UOPX alumnus Jason Wells on saving time and money on a degree

0:00 (upbeat music) 0:07 - Let's meet Jason Wells. 0:09 He's originally from South Africa, 0:11 but moved to Utah when his wife pursued 0:14 a new job opportunity in the US. 0:16 Jason was a self-proclaimed stay-at-home husband 0:19 and used that time to further his education with an MBA. 0:23 Let's hear how UOPX's tuition savings opportunities 0:27 made it possible for him to go back to school. 0:29 It's all you, Jason. 0:31 (upbeat music) 0:36 - Thank you for the introduction, Alex. 0:38 After reviewing several business schools, 0:40 I could not believe the cost of pursuing an MBA degree, 0:44 and as a recent immigrant, I had no credit in the USA. 0:48 I almost gave up on my MBA plans 0:51 until a friend of mine recommended 0:52 the University of Phoenix's competency-based MBA program. 0:57 Tuition costs for the MBA are significantly less 1:00 than traditional in-person MBA programs, 1:02 which was a perfect fit for my budget. 1:05 I was able to receive the educational rigor 1:07 and benefits of a traditional MBA, 1:09 such as networking with other like-minded MBA students, 1:13 but with the flexibility of online education 1:16 at a cost I could afford. 1:18 My financial counselor was also great 1:20 in making sure my educational choice matched my budget. 1:24 The overall educational experience 1:26 was excellent and intense. 1:28 The flexibility of the program was great. 1:31 My classroom was the running trail. 1:33 - [AI Reader] Learning objectives, 1:35 introduction to operations management, page one. 1:37 - [Jason] My home, the gym, local library, 1:41 coffee shops, airport lounges, or the hospital 1:45 where I got to witness the birth of my son. 1:49 Not only was I able to save money on the cost of credits, 1:51 but I was also able to save by going to class at home 1:54 or anywhere I wanted. 1:56 Having moved our entire lives to another country, 1:58 the flexibility and cost savings 2:00 provided by the University of Phoenix made it possible 2:03 for me to continue my education 2:05 and graduate with an MBA degree and no student debt. 2:09 The competency-based programs aren't the only way 2:12 the University of Phoenix helps students 2:14 save on their degrees. 2:15 They also help students save 2:17 by accepting college transfer credits 2:19 for relevant personal and professional experience 2:22 and credits for military training. 2:24 I also appreciated the peace of mind 2:27 that their fixed tuition gave me, knowing that the cost 2:29 of my degree wouldn't go up throughout my program. 2:32 From my experience, 2:33 the competency-based program was brilliant 2:37 as it challenged me to leverage the knowledge and skills 2:39 I'd gained from years of work experience 2:42 while fitting school into my budget and schedule 2:44 and not the other way around. 2:46 But anyway, that's it from me. 2:48 Back to you, Alex. 2:50 (upbeat music) 2:57 - Thanks for sharing. 2:58 Tuition costs can be a barrier for non-traditional students, 3:02 but UOPX has options to help students graduate for less, 3:06 including up to $3,000 in scholarships 3:09 for qualifying new students and no out-of-state tuition. 3:12 They also work with more than 1500 employers 3:15 to provide tuition assistance benefits. 3:18 That was great. 3:19 Thanks again. 3:20 (upbeat music)