[latencyloser]

I'm enrolled in CU Boulder's MSEE program that's administered through Coursera. It's decent, definitely not as good as in person instruction (for me at least), but is probably a good deal for people who are ok being largely self-taught/directed and only need some light help from TAs if necessary. The content seems pretty good and up-to-date so far as I can tell. The price competitiveness and flexibility is ultimately what led me to give it a shot. I'm also doing it to complement an existing career, not bet my future on it, so the downsides for me are somewhat negligible vs someone with no work experience who might be doing the program. So take that as you will...

The peer reviews are definitely better in the degree program, but there's always a few people not even trying, of course. Nothing that's really impacted my own work.

[the_only_law]

I looked at that program, but I was very cautious. It’s an open program, which means you don’t even have have to have an undergrad at all, albeit you do need to have an understanding of the prerequisites. While personally, I find this and the price point absolutely amazing, I have to wonder what that means for the value of the credential obtained. On paper it’s basically paying for a degree and an MS-EE at that. From engineers I’ve talked to, they don’t even trust accredited online programs.

[latencyloser]

CU Boulder advertises the resulting degree as indistinguishable from their on-campus program from a records perspective (you're even invited to the graduation ceremony afaik). How much truth there will be to this, I've yet to see.

[the_only_law]

I don’t necessarily doubt them, but it still just feel off. Why can’t just anyone enter their on-campus program and prove themselves the same way? If they had some more courses focused in certain areas I’d take a more serious look at it though.