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Keri.london
(In Progress) on January 4, 2013
(email verified)
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Rip OFF, Don't Go there!! You will Regret it
It's not so much the education that is bad as it is the management of this company. I went attended online course study for my Bachelor's in Computer programming, and I regret it. Everything was going great until I got to the end of my program and I was only a class away from graduating. They added 5 classes on to my program extending my graduation date. The problem with this was, I had gotten loans and grants to cover my entire program, but when they decided I needed 5 more classes, I was maxxed out on my loans and couldn't get anymore. They told me that I had to either pay for these classes or take Clep exams. Well, I wasn't in the position to pay any of this extra money for neither the classes or the Clep exams and so they didn't even let me finish the classes that were covered by my loan, the dropped me from the school and slapped me with a $900 bill. Which make no sense, because my tuition for the classes I was in at the time was covered under my loans. When I asked them why I couldn't finish what I had paid for they told me they didn't receive dispersment for that sememster yet. So I called the bank for my school loans and they said that when the school needs fund dispersed all they have to do is ask for the funds. AIU wouldn't do that, instead they kicked me out of the classes I paid for and gave me a bill. So I ended up with no degree and huge student loans that I can't afford. Over $50,000. I'm not the only one this school has done this to, check out Ripoffreport.com and search them. There are many others who had the exact same experience as I did. Stay away, if you don't have the money at the end of you degree to cover the extra stuff they slap you with.
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Shrox_ley
(In Progress) on August 21, 2012
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This school is for forward thinkers and take-charge personalities
AIU gives you the opportunity to get your hands on to a college degree with a lot of flexibility. In order to do well, you've got to read twice as much materials in one week than you usually would have to in a regular University. If you are in it to barely pass, this is NOT the University for you. The information is practical and applicable to the real world. If you don't put all of your effort into your studies, just like anywhere else, you're not going to be learning very much.
What makes this University unique is that it integrates different ways to learn, instead of just reading. You get a program called M.U.S.E. which gives you the opportunity to watch videos, interactive media, and audio which adapts to your individual learning style. This University is the most proactive, progressive and ahead of its game. In the brick and mortar Universities it's quite the opposite A.K.A: beaurocracy. Change is this University's language; it is very comfortable with change, which is extremely rare in any University (You get no red tape).
Advisors and teachers in AIU, 3 times out of 4 have been outstading in their work and their behavior towards me.It is for entrepreneur-minded people, not to for students waiting to be baby sat. Every term, students fill a survey which lets the University know what things it needs to change and whether it should fire bad teachers.
You've got to work hard and need to have a very strong drive to succeed. It really depends on how much effort you put into it. If you wear AIU with pride the school will be well regarded. I'm commited to this school, knowing that through my success the school will look amazing, because it is amazing. When somethings is "different" or "new" most people don't accept it, it takes time, and if you are ok with putting up with that responsibility, go for it. This is America, the land where you get to choose how you learn. God bless us all.
I'm a 4.0 student, majoring in International Business, and have attended for a year and a half.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on May 27, 2012
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AIU Teachers, Resources and Admissions Advisors
Let me keep it real for you here. First of all the financial aid office is open 7 days a week. You are assigned a lead fin. aid advisor that has a team of people available to help you. Your stipends are not issued for 10-12 weeks, usually after the quarter, which is in your best interest. Why? Because if you fail the class you will need that money to pay to retake it and if you withdraw you will not owe money you spent on living expenses. Secondly, all of the professors have to have Master's degree or PHD and have at least 10 yrs experience in the field. If you have a professor that is not up to par, they are everywhere. My experience has been, out of the 6 professors I have so far, I had problems with only 1 of them. In the end we worked it amicably. Now as far as the technology goes, they use a program call MUSE, it allows you to learn a summary of what you are studying based on whether or not you are a visual, hands on, or auditory learning. I love the program because I learn using all three. This school has a regional accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. They also have a programmatic acreditation for their School of Business I don't remember the name off hand. Call them and find out. So all of you people that are mad because you were being irresponsible and didn't do what you were suppose to need to stop complaining and get back to school and get your education and make a better life for yourself. I have been to 5 colleges and have 2 degrees so far; working on my third and no holds your hand through the process like they do. You have to pay for your education; so to say they are just about the money is a gross injustice. Why? Because if you have never been to college before; its your first time; they will not charge the first time if you fail the class they will offer you another chance to take it over or leave without charging. So before you start beating a company because you are unhappy with yourself, your life, your accomplishments, and lack discipline; think first. America has changed for the better in some ways and the worst in others. This is for the worse using a open forum like this to disperse your lies about school that has done nothing to hurt you.
7 of 12 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(Graduate) on February 14, 2012
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Just in it for the money
I have attended AIU for four years now and have always had difficulties with the financial aid department. Financial aid claims to have an “Additional Funding Team” that projects how much and when you will receive any excess financial aid in the form of a stipend. This alleged “team” does not speak with students, so trying to contact someone directly is fruitless. The financial aid department directs any and all responsibility for additional funding to this unknown team and will provide only copied and pasted answers to your queries; “when will I receive my stipends?” or “I have a positive balance on my account, why can’t I get my stipend?” (None of which will answer your question).
You are told that the "Additional Funding Team" will send you a schedule of approximate stipend disbursement dates and amounts, but they take their sweet time doing it (sometimes 2-3 months) as the loan money (which has already been received by the school and is reflected in your account balance) sits in their hands and accrues interest in AIU’s bank account (which financial aid will adamantly deny) while you struggle to make ends meet until AIU decides that they will release your money to you.
In the past, persistently calling financial aid and addressing the same concern over unreleased stipends has seemed to help, due mostly in part, I’m sure, because they’re tired of hearing from me. I am not impressed with this school what-so-ever, and not only for the difficulties I’ve had with financial aid, but also because I am placed into classes with many other students who can barely speak English, much less articulate a semi-decipherable assignment submission. You can’t help but wonder how these students made it this far…until you realize that somewhere, somehow, their cost of tuition is being paid to the school and, in essence, that’s all that AIU is really concerned about.
I am currently in my final degree program at AIU and have decided to stick with it until it is completed, but only out of convenience; I know the layout of the virtual campus like the back of my hand, understand exactly what is required of me to pass classes, and have two full sheets of names, numbers and direct extensions used to reach various departments and their staff (this is invaluable as it has taken four years to amass this list and I refer to it regularly as a means to avoid having to weave my way through generalized departments and subjected to call transfers that invariably lead to voice mails providing no immediate assistance).
I have had four instructors (out of 25) who actually seemed to enjoy their role as an online proctor as evident in the comprehensive feedback left when grading assignments and the ample amount of interaction they had with the students; they seemed to really care that the student understood the material that was being taught. Three of these four instructors have since left AIU, perhaps because their perception of teaching students online had become somewhat jaded through their experience of having to pass undeserving students just so the school could continue to pocket their tuition. Is AIU a diploma mill? Yes, I would have to say so and base it on nothing more than the caliber of students who are now in their Master’s program but have yet to grasp the sheer basic fundamentals of proper grammar, spelling, citing or referencing. This only ascertains my belief that AIU values money more than education.
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on September 27, 2010
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AIU MBA opinion
So, I have been with AIU for a while now. Actually I have done all of my schooling through them and have been working on my MBA with them. I chose AIU because it was prety much the fastest track to a degree as possible. I didn't shoose the degree because of its prestigious reputation. I just wanted to get a college degree just so I could have one...that probably doesn't make sense to most of you but that's how I am.
My experiences have been a toss up. I enjoyed the undergrad program. It was interesting. The teachers are hit or miss, some are helpful and others are a complete waste of time. I suppose you will get that from any school. I like the flexibility of the school, I don't have to attend class on any particular day and can do all of my work on the weekend.
I graduated with a pretty good GPA, a 3.90. I worked for that GPA, but not everyone does. I notice that a lot of people do not give forth their absolute effort and use their full potential. I only wish that i could find out how the others are being graded. I worked hard for my grades, but I know that this school will pretty much pass anybody if you put your name on a piece of paper.
I really do not like the school administration. The school has not been helpful when I have needed them. There have been a few times that I have deployed or moved and I needed time off to take care of things and they gave me a really hard time. The staff is never attentive to your needs and you have to call them back, because they won't call you back. It seems that I have had a different student advisor about every three months for some reason. I'm not too sure why, but I do not like it. Whenever you have a problem you deal with a new stranger. I did have one really good student advisor but that was a while back and she is no longer my advisor.
One thing that I really like about the school is that they do your schedule for you. You don't have to worry about registering for schools, and the books have always come in the mail on time.
As far as value goes, I don't pay for the program so it doesn't apply to me that much. But, if I had to pay for it out of my own pocket I would definitely not go to school here. It just isn't worth it. You can get better programs from schools that are accredited for less money. When it comes down to it, this is a for-profit school. They are looking to make money off of you....and god do they give it to you with the sticker price.
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Anonymous
(Graduate) on January 5, 2010
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BBA
I have finished my BBA at AIU online and am currently in the process of following through with my MBA. I have mixed feelings about the school for a few reasons. Most of the reasons have already been addressed in the forums.
The teachers are really hit or miss. You can tell that some of the teachers actually care about the work that they do and others don't. For example, some teachers don't even have the decency to hook up the microphone to do their online lessons. Not to say that they are all this way, but it is extremely irritating when I go into a classroom and it is like being in an online chat instead of going to school.
The school is EXPENSIVE! I am not playing around! The amount of money that it takes to finish to complete a degree is probably comprable to completing a degree at a state university.
On the flip-side. AIU enables the students to complete a degree in a very short amount of time which is a great deal for a working adult, like myself. This has obvous advantages and setbacks. The learning retention of an accelerated learning classroom environment is not the same as a drawn out two year program. The classes are 5 weeks long. So, it feels like you are just getting onto the class and then it is finished. Which is good and bad i suppose.
The books are included in the tuition. So there is not really any additional costs. It all comes in one package. But either way, you are paying for it.
The school itself is a business, there are a lot of people on here saying that they are pushing the students hard to continually pursue their education.....no sh**. Every school does that.
The people that you will be in class with are typically not A students. The people that were still enrolled during some of the last classes I was particularly surprised at their poor work ethic. It could have ben that they had "senioritis". However, there were a fairly good amount of people that put forth a genuine interest in the quality of their work. Getting an A, is not necessarily an easy thing depending on the teacher. There were a few that I didn't have to work at though.
Group projects are a complete disaster. The lack of communication between the groups. If you are lucky you will partake in a functioning group. If you are unlucky you will end up doing the entire project yourself. Which happened to me a couple times. People will come in at the last minute and expect to gain full points for piss poor participation.
Part of the reason that I continued to stay with the school is because I am already familiar with it. I already have the student mindset and am geared toward further enhancement of my career potential. After all, a higher degree is just a check in a box.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(Graduate) on December 1, 2009
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Mixed Feelings ...
I have mixed feelings about the AIU program. Overall, you get out what you put in, as with anything else in life. A student could coast through this with a "C" average pretty easily, but that is no different than most state and community programs. I have a pretty broad perspective,as I have completed coursework at a brick-and-mortar community college, a b&m private university, Axia College, University of Phoenix, and now AIU. What they all have in common, for the serious student, is the lack of competition for admissions and grades. What I mean is, if you are a reasonably intelligent and dedicated student, you will be competing with yourself for grades, not your peers.
My one big problem with the program is the hit-or-miss faculty. Again, this is not a major difference from the other programs I have attended. What the online programs in general, and AIU in particular, suffer from is the lack of choice. On two occassions, I requested transfers out of courses. One was granted, and one was not. So, I was forced to take a class that I was looking forward to with an instructor that brought nothing to the table, and in fact made serious errors on fundamental topics. The University deserves credit for trying to fix the problem, but also must take the blame for hiring a well-educated know-nothing.
In summary, I would rate AIU above the other online programs I tried, and about on par with the "real" schools I've attended. I fit the "busy working adult" model to a tee, and therefore have no alternative. For me, AIU was the right choice, if an imperfect one.
2 of 6 people found the following review helpful
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Zerorez
(In Progress) on March 27, 2009
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AIU BIT Network Administration
I go to AIU currently and have to say it isn't a mill, I have to work hard and with little time off. I am working in the field as a Network Administrator as I go there at night to build my resume. I have learned things there I was able to apply directly to my work, and I have checked out all my teachers, every one of them has a doctorate and works in the field they teach. Most of the teachers I have had were tough on making sure you don't just copy and paste stuff from the internet, they have something that determines if you copied built into the system.
I have gone to regular schools (state college, Tech College) and these guys are as good or better and the teachers are FAR better than you would likely get from a small school.
People that hate it are merely upset non traditionals with REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE are also getting degrees and competing with them.
You have to try here, I am able to keep about a B and I have 3 tech certs that I passed with over 100 points each CCNA A+ Network+
I have seen all the negative stuff out there, but In 2009 not much is relevant. Yes they hard sell, yes they are online, but you have to work and the teachers really are what make this college worth it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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Obandel
(In Progress) on April 12, 2008
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AIU is what you make of it...Really
I am in the last throws of my Masters degree program in IT with AIU. I have read a lot of reviews online regarding this institution (negative, bitter, good etc) and I have come to conclude that AIU is generally a good school, perhaps not the best and lots of room for improvement.
My particular areas of concern was the quality of the faculty and instructor feedback. Instructors' bio seemed solid but assignment reviews by instructors were less than academic, instructor comments were too simple, vague and not constructive. After course submissions are graded, students have no way of knowing what areas they have done well or need improvement (such APA, formating, sentence structure, paper theme etc). Of course as a graduate student I am able to self critique my work but I expected some informed and intellectual perspectives on coursework submissions by students. Comments such as "you did a good job" don't suffice. Overall, I found the experience extremely challenging and intense. This program requires effecient time management and strong self-discipline to succeed, it is certainly not a cake walk as some have suggested.
The Discussion boards I thought were productive and refreshing. The collaboration technology was perhaps the best experience. Overall it is a good school and I think in the wake of the SACS suspension and subsequent reinstatement of accredtion status; AIU Online has improved tremendously in terms of quality of service and course delivery. The main problem as indicated earlier was instructor feedback and student course work review. Graduate programs are meant to expand your horizons and expose you to new thoughts, trends, technologies etc and provide you the resources to research and learn about things you primarily would never have known. if you failed to learn something it is likley you did not take advantage of all the resources available. I personally learned a lot in the MIT program particularly in the Object Oriented Application Development and Project Management courses.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(Graduate) on February 13, 2008
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Notes From an AIU Grad
I recently graduated from AIU with a BFA in Visual Communication with a specialization in Web Design. I worked very hard and graduated with a 3.9 GPA. I am a veteran professional in the Multimedia area, so most of the courses were fairly easy for me, but there were some classes that were quite difficult for me, but I managed to do well overall.
In order to be successful at AIU, you have to be self-motivated, there is no hand holding at all. You get out exactly what you put in. I worked hard therefore I learned a lot, however I had many classmates whose work was absolutely horrible, but somehow they managed to graduate – I don’t know how.
Personally, for me I need a degree to move ahead in my career, so the experience was overall OK. However, I would not recommend this program to someone who would need to rely on these classes to actually learn the field. In cases like these, you would graduate with a degree, but not really have enough skill to be successful in your career.
I NEVER once heard from my academic advisor, and this pissed me off. However, everyone else (especially my prior learning assessment advisor) were great.
If you are self-motivated and need a degree to move ahead, AIU is a great choice; however, if you are looking to learn a craft and need individual attention, I would not recommend this program.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
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Anonymous
(Graduate) on April 24, 2007
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Might as well be diploma mill
I just completed the Master's in Information Technology. It's a 13 month accelerated program and I completed it easily, with very little effort. Granted, I have been in the IT field for 10 years, but I expected to actually learn something new. I can safely say that the only thing I learned was the way DES works, and for that I paid $30k. Even worse, there were quite a few students in my class that really had no business being there. They got almost every discussion question wrong and by the last class one of them still did not understand what a Trojan Horse was. They all graduated, however, which means they had to have gotten at least a B in all classes.
Basically, if you're already in the field and you want to pay $30k to have a master's very quickly, it might be worth it. If you actually want to learn something, go somewhere else. This program will not even prepare you for an entry level help desk job.
Also, they are accredited, but on probation for the 2nd year. The probation expires in December. If they do not pass, they lose accreditation.
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