus it makes me very competent.

There are 4 RA universities that have high acceptance and transfer of DETC credits and degrees.

WGU - Wester Governor University
Ellis University
American Public University
American Military University

These universities have dual accreditation.

There are also couple of DETC accredited universities in Canada in Newbownsweek

Regional accreditation is the highest accreditation a school can have but, there are some schools that have RA and are for-profit schools. National accreditation sucks! Stay away from NA schools. You will save yourself the pain and debt in the future.

I have just completed my BSc Psychology with California Coast University. I was concerned that their degree would not have been accepted by other universities but I got accepted into schools in Canada and the UK (I did not apply to US schools). I will be pursuing my MSc Psychology in England later this year and I'm truly excited about that.

With regards to my experience, I don't think I would ever do another degree online but this is my personal choice. I was not always satisfied with California Coast University but it was convenient and affordable. 

All in all... would I recommend this university to others? Probably not.

My online degree has been more accepted than those of co-workers who went to a brick and mortar. The education I received was as rigorous if not more in depth than the b&m coursework. The only difference was that I had to be more structured in my work ethic. I got more out of the online classes than I ever did on campus.

Fact--There are some good campus schools and there are some bad ones. I chose to get my degree from an RA online school, but have heard great things about the Nationally accredited schools. The only difference in the schools is the accreditation. Not much else.

Well, the first thing I have to say is that regional accreditation is a MUST! DETC nationally accredited schools like California Coast are simply not recognized or accepted as a basis for employment requirements hardly anywhere. I have a BS degree from Cal Coast and I have to say that the staff were friendly, helpful, and efficient whenever I needed them. However, this does not help you get a job with their degrees! One problem I had with this school was that the assignments and required testing were simply too easy. This made it difficult for me to learn anything worthwhile because it was too much of a cake walk. Another thing I have noticed is that their reputation is marred and tarnished all over the internet from where they were awarding degrees without being accredited a few years ago. I do not think they will ever live this down because a bunch of government employees and a FEMA director were all punished for having their degrees because of this. It was all over the news. The best thing Cal Coast could do is to bite the bullet and get their regional accreditation. This surely will make the cost of tuition go up and tighten their processes, but I see no other way for them to succeed and ensure the success of their students as well.

Are you kidding?  It is not a diploma mill?  What an inslut to those of us who have actually earned degrees.

Please do not waste your money and time with a national accreditited school!!!!!!!!!!

Max is correct...CCU now has approval to awared EdD degrees. However, I do not see the benefit in this since their accreditation is still just N/A through the DETC. Without regional accreditation, people who work hard and earn these degrees will still run into unfair scrutiny and problems in the long run.

Congratulations CCU on your long-awaited doctoral degree accreditation!  As of February 2nd, 2010, CCU received approval from the DETC to begin accepting applications into their new Doctoral Degree programs for the School of Education.  Three Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degrees are now offered in Educational Administration, in Organization and Leadership, and, in Educational Psychology.  I would encourage anyone interested in a Doctoral Degree in one of these areas to contact CCU for more information.  Again, congratulations CCU!

Dawayne's aluminium foil analogy is sort of silly. I see no relevance between cooked food and someone evaluating your educational credentials to see if the college you attended is regionally or nationally accredited. There probably is no real difference in the "legal" awarding of RA or NA accreditations. However, regional accreditation is what a majority of employers and licensing boards want to see when considering applicants and candidates into their programs. That is the real bottom line.

I am reading all the comments but bottom line is before you choose a school, do your research. Do your "LEGAL" research on accredidations. From what i can see there is no diffrence in the 'legal' awarding of RA or NA accrediations. If an employer does not employ you for sure its not because of your CCU degree its something else remember its 10 or more applying for the same position with RA degrees that didnt get that job. If your getting a degree for a specialized field where you need specialized certifications or liscenses do your research "ahead" of time there is no reason you should ever have the testamonial my degree didnt work for me in a field that you went to school to get ahead in. I can use reynolds wrap or generic brand foil and put it in the same oven guess what my food will still come out the same. RA vs NA is personal preference more than anything and personal opinion, give some LEGAL stats and articles that say NA is not the same as RA so that people depending on this as research will be LEGALLY informed and not just hear alot of opinions.

Tracy,

That is great that CCU's degree has worked for you. As said before, I do not think that the on-line part is the problem. It is the fact that a majority of employers and state laws are becoming more and more against the nationally accredited schools and require regionally accredited degrees (on-line, correspondence or brick and mortar just so long as it is regionally accredited). I have a BS from CCU that I am sure would help me in the business world as a resume padder, but I cannot get a job with the degree in other capacities, such as a police officer, school teacher, counselor or anything else that requires professional certifications that meet strict state requirements where I live. This makes it very difficult for me to use my CCU degree in trying to gain certain employment opportunities. A regionally accredited degree, on-line or on campus, is what is needed in certain states in order to received consideration for gainful employment. Again, congrats on your degree and I hope it continues to work for you!

I am surprised to see that in a world that is becoming increasingly technically advanced that there is still so much skepticism about online classes. Technology continues to advance but we still expect that schooling must be done in B&M institutions to be valid. As some other posters has mentioned these are all purely opinions based primarily on personal biases and prejudices. 

I should also add that I work for Apple Inc. and they have reimbursed and paid my tuition at California Coast University.

If you are planning to secure a work visa outside the US in any British Protectorate, Australia, New Zealand your work visa or immigration applications will only accept regionally accredited universities in the US from one of the six regional bodies. 

As we move to a global society and many US students plan to immigrate to other countries beware of this element regarding your educational credentials so you don't make a significant investment that locks you into the US marketplace at best.

Thanks, DJA. I went ahead and enrolled anyway with this school last summer despite them turning away my credits with California Coast. I have to admit that their course work and testing measures are a lot more challenging than CCU's, but I felt as if they could have at least given me some transfer credit with the Civilization, Anthropology or Philosophy courses I took at CCU. I can understand a little if you are turning away core courses that are nationally accredited (english, math, biology etc.) but subjects such as history and World Literature in my opinion should transfer without question. It is obviously money driven and political with these regional schools and their rejection of nationally accredited rivals.

Unfortunately Sal, the registrar seems prejudiced towards DETC schools. While difficulty in transfering credits to a RA from a NA school does exist, this should have not happened. I have advanced degrees from CCU as well as from a B&M school and the learning challenge is very evident at CCU as it was at the B&M school.

I am really trying to remain positive and ambivilent, but at the same time I am really discouraged that none of my credits from California Coast would transfer to a regional university I recently applied with. I have a BS from California Coast and simply wanted to transfer just three measley courses in order to complete a specialized Associate degree through a local brick and mortar school. The registrar was very stern and obstinate with me and told me she had never even heard of California Coast University and that even if she did the DETC accreditation was not worth much in the "real world of regionally accredited" legitimate brick and mortar schools. I feel as if I have wasted thousands of dollars and two years of my life by fooling up with California Coast University. I hope this is not the case and that some day someone out there will give me some sort of credit for the time and effort I put in with CCU. From a personal stand point, I feel as if I learned a lot. However, no one of any importance (regional schools, prospective employers etc.) seems to recognize or accept nationally accredited DETC college degrees.

Max, you make a very good point. I too do not want to knock CCU and their lack of regional accreditation. However, in my opinion, if you are going to get a degree of any kind you should try to get one that you know will be acknowledged and accepted anywhere you may end up in life. We do not know what job opportunity might await us in a state that may not accept a degree from CCU or any other institution like it that is only nationally accredited. So, in my opinion why take the risk of earning a degree that may not be considered valid except in certain places? I feel that people are much better off not risking it and earning a degree through a regionally accredited college. This is a little more expensive, but can also be done via distance learning and you do not have to worry about people questioning your integrity or the fact that you earned your degree through a DETC nationally accredited school. More money to go regional, more time to possibly complete your degree, but far less disappointment and heartache when a prospective employer looks you in the eye, questions your credentials and then decides whether or not you are worthy of employment.

I am sad to see the negative comments about CCU above and I don’t want to get caught up in that bantering.  Let me just say that if you are interested in CCU and check it out and it does not meet your needs or expectations, find another school!

For me personally, I graduated from CCU with an M.S. in psychology in 1987.  It met my needs because at that time I needed a self-paced, independent study program.  This was back when the M.S. Psych program was 57 units and required a thesis.  I found the program to be very challenging and I got a lot out of it.  Since it is an independent study program, you need to be self-motivated and have the perseverance to do the work without the structure of classes.  Nowadays, with advances in computer technology, there is support readily available by CCU staff via e-mail and by telephone, of course.

It took me about 2 years to complete the program.  While retired now, I worked for 20+ years and not once was my Master’s degree questioned by an employer.  All of the positions I held required a Master’s degree.  Over the 20+ years, I worked with seven different employers in the child and family services field.  In some of those positions, I held the title of “Social Worker” for state-licensed agencies having specific standards (thru California State Community Care Licensing) for the social worker’s master’s degree.  Later in my career, I held several supervisory and management positions.  CCU perfectly met my needs and allowed me to get positions that were very rewarding and fulfilling, even prestigious.

While I cannot say anything negative about the CCU program (except that I hated the statistics class ?), the degree did not meet the requirements for licensure as a Social Worker or Marriage & Family Therapist in CA.  So obviously, if a state licensure is a goal of yours, you should look to another school that is approved for that purpose.

 I hope this information has been useful to you and I wish you the best of luck with your educational endeavors.

Is it true that since CCU only recently received accreditation, any Master's and/or PhD in engineering prior to that date would not be accepted as a valid degree??  Did CCU have an engineering program in the 1970s and 1980s?  Medical and Engineering degrees are very different than degrees in Education or Business.

Angela,

Ft Hays State University offers an AA in General Studies and it is only $500 a class and fully online. They are regionally accredited and I am currently a student there. Beware of nationally accredited schools. The state I live in does not even acknowledge a college degree unless it comes from a regionally accredited school. National accreditation is okay if you are active military and plan on using the degree for military promotion, but otherwise it seldom has value in the civilian world. Good luck!

I am looking for a eccredited online A.A degre program for cheap...any schools

Let's face it all, education at this level is a business. Nothing more nothing less. Most schools will only take a few credits in transfer even among the B&M's/regional accredited. Why? MONEY. So, when Hal talks about not being able to transfer credits from NA to RA, who cares, even if you were going RA to RA you might get 9-12 credits to transfer but that's about it.

The RA's do not take credits from NA as a rule because the RA's know they can use it as an reason to make you take more credits with them, thus making more Money off of you.

Jesse,

The on-line part of going to school is not the problem per se, but the fact that many states, as well as employers and other entities, have enacted rules that forbid the transfer, acceptance and recognition of "nationally accredited" degrees. I have a BS degree from California Coast, but it is not recognized by any of the schools here which means I would have to retake everything if I were to try to earn another degree from a local school. I would have to start all over with the basics. I have not tried using my CCU degree in job prospecting yet, but I am not too optimistic about it helping my career. I have attended both the regional and national schools. Without a doubt, regional schools are much more diffcult and comprehensive than national schools. I have done regional on-line and in person and the deadlines and writing are very demanding in a regionally accredited distance program. I enjoyed my time at CCU in earning my degree, but it was too easy to do and their lack of regional accreditation is hit or miss as to if it will really ever benefit me or not. So, I say all this because I believe the on-line part does not bother people. However, the bad rap these NA schools have earned for themselves has certainly been the subject of much debate and controversy. Sure, they are affordable and flexible and self-paced, but there is not enough writing and research assignments and prospective employers and regional schools know it's easy, which is why they usually will not recognize degrees from nationally accredited schools. I wish this were not true, but it is and it stinks.

I can't understand how it's 2009 and people can't grasp the reality of being able to get a degree online.  

HUNDREDS of Brick and Mortar schools offer COMPLETELY ONLINE degrees.  When these degrees are presented ONSTAGE at actual graduations, there is NO mention that the degree was earned through distance learning.  These people graduate among the same students who took all of their classes in the actual classroom.  When distnce learning students apply for jobs, nobody questions their degree.

Why then, would anyone question a degree from a 100% online school in a program that consisted of the EXACT same curriculum as a B&M school?  

Did you guys know that you can pay taxes online, order pizza online, bank online?  What an amazing world we live in!  Why shouldn't you be able to go to college online?

Myron, thank you, I was able to locate it.

Samuel, try now by copying and paste CCU students and alumni group

Myron, do you have any link to the meeting point for CCU students in Facebook? I don't find it anywhere in Facebook

CCU students and alumni group

A meeting point for CCU students and alumni at Facebook. Request join

How are the degrees from CCU recognized in UK or Europe?

Has anyone had these degrees evaluated by official service such as NARIC UK.
Has anyone used their DETC accredited degree to enter further education in European University , UK or Scandinavia.

Thanks

SecMan,
Thanks for all the info! I will keep plugging away and see what happens.

Hey, Kev-

A lot of the websites for police agencies nationwide just mention an "accredited" degree, without the mention of regional or national accreditation. However, it is almost always regional that they mean. I did find one link that spells it out crystal clear from the Chicago Police Dept. recruiter's website. This forum is scared of spam, so it would not let me post any links for you. However, if you go to the Chicago Police Department's website, it will show you under current minimum qualifications for education that they require a "regional" degree. Just google it to find them. Also, one more that comes to mind is the Palm Beach Police Dept. in Florida. They also specifically mention the requirement of having a "regionally" accredited degree in their recruitment process. They are at PalmBeachPolice.com

SecMan,
        Yep, I saw the link! I have been trying to contact the Ma State Police cert unit to determine what degree that they have already ran across and accepted, but the women who handles the SSPO cert. is never there. Just the fact that they state "If it is not a MA accredited college, we will have to review the whole curriculum," make me nervous that they would say….nope, it doesn't meet our standards. I might be a little over the edge thinking that they won't accept it, but just don't want to spend the money and find out later.
It does seem like a good school, just wish I had more info from my end to work with.

Can you provide links to departments that require a "regionally" accredited degree?

Thanks SecMan! I did check them out but they don't seem to have the A/S degree in CRJ...only B/A.

Ahhh, I see what you mean. Well, in my personal opinion you face some hurdles with a nationally accredited degree from a DETC approved school. I am in the private security industry and deal with a lot of police agencies nationwide. Most police departments I've worked with have grown wise to the ease with which a NA degree can be obtained through the mail, internet or otherwise. So, they are now specifically requiring "regionally accredited" degrees or degrees earned locally from a brick and mortar school (regional as well). There is an affordable alternative that is regionally accredited and should help you meet your goals. It is through the American Public University. They are totally on line and books are included free of charge for undergraduate students. Course are about $700 a class, and you can take classes in either 8 week or 16 week sessions (depending on how quick you want to earn the degree). Just google the school name and you will find their website. To do what you want to do, I would highly suggest you stay away from the NA schools all together, as it is a big gamble whether or not it will be considered by any employer.

Ya, but to become a Special State Police Officer under the State Police for a private institution(College/Hospital) you need either the SSPO academy or the Reserve 120hr academy and a approved college degree from a Ma college. If it is not Ma college then they will have to review the whole course and make a decision. That is why I am wondering if anybody has run into this situation yet. 
I just did not wat to spend my money and the State Police say it is no good.

Hi, Kev-

I am not from Mass, but as I understand it you do not need any type of college degree to become a Mass State Police Officer. You simply have to have a High School diploma, no criminal record and be no older than 35 to meet the minimum qualifications to be considered for the job and entrance into their police academy. US citizenship is also required.

Kev,

If you continue to run into problems getting in touch with that lady you may be able to find the answers you need from one of their Colonels (aka head training officer). With all the folks from the military that I'm sure have previously applied for the SSPO, I am sure they have come across applicants with a DETC nationally accredited degree before. It should not be too unusual a situation for them to evaluate. As a side note, California Coast University just started offering the AS and BS in Criminal Justice a few months ago. Also, they have been around since 1973 but have only been nationally accredited since 2005. They are up for re-evaluation this year from the DETC (this happens every 4 years for auditing purposes and such). The fact they have only been accredited for 4 years may raise some eyebrows with the powers that be at the Mass Police, but then again they may not care about that. I, myself, possess a BS in Psychology from Cal Coast, but have never aggressively tried to get a job based solely on having that degree from them. It's one of a few degrees that I have from different schools and I can say that CCU is a good school, despite lacking the coveted regional accreditation.

Is anybody here from Massachusetts and get a A/S degree in CRJ. Did anybody use it to get Spaecial State Police Powers from the MA State Police.

Dear S,

I live on the East Coast and I have had problems with my CCU degree and credits transferring in any capacity to the regional schools here. I graduated with a BS in Psych and wanted to get another BS degree in another major at a brick and mortar school. The regional colleges all have a policy here that forbids any credits that are not earned at a regionally accredited school from transferring. I think it's a money thing, and they just want you to retake classes with them so you will spend more money, but I may be wrong. The nationally accredited schools have not yet found a place of respect and acceptance where I live. Hopefully, this won't be the case for you. Good luck!

I'm enrolled in CCU because I could not afford the astronomical tuition and loans from my old University. I needed to get my B.S. quick. My employer pays for it and I'm sailing a long. I just wanted to know if anyone has had any success in getting a job with a degree from California Coast University or has any experience in getting turned away because of the school only being Nationally accredited. I also wanted to know if anyone has ever transferred any credits from CCU to another university, like Penn State or something.

Excuse some of the typos in my quick response above but hopefully you doubters get the point: The summary of your education and professional experience will define how far you go in the workforce, not specifically attending one particular DETC accredited school. By all means make certaing any school you attend in/on the track to receive national or regional accreditation and recognized by the US Education Secretary and CHEA.
~DrK

Whether it's a RA or non-RA, your prospective employer/search committee (esp in higher education) will likely look at your overall work and academic history - the summary and overall quality.

I earned a PsyD from CCU in 2007 (started in 2003) and have only hit very very minor road blocks due to CCU not being regionally accredited - this was not issue when they reviewed collectively all of my academic transcripts, esp from top-notch regionally accredited private colleges and addtional education from an ivy league university, before and subsequent to completing the PsyD from CCU.

I have served on regional accreditation committees and they differ very little in the evaluation process from that of national accreditation committees - the review process in just as rigorous. Review the letter from the US Secretary of Education on the DETC site or on the US Dept. of Education site.  More and more well-known RA schools are adopting distance learning strategies comparable to DETC accredited schools in the USA to attract, recruit, and teach highly motivated students. QUALITY distance education is not as easy as one may erroneously assume.

My main point: CCU is a great affordable university for learning at a distance. I made it work for me. I earned a PsyD after its 2005 DETC accreditation. It met my educational and professional goals. I have landed frequently in the 1-3 top canididate spot during numerous recent interviews - I landed at great position in academic affairs at a top-ten private college in the USA because of the PsyD and other relevant academic and professional experience.

Any school you attend is a personal choice. It's great to share opinions about schools but we should stick to the facts and remain respectful regarding fiction.  Some of us have never learned to share or play marbles, something we learned before kindergarten.

One caveat: just check your specific licensure requirements in your state before completing any advanced degree anywhere.

Success to all!
DrK

So by your own logic, you must work for CCU's competitors or else you would not feel so invested in this thread. 

Alternate theory: J has self esteem problems and needs to bash schools based on opinions instead of facts in order to compensate for deep feelings of personal inadequacy.

No, don't work for CCU or any other school for that matter! Just noticed the statement was incorrect regarding national acceptance! Now, I’m not saying acceptance’s guaranteed by these universities, but meeting the minimum appliance standards a different matter altogether. To be honest, I don't care where individuals go to complete their degree programs. Candidly speaking, I hope everyone completes their degree at the school of their choice. 

Thanks!

Listen here, lets not kid ourselves CCU is a joke! You can finish a class in a week and still get an "A." Walter, you obviously work for the school or you would not feel the need to defend it so much. This school is so easy that if you push yourself you can finish around nine or ten classes in two approximately months. I don't care if anyone knows the truth about this school becasue they will figure it out when they start their classes. So, if you want a degree that cheap and effortless, this is the school for you!

Sorry: research

Correction on Northcentral:

I called during my reseach into the subject, and verified they also accept nationally accredited schools (including DETC)!

Thanks!

Does not accept national accredited degree from the DETC!

Correction:
University of Washington (tier 1 public ivy: confirmed by phone call) and San Fran also accepts nationally accredited universities! 

Thanks!

Wow... good for you.  Now you can go to UOP, Capella, Walden, Ashford, or NorthCentral.  This must be a real watershed in your life that you can go from one diploma mill to the next. LOL!

I graduated with a B.Sc Psychology from California Coast University and have already been accepted to 5 Regionally Accredited Universities to pursue my Masters.

im trying to find regionally accredited schools that will accept CCU degrees/credits....what were the schools that accepted your degree??

In response to the BSBA review by "patm":

It is interesting to me that you are so critical of CCU's course delivery methods and that you seem to hold UAA (the University of Alaska, Anchorage) in high regard. I am a UAA grad and a current CCU student and I found both UAA's classroom and online courses to be poorly organized and the majority of them were taught by apathetic adjuncts. Let's not even get into the ridiculous fees, oversold parking permits, and advisors that did not understand basic degree requirements. 

UAA is a joke and local employers know this. Most residents end up going there simply because they can't afford APU or a decent Lower 48 school. Most of my courses there consisted of rote memorization and attendance, maybe a paper. Does that sound like an education? The few instructors that did impart their life experiences to the class were wonderful and I still carry their wisdom years later. As for the others, I may as well have saved the time and money and just read the text in the library.

Back to CCU. Their courses are well organized, the fees are more than reasonable, the customer service is great, and the instructors don't blow you off. Yes, the unit exams are open book and multiple choice. They are not timed or closed book because the end goal is not to trick the student or make them memorize statistical busywork, but for the student to show conceptual learning. Yes, they want you to actually learn the material, which is why they created study guides with self-tests to help you through each chapter. But those that have complained fail to mention those ungraded tests, which are an integral part of the curriculum-- did any of you complete those? Did you even read your text, or just skim it for answers? "patm" claims to have written terrible essays "just to get it done." What does that say about a person's work ethic? Of course you learned nothing.

My point: You will only get what you put into your education. This is true for any school. If you lack self motivation and need something greater than a study guide to push you through all the material, then CCU is not for you. Don't complain about lack of quality if you are not willing to put in the time and effort to experience it.

I recently graduated with a BS in Psychology from Cal Coast and it does have its pros and cons. On the positive side, the school is very affordable, efficient and responsive to student requests. However, the lack of regional accreditation is a big deal. Most states will not even acknowledge a Psychology degree for professional licensing unless it is from a regional school (online or brick and mortar). I knew this ahead of time, and only plan on using my psych degree from there as a resume builder in the business world. If you want to practice as a counselor or in some other professional capacity, really and truly you need the respectability and acceptance of a "regionally accredited" based degree instead. It sucks, but it is true. There are state laws that confirm this by explicitly mentioning "regional accreditation" in their wording. Back to talking about Cal Coast, it was a great experience for me personally. I am a working dad of 4 kids who does not have the time or finances to go to college the traditional route, so CCU was a good fit for me. I was a little discouraged that the course work was not more difficult at times. A few of the courses were challenging, but a majority of them could have been taken and passed by the average 9th grader. There is nothing really on-line about CCU, except for the fact that you can take unit exams on-line. It is heavily correspondence based where you purchase a text book and receive a study guide with exams and essay questions from the school. You study at your own pace and submit your work at your own pace. You choose a proctor to whom the final exam will be e-mailed to at the end of each course. This is something I believe the DETC national accrediting agency makes them do. I don't think it would matter to them either way. You can zoom through the work rather quickly if you wish, but the school requires that you be a student with them at least 9 months before they will award your degree. Proceeding very quickly through course work will also look strange on your final transcripts, so it is not suggested. From my personal investigations, it appears as if graduate students who have earned a Masters from CCU have come out a whole lot better than those who graduate with just a BS. I do, however, have a theory on that one. I believe their Masters students possess a BS from a regional university, so the Masters isn't really getting them the job or promotion, but it does offer "icing on the cake" and puffs up their resume when job hunting. There have been some testimonials from these graduate students stating that they received job offers and lucrative raises almost immediately after completing their Masters at CCU. But I think some states are more lenient and accepting of national accreditation than others. It is a gamble and depends very much on where and how you will be attempting to use your degree.

Any updates on CCU offering doctoral degrees any time soon? Or graduate certificates?

California Coast University is the Best Way a Working Adult with FAMILY COMMITMENTS can attend and earn a college degree!!!

It does matter if you want to get a decent job. If you don't care about that then go anywhere you want.

What a joke... untimed tests with prepared cheat sheets does not make a rigorious education.

I want to say right off that I am a current CCU student. I am finishing by Bachelors in Psychology and my previous degree was an AA in Criminal Justice at Taft College. You haters out there that have nothing better to do then put down another form of education have got to be the saddest bunch that I have ever read. The course work at CCU is every bit as stringent as any RA course that I ever took. Also, anyone who attends online classes is a hell of a lot more disciplined and intelligent then those who went the traditional route that was thrust on them by their trust fund mommy and daddy's. My degree is being paid for by a Fortune 200 company and I promise you, I have run into plenty of traditional degree graduates and they are no better then I am. So all of you loud mouthed "web rangers" that talk big with you fingers, piss off!

I have a B.S. & M.S. in Criminal Justice, I was thinking about adding a Masters in Psycohology. Can I be excepted to California Coast University with my educational background? I think so, just not 100% sure. Anyone have any thoughts?

With the exception of 1, every person I've come into contact with at CalCoast has been rude. No one can answer simple questions about the programs either.

Ok, I've seen some of the most ignorant people I've ever been exposed to--on this site.

Chris and Tam are probably getting paid to do what they do.

CCU is a good school.  Based off of my BS from there, I was admitted to an MBA program at an RA school.  In spite of what Tam and Chris would try to have you believe, RA doesn't = "superior".

The faculty at CCU was very attentive and provided encouragement every step of the way.  My only minus in their program (Psychology) is that they probably should have had more math but I really enjoyed my time there.  My CCU degree has done nothing but help me and I work for a Fortune 40 Company (yes, theirs is my ONLY degree).  Based on that degree, I've had many, many job offers, too.

Distance education isn't for everyone.  If you aspire to become an MD, then you need to stick with traditional learning but for many other vocations, you have more options now than we've ever had.  New/Different isn't always bad and it's definitely not in the case of CCU or any of it's sister schools.  The DETC has a great variety of schools and CCU is one of them.  

Chris and Tam are ridiculous.  Some people hate simply for the fact that they can.  I imagine that they are two very lonely people. They almost seem jealous.  They really should grow up.  Whatever schools they went to, I want to avoid.  I bet they were picked on.

Take a chill pill Walter.  There is no reason to double post or talk to yourself.  We all know it is you going across the boards stalking us.

Wrong! And what names? Second post was a correction (Heck not Hack!) Thanks!

Walter

Tam, Joe or whoever the heck you are! Like I said, my last post was July 4, 2008, and all my posts have indicated my name "Walter"! So, bait someone else Tam, Joe or whoever you, he, she wishes to be today! Thanks!

PS: Like I said, it's not that serious!

Tam, Joe or whoever the hack you are! Like I said, my last post was July 4, 2008, and all my posts have indicated my name "Walter"! So, bait someone else Tam, Joe or whoever you, he, she wishes to be today! Thanks!

PS: Like I said, it's not that serious!