THE CONVENIENCE OF LOW-COST, FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR POLICE, CONDUCTED AT STATIONHOUSES, IS CONSIDERED AN OBVIOUS ADVANTAGE FOR THOSE OFFICERS WHO WANT THE SYMBOLS OF A COLLEGE DEGREE. CRITICISM OF SUCH PROGRAMS COMES FROM FEDERAL STUDIES AND ACADEMIC PERSONNEL WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH QUALITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION. THE QUALITY OF THE FACULTY EMLOYED, MANY OF WHOM ARE PART-TIME, IS CONSIDERED INFERIOR, AND THE STIMULATING, DIVERSIFIED ENVIRONMENT TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH A COLLEGE EDUCATION IS LACKING. SOME CRITICS CONSIDER THE ACCELERATED COLLEGE PROGRAM TO BE MORE AKIN TO TRAINING THAN COLLEGE EDUCATION. THIS DEBATE OVER QUALITY IS CONSIDERED TO BE PARTICULARLY HOT IN NEW YORK CITY, WHERE NEW YORK TECH AND A FEW OTHER INSTITUTIONS HAVE SET UP AGGRESSIVE PROGRAMS TO MARKET HIGHER EDUCATION TO POLICE OFFICERS. BOTH SIDES OF THE DEBATE RELATING TO PROGRAMS OF PARTICULAR NEW YORK INSTITUTIONS ARE PRESENTED. THE PRACTICAL RELEVANCE OF A COLLEGE DEGREE IN POLICE WORK IS ALSO CONSIDERED, USING THE VIEWPOINTS OF POLICE SPEAKING FROM OPPOSING VIEWS. PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE ARTICLE. (RCB)