Online education?

2018-05-07T17:21:02-04:00

Is American Military University legit or a waste of time?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2018 6:57 PM

2018-05-07T18:57:26-04:00

It is accredited if that is what you are asking.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 7 at 2018 8:18 PM

2018-05-07T20:18:39-04:00

Which program and which accreditation? They are accredited for their Regional accreditation for the overall school. They should be AACSB certified for business programs. There are many levels of accreditation, the 10 year accreditation is the gold standard. ABET is the criteria for Engineering programs. Masters degrees may be another kettle of fish.

From the US News and World Report: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/american-public-university-system-38193/bachelors

Access Denied

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made May 7 at 2018 11:07 PM

2018-05-07T23:07:14-04:00

It's a legitimate university but it will chew through your tuition assistance and/or GI Bill pretty quickly. There are others that will get you the same accredited degree for less money.

Response by SGT David T. made May 8 at 2018 9:25 AM

2018-05-08T09:25:31-04:00

They are no Yale, but they are decent. They are accredited and I have been able to use my Masters degree from there towards my civilian employment. Their prices are pretty cheap too.

Response by CPL Chris Palmberg made May 8 at 2018 10:05 AM

2018-05-08T10:05:40-04:00

The short answer is "It depends."
The long version is that your educational & career goals are the most important question a service member can ask, IMHO. So far as I am aware, AMU/APU is accredited, which means if you are looking for a means of maxing out your civilian education points for promotion, it'll work. The same if you are contemplating commissioning. If the purpose of furthering education is because of a distinct lack of direct correlation between your current vocation and ANYTHING in the civilian realm, then you should look at the ROI (Return On Investment.) Is the degree path you are contemplating viable for civilian employment (IIRC, they have a BA in Military History, not exactly pertinent unless you have visions of academic think tanks.)

Look at the career you want to have when your DD-214 arrives, and then compare the credibility of the various online, brick & mortar, and hybrid schools that offer the appropriate credentials. You may find a more reputable school offers a similar program without the potential stigma (in other words, not all schools are readily recognizable to random employers.) A school like University of Maryland-Baltimore County or Eastern Kentucky University may appear more credible because of the implied approval of their programs by a state government. So do your research and due diligence to ensure that the school you choose is considered legitimate in your projected career field.