 |
| What's the value of a degree from the University of Phoenix? |
(More than 100 comments added; go here to read them and be sure to read the companion blog post and comments about Saturday Night Live's "University of Westfield" ad) There's a very serious critique of the University of Phoenix in today's New York Times. This for-profit, continuing-education institution -- which offers in-class programs as well as online degrees -- has been providing substandard education, according to many students quoted in the article.
The most telling statement, however, comes from the head of the accreditation agency responsible for business degrees:
Although Phoenix is regionally accredited, it lacks approval from the most prestigious accrediting agency for business schools, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.In many ways, it's a typical story -- a large corporation putting financial goals ahead of product quality and the needs of its customers. But in this case, the nature of the products (education and degrees) and the customers (students) makes this story especially sad. This isn't about deceptive promotions for cellphone service or poorly made widgets. This is about people who are seeking knowledge or a boost for their career. It sounds like a lot of students have wasted time, money and hope on University of Phoenix programs. For those who have already graduated, reports like this devalue the University of Phoenix, and its degrees.
John J. Fernandes, the association’s president, said the university had never applied. “They’re smart enough to understand their chances of approval would be low,” Mr. Fernandes said. “They have a lot of come-and-go faculty. We like institutions where the faculty is stable and can ensure that students are being educated by somebody who knows what they’re doing.”
I'd be curious to hear from people who have taken online or in-class lessons from the University of Phoenix, or those who actually have UoP degrees and can give a University of Phoenix review. What do you think of this article? Can the trust of students and the University of Phoenix's reputation be rebuilt?
Sample comment about the University of Phoenix
Someone posted the following comment in May, 2017: In the 10 years since this post has been published, I have seen more and more comments like this one:I also have an accounting degree from UOP. I could not get a job in accounting if I agreed to work for free. It was a huge mistake and waste of time. I am 42 years old and still going to school but I definitely learned a big life lesson. I am skeptical of any online education not because it is poor education but it is perceived by employers to be worthless. Since they are the ones that decide if you get a opportunity or not, it is worthless.If your looking for personal enrichment or don't have anything better to do than spending hours studying it is a waste of time. I am not really upset about the money or lack of job opportunities but I am upset that I will never get back those hundreds of hours that I could have been spending with my husband and children. I hope anyone that is currently attended will reconsider their decision. There are other options, UOP is a running joke. I am embarrassed to tell people that I have a degree from this institution.In 2007, employers may not have heard of UoP, or assumed it was a non-profit or public college based on the name. Not anymore. Employers know what University of Phoenix represents, and to many the degrees are suspect, even if the students put a lot of work into getting them.
Updates to What's the value of a University of Phoenix degree?
First update: This post, and another post about Saturday Night Live's "University of Westfield" ad generated a lot of traffic and responses. However, I am disturbed by the appearance of what I believe to be a comment from an employee of the University of Phoenix's parent company, either ridiculing its student customers or making a strange attempt at astroturfing. See this comment and my follow-up and judge for yourself. Also, if you want to join the discussion here or on that page, that's fine, but I will call out any comment that comes from an official UOP corporate source, yet claims to be an ordinary customer or alumnus.
Second update: Frontline (a weekly documentary program on PBS) has a fascinating profile of for-profit education called College, Inc. It includes a lengthy examination of the University of Phoenix and its parent company, Apollo Group. You can read my review of the Frontline program and watch the video here.
Third update: On my blog entry about the SNL parody of the University of Phoenix, someone has posted a blistering review of the University of Phoenix MBA program. The author is someone who says he recently completed his UOP MBA.
Fourth update: I have taken an online math class for credit, and have this to say about the online education experience:
Even though it's not about the UOP online classes, it gives some insights into what the online study experience is like.
Fifth update: Another response to my separate blog post about the SNL University of Phoenix parody ("The University of Westfield") has drawn a critical comment that describes the UOP online experience and UOP grading.
Sixth update: Another comment, from someone in the AA/IT program: "My experience started rocky during the first 4 classes and improved substantially as the classes became more challenging." The reasons for the rocky start? "The initial quality of students appeared to be inadequate to maintain participation and attendance. I also had to drop one class within the first week due to concerns over the quality of education from the instructor. "
Seventh update: Another apparent attempt at astroturfing by the University of Phoenix, this time on a new post about the Frontline documentary about for-profit and online colleges who exploit veterans to get at their GI Bill benefits.
See also:
(Update: Since writing this post, I have launched a company which is dedicated to helping people understand complicated technologies and concepts. Besides creating online posts which address questions such as What Is Dropbox and What Is Google Drive, I have also published a series of guides under the In 30 Minutes brand.)
224 comments:
1 – 200 of 224 Newer› Newest»As a graduate of the University of Phoenix online and a traditional not-for-profit university I have to say the online program was no less challenging or deficient in the level of learning. This article obviously is written subjectively and the facts should be checked before dismissing The University of Phoenix as less than any other higher institution of learning.
I recently completed a University of Phoenix Master degree program. The commitment to finish my degree was significant - 20 to 25 hours per week of work on top of my full time job. It took about three years to finish 13 courses.
The instructors are people with significant industry experience, and are very knowledgeable. UOP does not pretend to be Harvard, but for people looking to expand their education, it is a viable alternative to the traditional classroom.
The University of Phoenix is a scam and a total ripp off!! It is over priced and offers only a poor education. Do not attend this school for any reason.
www.myuopmistake.com
Luckily, my UOP experience was shortlived....The recruiter omitted the most important aspects of the admission process to, I can think of no other reason, get me to sign the line. When I referenced the deception they were cavalier, and there arrogance was suffocating.
Could never trust a business who will so blatently misrepresent to get my business....
I have been to more than one college, and found UOP to be no better or no worse than most.
I have found however, that during my analysis of other people's experience, those who have a beef with the school may not be college level material no matter which school they attend.
I have been in the UOP online BS B/M program for about 19 months. I have also attended The University of Michigan in their engineering program and Palomar College in their social and behavioral science program. In my opinion the UOP provides traditional level of education to the working adult. If we look at the online programs then traditional education can not compare in because the level of education is the same but the level of pressure is not. The UOP concentrates on team work, research, and research papers. I have never even heard of a University requiring this level of writing and research competence. I would recommend the UOP to any working professional that does not have the time to attend the traditional school, and I would ONLY recommend the online program if you are dedicated and organized because it is the most pressure I have ever experience in any higher learning setting.
I earned my undergrad degree in a traditional University classroom. I was not able to do that for my MBA because my children are young, I work full-time, and I don't have reliable evening childcare.
The classes are thought-provoking, we are encouraged to debate policies and principles, and I am required to do a lot more work than in a traditional classroom.
It's a shame some people who don't find academic success in this type of environment like to make it sound "bad," or that it's not worth their time or money. I can say that it is worth my money, and it's worth the 15-20 hours per week I devote to classwork. I suppose I will just be part of the thousands of students that will, in time, prove that stereotype wrong!
I started attending online classes in a undergraduate program with UOPHX in 1999 while on active duty in the military. After retiring, several factors resulted in my leaving the program, but I found the quality of instruction to be excellent. A few years later, I was able to complete my undergrad degree in a classroom setting with a few online courses at a local private university.
About 1/2 of the classes were online, and for a nationally accredited university, I was really suprised at the poor quality of online instruction.
I'm looking at UOPHX's online master's program because I simply don't have the time or money to finish my undergrad alma mater's requirement of 75 hours for a master's degree. This 75 hours includes 24 hours of "foundation" courses because I don't specifically have a degree in business, and an extra 15 hours of "specialty" hours on top of a general master's degree.
UOPHX's program is only 30 hours, and is a lot more focused on what I want.
As a current student of UOP, I truly understand and appreciate their philosophy in adult education - collaborative team driven learning experience. They are set-up with real full-time working instructors who holds masters and doctrines. They teach personal real life experiences along with practical education. Practical meaning - skills for use in the work field. I truly recommend UOP to all working adults looking to start or further their education. People who wants to look for the weekend frat party need not apply - pleases visit your local state university. You individuals are the ones who make bad team members at UOP.
I attended UOP (on ground) from 2004 - 2006. I finished with a MBA in Global Management. In my opinion, UOP works for certain people and the degree itself works for certain jobs. I believe if you are going to UOP and think you are going to get picked up by a Fortune 500 company for a Brand Manager position, you are kidding yourself.
I found only a few instructors that knew what they were teaching. My only problem I had with my experience is the lack of quality students I was surrounded by. I remember spending half of a finance class teaching someone how to use a calculator! Some how some way this same person made to graduation... However I was very fortunate to seek out the best students in every class and have them as teammates.
This is the reality about UOP. Yes, UOP provides a unique environment to learn, but most of corporate America does not put much value on a UOP degree unless there are other certifications of some sort to complement the degree.
Do I recommend that anyone attend UOP? It's okay if that's what you REALLY want, but I'm willing to bet with a little effort on your part you can do MUCH better!
I wish I would have put more of an effort into pursuing a MBA...
I earned my MBA at UOP. I can say as to anything in life, you get back only what you put in. It doesn't matter if I went to Yale or Harvard, if I did not invest my time in studying then I would get nothing in return. UOP is a good school but it requires alot on your part, as the student.
One thing I really love about UOP, it promote logical thinking, (thinking outside the box). Things are not black and white as we all want to believe, UOP challenge its student to think otherwise, more as a intelligent business person.
UOP provides real world training in all its classes. As a student, you are presented with companies who are faced with real issues and you as the student is place in the position as manager, CEO or CFO of that company; your job is to find ways to solve the issues.
Each companies presented are real only the names of the company changes.
I love UOP and I have and will still recommend it to anyone who is looking to advance their career.
I apologize if this post is duplicated ... seems I may have expeienced an internet hiccup.
First, most UOP "instructors" are facilitators; no Phd required. They only present the material developed by someone with a Phd. So if you try to dig a little deeper into a subject, you'll get stopped short in a heartbeat ... not their job.
Second, for what people "gain" in knowledge is questionable. The student is not the one who determines if the course meets their requirement. The course is set to challenge the student to achieve the level of competence. The UOP courses I took were set in stone. None of my fellow students cared if they understood the concepts; they just put out something readable by a specific deadline. It didn't matter if the point made any sense or could be justified ... gigo.
Finally, the qualifications, education, and vocations of students in the class are at the least questionable too. I ran across an individual taking the Masters in Computer Information Systems I dropped out of and was surprised at his qualifications. He had been an equipment repair specialist in the military, obtained a bachelors degree in English and was working on a Masters in Computer Information Systems. I distinctly remember when I applied for the course, the administrators required I verify that the degree I was pursuing was in-line with my bachelors.
UOP plays a little too fast and loose with the rules and it will come back to bite you.
I have completed 6 courses thus far and am in the process of withdrawing for the exact reasons posted on this article. The quality of education is lacking. I am planning to complete my degree in a "traditional" university which I feel that I will be paying for my education rather than just A DEGREE!
I would be very interested to get a real professor's opinion on the review of a paper, written by a UOP student and compare that with the feedback from the UOP facilitator.
For the supposed level of learning that UOP prides in I cannot believe that students who do not know the proper use of tenses and the difference between "their" and "there" (among other simple writing mistakes) are getting As and Bs on their papers.
I know of students who time after time start their papers like this "In this paper I will talk (notice "talk"...OK)about my organization..." (DUH!) (If you don't see anything wrong with this then you paid too much for your degree, sorry). Yet the facilitators are allowing these students to pass when they can't spell or write in proper context and or format, I call it B.S research.
You are only ebarrasing yourself, UOP doesn't care that you will write "their is a problem with the organization" to your boss.
I agree with a previous comment about "you get from it what you put in to it", but unfortunately that does not translate to the number of slackers that are let through, which mars the reputation of UOP , aka "University of Phonies"
My experience in the business world has been that ultimately it is about WHO you know and very little about WHAT you know because you will learn once you are hired...but I know this much...If I were a manager and I have two qualifying people posting for a job with my orgainzation and they have similar credentials and one graduated from a traditional university (which has better accredetations) and one from UOP, my selection would be simple: The non-UOP graduate.
One last thing: I have attended a Private University, Community Colleges, and UOP. I know from experience that even the community colleges have stricter guidelines on the quality of work, and have more hurdles for students to go through than does UOP. What does this prove? Non-UOP students have greater pressures than UOP students and therefore translates to harder working employees. There I said it, and I believe it.
Bottomline, it's not about whether the individual has put forth the effort to learn at UOP, it's the reputation of so many slackers getting a degree that matters in the end.
YOU ARE NOT (strong emphasis on NOT) GETTING YOUR MONEY'S WORTH, THAT'S A GUARANTEE!!
Basicly what it boils down to people is that most of these negative comments are coming from people who recieved their degrees the traditional way, which is fine and great, more power to you. I think there is just a little respentment now that you can get your degree from the comfort of your own home without the parking fees. Times have changed, and so what if you can now better yourselves and your career without having to go on a campus. It must be something of value as a ton of major universities also have the online process, or are they crap as well. Penn State, Rutgers, USC and many more now have online degree opportunities and I would hardly call these schools uncredible. The degree mill quote is silly. Ok so they have given out alot of degrees. Yes becasue they cater to people who cannot afford to go to a 3-5 day a week campus. It was basicley started for people who already have jobs and cant afford the time to go to school. Quit knocking people trying to better themselves. UOP has people teaching who are already in the related fields. They are not just teachers as most traditional schools have. If I want to learn something from somebody ,I would rather have them be employeed in a place where I eventually want to be. Again, people are just mad becasue they have now made it easier to go to school. Im sorry this format wasnt there for you when you went to school, but thats like being mad at somebody for using a cell phone. The whole world is basicly online and its not slowing down. Get used to it. We can not all go to Harvard. If somebody has a degree from the University of Washington is it a piece of crap becasue its not a Harvard degree. Think about it.
There is always a top and bottom of the class. Regardless of the university. UOP's MBA program is problem based learning just like Harvard's.
AS a graduate of the MBA program and now an adjunct faculty memeber of University of Phoenix I find the program to ne as worthy as any university. Most of the comments posted that are negative are from students who could not keep up with the program. This is not a paper mill, you earn your degree. As an instructor I myself spend 15-20 hours a week on line with my students. The assignments in my opinion are more challenging then the traditional classroom. As an experienced educator in the public school system I find the program both challenging and effective. As a graduste of the school of Business Management I have successfully owned and operated a very successful busines for 10 years, my business skills were acquired through my classes at the University of Phoenix. As far as those who have a negative experience this happens every where. Not every program works for every student.
I received an MBA from the University of Phoenix the summer of 2007. I worked for a Big 5 consulting firm at the time traveling 100%. Attending a traditional school did not fit my hectic lifestyle. Within the Big 5 consulting firm where I was employed, there were individuals with Ivy League degrees and degrees from top schools such as Georgia Tech, SMU, and Rice University. I excelled alongside those individuals because of my drive, quick ability to learn and ability to lead and manage people. I currently hold the position of Managing Director for a smaller consulting firm where my practice is advising large companies on business strategy, quality assurance, and business process improvements. In my opinion it doesn't matter what school you attend, it is how an individual apply him or herself to succeed. I have no regrets of attending and obtaining a UOP MBA. I will definitely be 1 of the thousands of UOP students that will and have proved the stereo type wrong. Today's traditional schooling is not rapid enough to keep up with how the new generation learns concepts, as the motto goes I am always "Thinking ahead" on how to position myself for the next level and UOP has definitely done just that.
As a current U of P student and former State University student I am suprised (maybe not really suprised) at the attack made on U of P. U of P offers a non traditional platform geared toward working adults who "should" have some traditional college experience. That being said at 32 years old I will be one of the older college graduates amongst my high school class. Many of these folks went to IVY league schools and some of the top state schools in the country. I would not let many of these folks manage my i-pod. ANY degree is only as good as the quality of work and dedication of the student. I would not encourage first time students to utilize these programs. In closing the program is right for me. My ethical, customer focuses attitude and commitment to my work ALONG with my degree shall speak volumes. Maybe the business world should keep hiring talented and educated folks like Enron and Tyco
It is of no value.
That was a wonderful way to quantify your comment, just a blanket comment with no experience or supporting information. You are either a clown who attended a few classes and dropped out b/c you realized that you actually have to do work to sustain a decent grade, or you are a completely uneducated fool.
It doesn't matter that quality of education, if the reputation of the school is going to hurt you when you present your credentials in front of a hiring manager.
So there is the question... how are employers looking at U of P?
I completed by BSBM at UOP as well as my MBA. The problem-based curriculum is comparable to most other MBA programs and certainly as challenging. My new employer, one of the largest healthcare systems in Atlanta, recruited me because of my background and my educational achievements. Having the MBA from UOP was not a problem - the important thing was having the MBA.
There is no value. Useless. Junk. And let me tell you why. It was my second class at the university. I barely made it since I almost threw myself from the roof after taking the first class. At the last session (1st session is always a waste because of introductions, useless, mindless chatter, etc. 5th session or last is also a waste since it's Presentation Time! or learn how to make use of PowerPoint) our instructor said, on the back of this paper, I want three things from you. 1) What grade you think you got. 2) What grade you think you deserve and 3) What phone number I can call you at in case your actual grade is more than a half away from your expected/deserved grade. I'll make the calls on Sunday.(the school uses grades such as A+, A, A-, etc.) Since I had a syllabus I knew what each basket view, I mean paper, was worth and what I didn't turn in,etc. I should have squeezed by with a D- since I did NOT TURN IN MY FINAL DRAFT! Heck, I didn't even WRITE it. No work was done on the final draft. I just ran out of time. For shame! What the heck. I felt I worked hard these last 5 weeks. So here were my answers:
1) B-
2) C+
3) phonenumber
Now mind you I purposely put those grades down. I wanted to downplay the situation. "Oh I think I got a B-, but I really deserve a C+ for slacking just a little."
So like a prisoner on his way to the gas chamber, I was expecting the phone to ring on Sunday. I knew I did not turn in the final draft and would see if somehow I would be allowed to turn it in late. No phone call. What? I checked my grade. I got a B-. I dropped out. Any school who would give me a grade I felt I deserved rather than what I earned, is a scam. For shame UOP.
PS Now for all you haters and bruised ego folks, relax. I can think I deserve whatever grade I wish! there is nothing wrong with that. The point is that I get what I earned, regardless of what I think I should get. I know you haters won't see this reasoning. If you don't get it, maybe you should enroll in UOP's MBA program for a little more push in the noggin.
I'm about to finish my Bachelor's in the online program and must say that it has helped me finish my degree while maintaining a full-time job and still managing to find time for my two little ones. More importantly, living overseas where going back to university in a traditional setting is NOT POSSIBLE, this was my only option.
I will say there are times when I have questioned the contribution of some of the facilitators (but I've had that in state colleges) and struggle when I continue to see the same miserable team members who never contribute, yet manage to appear on the next class roster. It has caused me to wonder at times if the whole program isn't really a sham. If UoP wanted to really put their student's minds at ease, they might consider asking the facilitators to post the FINAL CLASS GRADES so that those of us that do put in so much effort can be sure that those team members who fail to participate ARE NOT GETTING THE SAME GRADE.
However, I must admit what I'm taking away from this program is more knowledge than I had ever gotten from a ground campus degree. Maybe because the participation IS so demanding and I'm forced to read do the work in order to really get it as opposed to showing up for traditional lectures, half asleep and cramming the night before the test. I'm pretty sure that those that eventually drop from this program simply lack the organizational skills to keep up with the workload.
All in all, I think for most of us, a degree is a degree and if the school is accredited, most jobs don't ask. In fact, I'm killing myself to maintain a 3.99 GPA and wondering...will anyone ever even bother to look at that and take notice?
I find it amusing that anyone with grammatical and spelling errors in their posts, would discuss the quality of education at any university. Perhaps these people are the ones that truly need to repeat high school.
I just completed a BS in Accounting with the UOP, and I have started interviewing for jobs. I have been receiving mixed reviews about the value of my degree. One older man (>60) thought it was a "matchbox cover degree" and joked about it. Another man closer to my age was curious about how the school gave exams if the student was not supervised and had unlimited access to the internet for answers. He was satisfied with my defense and general knowledge of accounting Finally, a young woman was impressed with my 3.96 GPA and understood how difficult it was to get an "A" because 30% of the student's grade was based on teamwork. A student can either lead the team to perform up to an "A" standard, or he can do all the work himself to ensure that high standard. These scenarios are exactly what one faces in the working environment. In summary, the UOP's program is solid but its reputation in the business world can be shaky. Be prepared to defend yourself during interviews.
almost every post contains "you get what you put into it" "i'm such a committed person" "those ppl who are complaining are retarded illituare". you would think that ppl who graduted from such an awesome institution would have a little more class then to demean ppl who don't agree with them with such juvenile insults.
this article was not just about the quailty of the school, but the quaility of the DEGREES given out by the scool. not one "pro UoP" person who has commented has stated what awesome highpaying jobs they have gotten with this supposed aweseom uber-expenaive degree. to be quite frank here, these 'pro UoP' posts all read like plants to me. actally, ALL the pro-UoP posts that i have found sound exactly like these. little fishy, eh???
An education is what a person makes of it. Not acceptin a student from UOP, becuase of UOP is inserting a bias and assumption that they are not educated. There are such things as paaper MBA's, MSCE's, or whatever, but how do you know, unless you interview the candidate. There are many people in our history and society that have been very successful without traditional education. The landscape of education is changing, and the education system should prepare for it. Last time I checked, UOP is an accredited university in the United States, and taht was the first question I asked when I applied. Oh well, not everyone can go to Harvard and Princeton, so different situations need different educational alternatives. I aplogize for leaving an educated post, becuase I am a University of Phoenix graduate. I must have accidentally learned something.
I earned my BSBA from UoP, but almost 1/2 of my credits I transferred in with from the assorted college level courses I took as an active duty US Navy sailor. UoP was not my first choice in schools, but they were willing to accept all of my transfer credits so I did not have to repeat all my lower division courses. My experiences with UoP taught courses ranged from top-notch dedicated instructors that had close involvement with the students and groups of professional learners in my team to a class of "slackers" (instructor, et al.). In a few courses I did feel like I was in a directed-study program, but fortunately I was working as a mid-level private sector manager at the time and could draw on the knowledge of my colleagues when needed. My experiences with the near worthless advisors and financial aid section staff were extremely frustrating. Within two years of graduating from UoP I applied and was accepted to the MPA program at Upper Iowa University, but I did have to take several pre-requisite courses as UIU would not accept all of UoPs credits. One example is the upper division statistics course that I had to repeat because UoP's course did not include enough emphasis on multi-variate analysis. After taking my first graduate level course I realized that this knowledge was essential to constructing graduate level research papers; yes, I felt UoP "ripped me off" in that respect. Currently I work in public service as a state revenue agent. The merit-based hiring system does not discriminate against UoP or any other regionally accredited school. UoP can be the right choice for some people, but a rational decision to attend will include the exploration of other options and should not be based on a slick recruiter's sales pitch. I would hire a UoP graduate...if he or she met the other hiring criteria of professional skills and knowledge the position required, along with a history of related accomplishments and favorable recommendations. My opinion is that a UoP degree is a null in a +/- hiring decision, but can serve to get an individual past the "degree required" hurdle. This is my personal viewpoint as a UoP graduate in the "real world" for what it is worth.
I received my graduate degree from UOP and my undergrad from a state university. The coursework at UOP was a lot more practical, modern, and challenging than the traditional classroom experience. I found that the virtual environment gave me better access to professionals actually working in the field rather than students and professors with little field experience. I think the UOP gets a bad reputation from those that cannot handle the workload and have become accustomed to being spoon fed lessons rather than actually learning on their own.
A person left this comment regarding grammar and the only thing I noticed from his/her posting is the pesky little comma thrown into the middle of the sentence. So, what were you saying about correct grammar?
I graduated from Brown and I make typing errors all the time. (Obviously, I am careful to use spell check at work) People are expressing an opinion, not turning in an essay.
"At Monday, September 22, 2008 4:12:00 PM EST, Anonymous said...
I find it amusing that anyone with grammatical and spelling errors in their posts, would discuss the quality of education at any university. Perhaps these people are the ones that truly need to repeat high school."
I am a current University of Phoenix Online student, working on my Bachelor in Psychology degree. I have attended community college prior to attending UOP, and although the format is very different, it is by no means less challenging. I spend about 25 hours per week writing papers, which have to be in APA format, or points are lost. They have to be handed in on time, or points are lost. They have to be substantial and accurate, or points are lost. They must meet word-count requirements, or points are lost. These papers count the same as tests in traditional courses. Answers cannot be found online, because each student must write a paper that can make it through the CWE's Plagiarism Checker. Some instructors in the orienting courses such as "Learning in an Information Age" are not as strict, which is what I believe most of the students are referring to when they say that the school is easy. Most others are extremely strict, more so than at my traditional college. My GPA, although I spend twice the amount of time on my work at UOP, is about .3 lower than at my former college. If their program is not challenging, it is because they are not doing the work.
I am a current student at University of Phoenix. I am pursuing a BS in e-Business online. My current GPA is 3.7 after 18 classes. I have seven more to go before graduation. I spent three years at Pacific University in the early 1990's but failed to graduate.
My experience with UofP has mostly been negative. I started in November 2002 (6 years ago? Lordy). I had to leave UofP in May of 2005 because my wife was having problems with her pregnancy. At the time, I was three classes from graduation. My son was born 8/30/05 weighing 1.5 pounds. I was in the hospital with him for 17 weeks before we could take him home. When I re-joined UofP, they had added 8 more classes to the curriculum (at $1600 per class). I was now 55 weeks from graduation, not 15. I now have to pay over $12000 more for my education. I appealed. It was denied. The credits won't transfer and I have to finish my degree. I am somewhat held hostage by UofP by this circumstance. I harbor a significant amount of resentment towards UofP for their handling of my family's medical crisis.
As for the quality of the education, I put a massive amount of effort into the assignments, read the material and effectively lead remote work teams. My degree will mean a TREMENDOUS amount to me, as I will be the first in my family to earn a college degree. However, a third of the students I encounter in the online environment probably would not be accepted in a traditional college. The grammar, spelling and syntax/sentence structure lead me to believe these people barely graduated from high school. I do believe UofP has lower standards. The institution cannot afford to have a high bar, or else it would lose a substantial amount of profit. However, I consider myself one of the people that push themselves to be successful at work, in school, and as a family man. Honestly, reading the criticism hurts a great deal because I have put so much work into this program.
If anyone has further questions or comments, contact me. I am definitely interested in learning more about the perception of a UofP degree.
brandoncdow @ gmail.com
I have been attending the University of Phoenix online for about 8 months now. I am 25 years old. I am currently working on my Associates in IT/networking.
The school focuses on business and business writing. You learn how to write and create resumes, memos, articles, blogs, emails, PowerPoint presentations, etc. I will tell you right now, I can write a paper like it's nothing now. My typing skills are much better than they were 8 months ago. If you want to learn how to type professionally for a business, UofP is the way to go. They don't focus on writing literature or poetry, which you will never use in a business setting. In my opinion, that type of writing is a waste of time. I don't spend any money on gas traveling to class. I just log on and do everything from home. I don't have to listen to a teacher ramble for hours about crap that is irrelevant or not on the test.
I am a computer nerd. UofP Online is the way to go for me. I have learned so much in just 8 months. I spend hours reading the textbooks in PDF format. I can go on vacation and still be able to turn in my work. I will say that UofP is not easy. It takes time and effort to stay on track and get assignments done in time.
I don't think UofP is a waist, but I actually want to learn something. I put my time and effort into it. I could be lazy and get a C, but I try and get an A.
People need to focus on the individual and not where they got their education from. I can get a degree from Harvard with a 2.5 average and still be an idiot.
I will give UofP a 4 out of five star. One thing they can do to create a better learning environment is to have lectures available. Some people learn better by listening and this would help those people learn better.
This is posted by a computer nerd. If you like computers and don't mind being on the computer for hours at a time, UofP is for you!
Sorry to tell many of you, but distance learning(online education) is the future. Many people will start working from home and send do all of their work from home. Many people are late for work because of busy roads and in the future people will not drive to work. They will do everything from home on a computer. The internet will be the gateway for communication. Pretty soon, all meetings and conferences will be done over the internet with cameras. Coworkers will use instant messaging and email to keep in touch. You can deny it all you want, but UofP focuses on the future.
As a Uop graduate I really don't understand the hype of this being an underated school. I started like most and attending traditional school only to be unchallenged. Most of my fellow students just sat around, half the times people didn't attend and of course did not have any experiences for the most part in the work force.
Most my fellow students were in the work force had a lot of experience and could relate to the topics at hand. Plus, I could apply what I was learning to my work environment.
As far as the curriculum, it was down right hard. In a normal class setting you could just discuss what you read (if you read it), have a mid term maybe a paper or 2 and a final but at UoP you had to not only research the topic but document it as well. I had a paper due almost every week, a team assignment due every week, individual assigments due every week & 3 to 5 discussion questions (substantive and around 100 words at least). Then a final on top of it along with a cummulative team assignment at the end usually with a power point.
Now I have had some bad teachers but I had bad teachers in a traditional setting as well. I have learned more because I had to do the research for the discussion questions and I had to do more research for a take home test (usually 4-5 hours at least) rather than taking a 1 hour test in class where I just memorizing the data and typically did a brain dump afterwards.
Plus, you have to work in groups at UoP(which I hated but got use to) and rely on people to get there work in on time and done right otherwise you are up doing their work. You have to learn to write cordially...my first class was a real eye opener.
There are cons:
1. no teacher interaction face to face which takes an adjustment
2. you may not get a response up to 2 days (they are required to give you a response by then or they could get in trouble with UoP).
3. There are high turnovers for academic and financial counselors.
Overall, UoP, to me, was actually harder and more demanding due to more self discipline and required research than a traditional in class college. I loved the 5 week courses (you focus on one at a time and learn more due to this...my attention stayed focused at all times but not when it dragged out for a semester at a traditional and I had 4-5 classes I was juggling at a time).
It isn't for everyone but I feel it gets a bad rap because my feelings are that it is a better learning environment than most traditional in class schools.
Being a graduate from UOP with my BSBM and now working on my MBA from them as well, I have found that many people have complaints with the school is because they look it as a joke or do not know from first hand experience. Many people are alarmed when they see a syllabus from UOP and the amount of work one must complete in a 5 week (undergrad) or 6 week (Master level) period. Like one poster put it, possibly the people complaining are not college material. The other possibility is they took classes at a time when their life was too hectic: in a week one has to add in 15-30 hours of reading, researching, and writing of papers and completion of presentations. As the saying goes, “Do You (do what is right and good for you- not what others are doing because it may not work for you). One Love
I graduated last summer BS in Accounting. I did an on-campus program, and an online program and the online program was far more difficult, especially with the upper division classes. Finance and Tax Accounting were nightmares for me! I wound up conversing online with a student from Cal Berkeley who had the same class with the exact same curriculum. I was surprised to find out that the classes at Cal were so similar. We had the same types of problems and the same types of assignments. A great deal of our coursework was identical.
I attended a State school and I have to say the work at UOP online was more of a challenge than I thought it would be. But, like any class; it’s what you make of it. You can skim by, or you can get your money’s worth.
...I don’t like the reputation UOP has – and I think a lot of people are misinformed. But for the reputation, I would recommend the program. If I was looking to hire an employee, I would say a degree from UOP held as much value as a State University. But, from my experience it all depends on the hiring managers and where they went to school. Some people are degree snobs and wouldn't even take a State school - and that cannot be helped. I'm glad I did it.
i am thinking about enrolling in uof. i would like to open up a business in a couple of years. will going to this school be worth my time and money? any and all feedback would be great. ty.
I just graduated from the University of Phoenix with a master's degree in Education. Some of the students were unqualified and did not exhibit the qualities of a graduate student. In contrast, my bachelor's degree was obtained from an overpriced, small, private college. Sadly, many of the same problems occurred at this institution. Many of the postings reveal a common trend; the amount of work put into a degree reflects the return in knowledge. The University of Phoenix's reputation will not guarantee a stellar career; much of it falls upon the student. Is he or she willing to put the time into it?
Frequently I worked in groups with fellow teachers who were reluctantly participating due to a state mandate for a graduate degree. Initially, I fought with some and became disgusted. After two of three experiences, I opted to play the role of teacher and worked with them. Together we built a quality product. It took more effort on my part, yet the result received my stamp of approval. Negotiating with people and delegating authority is not included with most degrees, but I learned these valuable skills through Phoenix in group environments.
Tuition is high, yet I was able to simultaneously maintain a full-time and part-time job. If a working professional desires to pursue a graduate degree without reconstructing their daily routine, I would recommend the University of Phoenix. Those wishing to concentrate solely on being a student; should consider other alternatives. To conclude, the University of Phoenix is reputable and worthwhile for the proper student.
As someone who’s deciding to go further and get my MBA, I’m wondering if UOP would be a good choice. I’ve been trying to decide between a traditional (sit in a classroom) setting vs. Online? I’ve been reading many reviews on this school and it seems like all the PRO arguments are directed towards: it’s a hard school and you must study and be involved just like a regular school, and you get out what you put in! On the other hand, the CON arguments are mainly focused on bashing the school either because they had a bad instructor at one point or because they felt the need to be pushed and beaten by an instructor to make them do their work (traditional!). I am an education snob and I would have to agree that UOP does not seem to be a good school for people who are trying to get a BS degree. There needs to be a certain level of traditional education methods where students are forced to engage in a classroom where they communicate face to face with peers and professors. However, for someone who is getting a master degree, I believe that it is more up to the individual to polish him or her self as necessary to get the job done. People that choose to go for a Masters are students that already should have some experience in a work setting and more solid ideas about their future careers and what they want out of further education. The questions to be asked are: Did I learn the material that I studied and can I use them in a work setting? Am I more competitive now than I used to when applying for a position?
What I find interesting in these comments are things that are not really mentioned… Are you able to sell yourself to your employer with a UOP degree? How are the employers feeling about this? Are you landing a higher paying job after you get your degree?
Justin,
State colleges cover business/technical writing as well. And I was able to dodge symbolist literature thanks to my CLEP scores.
Interesting thread. From where I stand, I already make a comfortable living a little over 100k per year, UOP offered me the best schedule such that I can continue making that living while going back to school for my masters degree. I do admit there are some people in the forums that really shouldn't be passed for their poor contributions and posts which may dishearten some students as to the level of education they are receiving. However, with all of my previous experience, I can honestly say I learned something applicable to my job in every course I took. Before I signed up for classes I actually received horrible reviews of the school by my friend's girlfriend, but soon after read many good things and decided to move ahead. Later I found out that she was the kind of person who was expecting the auto-pass environment and eventually flunked out. Sad to say, but that gave me a little more confidence in my instructors to make the right decisions.
Now with one class to go I look back and am very glad I went though with it; seeing as I will now be able to raise another pay grade at work and the university has notified me that in two years I will be eligible to apply for part time facilitator on the side. Good investment? For me it has been.
I do agree that people are prejudiced against online degrees at this time, for which I would say if you are looking to start a career don't do it with an online degree (it will be just your luck that the company or industry you're interested in working for doesn't recognize UOP and you'll be stuck with only your experience)
Hope this helps someone.
There is no need to "wonder" what a University of Phoenix degree is worth. If you know what field you want to be in, and what companies you'd like to work for, simply call up a few HR departments and recruiters, and ask them what they think of a UoP degree. After they stop laughing, I am sure they will be more then happy to tell you. People can defend UoP all day long. But in the end, if your wondering about how valuable a UoP degree is worth, its probably because deep down, you already know.
I am currently a little over half way through my MBA program. Most people when they hear University of Phoenix assume on-line degree. If an on-line degree bothers you then UOP has 200 brick and mortar campuses for students to attend. I am 37 years old and a little old fashioned and believe the classroom is the best choice. However, even though I am earning a Phoenix MBA 100% at one of the local campuses. I still believe the on-line degrees hold validity and are reputable.
You get out of education what you put into it. I received my B.S. from the Univeristy of Texas at Dallas and I can easily say it is one of the hardest degrees you will ever earn, hands down. Where does it say that it has to be mind-blowing to be effective and better for people. I am a strong academic and career person and I chose the University of Phoenix because it is fully accredited and they have campuses all over the metroplex. YES UOP HAS CAMPUSES and my degree is 100% campus earned. Nothing against on-line.
The UOP does need to work on some things. They obviously need to market the campuses a little better to give the University a little more validity right away. They should tone down the team environments to one team project per class. I'm tired of carrying lazy students through the program just so they can put MBA after their name when I'm the reason they earned it. It is getting old. If they cannot hack it then they need to get out. Don't waste the money and time. UOP is a private school and it's not cheap. If you are not willing to invest the time then don't do it. Personally I still think they should raise rates again to get funding they need to make the University a success.
I'm a little concerned about the perception of UOP. There will never be another Harvard or Cornell. Ironically after graduating from the University of Texas I attened Cornell University to receive a Certificate in Executive Leadership and it was phenominal. You can do the same thing at UOP if you put your mind to it. Take responsibility for your own education and get after it. Maybe the UOP is not in the top 20 business schools in the country and they definitely need to work on some things. I plan to help them when I graduate. But the MBA I received has definitely changed my life even with a few classes to go.
When I left UTD I was truly disappointed with the job prospects available to me and I am a top-notch employee and academic. So I left UTD feeling much the same as some of you UOP antagonists. Bill Gates left Harvard for a reason. UOP does need to raise the bar. They don't need to fail students that are giving their all but giving a B- is not going to ruin anyone's life. It might make them work harder and become better people. I have seen the UOP brick and mortar facilities and they are totally state of the art.
If you need more validity what other University can say they own and paid for one of the best NFL pro-football stadiums in the world and is named University of Phoenix Stadium. After they raise the bar giving out some B's, market the campus programs a little better I believe they should consider starting an atheletic program. You won't beat Duke in basketball but you will bring some validaty to your program and attract more students. UOP should not totally change what they are doing but a couple of B's on a transcript might be the kick in the pants some people need to get motivated to earn the A.
Immediately after graduating from UOP I will be attending Southern Methodist University, Cox School of business to obtain a GFCP. (Graduate Financed Certied Professional) This is a certificate or actually GFCP is a designation. It takes 8-12 months to complete and will round out any perceived inadaquacies by recieving a year of high-end finance from one of the top 25 business schools in the country. If you find yourself still lacking look in the mirror. You are the one that has to fix this. Me getting this year long finance designation at SMU is to make me a specialist in finance and will compliment a solid MBA that is also accounting and financed related.
My last point to this manuscript. My little brother has a High School Diploma and is a Director for Darden Corporation with over 50k employees. He has received director of the year for the last two years and will probably be number 3 shortly followed by a promotion to SVP. A kid with a High School education. I asked him why he is so much more successful than I am and I'm overly educated. He said passion and desire. A bad MBA can do wonders for you if you have passion and desire. UOP MBA's are far from bad. If they listen to my comments they will go from average to good.
Best Wishes to you all,
I am currently a little over half way through my MBA program. Most people when they hear University of Phoenix assume on-line degree. If an on-line degree bothers you then UOP has 200 brick and mortar campuses for students to attend. I am 37 years old and a little old fashioned and believe the classroom is the best choice. However, even though I am earning a Phoenix MBA 100% at one of the local campuses. I still believe the on-line degrees hold validity and are reputable.
You get out of education what you put into it. I received my B.S. from the Univeristy of Texas at Dallas and I can easily say it is one of the hardest degrees you will ever earn, hands down. Where does it say that it has to be mind-blowing to be effective and better for people. I am a strong academic and career person and I chose the University of Phoenix because it is fully accredited and they have campuses all over the metroplex. YES UOP HAS CAMPUSES and my degree is 100% campus earned. Nothing against on-line.
The UOP does need to work on some things. They obviously need to market the campuses a little better to give the University a little more validity right away. They should tone down the team environments to one team project per class. I'm tired of carrying lazy students through the program just so they can put MBA after their name when I'm the reason they earned it. It is getting old. If they cannot hack it then they need to get out. Don't waste the money and time. UOP is a private school and it's not cheap. If you are not willing to invest the time then don't do it. Personally I still think they should raise rates again to get funding they need to make the University a success.
I'm a little concerned about the perception of UOP. There will never be another Harvard or Cornell. Ironically after graduating from the University of Texas I attened Cornell University to receive a Certificate in Executive Leadership and it was phenominal. You can do the same thing at UOP if you put your mind to it. Take responsibility for your own education and get after it. Maybe the UOP is not in the top 20 business schools in the country and they definitely need to work on some things. I plan to help them when I graduate. But the MBA I received has definitely changed my life even with a few classes to go.
When I left UTD I was truly disappointed with the job prospects available to me and I am a top-notch employee and academic. So I left UTD feeling much the same as some of you UOP antagonists. Bill Gates left Harvard for a reason. UOP does need to raise the bar. They don't need to fail students that are giving their all but giving a B- is not going to ruin anyone's life. It might make them work harder and become better people. I have seen the UOP brick and mortar facilities and they are totally state of the art.
If you need more validity what other University can say they own and paid for one of the best NFL pro-football stadiums in the world and is named University of Phoenix Stadium. After they raise the bar giving out some B's, market the campus programs a little better I believe they should consider starting an atheletic program. You won't beat Duke in basketball but you will bring some validaty to your program and attract more students. UOP should not totally change what they are doing but a couple of B's on a transcript might be the kick in the pants some people need to get motivated to earn the A.
Immediately after graduating from UOP I will be attending Southern Methodist University, Cox School of business to obtain a GFCP. (Graduate Financed Certied Professional) This is a certificate or actually GFCP is a designation. It takes 8-12 months to complete and will round out any perceived inadaquacies by recieving a year of high-end finance from one of the top 25 business schools in the country. If you find yourself still lacking look in the mirror. You are the one that has to fix this. Me getting this year long finance designation at SMU is to make me a specialist in finance and will compliment a solid MBA that is also accounting and financed related.
My last point to this manuscript. My little brother has a High School Diploma and is a Director for Darden Corporation with over 50k employees. He has received director of the year for the last two years and will probably be number 3 shortly followed by a promotion to SVP. A kid with a High School education. I asked him why he is so much more successful than I am and I'm overly educated. He said passion and desire. A bad MBA can do wonders for you if you have passion and desire. UOP MBA's are far from bad. If they listen to my comments they will go from average to good.
Best Wishes to you all,
I completed My MBA from University Of Phoenix on ground and two classes online.I think the program offered practical based learning.
Even though I understand that UOP is catering to working adults but still there should be job fairs and interns offered for at least six months. This helps if you are exploring career change.
UOP's value to Employer's is a mixed bag. My current employer Kaiser Permanente accepts UOP as an accreditated school, however does not see it as a valuable resource for employees. This is depending upon what degree level is being pursued. Employee prospects that are seeking a BSBM degree may better choose to go the standard college route. However, UOPs MBA program is highly challenging and provides a rewarding learning experience. My personal recommendation is that UOP thoroughly subject all instructors in knowledge and experience of the topics they are assigned to teach. I have personally been asked by instructors to assist in teaching their course, 1) because they were not able to reach the students, 2) because they did not know the topic as well as I did. Very sad commentary.
Now-a-days a UOP MBA degree might be equivalent to a MBA from a more prestigious school.
I received my MBA on campus from UOP in 2003. I would say that the experience was a mixed bag. The classes were somewhat challenging, and the course load could be a bit stressful at times.
I dont think the school deserves the reputation that it has. There are a-lot of intelligent students at the school who received their bachelors degree from highly regarded institutions. These students, including myself, would most likely succeed at more reputable institutions.
The issue with UOP is the "for profit" tag, and mentality that the corporate heads have implemented system wide.
The reputation of the on-line courses and degrees are horrible.
The problems that plague teh on-line school seem to be instructors who dont seem to care, students who dont seem to care about the quality of their school work, and the bickering between students on line damage the schools reputation.
Admissions requirements, should be overhauled. The highest accreditation in said disciplines should be acquired, and in some cases class lengths extended.
These changes IMO will not affect the schools "for profit goal". I think UOP can find the right balance between quality and profit.
The programs in the University of Phoenix are very challanging. I finished high school with high honors, and I was immediately forced to work part time and maintain a subsidized apartment after the passing of my mom. I completed my associate degree in business with a 3.4. University of Phoenix is not Ivy League (Harvard) but the quality is high and the prices are reasonable.
I am in the middle of second set of two classes at UoP, and find it to be a little more demanding then the classes I took at my comunity college. Before there are any refutes of my comparing a university to a community college, most of teacher also worked at Rutgers where I went. As someone that works 55 hours a week it is not possible for me to go to a school like Rutgers. I do not understand why people think it is impossible for a student to get a good education online. I have actually picked up more on my Algebra class here then I did at my community college. I think the true result of an education is not if the school you go to is a for profit school, or if you show up to class, but the actual knowledge you leave with. My brother goes to U Penn law, has two degrees from Rutgers, and a MBA from Columbia in education, and he has reviewed some of my work and agrees that it is pretty much the way I see it. You get a condensed version of your average classes, which presses the student to more work, and that actually makes it a little more pressured. Also one will lose points for late assignments. Imagine that, people have to hand in there work on time. To argue that they are a for profit college makes no sense. If all of the faculty at these traditional unversities did not like money they would be in peace corps. Here is the real news money is some rooted in every school, and while they not be upfront about the work the heads of these Ivy League schools do earns them an above average living, so please get off your high horse. Fact is that online schooling is more over a threat to traditional schooling as a whole, and unless they can down play the value of an online degree they stand to fail. God the first thing my niece wanted to do when she went to Seton Hall was not figure out her major, she wanted to join a sorority. The college experience is what many people show up for when they are young, and go to a four year college. When people are going just for the sake of an education, it should not make difference the absolute manner in which they go, but that they get the education needed. I personally feel that I am currently recieving that education. I have read up on UoP, and I by the reviews of the credabilty of the degree, and I think as soon as the people that want to belive that they have achieved something more than myself when I finish my BA to actually prove it, and get there nose out of the air.
P.S. I'm still looking at my 4.0 GPA and wondering if at I was at a four year if I would have an even higher GPA than 100% cause they actually can do extra credit, and hand things in late.
The fact is that at this point UoP has a bad industry reputation. Whether they have fixed the problem or not, you may be affected when you present your UoP certificate to a knowledgeable hiring manager.
I reached this forum because I am in my second class for an MBA program at UoP, and already feeling that their quality of instruction is wanting. I obtained a bachelors degree from a traditional university, so I know what quality education is all about.
People, this is not 1920! People do not have the time to go to a traditional university. Yes, I attend U of P. I also attended a well known state university and compared to the amount of knowledge I have retained and learned, U of P beats it hands down. With U of P, it takes dedication, teamwork and the drive to complete yoru assignments. You still have the same papers due as a traditional university. You are required to login and participate and if you do not, you fail! U of P is for the working adult wanting to better themselves. I feel that I have wasted money at the traditional university. Sitting in a class for an hour falling asleep is not my idea of learning. U of P students work just as hard or harder then traditional university students. If a job is degree snobby and only cares about your degree from Harvard, then what does that tell you? Do you even really want to work there? If they only care about the name on the paper, not the hard work you put in to get your degree. Times are changing. Online schooling is the future. Other schools that are well known brick and stone schools offer online programs. So you are telling me that level of education is more then U of P? It's the same thing. U of P has brick buildings if you would like to attend. People are ridiculous. Just go to school, work hard and get your degree and get a job. Be proud of how hard you worked. A degree is a degree in my opinion.
Dear UOPX believers I have put together a list of Pro-UOPX articles intended to refute and expose the snobery and fear traditional schools and prehistoric papers have.
I am a proud UOPX Grad and would highly recommend the school and its learning model:
THE INTEL DECISION
Intel’s discontinuation of their reimbursement plan for employees in the MBA program is not solely aimed at University of Phoenix. Intel decided to limit tuition reimbursement for business programs to business schools accredited by the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a program accreditation that includes only about 18% of all business programs nationwide. And while University of Phoenix’s teaching and learning model has been widely recognized by the AACSB and the American Association of Higher Education, we do not have AACSB accreditation
OTHER SCHOOLS OUSTED: In addition to the University of Phoenix, Capella University, Chicago State University,and Xavier University of Louisiana are among the institutions that will no longer be
options for Intel employees who want their tuition reimbursed by the company as well as 96 other schools not named here. (Who needs Intel anyway)
VERY LOW GRAD RATES?
In your blog, you refer to University of Phoenix’s “very low” graduation rates. You may have received this information from Sam Dillon’s February 12 New York Times article, which is riddled with factual misinformation. The 16 percent graduation rate cited by the New York Times excludes about 93 percent of University of Phoenix’s total student population. The federal standard used to calculate this rate requires universities to report only those students with no prior college experience, or 7 percent of our student population. As previously mentioned, a vast majority of our students enrolled with a significant level of prior college course work as well as professional experience and therefore cannot be reported into the federal database. University of Phoenix’s actual graduation rate averages between 50-60 percent, the same average found among traditional public colleges.
Manny Rivera, representing the Apollo Group
NOT BUSINESS ACCREDITED? YES IT IS
B. Since its inception in 1978, the University of Phoenix has been subject to many examinations, the most of any U.S university. Specifically, they have taken part in 30 accreditation visits by regional accrediting bodies, 35 evaluations by state education agencies and 10 program reviews by the U.S. Department of Education.
C. All instructors hold a minimum of a masters degree. All undergraduate and post graduate instructors must be working in the field they are teaching.
D. The UoP teaching and learning methodology has been recognized by the AACSB and American Association of Higher Education.
Even though a University of Phoenix online degree in business lacks AACSB accreditation, bear in mind this degree is accredited by the ACBSP. The ACBSP, which is recognized by the US Dept. of Education, accredits business programs that exhibits best practices in teaching and learning.
Bottom line is that even though the University of Phoenix has its faults, it continues to offer thousands of students from a wide variety of backgrounds, opportunities to get accredited degrees online, from an accredited institution.
Being the largest school in the world makes us the biggest target. Graduating in 1996 (on campus), I would have never dreamed that the student body could have grown this much. "The pioneers are always going to take the darts." I remember hearing this comment 13 years ago and its still true today. If UOPX is so bad why are all the "traditional schools" trying so hard to work into the Phoenix model. I say bring on the criticism, it will make us stronger than ever!
-Phoenix Man 1996
I started this program Online in jan 2009. I have had no issues, but I can say that just like traditional college you have to get your work done and participate in discussions to survive.
Getting to know some of the students that have developed negative views on the school. They do not all have valid reasons. Some believe that because they are not in a traditional environment that every excuse given should be accepted. People! You have to do your work and you cannot get mad at the school because you are not abiding by school guidelines and expectations.
I work hard an use anywhere from 26-30 hours weekly for studies. I am an "A" student grade point average 3.86
It's funny no one brings up the University of Phoenix vs. Cappela University. Is that because so many people believe Cappela is a scam?
I am a college counselor and I once worked at a for-profit college. The education those kids paid for was no less than stealing. As a college advisor I ask students considering UOP to consider a few things: UOP accepts everyone with a high school diploma. Do you think you will study with your intellectual peers? Maybe. What diploma did other students earn in high school? With such open doors, you never know who might come in. Second, what will you do after you leave UOP? As a former hiring manger, I can tell you why employers question and even laugh at UOP, Strayer, DeVry, etc. It's because other grads from these schools have come in - been given the benefit of the doubt, and proved themselves to be useless, if not detrimental to the organization. Graduate degrees seem to work better because they are usually people who have already proven themselves in the workforce or the military and the graduate credential is simply a formality. Lastly, students earning bachelor degrees for UOP have few options for graduate programs other than other schools like it.
For all of the UOP true believers, I understand you'd like to validate your accomplishment. But, really do you believe you got the best education available? Did you get what you paid for? Not likely. Would you steer your own kids to graduate from your alma mater? Do you wear UOP sweatshirts to the gym? Most of their admissions reps are career salesmen and don't have a college degree themselves.
Almost every accredited college/university - ones that people won't laugh at or suggest that it's "not a real college", offers on line degrees or professional cohorts for busy professionals.
When I see UOP or schools like it on a resume, my first instinct is to ignore it for professional positions. Last summer I worked for an upscale money management office. I had to hire a receptionist and an executive assistant. I was specifically directed by the CEO to avoid graduates of UOP, Stayer and DeVry. Community college graduates were acceptable.
Based on their high school performance and test scores, not all people/students have the same choices for college. For some, UOP, schools like it and community colleges are it. My advice is that if you can "get in" a traditional accredited college, you should go that route. People who can't - should really consider community college.
I work with two former Yale graduates and one former Harvard graduate. Let me tell you something...I'm not impressed. I also work with many individuals who have never attempted an undergrad degree and are extremely intelligent. I am currently attending UOP along with some other coworkers and we are working hard to advance our education.
Here's my point... Just about anyone can "make it through" college. Whether you've attended Harvard, UNLV, Local Community College or UOP, you MUST work hard to educate yourself. This can be done by either attending Universities, or educating yourself.
I have been in a management position for over 7 years. I have hired people with and without formal education. Anyone who looks at resume and puts most of his or her focus on the education portion should not be involved with hiring AT ALL. I hire the people that are the "right fit". I DO NOT hire based on which University he or she attended...that's just plain stupidity.
If you are comfortable with attending UOP, go for it. If a traditional University is best for you , go for it. Whatever your case may be, just WORK HARD and don't be lazy!
I transferred to a University of Phoenix ground campus from a state university system about 8 months ago. I am impressed with the faculty and quality of education provided. Moreover, as a manager at a medical center, I work with graduates from various university systems and I must say that University of Phoenix graduates are professionals.
First, let me start by stating that there are far more positive experiences on here then negative. I have seen the expectations of most traditional universities and the workload and amount of time needed to completely assignments is significantly less then that of UOP.
The world today is constantly changing and I would much rather be a skilled writer/communicator and researcher with developed presentation skills then a glorified test taker any day.
So I am not misunderstood, Reading, researching and taking tests is fine and traditional colleges teach that way. However, reading a book, researching and providing an in depth research paper that proves your understanding of the assignment is every bit as sufficient as traditional test taking.
Today's business environment is all about thinking outside the box and bringing solutions to the table and that takes research and communication skills. Thank God those two skills are heavily developed in all of the UOP Programs.
I am a current University of Phoenix online student going to towards my MBA in business, previously I graduated from Ohio State University for business as well. I work full time and have two children which makes it next to impossible to attend a traditional college. I was at first skeptical to attend an online university, but with recommendation from several people and my own supervisor, I decided to give it a try.
I feel that UOP has given me a great opportunity to continue my education and it has thus far been a difficult challenge, I have just as much or more reading and assignments than I did at OSU and my professors actually know my name instead of being a number in a lecture of 500 students. If you are willing to do the work and get the most out of the readings and assignments this university gives everyone a great chance to succeed.
As far as cost of tuition goes, I have found UOP to be comparable to any other learning institution that is nationally accredited.
I find it disheartening that biased judgments are made towards the university and belittle the efforts made by students and alumni of the university.
After walking into a UOP campus... it didn't take long before I was running out (at full speed). These people that are looking to get educated look like they've skipped quite a few steps in the ladder of knowledge and the teachers seem like they are looking for that paycheck... nothing more. I currently attend the University of Colorado (at Colorado Springs) and though it is more expensive, it is definitely worth it. Don't wast your time or your money!! This place is a joke.
My friend graduated from the University of Colorado (at Colorado Springs.) He's currently working at Home Depot wondering why he spent so much on an education that got him ...well, no further than Home Depot.
I graduated with my Bachelor's June 7, 2009. During my lifetime, I attended a community college, a major engineering school, and AIU before completing my last 2 years at UOP. The very prominent engineering school often graded on curves and if you knew the right people, you could get old tests and answers to everything. AIU did not seem to have the commitment to the students. UOP was a great value. I had a district attorney as an instructor, several CEOs, a high school administrator, an attorney, an accountant, business owners, and the list goes on. The practical experience provided a wealth of everyday, very useful information. I have been on my job for 20 years. The things that I learned were things that I could take back to work with me and these things made me a better manager. If I had the choice to make again, I would still choose to attend UOP.
As a current student at UOP I am more taxed and learn more on line than in house when I received my BSN at a traditional college.
If UOP is so bad then how come all the major universities are starting their own on line programs...
JEALOUS huh...
As someone who is also working on his MBA right now from Phoenix and seeing the reviews (very negetive and positive) I was really scared. I have to admit though, the last poster made a good point. If online degrees are a problem for people why are places like Northeastern doing their MBA degrees online now? Granted they have the accredidation from the AACSB but it is accredited. If you are looking to go right to the top it will not happen as many have pointed out. I am busting my butt and am not planning on going into corporate America but I do want to teach. I have to say that many places are regionally accredited and they are not looked down on. Just some thoughts.
something else I wanted to add is that UoP is accredited by two agencies and the USDE US Department of Education recognizes it and the other one was recognized previously. It is not said that it is no longer recognized so it might be that UoP did not go for their recognition agian, it is hard to say. I encourage people to check the Council for Higher Education Accredidation website (CHEA)and the UoP accredidations and you will see I have done my research.
Am I still scared? To a point yes but then again I am not going wanting to go into corporate america like others.
sorry about the grammar of that last sentence my hand and laptop keyboard hiccuped. What I meant to say was that I am doing not plan or want to go into corporate America.
* I am not planning on going into corporate America I am hoping to do some teaching at my BA alma mater
I meant to say that they may not have the AACSB accredidation but then again the AACSB is not on the USDE list as a recognized agency anymore. If you look a the CHEA list they have a star next to them saying that they were once a part of the USDE list (formerly recognized) One of UoPs accredidations has this as well but for everyone to hang onto the AACSB argument with this information is kind of silly. Point is, I work hard and will graduate with what I deserve.
I have a U of P MBA.
Here's my input:
- What you learn depends a great deal on what you put into it. You can skate by doing little to no quality work. If you want to learn, the text reading and research can be as educating as any other school.
- I found many (most) fellow students to be below high school level in writing, problem solving and surely mathematical prowess. It was often frustrating to have to drag my study groups through projects and correct their incessant mistakes and poor sentence structures. Very few group projects were something I was proud to put my name upon.
you are very right about what you say about you learn what you put into it. Thankfully all of my group members have been great at pulling their weight. I have seen small writing issues but nothing major thankfully. I tell ya, I have learned a ton and continue to learn. It is all in what you put into it but also I take everything I learn and use it at my office many times over.
I graduated in August 2004 with a BSBA from UoP. I attended a tradiional university first and received straight A's despite the fact that I attended each class less than five times per semester. The professor didn't even know! I just had a friend turn in my assignments and that was that. I'm not proud of what I did, but the point remains the same: poor education happens. It happens at almost all schools to varying degrees. I dropped out of that school because I was unchallenged, bored and sickened by the fact that I got A's for next to no effort.
UoP was a totally different experience for me. The professors knew when you were and weren't online so I couldn't just coast through only showing up to turn in papers. The group work also gave me accountability. For me, this program was far superior to traditional schooling.
I tell everyone I know that UoP was much more challenging for me than the traditional university I first attended. And before everyone assumes that because I left my first school that I am some kind of a moron, I got a 32 on my ACT, have a 142 IQ, had a full ride academic scholarship and was in the honors program at the university I first attended.
Ok, wait a second. College is NOT supposed to be something you can do while working full-time. It's supposed to be so rigorous and so demanding that it takes your full attention. Have some rare individuals been able to do it? Yes. But it's not the norm. And yet 300,000 UoP students do it and finish their degrees in less time than traditional students? And I'm supposed to believe that our degrees are the same? Take anyone on a traditional university campus right now and tell them they have to work a 40-hour plus week in addition to taking a full load of classes. 99% of them couldn't do it because college is designed to be TOUGH and DEMANDING. College courses aren't supposed to fit your schedule. Your schedule is supposed to accommodate the rigors of higher education. Even working part-time on campus is hard when you're dedicating 2-3 hours of study time per hour of class time PER CLASS. UoP students work full time and get their degrees in less time than traditional students and you think the educations are the same?
Tell me, if you've been on your job 10 years working 9-5 and find yourself competing with someone who's only been with the company 5 years and he worked from home or on a graveyard shift and wore sweats everyday while you're spending 20% of your salary just trying to look professional would you want your manager to tell you the two of you are equally competitive because he took the "accelerated" approach to gaining his work experience? Please. You'd be upset. Or would you buy the argument that he was somehow MORE qualified because working from home took more dedication? That his ability to do the same work you do without having to waste time in traffic or putting on a suit meant he was more qualified for a promotion?
Or are you honest enough to admit that if someone told you that they'd put in half the amount of time you had doing a job and they did that job from home or on a team when you spent double the years doing the same job, in the office, and being solely responsible for all of the triumphs and failures that you wouldn't find yourself thinking, "WTF, there's no way they can compare us two and think somehow his experience matches mine!"
And yet, that's what you UoP-ers want the rest of us to believe. No doubt, every education is about what you put into it. And a Hyundai will get from point A to point B just like a Bentley will. But you want me to believe that a trip in your Sonata is equal to a ride in my Bentley? Please. No disrespect, I'm not saying that a Hyundai is bad or that it doesn't work but a Bentley is a Bentley for a reason.
And no one's saying you didn't earn a degree at UoP or that you didn't work hard. But there's a reason why a degree from a traditional school gets more respect.
But I understand the resistance and the passion. If I had just paid the Bentley price for a Hyundai, I'd be telling everyone that all cars are the same too!
What a sad commentary the judgment surrounding anyone taking steps to grow and stretch his or her mind. I suppose tearing people down, rather than building them up never goes out of style.
I was enthusiastic about not having to take the GMAT. I graduated Magna cum Laude with a 3.6 GPA from an accredited college in NY. After applying, I was accepted into the UOP online MBA program a few days later. I enrolled for the business ethics class and aced it. I then enrolled for a management class and aced that. Finally, I enrolled for a law class and received an A-. Ultimately, I applied to this program because I was GMAT-shy, was working full-time, and wanted to try something different than a traditional campus setting. Years earlier, I had taken the GRE and scored about an 1100, without serious preparation and study. But the GRE score is mainly for a master’s program and not an MBA. So I opted to give UOP online a try, but I would later have some concerns and then leave.
Two years passed and I applied for admission to the MBA program offered at Fairleigh Dickinson University in NJ. Before this I was leaning towards an MPA at FDU, but decided to retrace my steps and pursue an MBA believing there would be great job prospects with such a degree. The school accepted two courses from the UOP online program, therefore, one MBA FDU course was waived, and the other was a transfer. I was grateful to the UOP online program for this since it saved me about $5500 for both courses at FDU graduate school.
Typically, the GMAT score at this school is 550 and above and mine was much lower because I just did not study for the GMAT since I had believed that I would pursue an MPA, having taken the GRE already. The school accepted me mainly on my GRE scores.
Now for a terrifying reality about professors from this traditional graduate business school that I did NOT experience from professors while a UOP online MBA program student: “Your grade is the average of both your mid-term and final, no exceptions. No curves. Nothing. You get what you put into it.” We’re talking about a 6000, 7000 graduate level courses in Finance, not college courses on ethics. This FDU MBA program would later contribute to my losing my full-time job because the work-load was absolutely extreme for a single semester having two finance courses with the same professor known to be the hardest at the school, as shown by the above statement. We’re talking about having to almost literally memorize the books and also having to fully review all PowerPoint slides assigned to the class to pass the tests. I remember one student in class having to take the class over because he failed it the previous semester and that he just failed the mid-term. “Your grade is the average of your mid-term and final ….”
Overall, the value of the UOP online program is recognized by some institutions such as FDU and I am sure by other universities as well. I am grateful for the transfer of my UOP online courses. From FDU, I graduated with a 3.6 GPA from a traditional graduate business school that holds AACSB International accreditation. Additionally, I can say that my time at UOP online was not wasted. Two courses were transferred.
Finally, the value of the UOP online program is recognized by employers differently as my degree would be looked upon differently when, for example, compared to an Ivy League MBA business school. For example, an employer may view my 3.6 GPA at FDU as a 3.0 GPA at Harvard for a graduate student, because more than likely an employer will view Harvard as the harder graduate business school of the two.
But be careful too with wanting an MBA from a top school. On careerbuilder.com, I recently saw an advertisement for an entry-level MBA position for a recent MBA graduate from a top-tier graduate business school offering a starting pay range around $55,000. Not much I suppose considering these schools charge ridiculous sums of money for tuition. If I am not mistaken, an MBA from Wharton may cost you near $180,000 for just 2 years of education. That can take like 8 years of your life to pay off considering you have other bills as well.
I graduated from UOP in 2008 with a BS in Business Management. I started in 2003. I have also attended community colleges as well. When comparing the two, one does better than the other at different levels and at different times. For example, UOP had a schedule that allowed me to work crazy hours at my regular job but still attend class when I could. Couldn't do that at the community campus. But, if you wanted to take a course in basketweaving just to get some bullcrap general ed credits, the community college served well for that.
I have had more doors remain open for me because of the degree. Period. Opportunities for employers to interview me have been greater because when the minimum requirement to apply is a BS or higher, at least my name could go in the hat. I have been offered positions because of how I sold myself in the interviews, not the mere fact I had a degree. Having a degree helped me qualify for the job interview at least. Most companies I've found are not that interested in where you got the degree as much as they are that you actually have one. This shows them you may have some potential. And the type of the degree sometimes has no bearing. In fact, many people I know with degrees are working in jobs outside their major. Problem is, I've been at my job for long enough that many of the "starting salaries" were either the same as I'm making now, or less. If I went that route, I'd have had to play catchup on salary for a while. And I'm really not sure about starting over at this point in my career. But I have something now that nobody can take away from me.
Anyone who actually has put in the time and effort to get more from their own education experiences should worry about what they personally accomplish moreso than what a few pinheads who aren't self-disciplined have to say about it. This goes to whatever educational decisions about which type of institution they attend. I've met many individuals from various educational institutions, and there are "smart" ones and "dumb" ones at every level.
With that said, UOP gets a bad rap because of the quality of students they let slide by, IMO. Every black man is not a thief, every Hispanic does not want your job, and every white person does not want to rule the world. Every UOP graduate doesn't suck. But unfortunately, predjudices still abound.
I had the luxury of having my employer pay for 100% of the tuition costs. I bought the study materials. So, with that, plus online fitting my schedule where no other instituion would, made my decision easier. If my employer wasn't paying for it, I doubt if I'd have found it a "value" for what you get. But the value for me was the time-management standpoint.
My suggestion...if your employer is paying/reimbursing you, it's a good alternative to traditional school if your schedule for traditional school doesn't work. But if you're footing the bill and have to get student loans, try to go to an in-state school first. I'm hardly a pro-UOP person, but it did work for me. Education should be a personal thing.
Oh, and FINISH WHAT YOU START. As with some community colleges and UOP, partial credits are likely NOT to transfer should you start for a while and quit. So make sure you're committed if you decide to go.
The level of quality can always be debated. My own UOP and community college experiences have shown me that there's not a whole lot of difference in the knowledge availalbe at each institution. Do the work and do it right and you have nothing to regret regardless of where you attend. Your result may vary.
"God the first thing my niece wanted to do when she went to Seton Hall was not figure out her major, she wanted to join a sorority. The college experience is what many people show up for when they are young, and go to a four year college."
I'm sorry but I feel that the college experience is very important for younger students. College is not supposed to be simply about learning to write papers and analyze academic concepts. There are other skills that younger students need to develop and let's face it, they can't learn those skills at an online school. In the real world, people need to know how to interact with others face-to-face, both in professional and social situations. I found that while attending college I have become much more confident and developed better communication skills, which has helped me in job interviews, work teams and speaking with clients. I would not have developed those skills at an online school. I am sure that there are plenty of online schools that give great academic eduations, but there are other educational aspects that students need not only to be more successful professionally but also live richer, happier lives. Online schools may be fine for older, working adults who already have these skills. However, it is neither healthy nor wise for younger students without any significant life experiences to spend four years in front of a computer screen with little or no human interaction.
I have to agree with the above poster. If you are an undergrad there is NO substitute for a physical college experience. As a Master's Student I think online is perfectly acceptable. There are problems with any school online or not and it is important to remember that.
I have two major concerns when it comes to the University of Phoenix. The first is that their recruiters are paid on commission, meaning every prospective student they can get to apply to the program, they recieve between $75 -$500 bonus. This results in a great deal of underqualified and misinformed students entering the program. University of Phoenix is also a hot ticket on the stock market. The Apollo Group has a phenomenal Public Relations and marketing department that specialize in putting out fires, like the 4% retention rate and high professor turnover.
This is very disheartening for someone like me trying to select a school for my Masters degree.
I used http://www.oedb.org/rankings to select a school that is affordable, accredited, and nationally recognized as being a quality institution of higher learning.
I graduated in 2004 from UOP with a BSIT and in 2007 with an MBA.
Before I received my degrees, I was terrified about how people with degrees and advanced degrees would treat me since I was working in a field that would normally require a bachelors for an entry level position.
My boss's direct supervisor was a Stanford graduate and as biased a person as I've ever seen. He looked down on those who didn't graduate from UC or better. I must have been a black eye to him because I didn't even have a degree at the time. I was just hardworking and smart.
For a time after I received my degrees, I was terrified that I would again be judged on where I went to school. I was paid very well and in a lot of ways where I expected to be. Nowadays, I enjoy my life and who I've become.
The problem is that we worry too much about little things. In history, there have been those who will graduate from schools that had been looked down upon. Some of those institutions are considered fine places to send your children and I believe as more and more students graduate and enter the job market, the acceptance of UOP in the mainstream will become apparent as well.
I refuse to be ashamed of who I am and who I've become. If I didn't take what I learned and applied it, then shame on me. I will not make the University of Phoenix my scapegoat for my inadequacies.
What people have to understand is that EMPLOYERS are the judges. They are the ones doing the hiring and they will judge your education. To be safe....try a publiclly funded university....
I work with three University of Phoenix graduates- all with BSIT degrees. None of the three can spell or write a sentence . Their math skills are comparable to those of a fifth grader. But, they are all very competent technical people, and very valuable employees. What does this tell me about a U of P degree?... and degrees in general?
At one time, a bachelors degree served as credible evidence the holder of that degree had a knowledge of the world- math, science, literature, humanities, economics, and history- that set him apart from his non-degree holding brethren. A college's job was to educate, and the student's job was to be educated. Job training was not, at the undergraduate level, a college's mission. Professional training occurred after graduation- either at the graduate's first job, or in graduate or professional school. Those who chose to eschew education and go directly to occupational training went to a technical school or apprenticed in a trade. At some point, I suppose because of a combination of the demand for "trained" people and the desire for training worthy of employment, colleges and universities hybridized their programs to provide "training" while still issuing degrees that implied "education." U of P and similar institutions took it a step further and discarded the "educational" components of the train/ ed formula. That is how a U of P degree differs from a "traditional" degree. Unfortunately for U of P and its graduates, colleges are not very good at technical training. They are technological laggards, and U of P is no exception. What is taught in one's Junior year is obsolete in his Senior year. So both traditional colleges and U of P fail in their promise to provide relevant technical training. U of P grads are completely cheated because they not only get poor technical training, they also receive no "education", which is the real purpose of college, and what should be presumed of a college graduate.
U of P dilutes the value of all degrees.
I am considering University of Phoenix, but who was the genius that said,
"Ok, wait a second. College is NOT supposed to be something you can do while working full-time. It's supposed to be so rigorous and so demanding that it takes your full attention."
That answer sounds like it has come from someone who has absolutely no time management skills. Most of my family, to include my mother, uncles, aunts and myself graduated from University of Maryland with degrees such as MBA, Nursing, etc up to the masters level and we all worked full time jobs in the process.
I maintained high GPAs while working full time and the only thing that I can say is that I put a lot of miles and wear and tear on my body. Although I was concerned of the stigma associated with an online school, there wasn't too much that I couldn't have accomplished if I was in an online program. I went to a highly ranked graduate school and was completely turned off by the time spent from those who prided themselves in how much rhetoric they could speak a minute. As I am considering a Ph.D, and very established in the federal government with a high level position, I need a program that, in essence, provides me the skills I need in order to be a competent executive in the government. I was considering law school in the past, but what I can say is this... Unless you are going into a Fortune 500 company, the school isnt as important as those pursuing to work at those companies. I just need to know would Univ of Phoenix be worth it on the doctoral level and none of the posts have addressed this?
I began my Computer Science degree at a well known brick and mortar college. I did not continue because the learning rate was so slow and I was not challenged. No class participation, listening to boring lectures and enduring long classes only to fight falling asleep is no way to get a degree. I chose to go to UoP and am impressed with the challenging on-line environment. As mentioned before, they teach real world presentation creating and paper writing, time management and team work. What other environment must you depend on your peers to do well? What? A real job?! Oh, yeah! The work is demanding and challenging and the time you must dedicate must be organized well. I can cut like a knife with my level of intelligence and chose UoP for the education and ease of not having to travel, not because it was easy. The bad stigma that goes along with on-line learning is from people who haven't done it. Are you truly that ignorant in thinking sitting in a class with walls is better that taking that same class on line? Those are the same people that think you get sick from the cold. Uninformed, routine driven, ignorant people. I did what worked for me. If that paper degree is from a school that is accredited, it is accredited. Period. If as an employer, you ignore the applicant because of it, your ignorance is dutifully noted.
I studied 0 hours (aside from statistics because math is evil) and earned an MBA from UOP. I'm not, nor was I ever, academically gifted. I do feel I could have gotten more out of the program but I slacked through it and ended up with a 3.21 GPA. I don't tell anyone I have an MBA because I'm embarrassed by how little I know.
Whoever wrote the above post is lying. I received my BA from a CA state university and then an MBA from UOP and it was tough, time consuming and challenging.
Anyone who is interested in the University of Phoenix's public image should see this spoof ad produced by Saturday Night Live. It's for "The University of Westfield" but the logo and other aspects of the ad make it pretty clear that it's about the University of Phoenix.
Two of the actors in the SNL skit don't have any college at all, as far as I've found. My experience at UOP was good. I have a UOP BS in Information Technology, I enjoyed the program. The course offerings still took a lot of work, it's not a breeze by any means. I attended classroom lectures, nothing online. After the BS I continued on and got an MBA at Pepperdine, again in the classroom. Now, I'm doing an online engineering MS at USC. If not for UOP I could not have moved forward with my other degrees. I'm completely satisfied with my education from UOP. I don't care what outsiders say about the program, they can't have a true opinion unless they've gone through a UOP degree program. I can compare my two master's degrees with the UOP BS and the work load isn't that much different nor is the homework complexity.
I am currently attending the University of Phoenix On-line, and I have found it to be quite challenging. The classes may be challenging and the homework does require a lot of time, but the rewards which I will reap will be worth it.
I had a friend who knock me for going to college on-line and this is what I told him " At least I will have a degree. any employer will look more favorably on someone with a college degree over a high school diploma or GED. Besides, the degrees do not say they are from an on-line college." I feel that I am receiving a wonderful education.
The U.O.P. is a great school and all of the students and faculty are intelligent, helpful and supportive. I see far more supportive comments than negative comments, most likely because the U.O.P. is actually a very innovative and creative alternative to traditional schooling. I say " Long live the University of Phoenix."
This is my very first time posting a comment anywhere on a discussion board, but I felt inclined to do the right thing. As a UOPX recruiter during the last four years, I can attest that this comment from a previous post is a complete LIE. "...their recruiters are paid on commission, meaning every prospective student they can get to apply to the program, they receive between $75 -$500 bonus.” In fact, there is not an ounce of truth to it. No recruiter is paid any type of commission, monetary or other, when a person applies, enrolls, or retains in the program. Students are NOT a number to us. Besides, to have such practices would be a complete violation of Title IV funding, resulting in severe repercussions. The retention rate is not 4% either. Even the source provided by the author reads 28%. Most people are completely ignorant on the definition of retention and how it is relative - it doesn’t account for anyone leaving and returning school outside of a three-month time-span criteria; it only accounts for continuous enrollment. Common sense tells you that schools with a younger, fresh out of high school demographic have a higher retention than schools structured for working adults. Those types of posts just add to the spread of ignorance of UOPX.
As someone who is currently at a top 20 MBA program, I'd be pissed off if an employer tells me they put just as much weight on a University of Phoenix degree as the one I'm going to get. Much of the learning comes from interacting with professors and classmates...educated ppl you can actually get something from...as well as give-and-take debates and discussions in the classroom. It's a good thing recruiters see through the b.s. as well...so luckily I won't be competing with any UoP MBA's for a job on Wallstreet or at a Fortune 500 company. Seriously folks... I'm glad some of you got a lot out of your online degree, but if I was a recruiter I'd question your intelligence for choosing a "university" that you'll have to constantly defend from naysayers. If you've happened to benefit from your degree, then that's great...but for those of you considering an online degree, seriously think about what it's going to mean for you down the line. Do you really want to be embarrassed everytime someone asks you where you got your degree from?
UOP is a great school. I've been there for 2 yrs and found that I actually learned more there than in a traditional college setting.
In the traditional college setting the professors liked to hear themselves talk. They really didn't care if you understood the concepts of what they were teaching and they really didn't care if you passed or not.
At UOP my professors make sure that the students are actively engaged in the discussion and learning process.
I also found that one has the ability to develop leadership skills and team building skills which are valuable in Corporate America.
To all of you degree snobs, UOP offers a quality education to those who do not have the time to parade around campus recruiting for sorority/fraturnity participation.
This school is not for everyone, especially those who are more interested in basketweaving classes or professors who could care less about your attendance or participation.
Also, those who laugh and poke fun at UOP degrees I want you to ask your self why so many name brand colleges are trying so desperately trying to follow the online model of education. Its because they realize that the educational environment is changing and that students need more interactive education.
Industry requires workers who can think critically, work cooperatively with others and who can get the job done under deadlines. UOP is educating those types of people.
I am currently a UOP student with four classes to go to complete my BS. I am concerned with how my degree will be received, therefore I am transferring to a traditional university for my Masters. I needed to get my undergraduate work done and UOP worked for me as I am a parent of two and hold down a full time job. I was not like many that attended a college right out of high school, consider yourself lucky as that was not an option for me.
I am a hiring manager and I prefer students with online degrees; especially those who worked while attending school as they seem to possess the drive and the ability to multi-task which is necessary in today's business environment.
While traditional degrees are great; often I encounter candidates who have traditional degrees and they seem to lack the maturity of the online students. I have a traditional degree and a UOP degree and I found that my UOP instructors had more real-world experience whereas my Cal State instructors had more theoretical experience. Online students who have been hired seem to function well on virtual teams and in collaborative environments. I think many traditional universities are implementing online programs using the UOP model of customer service. I am glad I got to experience both, but I have to say that employers want real world experience, not just theoretical experience alone. Employees with more theoretical experience get offered much lower salaries even if they are from Harvard. Employers such as myself will pay higher salaries for real-life experience regardless of the school. The benefit of going to school such as UCLA, USC, Harvard etc., is the ability to network and get hired by alums and this often works!!! The reality is that more often than not most employers will not be fellow alumni and will want real life knowledge, not just knowledge of theory.
Wow! Now I have no idea if I should go to UOP or not, this doesn't sound good.
Go...I graduated from UOP, and from traditional schools. While they all helped me, what I learned on my own, because of my passions, is what has allowed me to get the great/challenging/high paying job. A degree is a step to a better life, it doesn't matter where from, as long as you can enter the interview confident in the knowledge required to do it. That is all. Rule of thumb, learn for yourself, do it cheaper, but get that paper and the knowledge... Fire was not invented at Harvard, knowledge is free.
I went to UOP in 2000. It was the best school based on how well you BS your way to get a good grades. I dropped out. Then I allowed the sales people got me into again. I enrolled in May 2009 and am in my 5th courses. I was ready to drop out after the 2nd course but I let my class talked me into stay. I withdrew today after wasted $10,000 student loan. I do not learn anything at all from UOP.
It is a great school for people without brain to get a degree to get by. It is not for students who excel and want to learn. If you expect highly of yourself to be the best and to learn; UOP is not for you. If you are people with poor high school background, UOP is for you.
I apply to Chapman, top school and reputation. Many universities would not accept transfer courses from UOP.
the last person to comment on the UoP should have stayed,read your post again and that will tell you why. not a building nor teacher can help people that do not want to learn, if online is or is not for you education is get it any way you can.
I attend UOP with the goal of earning a Bachelor's in IT, and will have my Associate's degree after the completeion of one more class. I found your position to be quite bias and non-specific. Your statement of - "In many ways, it's a typical story -- a large corporation putting financial goals ahead of product quality and the needs of its customers." - If you feel that this is true, than it can be supported, correct?
UOP if not the only college I've attended, but it is the only for-profit institution I've been enrolled in. I work hard budgeting my time and studying, and to have my education undermined by someone stating comments that cannot be supported is insulting.
UOP is a great institution, and it's nationally accredited.
L. McHugh
I'd like to focus on your statement - "In many ways, it's a typical story -- a large corporation putting financial goals ahead of product quality and the needs of its customers."
That's nothing more than YOUR opinion, and it's bias at that. Certainly this position cannot be supported. If it could, I think you would have already done so.
I attend UoP working toward a Bachelor's in IT. UoP is not the only college I've attended, but it is the only for-profit institution I've been enrolled in. I work hard at budgeting my time, and learning the material.
University of Phoenix is a great College to earn a nationally accredited degree, and a quality education.
University of Phoenix Fraud 1976 - 2010 (http://www.phoenix.edu/)
December 18, 2009
The University of Phoenix is a Huge Education Scam!
U.S. companies and international companies do not hire University of Phoenix graduates!
If you enroll at the University of Phoenix and graduate, you will be
left with a worthless degree and student loans to payback!
The University of Phoenix operates only to take billions of dollars in student loan money each and every year, and teach students nothing. Students don't learn anything in their unaccredited programs of study. It's sad that the University of Phoenix Online has to lie to students just to make a profit. This university only cares about money and not the quality of education it is giving to its students who want to better their lives!
Visit web site http://myphoenixmistake.webs.com for more information!
Ask Bill Gates and Steve Jobs the same question. They both quit formal school. Success is about your passion in learning and what you are willing to put into life. UOP is as good as any other universities for providing student guidance. The rest is up to you.
I received my MBA from the University of Phoenix after recieving two undergraduate degrees from a "traditional" brick and mortar university. I can honestly say that the education I recieved at UOP was leaps and bounds better than that of a first tier university. While working on my undergrad, I would look around and see a myriad of students that looked at school as a chore, a burden of sorts. At University of Phoenix, everyone of my peers was a manager within their organization. They have talked the talk and walked the walk. I had the choice to get my PHD at a top ranked University or University of Phoenix and I chose UOP. I am very proud of what I have learned there and the value of my MBA. I have a career that pays in the 6 figures and that is partly due to that. It is time that we get with the times and realize that online education is the wave of the future. Most "renowned" Universities (Penn State, Texas Tech, UMASS, etc... are realizing this and are now offering distance learning through an online forum.
Old article, but I thought i'd chime in. I am just a couple of courses away from a Bachelor of Science in Business/Information Systems. I have attended a "traditional" college and find that I am able to learn much better in the UOP online environment. Why? you may ask...because i'm being taught by people with real-world experience and not just advanced degrees. UOP online gives students the opportunity to challenge themselves in a modern manner. I'm sure one could breeze through a UOP degree just in the way one can breeze through a degree at a "traditional" college an not learn anything useful. College is only worth what a student is willing to make of it. The "traditional" courses I've had in the past were nothing more than book learning, whereas UOP presents real-world scenarios and problems that challenge students. Along with real world scenarios, students are required to work in a team environment which is quite essential in the modern business world. In conclusion, I will soon be enrolling into the MBA program at UOP and am confident that it will align my future. With my current experience, along side my UOP Associate degree, I am currently working at Northrop Grumman as a Systems Engineer and have been here for going on 6 years. Some can post derogatory comments about the school without anything to back it up. I post my praising comments and back them up with my $82k a year paycheck.
Peace and thanks to the University of Phoenix!
I'm looking into a UOP Masters degree. However, most of the information I find seems to be subjective. Either someone saying "oh its great, very difficult courses!" or "it stinks, they try to cheat you". But what I care about is concrete numbers. Is there a resource that shows UOP graduate employment rates or salary rates or anything like that?
I have read several posts and agree with all of them. There are schools that are just out for money, and schools that truly want individuals to walk away with the feeling of success. The school provides us with the information, regardless of how in-depth the “facilitator” can take a subject; the basic working knowledge is what makes a difference. I the military organizations all courses are “facilitated”, which is the most effective means in teaching individuals subject matter. It is what we do with that information that makes us marketable. Degrees can be earned by anyone, anywhere. How you apply the degree is what will set you apart from the rest. I have seen CEOs with no degree at all, just experience. Anyone that actually commits to a program and works diligently to achieve good grades and a strong working knowledge of the field should be commended for their achievements, not slandered.
I am currently a student and I have to comment that the majority of those who post negatively about the school are the only posts that are full of grammatical errors. Example, spelling "their" as "there." Come on. You are an adult. You have to know how to spell. These people likely tried to coast through the school, failed and seek to blame the school rather than their own laziness or ignorance. Go to trade school, college is not for you.
I am a current adult student working on a B.S. in Business Administration at the University of Phoenix. I work for a global telecommunications company and they are paying for my education at this school. The University also has employer agreements with many top companies, including Boeing, Microsoft, USPS, Wal-Mart, etc. My employer, and these other Fortune 500 companies value the degree enough to send their employees to the school.
What I don't understand is why so much emphasis is being put on the school and not the student. Regardless of whether you are attending Harvard or the University of Phoenix, your quality of education depends upon you. You can choose to do the required work and receive an A or an F, but the question remains what did you do in addition to what was required? Did you perform additional research on the topic? This is especially important for online students since there is no hand-holding as in traditional classrooms. Are you engaging yourself in activities that may lead to broadening your scope of knowledge related to the course topic? "This" is what determines your level or education and experience, not just a name of a school. Yes, the University of Phoenix has receive a bad wrap because many believe it is too easy and that they just hand out degrees. This is NOT true! Just as any online degree there are many requirements such as writing, research, and engaging in discussion. These are the same things that are required in a traditional classroom without a teacher standing in the front of the class explaining the assignment and lecturing. Other than that nothing is really different. What is even more difficult with an online degree rather than a traditional degree is that the same things are required but most people have additional responsibilities such as family and work that they must contend with and they have to be responsible enough to meet deadlines and study independently. If you cannot do this, you cannot be a successful online student. This is 2010 and people are busy. Pursuing an online degree allows you the time to pursue many different areas of life without sacrificing and those with traditional degrees spent hundreds of hours sitting in boring classrooms falling asleep and 30 minute drives to and from their classrooms several days a week. Honestly, if you believe your degree is worthless, it's going to be FOR YOU.
I completely agree that the quality of education that one receives at the University of Phoenix (and any other school) really depends on the dedication of the student.
There are completely unqualified students who enter the University of Phoenix as undergrads or graduate students. This, I believe, is a result of the university's desire to make money. However, this fact doesn't make the university "a scam." It really only means that they are out to make money. Seeing as this is a private school that is actually trying to generate a profit, this goal seems somewhat inline with their mission.
Now, does there pursuit of profit make them a bad school? (Well, lets think for a minute)... since most of the readers of this post are presumably interested in the University of Phoenix business school, I would assume that you are familiar with the concept of "value."
If UOP didn't produce some "value" to the students they serve, wouldn't they, theoretically, go out of business? Seriously, if WalMart, Target, Nordstrom's, Saks, etc. didn't give their target market what they wanted... one would think they'd go out of business, or be force to adjust in some way...Given that the University of Phoenix has been around since the 70's, (call me crazy), I'd think that people might just catch on eventually if the school was "a scam."
Ok.. all jabbing aside...
The University of Phoenix requires much dedicatation and a great deal of reading, research, and writing. If one decided to pursue a degree with UOP, it will NOT be an easy road to tow.
I have been at Phoenix for about a year and a half; I am one-third of the way finished with my degree. The UoP style of teaching is unique. Students at UoP compose a fair amount of essays for every class--that is one of the school's primary methods of teaching. Students can expect to do at least two PowerPoint presentations per class and complete many team projects.
Another advantage of attending Phoenix is the amount of students per class--they are not as crowded as state school classes. My current class at Uop has only three students (including myself). I have had more one on one instruction than I can handle.
I enjoy learning from the teachers at Phoenix. All of the teachers I have had come from real jobs that pertain to the subject being taught. I am going for a business degree; all of my teachers have held high-level positions with his or her company. I have learned from a former CEO, a doctor, and a minister--the afformentioned teachers had real world experience with what they were teaching.
We get out of school what we put into it. One can go the easy route and BS the system, or one can put in the work and learn something. UoP has a fountain of knowledge to teach its students. One must be willing to put forth the effort to succeed. No matter what school you go to.
UOP is a decent school, I agree it is not Harvard or not even Rutgers, but is it on par or better than Albany State College, or all those other 'never heard of' colleges? It's a great way for full-time employees to continue their education. Why the knock on UOP? yes it is expensive but is it worth it? I guess that depends on the individual taking\paying for the courses. Penn State now offers a full online progam and PSU is a great school. Many more schools are implementing online formats, it's the new way - not saying traditional schools are going away, because they aren't. But what is wrong with having other options? I found UOP to be worth my time and money, everything out there has it's pro's and con's. I just don't understand the hate.
I don't care who they are accredited by. University of Phoenix is a joke and is absolutely not a real college.
The company I used to work for offered tuition assistance for continuing education and so most of my colleagues attended UoP because there aren't any entrance exams as with traditional schools such as the GMAT and GRE.
They would be working on their classwork/homework while at work, alot of copying and paste going on and they all got A's in all of their classes. It was too easy, and I "know" some of these people, weren't very bright.
So that sealed the deal for me. I'll continue with the traditional school, it will definitely be worth it in the end.
The value of an online degree can be infinite. While attending UOP, I received three promotions and here is the key for promoting. I took the time to study 25-30 hours per week and apply what I had learned during my time at work. This experience was the most useful. It's simple. Whatever I studied and read, I applied what I learned the next day at work. I retained more by reading and applying on a continuous basis. Oh and by the way.. I had to stay disciplined due to the fact I had to read and understand what the class was teaching and on top of that communicating with a virtual team of classmates. The skill of working with virtual teams also has enabled me to stay ahead of technology and actually paid an advantage in my current career. Times are changing, maybe brick and mortar colleges are going away or are creating online courses. Think about it. There are students who want a different learning environment and UOP seems to provide the typical teachings of a different education system. They provide flexibility and an attractive package. UOP is not going away.. and I am glad :)
I graduated from UOP via traditional classes. I found the program to be excellent especially with the level of knowledge that other students have. Unfortunetly, I would not recommend this program to anyone who is young and starting a career. UOP is great for those who have many years experience and need a degree to catch up but it is un-believably horrible for helping younger students find a job. Currently, I am applying for schools like Harvard and have to over-compensate for my leadership abilities and my GMAT score just to even have a legitimate shot at getting in.
According to a report I saw published by the U.S. Dept. of Education, the national average for graduation from a 4-year institution is 55%...UoPHX is 16%!!! They even mentioned that the standards for a degree are lowered. I'm attending UofPHX now and am seriously thinking of transfering. I'm in the military, and if you, the tax payer, are paying my tuition, I honestly feel I should be at a better school so your tax dollars are not wasted.
You might want to do more research on how a graduation rate is calculated. It is first year students (freshman) who never take a break from school. Think about it...most students at Phoenix are transfer students.
Kimberly,
How long ago was this? I attend UOP on campus in Arizona. We are required to run every single paper through a plagarism checker. Even if students do not put their paper through, the instructor does it every time upon grading it. The plagiarism checker finds and matches all similarities with printed material and online resources. Students can be kicked out or forced to re take a class (usually not covered by financial aid) if they are caught plagiarizing!
On another note, I am set to graduate with my BSBA in May 2011. I transferred after 2 years of college credits in another state. (A state university) I am comfortable with UOP's flexibility, as I am a stay at home mom now. The instructors have so many real-life experiences to share. And as far as any team work problems, we are required to come up with a "team charter" at the beginning of each course. I always make sure to include that "whoever is not pulling their weight" will get a grade reduction, rather than the whole team. Comes in VERY handy!!
Come to think of it, the report did not mention what year of education the study targeted.
But I am curious as to how many of you alumni have obtained employment in your degree field? Did you have any problems with a UofPHX degree? Is it just as respected as a degree from a major university such as UCLA for example? I'm just worried about all the horror stories with a degree not holding as much weight as a traditional school.
I believe that those that are critical of the University of Phoenix programs are blinded by the fact that one must attend a traditional university in order to become relevant in society. This is simply not the case. Even though I may not be able to obtain a job at a Fortune 500 company because they may require a degree from a prestigious university, it doesn't discount the fact that they would be the losing party if they were to deny me the opportunity to come and work for them. I received my BSHA and MHA from the University of Phoenix and I can safely say that my application of the knowledge that I have learned has been instrumental in my success in the largest integrated health care system in the world. I believe it is important for everyone who desires to be in a leadership position must understand that the degree does not define the leader. It is the core principles and values that define a leader. Continuous learning, evaluation of one's self, understanding of environmental factors, compassion and a heart for excellence are what really make the person; not the degree. Many of the world's most successful individuals are high school drop-outs and many did not even graduate from college. The University of Phoenix has prepared me for the outside world and the best aspect of the program is that you can apply principles that you learn real-time to a position that you hold if it is in a related field to your degree. I was able to impress individuals that were at headquarters level and in just 5 years with the organization I have made it to the headquarters level and tripled my salary (6 figures). I have experienced traditional universities as well and the truth of the matter is I was not ready to commit to an education at the time that I attended so I did not get as much out of it as I probably should have. Had I attended a traditional university when MY time was right I'm sure that I would have excelled just the same as at the University of Phoenix. It was an expensive degree but fortunately they offer a military discount to even those that are in the Army Reserves so it lessened the financial blow. Oh by the way, I was able to commission as an officer in the Army. So there you have it. My story. I would recommend this learning environment any time. The only caveat, as someone else stated on this thread...you only get out of it what you put into it. Apply yourself and you will succeed no matter what university you attend.
I hold a BA from the University of Central Florida, and TWO Masters in Education from UOP online. I challenege anyone to put their educational attainements and knowledge against mine! I currently work as an adult educator for the state of West Virginia. My knowledge, skills and abilities are the equal to, if not better then anyone from a "brick and mortar" school.
Those who bash UOP lack the discipline to be responsible for their own learning. THAT is the difference between UOP and ground schools...the learner must have discipline, drive and a willingness to work hard to succeed. I have about 27 students of mine currently attending Axia (UOP's 2 year school), and many have obtained jobs prior to graduation. Like any other school, you get out what you put in to it!
Karen Stanley, MAEDL/MCIESL
WORKING AND MAKING LOTS OF MONEY! Thanks UOP!
I wrote the above comment a while back:
"Old article, but I thought i'd chime in..."
I feel that I owe the public and UOP an update on my education and career progress. Last week I completed UOP's Bachelor of Science in Business/Information Systems program. My employer promptly upgraded my paycheck by 6%. In addition to this, my employer has chosen me, out of a team of about 50, to be moved to a much more desirable and rewarding position within the DHS organization. I have been nominated to be the team leader at this extended location. In a month or two I will begin UOP's MBA program. Perhaps I'll provide an update once I complete the program. I'll state again, just as others have stated. You get out what you put in. This is true in most aspects of life and applies to ANY education institution regardless of the name.
I would like to pass on some insight, which is a direct quote from a member of an executive hiring board for a Fortune 500 company. Take it for what its worth:
"I do hire lots of people with degrees and without. I am trying to remember any time with my personal hiring or any time with other hiring that I have been involved in where the name of the university came in to play to be the deciding factor of who gets hired. I cannot remember this ever happening. You may get a “wow, this guy went to Harvard” out of a review team, but not “I am not going to hire this other guy because he did not go to Harvard”. The more important discussions that I have been involved in only revolves in the fact that the person has a degree and what level of degree.
For me, when I see UOP on a resume, or some other similar school, I think of someone that is very hard working and willing to further their education to better their lot in life while at the same time working full time. When I see Harvard or Yale, I sometimes think of this person probably came up with a silver spoon in their mouth and may not be as hard working and dedicated to career advancement as the UOP person."
I posted last year around this time and I came back to see what folks are saying.
All I can say is that I'm glad alumns and current students are chiming in and standing up for our school.
I work for a very large pharma near a very prestigeous UC and every year we hire interns.
During our interview process, which I handle for our group, I listen to the candidates go on about their school and what activities they're involved in.
I ask them questions about the job and if they know what it's about and all they can say is how they've taken this class and that class. What kind of answer is that, I ask? No real life understanding about what they're going to do. In fact most of our business and financial candidates I've interviewed can't even use Excel, which is sad to me.
I'm not saying that traditional schools have no value, they do because they "attempt" to educate our young, but to disparage and put down UOP, without having gone there smacks of elitism, of which I can't stand. I smell it on our UC candidates and I smell it on a lot of these posts.
I have an amazing career and I would like to thank UOP for making it possible for me to advance in my career.
It wasn't just the degrees that helped me, because in the end they are just a piece of paper. It is the understanding of how to learn and apply new concepts and not just mindlessly memorizing without garnering understanding that have truly been my key to success and UOP taught me this while working full time with a family in tow.
I took about 60 credit hours at UOP, and am graduating from a traditional university this summer. I have a fairly good perspective as about 90% of my classes did not transfer and I took them at both schools. For writing classes like English composition, I think both were basically the same. For accounting, however, I covered the entire UOP course in the first two class periods of an introductory course. The truth is, people are on here arguing about whether or not it is viable. Do you want to spend your interview arguing about the validity of your degree, that is if you get one? Math classes like statistics, physics, and classes like accounting will never be of the same quality online. Also, if you plan to transfer later... save a lot of time and money and do it right once.
As an Alumni undergrad from Penn State, I can sit here and truly attest that the MBA program at UoP may not be as intensive and time consuming (classroom) as your traditional MBA, but it is surely worth the dime to expedite your professional career; especially if you are a newly wed (me) and or have a family (not me lol). The ability to work full-time, and also be able to dedicate the time necessary for my courses, all with the flexibility to be able to spend quality time with my wife is paramount. For all the talk about it NOT being an accredited school, or how they give degrees to easily, well I think that is coming from individuals who may have already attained their degree and or are in the process, and would have envied the idea and approach of UoP if they had done their due diligence. I am presently 2 classes away from completing my MBA from UoP, all the while still working full-time. The quality of class, material, and knowledge is without a doubt comparable to any other "accredited" university.
Bottom line, unless your MBA or Undergrad is from the elites (harvard, columbia, stanford, etc.), it behooves you to not underestimate the impact of a degree from UoP. I cannot attest to their Undergrad programs, but their MBA can keep pace with the rest of the pack.
I just want to hear from some one that graduate from UoP, and this is their only collage they went to and now have a good job with thier degree.
i am 19 and i am starting UoP in a couple of days and there alot of people saying that this school is no good, and only a few saying that it is a good school.
I just want to heard someone say that UoP is just like any other school that you can attend.
I am not worry if the work is hard or you have to put a lot of work into it i am willingto do all that.
I just want to know that i am going to be able to get a job gettin a degree from UoP
So tell me should i go to a normal University or is UoP the same thng
KENDRA:
Based on the many opinions I have read about UOP in this thread and elsewhere, and the Frontline report about for-profit schools (5-6 times as expensive as community colleges), and my own experience taking online classes (little interaction with faculty or other students), I would say you are right to be cautious. If you can get out now before you start classes and start incurring tuition and loan charges, do it, and investigate the many quality educational options that are available for a lower cost. You can always go back to UOP later if you change your mind.
Ian
Unless you work for the govt be careful with these online cram colleges. No one in a professional environment takes this UOP crap seriously. As someone who recruits staff routinely I can tell you that UOP type degrees cause your resume to be discarded. It's not serious folks - please don't fall for this scam. Get a real education.
KENDRA: Do not waste your time and money with UoP. I am not aware of any successful people who received a degree there. I highly recommend going to a junior college or state university.
This is hilarious. If your education depends on you, don't bother attending UoP then. College is DEFINITELY full-time. Do you think my peers at UC Berkeley are not studying all the time?
Quit lying to yourselves. This degree is useless whether you are lazy or not.
I read the last couple of comments on this article and have to have a chuckle...I have a BSIT from UOP, and am currently working on my MBA from there as well. My company recognizes the value of Master's degree as they are providing TA for it knowing full well it's from Phoenix. My boss is doing some mentoring of me in hopes that a management position in our area becomes available around the time I am expected to graduate with that degree. For the many posts from "Anonymous" that bash UOP as being worthless...I must laugh at you. I'm sorry, I know it isn't appropriate but for you to have such passion and feeling about Phoenix I have to wonder where it comes from. Furthermore, why not at least identify yourself if you are going to be flaming a message board? But that is neither here nor there...
Of all the places I checked out and even tried prior to UOP, I never found the challenge I was seeking. The instructors are good, the academic standards are sufficiently high, and the ability to attend class even while on the go for work makes it worth my while. (And I do enjoy logging in to work on a paper/discussion response from 35,000 feet on flights that have WiFi =) I was working on reasearch for a paper while flying over the Grand Canyon weekend before last!) Oh and yes, the program IS accredited by the ACBSP...one of three accreditation programs for business recognized by the CHEA. =) Cheers.
Another thing that gets my attention is that I am using the GI Bill to fund my education. Your tax dollars are paying for my degree. That being said, I want to make sure that I'm not wasting your money by attending UofP if my degree won't be respected.
Just as in every university, there are individuals who work hard to get their degree and succeed and there are those who skid by knowing nothing and still succeed. I work alongside many individuals who know, or at least act like they know, nothing. They can barely write a letter, a presentation, speak to groups, team build, or manage multiple projects. It's amazing because when you hear that someone is from an Ivy League school or a top ranked university, you expect the best.......NOT!
I'm not saying that there aren't individuals from these high ranked schools who can walk the walk and talk the talk, but for over 15 years at my organization (Emory University/Emory Healthcare), I've observed less than Ivy League work or thinking from most of those individuals.
However, just as another blogger posted, "in business, it's not about what you know, it's who you know". And since my organization seems to represent a lot of cronyism, having the degree from a university that has put you in contact with other elite individuals is what they want. I've seen them put candidates without a graduate degree in a chief position. I've also seen individuals who have no degree at all placed in directorship positions. All of this was possible because these individuals either went to an elite undergrad school, or knew the right people.
So in saying that, anyone who wants to determine whether to attend UOP or Harvard, just remember, it's not what you know, it's who you know. So it doesn't matter where you go. If you go to UOP, make it your business to network with people who are in the elite. Go golfing, stay in touch with people who went to these "so called" best schools, hang around people of a higher socioeconomic status, and trust me, you'll fit right in with that Havard crew.
To those who are against UOP, stuff it. I've hired better workers and managers from UOP than from the organization's university Emory. They don't have that entitlement attitude and they know their stuff. But I guess they would since most of them were already in their field of study before attending UOP. So I get well experienced and educated candidates.
Now, for those who have no experience in their field of study or are new high school graduates, I do not recommend any online schooling or distance learning. WHY? Because in order to complete online learning, you must already have a sense of what you are learning. Online learning should be left for the experienced working adult.
These are true short stories.
I recieved a BM degree a UOP in 2004 Business Owner
My bf recieved BA 2005...At the age of 31 she went into military...In 1 year she was at the officers academy, now she and officer.
My Ex-Husband recieved BA/IS degree in 2002 UOP. He retired 2008Military and was hired at viable business making six figure's 2009.
I have a friend who graduated USD last year 2008...She is about to be institutionalized because she's overwhelmed.
I have a friend from Brown University N.Y. who can't stay employed.
For most of these stories, I remember we all used the same materials. We had similar IQ's and we all seem to work well together. We are of diverse races and cultures and we seem to look at these opinions and laugh.
I personally on had 2 on-line classes and was not impressed, but it had most to do with familiarity rather than anything.
My sister just went to a UOP graduation in Arizona 11/6/2010. The lady who was graduating was already making six figure's. So, really...
I have been through several colleges. They all have problems. Harvard Students if I remember correctly, MIT, Cornell and Harvard has the highest suicide rate. So, I think that putting down one over the other should be stopped!
By the way, when the country went into recession and the banks were cheating the citizens...Weren't most of them IV League's Graduate's? Hmmmmmm
I've been following this blog for some time because I'm a UOP graduate for both my Bachelors and MBA and I still find it interesting how much energy is spent bad mouthing a school one has never been to or by someone who started going for a few months and then quit.
What folks don't understand is that in every college there are going to be the folks who just don't make the cut in terms of academics or motivation or dedication or whatever the reason is.
Also, not EVERYONE who graduates from college gets into a "dream" job right away. First you have to hit the pavement and look for your job and then once you get one, most have to work their way up or do crappy jobs until the good ones come up.
Anyone who expects to graduate from anywhere, save one of the Ivy League schools, and hopes to be making more than some entry level position will provide is dilusional and is another product of the failed American public educational system which everyone talks about but for some reason for-profit educators are the ones who get all the ire.
For anyone who is going into college in this recession, it will be a tough road wherever you go, but I truly believe that those who are willing to sacrifice and suck it up will come out ahead where those who merely complain and whine will...well, be jobless and complaining and whining expecting someone to hand them a paycheck just because they have a degree.
I for one, love that UOP was there when I had already started my family working full time. I sacrificed and sucked it up and now I'm working in my "dream" job. It wasn't overnight and for the last 10 years I've been working my ass off, but in the end, I'm close to six figures and feel like I can tell my son that "yes" I graduated from college and feel proud.
Am I done...hardly, and you know what UOP made it possible for me to believe that I can do more, even with the strains of a family, mortgage, recession...
So do what you like, but be ready to work for it or just come back here and post your inane rant about how you feel cheated...friend, you've only cheated yourself...
I am getting very irritated with these people who are bad-mouthing online colleges. I attended a local community college. My instructor was CRAP! And I do mean CRAP! The man never responded to the student's questions. It is actually funny because I did NOT put forth much effort in this class. I was too frustrated with the course and the instructor. The final was about identifying certain things you learned in class, whether online or in person. I was literally not able to identify half of it b/c I was an online student and I still passed with an "A"!! I did NOT earn that "A". Needless to say, I was highly disappointed with the school as well as the instructor. Now, with my experience at UoP, the enrollment counselor was extremely helpful. She walked me through everything I needed to know. I NEVER received pressure to attend within a certain amount of time. ALL of my instructors hold degrees in the field they teach. Some degrees are from UoP, some are from other traditional colleges. However, ALL of them have been very helpful. They are required to respond to inquiries within 48 hours. If they do not, they get into a lot of trouble. All of my instructors are also very engaging in that he or she responds to our posts, encourages us to think, and ask many questions of us through the course. It has NOT been easy for me to attend UoP. I homeschool my 10 year old who is currently being tested for ADHD, ODD, and anxiety disorders. I have a 4 bedroom home, with 4 dogs and a husband to keep happy. I am not what you would call lazy either. With UoP, you are required to post twice per week to show you are in "attendance". You are also required to post 2 times for 4 days in the participation. These are called "discussion questions". You have two discussion questions every other week and you must post at least 2 times for 4 days. Make no mistake, you cannot just say "I agree". They are VERY strict in that you must post substantively. Your post must contribute to the discussion! It really is what you put into it. I have a 3.7 GPA that I have worked VERY hard to achieve. I am VERY proud of UoP and if I decide to go for my bachelor's, I WILL be attending UoP! I believe in their curriculum, I believe in their instructors, but most of all, I believe in myself! Also, I have spoken to many "prospective employers" about my future degree from UoP and NONE of them have a problem with it. In fact, they are ENCOURAGING me to apply once I graduate in the hopes that they have an opening. This is all encouraging news. I cannot wait to graduate! For anyone who is bashing UoP, do your research first!
I can't even begin to understand how people can be so blinded or one sided at times. Yes of course UOP wants you to enroll for the money (thats most colleges now a days). And yes of course there are people attending that are not the smartest tools in the shed. However, I have to say that my experience as I am in my second year obtaining my A.A. degree in Human Services, I've had nothing but good experiences with the UOP. If anything you have to not only be more committed and self disciplined, you have to teach yourself as well. And as I read in another post, they were correct in saying that " you get what you put into it ". You cannot just copy and past, it would be considered plagiarism and trust me they know. Of course some instructors are more lenient than others but that can go for any teacher in any instiution. The material was great and I've had a wonderful learning experience and can't wait to continue on to get my B.S. If I was laughed at by a company for having UOP listed as my college that I obtained my degree from. I would make sure to show them how intelligent I really am. Because it all boils down to how smart you are. Harvard, Yale, community college, online learning, doesn't make any difference where the paper comes from! You will be proven in your interview and your heart will know the achievement it's really made!
I have an MBA from Strayer Univ. Online, BBA from Campus College degree in Univ. of Puerto Rico, and have studied in Summer internship in Univ. La Sorbonne, Paris France and internship in Oregon State University and completed Federal contract management certification from US Department of Defense Acquisition University Level II and immediately graduated from MBA online degree got a leadership job at the US Dept. of Commerce US Census Bureau as a Supervisor Program Manager of one of their survey program and within two years of graduation already have six figures salary of $110,000/year. So its not the degree is the person. Now I am pursuing my doctorate degree in business administration from Univ. Of Phoenix online and let me tell is nothing different than campus or doing a law degree I barely have time off for all the work that I have to do from class. STOP talking bad about online degrees. Blessings...
It's funny, but just this morning I saw an article from the McClatchy News service that said recent college graduates (from traditional ground campuses I assume) "have very low critical thinking skills".If you compare the critical thinking courses form UOP to say, any state operated college, I believe you will find a difference in approach to that course of study.
There are two primary issues with UoP: 1) the lack of PhD professors (or whatever they call themselves) 2) student quality. Academics is about learning. You can learn a lot from peers, I agree with UoP. However, not when the students have little to no knowledge on the subject. I can tell you story upon story about students that had no place in a Masters program, yet they were successful at UoP. Example 1, student in group sent a single, poorly written run on sentence the size of a paragraph to the group leader as contribution to the project. The content was non-existent and that student argued for including the sentence as is in the final deliverable. Example 2, a strong student carries many groups in most classes. UoP students and graduates should be honest with themselves. Yes, they have access to online academic literature. Yes, you can learn by simply writing papers. However, in a professional job, you do much more than write papers and debate with students, especially at the entry level. A company expects you to have skills. For example, a degree in technology will require you to program or manage networks. You should know programming languages inside and out, understand logic and at least some theory, and be able to use tools such as wireshark to debug network issues. If you don't have those skills, you will not get a job and you just wasted a significant amount of money (nearly the price of an Ivy League school) to write papers and debate points. This economy requires skills, not paper degrees. There are online b&m schools that have more academic rigor and will require you to develop skills. For example, try Googling programs offered by Columbia. The Columbia courses are intense, the students are superb, and you will learn. In addition, you won't carry around the stigma of an online school, even though the degree can be obtained 100% online.
There is nothing wrong with courses online. I believe the problem lies with the academic rigor and lack if quality standards for online for profit universities.
Anonymous said:
KENDRA: Do not waste your time and money with UoP. I am not aware of any successful people who received a degree there. I highly recommend going to a junior college or state university.
_________________
Well, you're not very resourceful!
White House Cyber Security Coordinator, Howard Schmidt; Professional Basketball Player, Shaquille O'Neal; US Navy Admiral, Kirkland H. Donald; former US Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters; CEO of Journal, Inc., Clay Foster; Utah House of Representative, Brad Dee; Pennsylvania State Senator, Chuck McIlhinney; Director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Harold Hurtt; MSNBC anchor, Christina Brown; Co-founder of Fuze Box and one of the 400 wealthiest Americans, Peter Sperling.
And those are only the UoP Alumni that are well known and were easily found. I'd say they were fairly successful.
I received my on-ground bachelors at UOP, a dual major in Business Management/Business Administration. Then went on to ASU, for an online MBA. ASU's on-line MBA has an AACSB accreditation. The exact same accreditation as Duke, Stanford, Yale and Harvard. He or she gets out of an education what one puts in. An education On Line requires a substantial amount of discipline and focus. As a final comment, a degree dosen't get you a job.
I have been enrolled in University of Phoenix's online MSN program since June of last year. I am only 3 classes away from completion and my experience has been 100% positive. The program is very challenging and not a joke. I feel like I have gained a tremendous amount of experience from the program and plan on continuing at University of Phoenix for my doctorate. The faculty in the MSN program are very knowledgable and have the real world experience necessary to teach at a graduate level. I am absolutely appalled at the negative comments I have seen about University of Phoenix. It seems like a few unhappy customers out of millions is expected so why are we making such a big deal? Education is what the student makes of it.
I am graduating with a BS in Psychology from UOP in June, and plan to enroll in their master's program for middle education. I currently have a 3.92 GPA in my program. I earned my Associate's degree from a community college, and have found UOP to be more of a challenge, as substantive participation, often requiring research, is necessary at least four days a week, on top of either a paper or PowerPoint presentation being due every week. The only thing that makes this easier than "on ground" learning is that I do not have to drive to a campus, fight for a parking spot, sit and listen to a lecture, then fight my way out of the parking lot and drive home before doing my homework. I am able to sit in the quiet of my living room, open my laptop and get to work whenever its convienent for me. This does however require self discipline and dedication.
I am a UOP on-ground student,half way though my bachlors degree in healthcare admin. I can tell you that i work really hard at my school. I am not afraid of what i will face after gaduation, becouse with my skills i will be seccessful in what ever job i will choose to persue.I have read many blogs here. I will recommend my school to anyone. "UOP IS A FINE SCHOOL" I Am a Phoenix
Annette said:
I earned a Masters Degree in Education/Curriculum and Instruction/Adult Education in 2008. I can personally say that The University of Phoenix offers a high quality education. I earned a 3.9 GPA but must state, I worked my tail off, easily spending 30 hours a week. I have found that most of those who bitch about the University of Phoenix and complain about "the poor quality" education, did not hang in there long enough to really know what it is like. I have a degree from Michigan State University, and I found the only difference between the two educational institutions is that I did the UofPh online, which is much harder to do than on-campus. I am returning to the UofPh in June for my Doctorate in Ed in Leadership/Curriculum and Instruction. From my experience with an online UofPh masters, I know I am in for a tough four years, but I know it will be a great time of growth, as well.
I attained my BSIT degree from University of Phoenix. I am also on track toward the completion of my MBA from the same institution (2 classes left). I can safely say that this school prepares its students to be successful at anything they can think of. It does this by requiring that students work on projects individually as well as in teams; setting world class standards for research acquisition and implementation; and demanding that its students adhere to strict deadlines and policies. The work load and required level of competence is also pretty standard when compared to other well known Universities. If you fail there you will also fail here.
This school has given so much to me over the years. When I started back in 2006, I was unemployed and my highest level of education was an associate’s degree from a community college. Four months into I landed a job in my same field of study through a colleague that also studied there. From then on I have been trying to apply everything to my work. This has driven me to unbelievable heights. University of Phoenix creates success stories. Thank you UOP, you will always be my number 1.
I'm thinking about enrolling into UofP Master's Degree Program in Management. I have to say I'm a little confused about everything that I read online about this school. I went to Northeastern Illinois University. It took me long 7 years of attending that school to get my BS in Accounting duing it part time. Today, I am working for one of the biggest companies in the world as a Real Estate Accountant and I must say, no one looked at the type of school I got my Bachelor's from. However, my previous work experiences counted probably 95% of the requirements for the job. I'm looking to get my Master's online just simply because I don't want to waste time driving 1.5 hours in Chicago traffic to get to school. I remember going to NEIU and failing classes because teachers were instructed to fail certain amount of students so they can retake the class so that the university can make money. I researched many schools to see the tuition costs and I must say most schools in Chicago area will charge you $2200+ per class for Business courses. So comparing that to UofP, their costs seem reasonable. I am a little nervous about enrolling in online school because I simply never done that but hopefully I'm not making mistake. I plan to stay with my current company for many years ahead and if I want to move up, experience counts the most, but certain possitions do require Master's and that's the reason I would like to get one.
I'm 13 classes into my AA/IT program and have found the first two a bit disappointing. I stuck in there, hoping it would get better, and I am very happy that it has. I believe my perception going into the program was tainted by comments of those who did not believe the curriculum met their needs. In addition, the initial quality of students appeared to be inadequate to maintain participation and attendance. I also had to drop one class within the first week due to concerns over the quality of education from the instructor. There was little feedback from this instructor which was not conducive to a quality education. I was able to start the same class with a different instructor within 2 weeks; maintaining my federal loan.
One sentence describes any attempt in achieving a college degree: You get what you put into it. There is emphasis on originality and critical thinking. The members of the class are usually in their 30's, some of which may appear to be bored, searching for enlightenment, curious, or seriously committed.
In the entry level classrooms for the AA program you will see personal posts that may deviate from the main topic. Do not let this distract you. During this time you will see many students drop off, sometimes with a negative opinion of their experience. I found the quality of work from some of the drop-outs to be lower than those with a high school diploma.
In my opinion, each class prepares you for the next. I believe a lot of thought went into building the curriculum. However, there appears to be a bit of cross references and similarities in discussion questions between the two classes that are required to maintain the federal loan requirements. Yet, the classes become more challenging as the program progresses.
I noticed short retorts from people who do not believe UoP/Axia to be a quality experience. I also could not miss the lack of thought that went into their posts. Most complaints circle around monetary issues or a poor education. My experience started rocky during the first 4 classes and improved substantially as the classes became more challenging.
The issue is not about the degree, but is about how phoenix recruit students. I say this because my mother does not have a high school or GED diploma and she received admission to attend UOP. I can’t understand how any school would let someone with an eighth grade level inter into school. It tells me that you are only concerned with the dollars rather than the student. I am transferring to a different college because UOP has the team program all wrong. I have no problems working with other team members, but I refuse to work next to someone who cannot understand the material. Another about the team projects, many students fail to participate or finish in a timely manner. I do not accept that 30% of my grade depends upon someone not giving his or her part. I do not like the fact that I am paying for quality education next to someone who only have an 8th or 7th grade reading comprehension. Many of the students are not able to understand or comprehend the course work or do not take it serious whenever there is team assignments. I am very fed-up with this method of earning a degree, despite all else, Phoenix does have an excellent curriculum, but lacking poor program structure and recruiting.
Phoenix needs to revamp the program and find out what works for each student instead of administering surveys about the school’s performance level in order to receive title IV funding. My experience at phoenix, is that people in my lower division classes did not know how to right papers. The classes were schedule out of order, which caused a lot of problems for those who did not know how to write properly. I even had this problem earlier on because in my research class I had to write a content outline, of which I had no knowledge. I believe com/1 and com/2 should have been given in the beginning of starting college for the first time. I really believed my instructor felt sorry for me and just gave me a good grade instead of a F, which I deserved. The conm/1 and com/2 classes prepared me better in other classes later on into my curriculum. I know now what to do through trial and error on my own. However, I really liked my instructors and had no problems with them at all. Sometimes I do think they issued grades that did not warrant an B or A. Phoenix should implement an assessment test to see if students can do excellaraded work, rather than admitting students for the money. Hopefully these issues that we face will change over time, but in the mean time, Keep up the good work for those that do not have an issue with phoenix. Do not let any one tell you what is good for you because you only know what is best. At Columbia, I can finish my bachelors degreeone years less than Phoenix at 36 credit per year. Afterwards,I will pursue a double masters degree. I am a diligent and avid worker, so I take pride in what I start and finish. while I am in Phoenix until I withdraw after my economics class, I will continue to master an A average instead of a C average like some students. This is beneath me because if I have to pay back a loan then I can excel at an 4.0 GPA. I will have completed two years after economics, and do well in my course assignments because I read a lot and I am able to comprehend the materialss. so good luck to everyone. remember all companies have things that we do not like, but the truth is, what you put into your education does matter. Just be positive and keep pursuing success and you will be amazed of your achievements.
I am a student at University of Phoenix. I attended several brick and mortar schools before transferring to UOP to finish my Bacehlors. I think the classes are just as rigorous. I am working really hard to finish my degree.
The fact that UOP has open admissions should not detract from the quality of education. Not everyone can finish their degree at UOP. Not everyone can put in the time and effort in finishing their education. Most people can enroll, but how many people are able to finish? This makes the degree more valuable in my opinion.
Some people have criticized my choice of college. Well, it is even harder to finish being criticized. I think that is another reason why UOP degrees are more valuable. It shows a lot of personal strength to finish a degree a lot of people like to criticize. This week alone I spent hours writing two papers, even though on Memorial Day someone had criticized my choice. Do you know the kind of personal strength that takes?
Many of my family members went to Ivy League schools. One of my parents went to Harvard. In my opinion, UOP is a good alternative to brick and mortar schools. I have been to private universities in Boston that cost the *same* amount as UOP. I also attended a state college for a year. It is the same level and quality of education. I changed my major when I enrolled at UOP. I am learning a lot about something I had no knowledge of before.
I think UOP is attacked a lot because they are the largest online school. They are pioneers of online education. Recently, someone told me I should look into a different online school. Why would I look into a different online school?? This is the biggest and best online school. It is only criticized because it is the largest.
I am about to enter my Senior year at the University of Phoenix. I have worked very hard to earn my degree. I am sick of people who have not entered a program or failed a program at UOP downgrading the education we are receiving. I have learned so much; much more than I ever learned at a traditional university. I am graduating from Phoenix in 2012 starting there in 2008. While the prices are high for the luxury of being able to do school on my time, the fact still remains that I feel I have grown as a person and my knowledge of business has surpassed most of the people I know with business degrees from traditional universaties. Any school is what we make of it! As a UOP student I know what I have learned and did it first hand at the UOP. The reason there is so much negativity about it is because people think they ARE paying for grades and cannot keep up with the pace at UOP. Also, traditional universities do not like the fact they are losing students to the University. So, what we have here is failures and invy doing most of the promotion against UOP.
I would never suggest a student right out of high school doing school at Phoenix because there are many experiences I treasure deeply from the traditional college experience. I would suggest if one has already experienced a traditional university and is ready to commit to the practice of learning, then UOP is great for you!
First, let's make clear that every university is out to make profit. Those when the funds are there, administrators will teachers, workers, and student activities, but not football, and basketball. This is just a quick lite touch, on that issue. Why not give the education away for free. Is a Havard Professor really woth 100K or more? I think not. Being accredited is much kin to buying friends if you ask me. If you doubt this please, look at there process for yourself. Just to be Clear, Providence College, a Div I school and not accredited with your special AACSB. Neither, is John Hopkins or Bucknell Universities. However, I will give you that most of the PSU and Wisconson satellite's schools are AACSB. So is the University of Baltimore. I see that Virginia Commonwealth University is accredited but do not see Virginia Tech being accredit. Education Like anything else in this world is a result of what you put into it. I live outside Philadelphia PA, there are many upper teir schools in the area, Penn, Villanova, Drexel, and St. Joe's. I know and work with people that have went to these Universities. In fact, I do attend the University of Phoenix working towards my MBA. Not long ago, I was taking a Finance class and a friend was taking a the same class at one of these upper tier schools. We had the same book, and our syllabus was similar, in the layout of the information, (ie readings and hot topics). The major difference that I saw, after speaking with him, was that his grade was based on in class participation and a final 20 page paper. Meanwhile, I had weekly papers, discussions question and participation requirements, a test at the end, and the final paper. This on top of my regular family duties and work. My professor was working in the finance field, as a CFO for a Fortune 1000 company. his was a grad assistant.
I am not saying that Phoenix is better then a Penn, Nova, or Dartmouth. But it is on par with the likes of a lot of state schools, such as a Shippensburg University or Rowan or even Rutgers. As I know grad's from all of the those as well. Any ways, It is about what you put into it that determines what one gets out. Those bashing the Phoenix, have only themselves to blame.
Just for the record, I will finish my MBA this year (2011), I will have taken my several years, but I have time. I spent time coaching my children in their sports, and being there for my family and was not an absentee father or husband during this journey.
I am lucky enough that my employer has re-imbursed me for my costs and has several Directors that have earned their MBA's from Phoenix. An MBA is only a key, how one uses it is up to them.
I completed the University of Phoenix MBA program in 2009. I have yet to attain full-time employment. I have given thought to removing the MBA information from my resume. For the most part I found the experience at University of Phoenix to be no different from that of my traditional undergrad experience. The in-classroom program was much like the traditional but with smaller class size which I preferred.
This article is very biased and lacking any hard facts. The truth is that all learning institutions are "in it" for the greenbacks. University of phoenix were just smart enough to have a monopoly on online learning market from the get go. Jackasses that hate the fact they did their degree in a traditional setting cannot and will never appreciate what the UOP actually does and how they operate. Its easy to be on the outside looking in, but ask real students and faculty. Do not go off assumptions and media hearsay....
I began attending UOP Online in 2007 after my son was born. I chose this school because I was able to go to school and stay home with my baby. I have since obtained my Associates in Health Care Administration and am 10 months away from my Bachelors in Health Care Administration. To be honest, I started researching UOP recently because after all of my educatuion I haven't been able to find a job. I didn't know if this was due the the economy or due to the level of education at UOP. After reading so many responses here and in other forums I found, I have discovered that the majority of people who have something bad to say about UOP only attending the school for a few months or not at all.
I, personally have found comfort in the positive responses posted by GRADUATES of UOP and their success. Thank you all for sharing your positive experiences in the middle of all of negative garbage.
Someone in here mentioned that they didn't want to waste our tax dollars on the so called "degree mill" UOP. I have to say this, If spending money on an education from a private University which is fully accreddited, is such a waste, why is the government allowing federal funds to still be sent to the UOP?
I do not have anything bad to say about the school, execept for the few complaints that I have, which is normal for any student to have complaints about any school they attend. I have worked extremelly hard for my education at UOP, instructors are great, knowledgeable, and do not pass everyone with an "A" unless they truly earned it. IF this was the case I would have a 4.0 gpa, but I don't because the course work is challenging and time consuming just like any other school.
If you have never attending UOP, PLEASE stop posting responses about the UOP because you do not have a clue about what you are talking about. And those who only attended for a short while, I hope that you put fourth more effort in you future schooling than you did with the UOP. Don't blame the school, blame youself for not trying your hardest, not making the most of your education, and for quiting before it ever got challenging.
Snobbery at its finest. For those of us without college campuses near our work, University of Phoenix provides an education that would otherwise be unattainable.
Sitting in a classroom in front of a professor is so 19th Century...
I'm looking at a University of Phoenix MBA, plus an Electrical Engineering bachelor's or an Atmospheric Science PhD from a regular university right now (well starting EE or AtSci after UoP MBA). The MBA will come in very handy in supplementing my meteorology knowledge or EE knowledge... since UoP offers a concentration in Project Management.
With a full-time job right now, playing the "on campus" game is a non-starter. I'd never finish. UoP offers me the ability to take classes entirely online, around my schedule. Good on 'em.
I think that the thing to remember with UoP, as well as any university, is that you will get out of it what you put in to it. Those students who do not take it seriously (and probably shouldn't have been admitted) will find that they will not benefit from it. I myself completed my degree and was able to move up within my organization very quickly. One thing that people have to remember is that online degrees are a relatively new thing. Most employers are willing to accept them if you are able to support the education with a real-life demonstration of your capabilities.
As a UoP Grad I want to say that my MBA is as valuable as a traditional university's but I live in reality and understand why so many believe it not to be. I however, value my degree because I know I have put in more hours then someone that went to a traditional university and would put any one of my research papers up against any of theirs. As a Marine I have travelled over the past 8 years from North Carolina to Morocco to London to SoCal to Iraq and finally to Northern California in the mountains. This travelling has made it impossible for me to attend a traditional university so the UoP program has been a godsend. I know I have worked my tail off to earn my degree and could care less what someone else may say. I do know there are those that have "skated" their way through and graduated but realistically so do a lot in a traditional university. No one can honestly say that every student in any university has legitimately earned their degree. Every school and every program has their cheaters. I truly believe that when I retire I will show an employer that there are many people getting a degree through UoP that are of high quality.
I am a recent graduate of UoP and I will participate in my commencement ceremony tomorrow. Let me ditto what many people have said, "you get out of it what you put into it." Those were the exact words I said to a friend before she enrolled in the UoP.
UoP is accredited in every state and is the largest university in the world. Also, it is definitely a 21st century model for educating people from all over the globe! I believe it was worth every penny I paid and was as rigorous a curriculum as any face-to-face campus setting. Actually, my counselor was more accomodating and available than any academic counselor I had in undergrad.
I do think that the master's program is better suited for a working student that is probably already working in their field. It fit my needs perfectly and I already knew how to manage working full time and raising children at the same time so this was just another part I had to work in because I wanted it so badly.
Don't believe the haters, just persevere, go through the learning curve (takes about 2-3 classes), manage your time well and work your ass off. It will pay off in the end.
I personally know at least four other graduates that are among the top in their fields and would be able to compete with any graduate from a traditional campus setting.
As for myself, I work at the district level in a very influential position in a large school system and passed my school administrator's licensure test with high scores. I attribute that to my education at UoP.
I loved my UoP experience and wouldn't trade it for the world!
I have attended a tradition college in the past but did not finish, because of the immaturity I had as a young man. Now that I am much older and can fully see the value of a college education, I find that traditional colleges are inhospitable to older students since the format is geared towards a younger crowd. Add to that the fact that professors are used to dealing with younger people and you have the situation that makes the University of Phoenix work. Much of what I see from other Traditional Universities is the comparison of their programs to UOP’s programs, which differ in many ways, not that one is any better than the other it is, is just different. The funny thing is that more universities that are traditional are trying to duplicate UOPs online format, and not to mention the paper writing and teamwork concepts. Correct me if I am wrong, but if you are going to criticize someone or something, you should not try imitating them or it. I am sorry for people, who had bad experiences at UOP, and I do not mean to minimize their plights, however my experiences for my Bachelors Degree in Information Technology and my Master’s Degree in Information Systems have both been good experiences. I guess it depends on how one approaches the situation. Whatever choice you make in choosing a college or university, do so from a well-informed stance, and go to the college or university that best fits what you want to do. Stop trying to have others make your decisions for you, get up, go out, and find what you need to make your life better.
I received a BA degree from a traditional university. A year ago, I decided to attend UOP after being out of school for 5 years. I chose UOP mainly because my GRE scores from 2003 had expired and I was afraid I would not do well if I took the exam again. I graduated from UOP with an MBA. Looking back, I wish I had studied for the GRE and attended a state school. The curriculum at UOP is very poorly designed. You don't have to really understand the material to do well. I showed my Brother who has an MBA from a state university and his comment was is this a joke? A smart high school student could do this. UOP has no standards for admitting students. This is why the quality of students varies. 1 of my learning team members could not write a grammatically correct sentence to save her life yet she was passing. They brag the profesors have real world experience but most of them are terrible teachers. Just cause you know something does not mean you are good at teaching it to somoneone else. I had to force myself to stay awake in half of the classes.I could have slept and still passed with an A. Bottom line. Having a degree from UOP is better than not having a degree at all. But, getting a degree from a state university or respectable private school is 100% better than one from UOP. If I had it all to do over, I would have studied for the GRE, took prep classes, and completed my MBA at a state university instead of UOP.
I agree with many of these posts. The problem is UOP lets too many poor students slide through. These are the UOP grads who give the school a bad name when they hit the real world. Think about it. You get a really bad emloyee who is completely unknowledgeable about the field. Oh my! MBA from UOP. Repeat this scenario many times and you start to rationalize the problem must be UOP. I know you get out of a school what you put in but it is also the school's responsibility to ensure the student's they give diplomas to have demonstrated mastery of the material.
People rip on UOP not because of the material that is taught, but because of the lack of clear standards in the applicants. The brand of the degree is synonymous with the quality of the graduate introduced into the labor market. Employers expect graduates of "Whatever" University to be of a certain quality based on the selectivity of the school. It's a an easy way of filtering through the many candidates that apply for the same job. The problem with UOP is that there is no real clear standard, so it is a crap shoot as to whether or not the graduate who is offered a job is a good apple or a lemon. Employers don't have time to "give you a chance" -- they have to make the best decision based on a sheet of paper known as a resume.
Uop is a joke. I got a degree from there it was like reliving kindergarten. I now attend psu world. Its a whole diff ball game.
Oh and half my courses didn't transfer! What a joke. So expensive too.
I am currently 2 months away from graduating with my bachelor's from UOP. I have some good things and some bad things that I experienced throughout my time there. I will say that I did seem to find that people who were not grammatically educated and could not write sentences to save their lives were passing just like I was, yet I consider myself to be well educated. I gained a better vocabulary and writing tools from UOP and those two come into play in the professional world. I also had team mates, like everyone, who skated by on the coat tails of their team mates who knew how to correctly format sentences and paragraphs...not to mention presentations. I was the team leader for at least 95% of my courses and felt like I babysat grown adults at least 50% of the time so that I would get the grade I felt I earned (which was usually an A). I did earn A's. I researched for hours, spent 4-5 hours writing each paper, and then spent another hour or two editing and ensuring the formatting was correct. So while I may end up regretting that I got my degree from UOP (if interviewers don't hire me because of it) I did at least gain some knowledge and good skills. I hope I get the chance to prove that there are good students who graduate from UOP. And yes, in the end, it is about what you put into it. I wish I could say that those people will only look stupid when they go apply for a job and really don't know the material. Unfortunately, they will be out there in the world giving the university a bad name, which puts me in a bad position as I am intelligent and educated enough to receive good job offers and I am willing to fight for it and prove it if necessary, because I know my area of expertise well. And, to those who bashed the posts of people with spelling and grammar errors: um, please look over your posts. Almost every single person (UOP or not) who had a post over 4-5 lines long had at least one error; its called typos people!
I just finished my AA degree online, working on my BS and I had no problems with the university. I have read many forums with many complaints and I have been surprised because I have not been let down. In the beginning,I was surpised by the seemingly lack of education of many of my classmates but as time went on those people dissipated.I happily graduated with a 3.6, my only complaint would be my complete inability to grasp algebra; why couldn't my looks have just gotten me an A?
I'm a student with UOPX and in the next 4-weeks will complete my MBA. Let me first state that the only reason I enrolled into this program was to receive the stipen pay made available via the Post 9-11 GI Bill which pays approx $1400 per month for full-time students and also pays all your tuition, most book cost; all of this depending on your qualification and living location. That said, I picked UOPX because of their history of being an "easy" learning institute. As much as it pains me to think that I put into this program 17 months of my life, it was in fact the easiest program that could be out there. Yes, I have not taken an advance degree with other schools but I have several friends who have either completed or are in progress. My efforts compared to theirs do not evencome close. The other obvious fact that UOPX provides easy learning is the quality of students enrolled. I'm sorry to sound snooty, but quite frankly, the level of knowledge is sub-par. This becomes very obvious when you have to work in teams, a concept that UOPX stresses is looked upon favorbly by Fortune 500 corporations. I had to put very little effort into this program, skipped classes, left early, and in some cases turned in sloppy work, and still maintain a 3.7 GPA. The only reason its not a 4.0, was due to me missing classes and losing points for attendance. It's sad, but students who truly go there for the learning experience are being ripped off and not learning much. Again, I picked this school more out of greed than anything else. Call me lazy, call me greedy, but one thing I'm not, is dishonest. This is simply my observation, opinion and take it for what its worth. This school will never live up to a real University/College.
I looked into the UOP technical communications program on behalf of someone who wanted to become a tech writer like me (I studied at the University of California). The UOP page describing the program had a completely wrong description of technical writing style, and had severe writing errors (accept instead of except, for example).
I advised my friend to look for a real college or university.
I am getting a Master's in Special Education from UOPX in a live, brick-and-mortar program. This review is objective, and shows the good and bad parts of the school. In my undergrad at a different university, I had some teachers that were incompetent and some that were fantastic. UOPX is no different. The instructors at UOPX all work in the field, though, and their insights are valuable. The curriculum is rock-solid and relates directly with what I do (teach special ed). Some of the coursework is repetitive between classes, though, and some of it is just down-right evil. I didn't expect to work as hard as I do for this degree. A downside to the program is the teamwork. It seems that the UOPX student body is made up of 80% yokels who can't hack it, and 20% people who really are working professionals who bust their arses to make it. Honestly, the yokels are the ones complaining all the time that UOPX is a ripoff and all that. Truthfully, it's too hard for them. They wouldn't make it in ANY kind of post-secondary education. Fact is that UOPX accepts just about everyone, so they get a lot of the educational wet blankets in their programs. That means 4 of 5 teammates you have will be useless and you'll end up doing their work (but consequently learning much more). The reason I chose UOPX was because my undergrad was in behavioral science, not education. UOPX offered initial special education licensure through a master's degree. No other universities would do that. One last problem that I had was they bumped the tuition and materials fees up half-way through my program. Not super cool.
Bottom line: if you're working professional who is serious about your field, Phoenix is a good school. In the education/ special education real, Phoenix is respected. If you're a can't-hack-it bum without a job that couldn't get into any other school, just stay home. We'd rather not have to do your team assignments and listen to your whining.
As a working adult, I chose to attend University of Phoenix classes (at a brick and mortar campus) to complete my BS degree. I wish I would have done more research before I enrolled. I remember the first day of my first class, and one of the students asked the instructor whether there was any value in the UOP degree, and he answered honestly that it would allow you to check the box on a job application that yes you have a degree - and that's about its greatest value.
I decided I should finish what I started, so I completed my degree, and I am ashamed to admit I have a degree from UOP. Almost everyone I know who hears about UOP makes disparaging comments, and I am definitely not proud to have this degree. In point of fact, having a UOP degree has actually hurt my ability to obtain employment at some companies.
Once during a telephone interview, the HR representative with whom I was speaking made a rude comment about UOP and asked me why I had attended. Another company where I applied rejected me flat out without an interview. I got some inside information that the company does not accept candidates who have attended UOP.
My experience with UOP was that there was a lot of writing involved, always a presentation on the last day of class, and a lot of group discussion. It could sometimes be valuable to have the open discussions, but most of the time it was not, because of the caliber of students in the classes.
The instructors would act as "facilitators", and basically manage discussions among students, who often times did not have anything of value to add, other than baseless opinions and unnecessary commentary. Many of the instructors would actually teach anything, but would instead facilitate or participate in the usually meaningless discussions.
Each class was only 5 weeks, and it was really impossible to get too deep into a subject in 5 weeks. Half the work was based upon group activity. Some group members would be committed to putting in great effort toward the projects, while other group members would really just phone it in, and contribute very little.
In truth, I am ashamed to admit I have a degree from UOP, and I would not recommend UOP to anyone. If you need convenient classes or online classes, there are many public universities which now offer online courses. After completing my UOP degree, and a master's degree from a traditional university (the admissions counselor during the interview also disparaged UOP, it was embarrassing), I also took a math class just as a refresher, at a traditional state university, and I found the quality and format to be outstanding, as well as challenging.
I honestly with the government would crack down on UOP and their methods of admitting students just so they can collect government money in the form of student loans, all the while delivering sub-par education with little value. In the eyes of many employers, there is a stigma to having a UOP degree. I would encourage anyone thinking about it to not attend, unless you are doing it for your own personal enjoyment and looking for an activity to fill your time. Do not expect the degree to add value towards greater career prospects.
The reason why a degree from University of Phoenix is not worth much is because there are some people who had bad experiences with them and felt the need to create lawsuits or ruin the name of this school. I will be graduating, after I finish my last two classes, with an associates degree in Psychology. I personally believe that this college is sufficient in many areas. For one, I have always had an advisor of some sort help me with any thing that I needed. I've had no problem recieving money from them when it was owed to me. No, University of Phoenix is not Harvard. However, they never claimed to be. I have found all of the courses that I have taken to be educational, and they have not been easy. The courses still consume plenty of my time. I have heard many people tell me that they recieved A's no matter what, and I would like to object to that. I personally have fallen behind in my classes once or twice when personal issues occured, and I had to retake them due to poor grades. I am sure that most of the complaints against the University of Phoenix is just a misunderstanding or miscommunication. Further more, It will be a shame if I am unable to find a decent job with my associates degree.
So, here I am again! I have posted two comments previously in which you can find them via the following statements:
"I wrote the above comment a while back:
"Old article, but I thought I’d chime in...""
Anyway, I wanted to chime in and read comments that have been posted since I last posted. I also wanted to provide some updates. Since my previous comment of "6% pay raise" from completing my BS/IS. I am now over the 6 figure mark at 31 years old. I attribute this solely to my drive to succeed and my fantastic education from UOP. I will be completing my MBA from UOP in February of this year (2012) in which I’m already on the books for an additional raise that will push me well into the 6 figures. Aside from the money, I am in a very rewarding career and continue to advance as my education advances. I am currently in a supervisory role that holds a great deal of responsibility.
One comment mentions a lack of PhD professors. Well, let me add onto that, in my studies at UOP I have had facilitators who have been, or currently hold the titles of CEO, COO, CFO, President, GM, business owner, etc. I could list more, but that's enough for someone to "get the point." These are actual titles of "facilitators" that have taught me throughout my program. In my opinion, I can learn much, much, more valuable information from someone who has been working their whole life, out in the industries, than I can from a career professor. This is not to take away from PhD holders, who I have great respect for, and have had several “facilitators” who hold PhD’s. Additionally, I have had several “facilitators” who hold advance degrees from so called prestigious colleges. So I guess the school is “good enough” for such persons to “facilitate” at!
One final thing before I chime out. I was recently inducted into the Delta Mu Delta International Honors Society in Business Administration. If you don’t know about DMD, it was founded by a Harvard University Dean and four Yale/New York University professors. I guess we (UOP students) are good enough for them! In conclusion, I am glad to see people posting their experiences with UOP. It is a shame to see so many negative views of the school posted on here.
Hello,
I thought I would chime in here as well. I have worked at UOP as a facilitator for seven years and I am a Director Level Executive at a large global company with a Master's Degree. I also am completing my MBA at UOP currently and will be finished in February. Just because I both work for UOP and am a student does not mean I am a rabid supporter.
As a faculty member, I can only speak from my personal experiences. UOP has always watched everything I do very carefully and if I have not followed their rules on proper classroom facilitation (and there are many, trust me), I have been reprimanded. They will terminate staff for relatively minor offenses because they must maintain their accreditation, which requires auditing and proof that their faculty are meeting certain standards.
The fact that many staff members do not have a Ph.D. means nothing. I know plenty of people with an M.S. and the required job experience that are far better teachers and professionals than others with a Ph.D.
That being said, I have personally experienced one or two bad facilitators in the MBA program. I do think they get some poor instructors from time to time, but I also think they get weeded out eventually due to the auditing process.
The MBA program has been challenging for me, and I already hold a BS in Biology and MS in Molecular Genetics from a well known school, so I know what hard looks like. I think that I've learned a lot from the program and it has definitely helped me be a better manager where I currently work. I am not certain it is going to help advance my career or get me a lot more money, but it may! I haven't really applied for any other jobs yet, but I feel confident that I am more marketable for a variety of different jobs, particularly in upper management, with this degree.
I'd say if you get a bad facilitator, let your counselor know and drop the class. Take it again and likely the next facilitator will be fine. There ARE bad apples in the crowd and UOP needs to know so they can stop giving them classes. I think 95% of the facilitators there are quite good!
I also find that that people that complain the most about UOP are the ones that often do poorly in classes because they have issues keeping up with the workload while working full time, following specific directions on formatting papers, and end up failing courses that they paid a lot of money for.
I don't even know where to begin with the troubles I've had the short time I was enrolled at UOP! In a nutshell, I would describe UOP as a corporation disguised as a university! And the student's best interests are secondary behind UOP's profits.
I've been a UOP student since 2008, and will be graduating in April 2012. I can't speak for each person nor all degrees offered by UOP but I just have few questions to the UOP bashers. Why are you here if you want nothing to do with UOP? Why is it so important for you to "warn" others about UOP if you've never attended it yourself and never will? To those that have attended and supposedly had bad experiences, why haven't students like me ever met ONE student who has been horrified by UOP in person or even in my class? If you've had issues personally, it’s better to elaborate exactly what went wrong rather than posting UOP sucks, and promoting hatred without proof.
Majority of the knowledgeable "facilitators" I've had in my classes are from brick and mortar universities so why are they teaching such a bad online university? Does that not ruin their reputation by teaching at UOP? How many weekends, breaks, and holidays do these traditional colleges have in a year? Compare that with students like me who have to work during the day and attend class at nights, weekends, and holidays. What's the student-teacher/counselor ratio? There have been no more than 15 students in each course in my 5-week compressed learning that involves no breaks, 7 days a week except 1-week winter vacation each year.
My student counselor is fantastic, and is a current student pursuing PhD in Psychology at UOP himself. My academic counselor is a tutor herself, and also teaches Forensic Accounting in Phoenix. Classmates/teachers have been ACTIVELY PARTICIPATIVE in majority of my classes. Compared to the experience I've had at other college, I'd say UOP has been far better, and there is no such thing as “clicks” with the classmates.
Two things I dislike about UOP is the fact that almost anyone can be enrolled, and the experience online student goes through at the early stages of the program in the learning teams. I understand UOP is reaching out to working-adults who cannot attend traditional colleges for one reason or another but I think this needs addressing. Online learning teams were annoying at the start of the program because of couple that were lazy. That is no reason to hate UOP but it is something I wish these facilitators would take notice when giving out grades and control. There is equality among the teammates even if they did not work as hard or spent as much time on a project as I did. Even if I dislike learning teams, it’s prepared me to work with those “real world” unmotivated and underachiever employees.
For a student who do have choices other than online college, I'd recommend that route for the social experience. For those like me who have to work to stay on their own two feet, UOP is a good choice. Yes, it’s expensive but if you consider room and board, tuition fees, books, meals, transportation, etc., it probably balances out few traditional colleges. What you get out of a degree is truly what you put in it as mentioned by many here. You truly have to be dedicated and focused to pass each class. I've had my reservations about UOP in the past but I've had more positive experiences that cannot be overlooked. I come from a family of graduates from respectable universities, and competition to be successful is strong among us but when we share educational experiences, we have far more similarities than differences.
Like in any job, you succeed only if you make an effort to succeed. Once you are hired, your job does not become permanent just because you graduated from a well-known university, and certainly your degree will not retain your job if you don't work. People (i.e.hiring managers) can assume anything they want and be narrow-minded by reading UOP on a resume but assumptions are mother of all screw-ups. I read once that a teacher can teach best only to a student who can apply the teaching, and whether you try this on an Ivy League student, traditional college student or UOP student, you will always find few that would give no returns.
Im two classes away from BSIT ...after I have read and finally understood what a piece of crap degree this gives you I am even ashamed that I have a degree from UOP...even SNL did a skit on online education. I rather mention that I am a HS graduate...I graduated with a 3.4 ..its a all crap and now I have student loans ...had a I known what a joke UOP is
CThis saga continues....
I would think everyone would find it odd that UOP is always being attacked.
Traditional Universities are now modeling their on line programs after UOP's on line program.
UOP is an accredited University, yes, regionally accredited but, accredited never the less.
I do not think UOP should be compared to a Harvard or any Ivy league school. It was never meant to be. This University was geared to the individual who, later in life wanted to go back to school and get their degree to hopefully better themself in the workplace.
These are usually people in the workplace with knowledge about their profession.
I would never recommend this University to a high school graduate. They should go to a traditional University and do it the traditional way.
Phoenix will not see right for them.
I received my MBA from Phoenix and thought it was a great education, worked hard, 20/25 hrs a week, you have to maintain a 3.0 GPA minimum and it is a lot of work.
Everything is geared on the premise you already know your trade.
Yes their are issues with Phoenix, but all Universities have issues and by the way, check what kind of debt you have when you graduate from Harvard.
I have been COO for companies for the last 18 years and do not look at a degree from UOP any less than any other degree, how ever if you graduate from Phoenix and you were just out of high school, I would be suspect.
I agree with a lot of the comment's that said, "You get out of college, what you put into it.
As an educated person, all one has to do is look at the comments posted by those who are allegedly UOP instructors and former students to know what little value a UOP education offers. Ignoring errors that could be typos, there are far too many grammatical problems with the posts of such people. It's very sad, and it makes it impossible to respect a degree from UOP.
Well Trisha, thank goodness you set us all straight on the perfection of all colleges and university graduates, except UOP graduates. I work with all kinds of people, some very educated and others not so much. The bottom line is the person makes the difference. Some college grads are as dumb as sticks and some high school drop-outs that are as smart as whips. It would be interesting to see your reaction if any of your college pas made a grammar or typographical mistake. You are so righteous!
Yes, I am a UOP graduate, and I am more successful because of it. I may not be running a large corporation, but I am doing quite well in a high tech industry. To speak to the level of education, there are good and bad instructors at UOP… but even you must admit this is no different from any other learning institution. It comes down to the individual and the choice that person makes. Do they want the paper or the education? It does not matter where you go if you have the right focus. The UOP program worked for me, a working adult with a family. The traditional college program would not work nearly as well for my life today.
I attended, and received, my BS in BM and I am looking forward to pursuing my PhD in Information Systems. I can say, without any hesitation, that the UoP was a detrimentally beneficial experience for me.
I find it very disheartening to read blogs like this that seem so intent to bash the school. If ever another institution is supposedly investigating the UoP it never seems to list any facts and compare these facts with national averages.
If these universities have something truly enlightening to disclose then please by all means cut to the chase and spit it out. I'm tired of hearing speculation because Joe can't find a job after graduating or many former students are disgruntled. I am sure that UoP has more disgruntled students than most other colleges. It has MORE students!
The only things that really hurt the reputation of the schools accreditation are articles like this and all the people crying about how even after they passed their courses they still don't know what they're doing. That's on the student to make sure that they are competent in their field of study. The UoP can only lead you to the water it can't make you drink.
So please, for the sake of graduate students like myself, who can sit down at an interview and tell the hiring manager the intricate details they may be overlooking in the field, stop all the poorly presented articles that in all honesty make your school look bad.
"detrimentally beneficial"? You don't even make any sense! It's hard to believe anyone would think you were PhD material. It's amazing how many of the grads on this board appear to be borderline illiterate. (Personally I like the one who writes in about how she didn't "waist" her time in the BA program.) Clearly the university does an extremely lousy job of teaching writing. Many of you also seem not to understand about sentence fragments. Good luck guys. I can't wait to see what your cover letters look like when you apply for jobs.
People don't like it when you challenge their traditions.
University of Phoenix is obviously on to something, as ALL major universities have now followed their lead.
One school aims to fill itself with special groups to appeal to government grants, while another school tries to boost profits by appealing to a wide customer base.
Which one is required, in the end, to create the better product?
Whaaa, Whaaa, Whaaa.... For all of those who doubt the value of a degree from UOP the solution is simple, just don't go there. Everything is not for everybody and If UOP is not for you stay away. And if you decided not to study there you don't have to try to make yourself feel better or superior by bashing the accomplishments of UOP graduates.
Hello
This is amazing I have a friend who is attending UOP and was discussing with her my desire to attend the school since I was told that I could skip from completing my associates degree and apply for a bachelors degree. I am not sure if any other college would allow for this. She did tell me as well as my sister that some companies do not recognize degrees earned from this school so that did it for me. I was thinking why should I have 1500 to 2000 every few months and go into debt for a degree that may not be worth anything. I reviewed some of the comments about having to put in all this work with UOP I just completed an online couse and there was no difference I myself I had put in 3-4 hrs a day and research and read and write papers so its just no the UOP that is doing this. For myself I will move on and continue with my current online courses.
I am a current UoP student who will be completing my BSBM at the end of this month. I am very excited and very proud of my accomplishment. I took classes at two traditional universities just out of high school and am glad I did if for nothing other than the experience. However, at this point in my life, I am a wife, mother, and full-time employee at a major utility company. I don't have the time available to go to a traditional university now.
I was impressed that UoP did transfer nearly all of my credits from both schools as I saw how many credits both of those schools refused from the other (I attended the same school twice - once before the second school and again after).
In my personal experience with UoP, I have had great classes and not so great classes. This refers to both the facilitators and peers. I have been very surprised how many facilitators allow poor grammar, misspellings, and even incomplete thoughts that don't make any sense. However, I have also found some peers that have experience and knowledge that has been very useful to me.
Regarding what employers think of the UoP, my employer is willing to pay up to 90% of my degree to this university. The manager of my department has made me aware that he is now keeping me in mind for a promotion when it comes available as I've shown my dedication to my education in attending UoP.
I believe that there will always be a stigma behind a degree from UoP because there have been so many questioning the quality of the education. However, I have worked harder through my coursework through UoP than I ever remember doing for my coursework through both traditional universities I attended.
This is only my personal experience, but I think other people can relate who have attended a regular University, obtained a bachelors degree, and then tried the Univ. of Phoenix to further their education. I did go to a state University in my hometown and got a B.A. degree in a science field. Years later, my employer at the time (a large hospital) had the Univ. of Phoenix offer classes at our hospital in the evening at one of our conference centers. This was only for an MBA program (no other degrees were being offered for on-site education at our hospital) and after you finished the major requirements for the MBA degree then you would need to specialize the MBA degree by attending several more classes on their main campus here in town. I was going to get an MBA with a specialty in Healthcare Management. So I started attending because my employer offered tuition reimbursement, so there was no on-going debt to me to get my MBA for the first year of classes. After the first year, then my tuition reimbursement would max out and I would need to take the rest of the classes out of pocket (so to speak). The initial student recruitment person was very much a cheerleader for the Univ. of Phoenix and made it sound wonderful and promising to get an MBA from them. So I signed up and started attending. The first thing I noticed was the so called text books were poorly written as compared to my state University text books. There was a lack of detail and many spelling errors every chapter. Then, my professors seemed to not be up to the same standard of teaching as my state University. They didn't seem to have formal teaching experience or training in adult education, so you feel like the professors don't know what they are doing. Then, you have to pair up with other students in your classes to work on many group assignments (at least one a week and all work is done outside of class by meeting with your group weekly for many hours a week that must be documented via a log of dates and times submitted to your professor). If you are lucky, then you will have people in your group that carry their share of the group assignment. But if not, then you have to pick up the slack. And, of course, you have at least half of your overall grade based up these group assignments. On top of that, you have a ton of reading to do and your own individual assignments on top of the group assignments each week. There isn't a lot of direction from the professors about how to approach the assignments. You are rather on your own and it is very much "self directed learning" kind of style. As I went from one class to another (I did get an A or A+ grades in all of my classes by putting in a lot of hours each week on my assignments), you feel like you haven't really learned a lot from your professors much less the text books / assignments. You feel like you are essentially teaching yourself and hoping you are learning what you need to know about Business Administration. Once I used up my tuition reimbursement funds from my employer after my first year of classes, then I would have needed to spend about another $12,000 to $15,000 to complete my MBA out of pocket. I decided that not only was I not learning much from my Masters of Business Administration program from Univ. of Phoenix, but I didn't want to end up with a kind of worthless degree and a lot of debt. I have read many articles about employers not valuing Univ. of Phoenix degrees, so I felt that I was glad I didn't continue to attend these poor classes and get into a lot of debt only to find out the employers don't value people with degrees from Univ. of Phoenix. I hope this information is useful to anyone considering attending U. of P. because I think you would be better to attend a state Univ. or at least a local community college with the proper accreditation that would allow you to transfer your credits to other colleges around the U.S.A.
I am currently a UoP student, and I enjoy it. I work full time, have a family, and I am also in the Reserves. I do not have time to sit in a class room, and I am thankful for on-line degrees. After I graduated High School, I went to a local college for a year before I joined the military. I have learned so much more from the On-line classes I've taken, compared to my Freshman year on campus. You have to be dedicated and capable to learn from reading and doing research yourself. I began my On-line journey with DeVry, but quickly transfered because their lack in student support. The staff of UoP keep in touch and are easy to get ahold of, compared to DeVry.
The person who said that UoP staff keep in touch. Huhhh??? Never had that experience. And that posting is so obviously either a UoP staff posting or a person who had a bad local college. And YEAH, everyone is "capable of learning from reading and doing research yourself," so why couldn't you do that at your local college. Duhhhhhh... No mention of where you are attending, what degree you are getting, how many classes you have taken so far. Those kind of general postings are so obviously fake or that person hasn't been in UoP long enough to know better.
People, please just go to the university of your choice. And for people that state that other universities are non-profit you Are wrong, ask them if you don't have to pay. Not everyones schedule is the same, that is why almost every school offers online courses, UoP is just the master of online schooling since they started it. I just saw that even ivy league schools offer online courses as well. If you have the resources to go to a brick school go, I would but I have 3 kids and 2 jobs and no time to sit in a class that is 30 minutes from my house. Another thing is that the education you would receive from any school will have the same subjects and material of the field you are seeking, if they are an accredited school.
I am looking at some of these posts and I can that I am a bit appalled at some of the negative comments that wer made on this post. University of Phoenix is not and a paper mill! I returned back to school back in 2006 to finish my bachelor's degree after being out of school for ten years. I had attended a traditional university for three years back in the 1990's. I now have a BSBM and also an MBA from the University of Phoenix and I can say that I earned both degrees! It was alot of work and took the time equivalent to that of a traditional college or university to complete both programs. The programs are accelerated and you have to remain on tasks to complete all assignments. I feel that my degrees are worth alot as I have a diverse work experience. I am continuing my education of course and eventhough it will be at another college to earn a second master's degree and maybe a doctorate; I feel that the two degrees I have already earned do hold substinance in the business and corporate world.
As I was working on my accounting degree at a state college, a friend of mine approached me for some help with his accounting homework from UOP. I laughed out loud at the material, references, and questions in his homework. Most of the material the "professor" had assembled was poorly written and uninformative. I assumed this was an introductory accounting course, but was quite surprised to learn that this was his third and final accounting course he needed for his business degree. A few cursory questions to him illustrated that he had little to no understanding of even basic accounting principles. He was unable to define GAAP. He was unable to produce even basic journal entries. He was unable to differentiate between cash and accrual methods of accounting. His explanation of the basic financial statements sounded like he was guessing as to their purpose using only their names as a reference (he knew the balance sheet needed to balance). I'm sure that part of the blame rests on him as the student, but after reviewing the lesson materials and speaking briefly with the "professor," I am certain that UOP is delivering a product far beneath the current academic standards in this country (which aren't particularly high). On several other occasions, my friend again asked for assistance (in accounting, statistics, and management courses), and I was surprised each time at how unprepared and disappointed a student would be who expected to base a career off of skills and knowledge learned in a UOP program. Given the relative weight a UOP diploma holds, and the knowledge gained in taking the courses, I would say students are better off banging their heads into a wall until they decide to pursue an actual education. I'm not overly fond of our higher education system, but UOP sets a new, dangerously low standard with its approach to education.
I have a bachelors and a masters degree in accounting from the University of Phoenix. I have not yet been able to land an accounting job, not even an entry level job! Here are the stats for the last three years. I applied for approx. 300 accounting jobs. I have had 25 job interviews. I have had no job offers. I owe $30,000 in student loans. My advice to anyone thinking about getting a business degree at the UOP is DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY! If I could go back in time, I would not have made this collossal mistake. Please learn from my mistakes before you too regret it.
There are no doubts in my mind that there will be some employers that will have mixed feelings and perception about a UP online degree. I have attended UP online for a little over three years and I have learned a great deal. Is the college experience much different than a traditional setting, absolutely. Is the level of education the same? Yes, and the reason is because, as other posts have pointed out, the level of return from the material is what the student makes of it and how much time is invested by the student.
I will continue with UP through my Bachelor degree in business and I am ok with the cost, although high, I feel like my money is well spent on education that would be likely not possible given my work schedule. The fact reamins that there will be some organization leaders that will look at the surface and title of an education, but I think I speak for most when I say that I frankly don't want to work for someone that will only hire me based on the title of the school that I attended, rather I want someone to recognize that I was able to juggle a 55 hr work week with school from an accredited university and was able to graduate with high marks.
You get what you put in, your degree is only as good as you make it, and anyone who wants to criticize me or any other student of ANY university can suck an egg.
I plan on trying to work through a masters at Kansas University somehow with my shcedule in the near future and I will always value my experience at U of P online.
Post a Comment