Ashford University

My Degree from this school is no longer even recognized in my state. All that money for a useless degree which is essentially toilet paper. This school boasts about its excellent education degrees. Not one education degree is N.C.A.T.E accredited or recognized by the Department of Education. None of them lead to certification either. Total waste of time and money. RUN DO NOT JUST WALK. Keep googling there are some good schools out there.

One of the best decisions I ever made was deciding 8 years ago to get my college degree. For those that believe that an online education is easy, think again! You don't have professors holding your hand. You have deadlines to meet, multiple assignments at once, lots of research, just like you would have on a job! I completed an Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's degree from Ashford. There are weekly discussions, papers, and tests (mostly during undergrad). You have a course syllabus and due dates for assignments. A typical (Bachelor's program) week would include two disussions, a short paper and perhaps a test. At the end of five weeks, a final paper is due. The Master's programs are six weeks with mostly research. APA format is required and like any college/university, there is a grading rubric for papers. Also like any college/university, you'll have tough and easy going professors. Most of my professors were experts in their respective fields and most were pretty fair graders. I only had one bad experience with an English professor during my freshman year (glad I'm done with him). The library is not the best and you'll have to use online resources, but the library does automatically format the resource for you. And yes, Ashford hours will transfer to other colleges. They've transferred to four other universities for me (three brick and mortar, two of them major universities). Ashford is regionally accredited, which is better than national accreditation. Because of my Bachelor's, I was able to become a teacher, and because of my Master's, I will be getting a pay raise this year. I could have gone into the private sector, but I'm enjoying the benefits of education *wink*.

I attended Ashford for three years and finished my BA. It was a wonderful experience. I had no issues with Financial Department, with admissions, nothing. I never had a teacher not respond, only had one that didn't respond in a timely manner and had only two instructors that I felt were 'jerks', but was able to get through the courses with good grades. I attended a Public University for online classes and my feeling of it was those instructors took to online classes for extra cash. There were times I never got responses from them, and rarely were the responses timely. The flexibility of Ashford fit my over-whelming schedule and was perfect. The school was not perfect. Some of the classes seemed silly, but I was never once graded on my opinion like some of my friends who attended U of I. If the teacher was a liberal, and one wrote a paper form a conservative stance, regardless of the research and quality of citations and resources, their instructors graded on principles and not content and presentation. I had a female instructor, and was writing a compare and contrast paper on a topic that could be considered chauvinistic. Prior to writing my paper, I sent an email to the instructor to see if I was going to be graded on research etc., or if I would lose points because it could be construed as offensive to the instructor. She said it would not be graded on her personal feelings or beliefs. I got a near perfect grade on. I also get tired of hearing how it's a "for profit school." These schools do not have the power of the NCAA. The billions of dollars these schools make off of their sports, especially football and basketball. Those kids work their butts off and get none of the millions of dollars that are brought in from TV, Radio and ticket sales, as well as licensed product sales. This TV coverage is also free advertising to attract and draw applicants, athletes etc to their schools. The money made off of the backs of these student athletes is disgusting. Then there are the countless fees that are nothing less than a joke. For profit colleges do not get this free publicity, or money, their only focus is on education. Public Universities also have nearly unlimited numbers of labs with undergrads to help professors research subjects which can lead to the discovery of major advancements or products, which brings much more money to the university. A prime example is when members at the University of Florida developed Gatorade for the Football team. The school still receives royalties from this product and it is used by all Division 1 schools. Another funny thing is, my buddy got his masters degree as an Athletic Trainer. If he wanted to be an Athletic Trainer for the NFL, MLB, NHL, that only requires a Bachelor's Degree, but he wanted to focus on being a trainer for a D-1 University. That required a Masters Degree. So Multi-million dollar athletes should settle for a Bachelor Degree holder, but college athletes require a Masters... MMMMMM I wrote all of that just to show that public university isn't as squeaky clean, pure, innocent, or being maligned by for profit universities, but the public universities are feeling a pinch and loss of revenue from hundreds of thousands who attend on-line, for profit students. Ashford is NOT perfect, but from what I heard from friends at major universities, I believe my education was much more pure. Ashford, I believe is thought of as a diploma mill, and I believe that many who are disgruntled could not formulate a complete thought, write a properly structured sentence, or wanted to put in the amount of time and research to submit successful papers. Once it was discovered to NOT be a paper mill, students flee away. I started many classes with 40 or 50 students. I'd read some of the posts, and yes, there were some real humdingers out there, but by week three, they were pretty much gone. There was a lot of hard work, a lot of hours, dedication and strict timelines/schedules, but sticking through it, is well worth it. I really, really liked it and would do it all over again.

I recently graduated from Ashford University in the Spring of 2012. Through working some insane hours as a truck driver, and studing hard over 20 hours perweek, I managed to achieve a 4.0 GPA. In addition, I earned Summa Cum Laude honors, and was entered in the Golden Key Internationl Honour Society,Alpha Sigma Lambda Chapters at Ashford. (I say this in a humbling way because I had to work my tail off the achieve these results). My program was in Business "Organizational Management" in the online sector of the University. First off Ashford is a Tier 2 College. Overall, this means that Ashford university provides a solid education. If anybody did not know Ashford is regionally accredited (North Central Associaton of the Midwest) by the ICABE associaton. There are three governing bodies of college accredidation in the United States of America. The first started in 1916 is the AACSB, the second in 1988 is the AACSP, and the last started in 1997 which is the ICABE. In order to succeed in an online environment, an individual has to be self motivated and read the whole text book on his or her own. Since a student is not in a class room environment the professor does not have time to break down the courses to make it easier. Therefore, the online sector is more demanding in a shorter five week period. The second thing about Online environments, is that it is writing intensive. The third thing about an online environment, is a person needs some life experience to really succeed in a non-traditional college program. I would say Ashford University formely MT.ST.Claire College, will be around for many years to come. However, I do believe that the Ashford University should provide better equiped academic advisors, who can stay with a student instead of shuffling them around to different personal every few months. Finally, Ashford Universiy should also provide some online tutors and counseling personel,if needed to help students when they need a boost. My reason for this is that non traditional students sometimes deal with emotional problems,because of juggling work,family,academic,issues and they may need some help once in a while.

Did I mention admissions folks are like sharks? I applied to a few schools at the same time to make sure they give me all information required, instead of just asking questions and get b.s. answers. That was a mistake. Admissions lady called me every chance she could. In the end I just said forget it and enrolled in another university. My problem was that the reviews told me admissions were like that, and they proved it. They want your money and that is it. It made me really nervous to complete the admissions process because I thought they would get my money and and not let me out (if needed) without a legal fight. After a few days went by, another admissions person called me trying to get me to enroll. I reiterated my conversation with the original "fool" and he just kept going on and on until I just cut him off. I heard they will keep calling, I have a surprise for them--called an air horn down the phone.

Ashford University was the best decision that I have ever made. Although, I have only been attending this institution for a few months, they have proven themselves to be one of the best online institutions you can attend. The professors are great and will get back with you ASAP whenever you have a problem, or if you just need some advice on the best route to take on getting your assignment completed. I have attended Carrington and DeVry and found that Ashford's schedule is much more flexible than the previous universities/colleges that I have attended. My only problem with them was the financial aid department, I know that they have a million and one students to cater too, but it would be nice if they would answer an email if they couldn't answer the phone. I recommend this University to anyone because again they have proven themselves to me too be the best.

I've been a student here for years now and I'm finishing up shortly. I've read a lot of these poor reviews and honestly it seems like a bunch of BS. How is Regional Accredidation crap? Most of your local universities have the same thing!!! My credits didn't all transfer? Maybe that's because you changed your major in Junior College 5 times and your pottery classes don't count towards a Psychology Degree! Why didn't they tell me about the costs? Right, because when you spoke to them you diligently took notes on everything covered. And OH! Guess you missed the entire breakdown on the application on tuition and fees! If you are hard working and just too busy for campus classes like myself you should absolutely go here. The online format is one of the most convenient college routes you'll come across. Yes it's more then the community college. But a community college doesn't offer Bachelors Degrees people! Quit whining about your mistakes and learn from them. If you don't start now, you will just be a victim for life. I've enjoyed my time at AU and don't want you slandering my school because YOU were lazy.

The Financial Aid department is horrible, I read the reviews before but chose to still go to this school, well I am living proof that those reviews are indeed true for the past two months I have been submitting documents over and over again, even after I receive emails saying that it has been received I get a nother a week later saying it has not, they will cater to you to get you enrolled but once you are in there good luck with getting in cotact with your studen advisor, Mine NEVER answered her phone I call every hour on the hour for two days straight and never got an answer. I am in the military so I thought online school would be best, I am in my last class at Ashford please utilize you money somewhere that is worth it.

I graduated from the Organizational Management program Summa Cum Laude. I attended for about a year and a half and they were more than fair in credit transfer. I had attended University of Phoenix prior to Ashford and I found Ashford to be a more enjoyable and rewarding experience, much more conducive to my work schedule.

I graduated from Ashford in January 2011, having completed a bachelor's program in August 2009 and then the master's in January 2011. While Ashford was not perfect in every area, for the most part my experience was a good one. I've read many of the reviews posted here and it is my opinion that some of the reviewers looked at Ashford as a simple way to get a degree, and were frustrated when they had to follow specific procedures and rules. My experience was that as long as I did the work to the best of my ability, handed it in on time, and kept up with the class, things went absolutely fine. Sure, there were occasional issues with the finance department, but with persistence and professional attitude, all were handled. The bottom line is that within an online university setting, the student is responsible for reading the information provided to you about the program, the financial obligations, and even the stipends. Ashford gives you options and you need to understand those options and act accordingly. I kept the same advisor throughout my entire time with Ashford; generally you are required to change when you move to a master's program, but I requested that I be allowed to keep the same one, and Ashford allowed it. He was excellent and very responsive. You, the student, are the consumer in this scenario and it is your resposibility to make sure things are handled and completely. If you expect other people to care about your education as much as you do, you will have issues. But if you stay on top of things, do your assignments, network with the teachers and students, you will leave Ashford with a degree that you EARNED.

I believe that everyone chooses what they want to do in life. If you are ultimately going to complete your online degree, you more than likely know that you will not have significant interactions with the professors. This is where self dedication comes into play. The literature itself is a great teacher for its respective classes. Those individuals who give a negative review are probably those who learn from visual interactions. Overall, I graduated almost one year ago and everything I have learned I have applied in my life and future goals. I personally have a vision that requires me to not depend on others, but rather requires me to adhere to my own principals and my own values. Ashford University has done that for me by providing its online degree program. I am truly grateful for the program and what it has transformed me into. Overall, if you have the self motivation, will, and want to learn, then Ashford is for you. If you are not willing to read and learn from a non face-to-face environment, then turn back time to when you were 18 or 19 go back to a formal college and learn the traditional way as many individuals call it. Unfortunately, for those of us who have to provide for a family, maintain a full time job, and learn, Ashford University does a great job at that.

Ashford is a great school. I love the fact that they are (Bridgeport) is attached to a physical structure of higher education in Clinton, Iowa. I understand that this is kind of a marketing thing, wherein you don't feel like a UOP, Devry or insert the name of any other 100% online school. I like the history that they acquired, the fact that they are a total package with on-campus students, sports, etc. This is a savvy for-profit outfit. I'm glad that there are still people out there, like those at Bridgeport, that take advantage of what our mixed-market and free economy has to offer. There's nothing wrong with making money in this country, unless you're occupying Wall Street right now. But I digress. My experience has been nothing less than 100% positive. It takes a lot of self-discipline and time management to go to this school. It takes a lot of dedication and commitment to get the grades you want. For working professionals that want to earn degrees, this is a great place to go. I moved up to executive management prior to even completing my BA. I have learned so much and it shows in all areas, especially in written communication, which in this world is vital. I plan on obtaining my MA from Ashford and then attending North Central University or University of the Rockies for my PhD. No matter what anyone is saying on this comment thread, you can't go wrong by going to college here. It works for those that work and want to work for what they get.

I guess they might have been working to improve in their customer service and financial aid department because I have had a smooth sailing experience in that department. It is important to put in good effort because financial aid will not cover any letter grade lower than a C- and that is a pretty penny. Take classes seriously and you will de fine ;)

I am currently enrolled at ashford and everything was great until i signed up for classes. Everyone was helpful now i can hardly get an email answered. I won't even begin to talk about the financial aide dept. complete joke. I really do think that they over charge you and hold your money til it suites them. After reading other reviews I'm really afraid that i have chosen the wrong school and none of my classes are gonna transfered to an actual accreditted university. They never tell you anything about this before you start. I actually like going to school online and at ashford, but the respect they have for their students leaves a lot to be desired. I influenced two other friends to attend classes here and they both have quit. I would not recommend this university to anyone who is seeking to futher their education on line.

I am currently still attending AU and look to complete in a few months. First off, I have had bad experiences from the time I started. I had a very aggressive enrollment person who called me every day. I finally enrolled and he scheduled me 2 months prior to the date he told me. After enrolled I could never reach him. Second, after this situation was fixed everything seemed ok with classes and teachers. Some teachers are professional other are not. Another issue I have is their lack of professionalism from academic advisors, financial aid and registar. These people do not like to return any phone calls or emails. I found myself having to call out of my busy day to make sure I'm scheduled, my financial aid is right etc... It was so frustrating. When you complain they all seem to stick together and back each other up. This school are totally unethical.

All of the bad reviews I read are about why a person couldn't get "their" money. More people looking for a hand out and free money. You will learn one day that nothing in life is free. If you apply yourself and try, you will do fine. If you are looking for a "get-over" you may want to go somewhere else. Don't give the school a bad name just just because they don't send you your "assistance" check. GO to the president if you want something for free (our tax dollars). Go to Ashford if you want an education.

I received my BA from Ashford last year and I am half way through my MA. I have recommended Ashford to approximately 20 coworkers. Only one of them did not like the online environment. There are two of them in the associates program, three of them are 4 classes away from their masters and the rest are working on their bachelor’s degree. I stay in touch with all of them because I recommended Ashford to them. The only thing I have had them complain about is some of the advisors. A lot of the bad reviews posted are from students that have had a bad experience with financial aid. I will admit I know nothing about that because my employer pays 100% of the costs for all of us. From my experience it is the most flexible schedule available. I love that they have no group projects and I do not have a specific time to be online. If you are not a discipline person it is not for you. Do not expect to have your instructor teach you. They are more of a facilitator for the class. The school has worked out so well that I have convinced my employer to sign an agreement with them for a partnership.

Before attending Ashford University I have attended online universities. I have read some of the posts and couldn't believe it was the same university I attended. I believe like with any other university whether it is public, private, for-profit , or non-profit the are in the business to make positive residual. The student portal was easy to navigate through, the professors responded to my questions in a timely fashion, my stucent advisors called me back within a 24 hour timeframe. The only department I was not too impress with was the financial aid department (some of the individuals did not seem too knowledgeable). If you are looking for a perfect college with no flaws GOOD LUCK! I enjoyed my learning experience there and might consider completing a Master's degree with Ashford.

I am a current student and understand some of the negative comments. I personally have nothing bad to say about AU, one thing is how easy the course work is. I attended other colleges and found them to be a bit more difficult. Yes, you need to have the motivation and desire to complete your work in a timely manner. The classes are 5 weeks long and there is a good amount of reading, discussion boards, quizzes and writing assignments done in each week. Overall it’s a good online school that seems to be easy with courses that could be more challenging.

Some background data: I completed a 4 year tour in the U.S. Army with an Honorable Discharge as a NCO. I have a Bachelors Degree in Information Technology from Baker College in Auburns Hill, MI. I have experience with Training, Business, Education, Information Technology, and ERP Systems. I have been working as a Business Systems Analyst for the last 15 years. My program: I completed a Masters of Arts in Organizational Management with a minor in Supply Chain Management. I chose Ashford for their online program and cost. My experience with Ashford: Each individual will have a different and unique experience at Ashford University. I can only share my personal experience with you. I have read various reviews on Ashford University, both good and bad. My experience was a great one. The classes were challenging, and the Teachers were excellent. It was convenient not to have to travel to a brick and mortar classroom; however it was tough to complete a Master online. There is a lot of reading, writing, and posting. I ran into personal problems that required a change in my priorities and I could not keep up with the class pace. Ashford scheduled my courses with two week between courses. In one instance I requested and was granted a Leave of Absence during a personal emergency. Overall, I am happy with my investment, and after a deserved vacation and I planning on added Project Management to my degree. Regards,

I've noticed some bad reviews here and it seems some people like to be pampered and spoon fed everything. Ashford is not Harvard. However, they seem to go to some lenght to make sure we learn something. I have about 9 classes left and Ashford works fine for me. I have never had a single issue with any of my classes other than the issues I've created myself. Ashford is not hard but they haven't given it to me either. I've been late on a few assignment and paid for it. I've failed to log in one week and was promptly notified that it wasn't in my best interest to carry on doing that. I was slow to order a book for a class one time and started without it. I thought I would just wing it without the book...that didn't work out too well either. So all in all, Ashford expects me to earn my degree. Amazing they expect that isn't it? I don't know what's up with some of the bad reviews. Maybe people think that if Ashford gets their money than they are simply given a degree in return.

It's not a bad school for online students. I actually saw worse reviews from local university like Nova which were not good at all. I graduated with honors at ashford and its one of the top schools listed for military advancements. I personally have over 10 people enroll after me and they are pleased with the school. We love the short 5 week classes that are offered and most of your grades are based on discussion and papers and only 20% on exams. It's pricey for non military members but then again so are many univeristy's that offer online classes that are private colleges.

Book are expensive and many of my "intructors" were very slow to response Advisors were NEVER available to talk the only time they were on point is when they wanted their $ beware if you have an unpaid balance with this school. My account was sent to an collections agency even after I was on a pymt plan. This agency in turn made some harassing calls which by the way is illegal. I called to speak with an Allen Bloom who by the way only retuned my call ONCE and refuse to discuss my account. I have PAID my balance in full and my account continues to be frozen it has been a month and NO ONE at Ashford can help it seems that I am at Mr. Blooms mercy I have left several v.m for Mr. Bloom and really don't expect any response. All I want is my degree which the OWE ME!!! oh and don't EVER mentioned that you're planning on getting your master because a different person will call you every wk. I was getting calls even before I had actually finished at the end I had to tell them very sternly that I was not interested. This school come across as an honest and with high ethical standards but they're every thing but.

Most of the professors are good and have some kind of background that relates to the curse taught. HOWEVER--there are a few who provide "canned" answers to your assignments and when replying back or grading your assignments--you start to question how they were hired for the job. A few come off VERY lazy--I can tell they are letting someone else grade papers. I wanted to do the Master's program---but I am STRONGLY considering going elsewhere. When transferring credits--QUESTION---I believe they are in it for the money--over priced tuition. Some classes are not necessary. The Strategic Planning for Organizations' professor needs experience in this area--as well as the Human Resources Management professor. Teachers will take off marks for comma's and periods rather than undeveloped content--because they don't know the subject that well (or it becomes a ritual to them). Not impressed in this area with this school.

very dissatisfied in all aspects- no support from advisors, no one ever returns voice messages or emails, expensive, no help in finding financial assistance or scholarships, general ed classes should be taken elsewhere before even considering this school

I have read reviews about Ashford University and I think most reviews that are negative are mad rants. With that being said you can get good grades and not read your text books at most universities. The question is who are you cheating, it’s not the university, and it’s yourself. You will have to apply the knowledge later in life and I must say some will fall short. Tuition is a common problem for a lot of online Universities so you need to stay involved with the payment process. I haven’t had any problems from the tuition department because I stay involved in the tuition process for the past two years. Ashford University classes are challenging if you READ your text and provide detail understanding of the text in your posts. There are some Instructors that put less effort in grading in the 100 and 200 level classes. The 380 and 400 level classes from my experiences expect more work and quality. I was a student at a brick and mortar university (A big name university) and I had good and bad professors. I always tried my best to learn and I’m applying that philosophy at Ashford. I’m in the military and Ashford has worked with my schedule and I receive free books. I know numerous military personnel that attend Ashford and they enjoy the classes and the online environment that Ashford provides. I hope that you pick this University from the positive feedback and apply effort in your courses and the tuition process and you will do well. I’m close to graduating from Ashford and have applied to USC and have been accepted into a Masters program. Bottom line is that your effort, understand of knowledge and will power will make you a good student in this environment at Ashford.

Ashford University is merely a greed fed money making company. They do not care about students only the bottom line. Thats why they keep raising prices and other fees to get as much money from students as possible. I will touch on all the grading categories to show why i have ranked them where I have. MAterials: The books are scaled down versions of books written by professors at other institutions around the company. The titles will be the same as the original works but they will normally be short several chapters. This prevents you from selling them after you are done with them unless you sale them to another AU studnet. You will also have to buy books you will never use for course. I took 4 classes there. In two of the casses (the last 2) the required books were ordered in a set however I only was ever required to use the primary textbook, the other book that came with each primary text were never opened however, there was never an option to just buy the one book. The price also reflected the two books ($150 & $200) and the cost of the actually used book would have been about half of what I paid. So I paid for books i never used. These two primary books also were missinge the final 5 and 7 chapters. I know this because the glossary and index conatain references to chapters that are not in the book. One communicatons book was right at 300 pages and when I looked up the book on amazon the actuall book had 700 pages. Teacher: hmm... Bridgepoint education execs create the curriculum in all the classes and the "teachers" are merely forum moderators. In the 4 classes I took I never received one correspondace that wasn't a canned email or unsolicited. Each week you are required to address a question and post a written response in a classroom forum, then within a few days respond to 2 or 3 of your classmates. All the teachers do is respond to 2 or 3 people per assignment. I got the majority of the credit for my work but never had any interaction with the teachers about my work or why credit was given or not given. The teachers have guidelines on how to grade work and are bound by those guidelines. If a student posts their work they will recieve credit for it. They have no control over the class. In one class I answered one question with the exact answer from the text and got it wrong. I wrote the teacher to see why I got it wrong and included the page for where I got the answer. The response was that the quizes are programmed with the appropriate answer and that he had no control over the quizes. If I thought it was graded inproperly I had to send in a grade appeal to the company. Also the teachers sometimes don't even know what is in the text. I asked if he thought my answer was correct and he was not authorized to debate correct or incorrect answers. One was unemployed until halfway through the course when they sent out an email saying they were happy because they finally found a regular job. ??? WTF??? The classes were full of illiterate people that could not write in proper English. I would say the average was about %50 at least. There were assignments that were supposed to be 150 to 200 words and only about 5 out of 30 got to this amount. Most were 30 to 60 words. There would be posts that would be 15 - 20 sentences, about several topics so they should have been in seperate paragraphs but, they would just be one long paragraph of run on sentences with no punctuation between them. These were students that would say they had been going there 1,2, even 3 years and cannot write in english. Institution all about the money. classes cost over $1100 and are a joke. I have taken classes at my local jr. college that cost less than $100 and are 20 times the quality. BPI employs over 5000 employees 3500 of which are telemarketers (enrolment advisors) Support is OK. Value save over $900 and go to a JR college if you can where the classes are of a far better value. My 11 year old sister could pass these classes. Its online so I guess technology wise they are good. I would tell anyone thinking of going there to not go!!!

The only complaint I have about Ashford is that my student advisors are constantly changed. However, as far as my degree goes I am beyond satisfied with my progress at Ashford. Ashford's curriculum challenges students to become better at both critical thinking and communication. I am not a test taker so the fact that the majority of my grade is based on my writing ability is a lifesaver for me in completing my degree. I am not saying at Ashford students do not take tests because we take tests four out of five weeks in a class. However, the test average is only 10% of the grade so most of the final grade is calculated based on the quality of discussion postings and papers. I can understand someone not liking the Ashford curriculum if they are not comfortable writing. However, the professors and staff are encouring and often send extra materials in the class to help students overcome deficiencies in submitting written work. I would recommend this school for any adult learner who needs to enhance skills in critical thinking and communication to advance one's career. As far as college degrees go, you get what you pay for. Sure Ashford may be a for profit school, but you are paying to receive an education that better prepares you for your career. Ashford is a certified Quality Matters institution. This is a real school with a real campus in Clinton, Iowa. The school is regionally accredited and constantly seeking new accredations that will aid graduates. The soccer team just advanced to the nationals. Ashford's status as a reputable college is undeniable when evaluating online education.

I am currently in my 3rd class at Ashford. I take my courses online because I work full-time and am a mother & wife. I didn't have time to attend a classroom setting college. I find the classes challenging yet manageable. I am learning a lot so far. The staff seems willing to help whenever I needed them. I have had a few issues with them not returning calls when I want them to, but they have always gotten back to me by the next day. I would highly reccomend Ashford. I have had a very good experience so far. Can't wait to walk accross that stage. I will be flying to Iowa to graduate when my time comes.

I graduated September 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management maintaining a GPA of 3.97. As a full time working adult (in my mid 40’s) with three children, I tried to complete my degree for the past 15 years at a traditional college campus and even a competitor’s online program. Ashford made my educational goals come true but it took a lot of hard work, perseverance and time management. I completed 25 courses at Ashford, which equals approximately 60 percent of the required credits to graduate and I give my educational experience an A+ rating. Do not think for one minute that Ashford is a diploma mill or you can coast through the assignments and get a good grade. Classroom postings, replies, assignments, tests, and the two or more papers that are required for most classes quickly separate those who are serious about learning and those who are not. Traditional 15-week courses are compressed into five weeks so there is very little time to mess around or you will quickly fall behind. To maintain my GPA required many sacrifices and without the support of my family, vacation days from my employer and Ashford adjusting my course schedule, I could not have succeeded. As with any learning endeavor, you will only get out what you put in and all the instructors at Ashford recognize those who put forth the sincere effort. In closing, I found myself more motivated at Ashford than any of the previous educational institutions I attended. My fellow classmate’s discussions and instructor’s real world experiences provided a modern ‘virtual’ learning atmosphere for our rapidly changing times. All said and done, I have learned how to apply many of my newly learned skills but what I did not expect is the compelling force to continue life-long learning!

I am a member of the class of 2010 at Ashford University and take great pride in my educational experience there. I attended the graduation ceremony on campus and was wowed with the way that each Professor and staff member made the students feel at home. My degree in Social and Criminal Justice allowed me to tie several components of my prior education and work experience together in addition to providing valuable insights to new techniques and concepts in Social and Criminal Justice issues. As an Honors graduate (3.92) and Alumni of Ashford, I take great pride and care of the traditions of the school and will say proudly that I am a "Saint" for life. Education requires work, dedication and dilligence and online education is not for everyone. As a Director of Personnel Mgmt, I view a degree as a calling card as I want to examine the individual skill set needed to get the job done. Ashford University provides a sound vehicle for success, however the individual student must provide the fuel and drive to achieve their goal(s). I am currently six classes shy of completing my Masters in Organization Management with an emphasis on Leadership with Ashford and have been accepted to several schools to pursue a Doctorial degree afterward. Ashford University is a great choice for your education.

If you qualify for financial aid DO NOT go to this school. Their financial aid office is inept, at best. If you are not using financial aid then I highly recommend it. Other than the financial aid nightmare, I was very happy.

I am in the online BA degree program, Organizational Management and I have about 27 credits to go. Overall a great experience. The classes and materials are very easy to understand. I have already applied some of what I have leaerned into my current Management role at work. I feel the text books can be priced a bit better or offer discounts for students that work hard and make the Deans list which I have 6 semesters in a row while working 48 hours a week. I too have had several academic advisors, no real relationship to develope is the disconnect that has developed. I rate the school a solid nine out of ten.

I had an good experience. The only thing that I did not like was the change of advisors. I had a new advisor nearly every month. I did not feel like I made a connection to to my professor so getting recommendations for grad school is difficult. Other than that I really a positive experience and I would recommend it to others.

I have had a good experience at Ashford University (AU). I attended a community college that was one of the best in California and I'm receiving the same level of knowledge and writing in a class as I did at the community college. AU keeps building on their programs and expects more out of students than an average online university. I work hard for A’s and when I talked to my academic adviser about my grades, she stated that I'm at the top of the individuals that attend AU. Meaning not all students get A’s and even B's. Two standout points are, AU is a brick and mortar school and the accreditation is the same as schools like University of Michigan, Arizona State and University of Oklahoma. Lastly the University is very military friendly as far as books and tuition. This is a great benefit of this school being active duty and deploying multiple times.

I am currently finishing my degree in Organizational Management. I have been a manager and supervisor for over six years, and the theories and concepts I have been studying over the past year have been extremely helpful. I was able to put my education to work immediately. I have been very pleased with Ashford overall. The only negative would be my particular circumstance of having my academic advisor changed four times in one year. Other than that, the support has been outstanding. Course content is very good, especially if you are willing to engage with the instructor and your fellow classmates. Ashford was a very good fit for me. Highly recommend. Armando.

I was very pleased with my experiences at Ashford. I just completed my Bachelors Degree in Oraganizational Management specializing in Project Management. There were times when I really wondered what I got myself into, but I had a great experience overall. My Student advisor was Awesome, and really encouraged me all the way through the program which I needed at times. As a single-parent and working adult I think this is a great option. I really enjoyed the consistency of the courses timing wise which helped me a great deal. It's not easy, but it is doable if you're motivated and stick to it.

I have attended Ashford University for the last 8 months. I am in the B.A. Organizational Management program. I obtain my AA from a junior college. I think Ashford is an outstanding institute. None of my courses have been easy nor have they been excessively difficult. I would say they have done a lot of research to match the available time to the course learning objective. I have learned a great deal about management and this degree will easily help me advance my career at Boeing. If I choose to go further my education, Ashford will be on a short list of universities I will choose from. Kurt P.

I am currently half-way through my masters in Organizational Management at Ashford. The program is GREAT and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this university and program to anyone. The program is challenging and informative. I have already learned a lot about so many different aspects of management and leadership. I am paying for the classes myself with a loan. No one is handing me this education for nothing. I am well pleased with the education and the opportunity to finish my graduate degree while still working and keeping up with family responsibilities. In my view, the critics and naysayers about Ashford are completely wrong. I am so pleased with the format and structure of the classes and work. However, it does take time and discipline to complete the assignments. Some people in the reviews just want to whine about having to do work or do not have the self discipline to complete graduate level work. Anyone interested in completing their graduate degree, if self-motivated, would do well at this university. This is a great program!

I wanted to write a review after reading all the horrible ones about Ashford. I have had a great experience at this school. Most all of the problems you hear people writing about are financial aid and the technology fee.... These are not problems with the school rather then people not understanding what they are signing up for. I was told everything to expect right up front and it was not a big deal at all. You pay one fee at the beginning and receive endless resources on-line. The education is great and most all of the instructors have been very helpful. Also, notice that almost everyone who wrote a bad review did not last long, they are just disgruntled about their failure or misunderstanding. I would reccommend Ashford.

I just finished and I'm waiting to receive my degree right now! Having worked my way up through the workforce into supervisory/management positions by a lot of hard work and long (salary) hours, I am glad to have earned a degree in management that allowed me to demonstrate the practical side of management in class and use it towards my degree. I did my AA degree at another institution, and it was a lot of kids right out of high school and a lot of professors trying to force their theory and personal beliefs on the students; Ashford is full of a lot of level-headed, real-world working people who recognize it as the best value for their money and are able to learn from professors who work or have worked in their areas of expertise--as well as other students who have experience in the workplace. No regrets...time to start in the Master's program!

Short and to the point. I am working hard and so far, everything is paying off. Some classes are harder than others, but I would say that everything is college level. I enjoy the pace of the classes as they present a challenge every week. If you're dedicated to earning your degree, Ashford is for you

I attended an AU program (and finished). From my experience AU is a quality institution and offers some great programs. Here is a brief review covering most aspects of my experience. Rigor Each course requires about 5 open book quizzes, 10 discussion postings, 20 response postings, and 3 essay assignments. The assignments are graded and in most cases feedback is given using a rubric. About 40% of your grade comes from the essay assignments which demonstrates competency. Unlike most traditional schools, most essays submitted online are scanned for plagiarism. Online schools are no place to fake your education. Trust me; this is more work than was required during my first two years at a traditional college. Format The online format for learning requires a student that can crack open a book and learn. If you are the needy type, gets lost easily, needs constant feedback or moral support from a professor then online learning is not for you. From my experience, if I did have questions about what was expected of me I had no trouble getting help. Professors There were some instructors I liked a lot and others not so much. This comes with the territory and should be expected. Right now the trend for online courses is to hire instructors with a masters degree or higher in the fields they teach. Online adjuncts are also required to have real world working experience in the field. Every single professor did their job, and that includes the ones who didn’t give me an A+ Quality I chose the “organizational management” path which focuses on the people side of management, leadership, HRM, and employee behavior. I found that the content of the courses and schedule contributed to my development and career goals. As an online student you get out of it what you put into it. Administration and financing Honestly I had some trouble in this area. The admin staff made some mistakes in my enrollment, my schedules and financing. Some of which could have been prevented if I was paying attention. If you are thinking about being an online college student, I recommend knowing everything about your degree plan and financing options. Don’t just go with the flow.

I started Ashford University two years ago to get my bachelor's degree and I can only tell you that it is a great experience. I learned a lot and the staff, my academic advisor and financial aid counselor are very helpful. Before you receive your check in the mail,the excess money or what you call "payments" to you are specifically scheduled according to the number of weeks you have been attending your current class. I believe either five to seven weeks you should be getting something and the longest period is two months. The courses are easy in the beginning, but then it becomes challenging as you get closer to your graduation. I find myself improving each class and having more technical experience. You will ran into strict and easy going instructors, but I don't judge them by how they teach. I judge them by how and what I'VE learn from them. I will stay in the same school like Ashford University if I ever desire to continue my master's degree. I don't see any fraud existing in this school.

I have been taking courses at Ashford since 2008 and expect to graduate in 2011. After about a year and a half in the BAOM program, I am still feeling very good about the school. I am confused by reviews that say there is no support or that it is expensive. Here is how I would break down my experience so far: Financial - FAFSA has so far loaned enough for my whole tuition with some to spare. A check I received last year was enough to cover my books for the entire year. Before enrolling, I compared Ashford's program with others that I thought were comparable. At the time, Ashford's tuition was the second lowest. Support - My enrollment advisor was the reason I started at Ashford. I had hung up on reps from several online universities whose information I had requested, because they seemed like used car salesmen to me. Ashford's advisor was different. He DID seem to be promising the moon at times, but I took a chance and so far those promises have been kept. When dealing with my enrollment advisor and my academic advisor I feel like I am their only student. Responses come within 24 hours without fail. When issues need more follow-up, I literally wonder where they find the time and attention that they gave to me in their day. They have always been polite and patient with me, even when I was testy. I don't know what happened to people who complain about support but I cannot stress enough how different my experience has been. Teachers - I have not attended classes on-campus in 14 years. When I did, it was at a California community college, so I don't have much to compare the online program with. Based on memory, I find Ashford's instructors to be similar to those from the JC in terms of personality and style. Teachers - I have not attended classes on-campus in 14 years. When I did, it was at a California community college, so I don't have much to compare the online program with. Based on memory, I find Ashford's instructors to be similar to those from the JC in terms of personality and style. I disagree with those who say the teachers are absent from the process. I have always received detailed answers from them. My only complaint is that I sometimes get feedback on an assignment that might shape my approach to the next one, and thus my grade, too late to make any changes. Technology – My thoughts about teachers lead me here next. The teachers use the system differently. They post information in different places and aren't always very understanding when you don't find it. This lack of consistency has been a challenge for me. Other than that, Ashford is using the same technology as other schools (Blackboard). Value - Ashford IS a regionally accredited school. The credits WILL transfer to the type of schools I would apply to. Again, I am confused by the surprise of other reviewers on this issue. Reading the admissions requirements to a program on any University's web page will tell you what they accept. Even though it is among the least expensive of schools, I cannot give Ashford a 10 for value just yet. Frankly, I wonder sometimes what the value of this degree will be in the end. I have managed to hold a 3.96 GPA during my time with the school. I have not found this difficult to maintain. In addition to "going to" school, I have a full time job and do part time work. I can put in as many as 60 hours per week working. I wonder what people who spend 20 hours a week on their coursework are doing. In a week with no paper, I spend about 5 hours on assignments. If the 8-10 page paper in the last week of most courses is due, I spend about 11 hours on schoolwork that week. Thus, the only concern I have about this school is how easy it has been. I wonder sometimes if this isn't all just too good to be true. However, if it turns out that this is really all that goes into obtaining a legitimate degree, I will have no regrets about choosing Ashford University.

My experience overall at Ashford U has been very positive. I previously attended a traditional brick and mortar University 70+ credits (Florida International U)and I feel that I have learned so much more during my time at AU. Everything about Ashford University is first rate, from the classes and teachers to the administration and support staff. If you are a serious student who is focused and driven to achieve you will no doubt do well at AU.

I have been with Ashford for 1 year and 5 months now. Overall the experience has been pretty good. The only real issue to present itself had to do with financial aid. This was eventually straightened out and everything else has went pretty smoothly. There have been a few instructors that seemed to be totally removed from the class, but you can run into that anywhere. There are also people on here giving bad reviews in regards to the cost of tuition. However, in comparing prices of schools, Ashford was more affordable than most. The classwork is hard because you have to possess a lot of self discipline when it comes to online learning. It can be easy to put things off until the last minute. This college is not perfect, but no college is and you get what you put into it. Do your research before committing to any college and try to find the one that works best for you. I am pretty satisfied with Ashford and will graduate with my Bachelors in 2 more weeks!

My experience with Ashford has been excellent. Coming from a traditional in-seat experience at Broward College in Broward County, Florida, I feel that my knowledge from the curriculum at Ashford has definitely widened my scope. The professor's posed challenging questions and excellent feedback within the Blackboard forums. Get ready to do a lot of writing in pure APA format! Yes, you will have to be responsible for making contact with both your academic advisor and your financial aid advisor on a regular basis in order to fulfill the tasks you hope to achieve at Ashford, but that would be at any college in which you take initiative. I am currently in the final two courses (yes you can take two courses concurrently) of my Bachelor's of Organizational Mangagement and find that any college I am hoping to attend for my Master's in Public Administration have stated they will transfer the entire degree towards their MPA. That is of course, if I choose not to continue on with Ashford's MPA in October. Ultimately I only required eleven courses with Ashford in order to obtain my BAOM, so I was able to complete that task starting in January of 2009 and ending in September, 2009. Be sure to as about the PLA program (Prior Learning Assessment) as I was able to eliminate 23 elective credits by submitting a one page Credit Rational paper and $30 per credit. I don't think you can complete your BA at ANY other college in eight to nine months! As a Deputy Sheriff it will provide me an opportunity to advance within my career and my employer is not concerned with Ashford's 'credibility' because they have heard from many different agencies that they are excellent! On a scale from one to ten, I would give Ashford, its professors and its administrative staff a ten! Good luck in your endeavors.

I am beginning my second major at Ashford University, just ending Organizational Business Management and have found the experience over the past three years to be above average. Most of the Professors are seasoned and well versed, eager to both teach and learn. I am very pleased that I chose Ashford as the educational institution where I will earn both my Business and Psychology BA degrees. The overall experience at Ashford has instilled in me the desire to further my education upon graduation. I will immediately be attending a program for a Masters/PhD in Clinical Psychology with (hopefully) three specialties: Trauma, Children and Adolescents, and Spirituality. Thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts about Ashford University. Rebecca Salgado Sun City, CA

A lot of these reviewers are either tainted by bad experiences and offer plain untruths. For instances, many (not all) Ashford University textbooks if purchased from THEIR bookstore are packaged with their name on it. However, the course information provides the full ISBN and you can buy the textbook anywhere online and usually cheaper. That said, their bookstore is very efficient. Living in Tennessee I normally received a book from them within 2 days. The few times I tried buying my books elsewhere was more hassle than the savings were worth. As for academics, what do you expect, a Harvard or MIT education? Give me a break. I did the bulk of my undergraduate work (80+ hours) in a brick n' mortar institution (Univ of Nevada, Las Vegas) and found Ashford to be on par as far as a non-technical degree program goes. Like UNLV, Ashford has good and bad instructors, and some courses are relatively easy while others are not. I actually found Ashford's course load to be much more intense than UNLV, and for the most part, their professors won't accept the "dog ate my homework" excuses many of my UNLV professors would. As for brick n' mortar institutions, if you find sitting in a lecture hall with 150+ other students while a professor drones on non-stop for 50 minutes and then leaves without answering a single question a better learning environment, more power to you. Finally, you have to separate the academic from the marketing side. all these institutions do this nowadays as they battle to fill seats. Otherwise, I have had very good academic advisors, and never experienced a single problem with their financial department whatsoever. Bottom line: you get what you pay. Its not MIT but it's not a degree mill either. Ashford's online programs are accelerated and the workload bears this out. If you do not participate in the discussion forums, or turn in homework on time you fail, just like a traditional school. Like a traditional school, each course has its bright students and those who aren't so much, and this is reflected in their work. I accomplished approximately 40 credits, obtain my degree, and found Ashford relatively on par with all the brick n' mortar institutes I've attended as far as course relevancy, instructors, and academics. Hope this helps other prospective students.

If you are planning to take courses you get it through work, make sure Ashford does not screw you over. I was told what do do as financial aid, and they told me they knew how the employer does it as far as tuition reimbursement or direct bill. They told me one thing and ended up the other. Also make sure you have a fricken pc not a mac or else you get screwed again. if you have a mac, make sure you get windows on it, which defeats the purpose of having a mac.

I am in the Organizational Management BA program, and have found that online education is a matter of focus. You get what you put into it. I have attended Ashford for several years now without a single issue, and do not understand all of the communication issues noted in the other posts. The online process requires YOUR focus and attention, and above average ability to listen, comprehend written materials, and to ask questions when uncertain. I have called Ashford several times to clarify situations, and have always found them responsive and helpful. I would (and have) recommend them to other potential students, and am thinking about them for my MBA. Good luck in your studies and your search for a school.

I’ve since transferred to the local university, who accepted all my credits EXCEPT Ashford’s. I’ll be graduating this fall rather than summer because of this. However, I do agree with the University’s decision that the classes at Ashford are just not at the same level as most US Universities. Now, I have been receiving calls and letters saying, I owe $2011.00. I spoke to a Financial Aid officer at Ashford, who refused to send me an invoice. When I said I would not speak to her without one, she hung up. I called her again and once I questioned her as to why the Academic Advisor registered me for a course if I owed money, she hung up. I was never informed about the first balance. It clearly states in the student handbook, students are not allowed to register if there is a balance. Please note: Your academic advisor is the only person who can register or drop you. You yourself can’t do this, which makes it possible for your Academic Advisor to register you for courses without consent as well as driving up balances you may not know exist. I have called Ashford University 20 times in last two days and no one is willing to send me the exact date and courses. I have emails stating I would be receiving financial aid. I do not know why I owe these people money. I have already made a report with the Better Business Bureau, as well as the US Dept. of Education’s Office of Inspector. I hope something will be done to stop Ashford from taking advantage of people who just want an education, while misrepresenting and lying about Federal Aid. I for one believe Federal Aid for this school should stop in hopes of steering people far away from this school.

This school is a total scam. I was told Financial Aid would cover my classes; I even received a disbursement check from the school. I decided to leave the school. The information in all courses I took was very vague and not at a university level. Every course is formatted the same: 6 discussion posts a week, a quiz, a 2-3 page essay due in the 2nd week, a draft of research paper due in week 3 and the final 8-10 page research paper at the end of each 5 week course. The lack of individuality in the courses will get to you. I didn’t find class discussions to be thought provoking. I ended up appreciating and missing the “traditional” classroom settings. I found the research papers to be a total waste of time since 5 weeks is not enough time to gather research and write a real scholarly work of substance. If Ashford thinks writing a research makes them a University, they are sadly mistaken. I transferred to Ashford with 90 credits, just so I could work full time and help my parents during this recession. I was three classes away from graduating, when I made the decision to pursue a Master’s degree once I was done. After sitting with an advisor at my local university and showing them the course syllabuses, it was apparent my courses at Ashford had no academic merit and admission into the graduate program was unlikely.

Financial Aid: Haven't had much trouble with them. They have been more than helpful in assisting me open several high-interest college loans to pay for these courses, forcing me to find a high-paying job after graduation or watch my hard-earned credit score plummet as the loans default. The B.A. Degree: I was facing a tenuous situation and my newly-appointed Ashford advisor said all the right things to me, that my nearly-completed B.A. in Cell Biology would transfer and within a year I would be graduating with a strong degree in leadership and biology. He lied. An academic advisor with the institution I am planning to enroll for my M.S. degree has said that my degree is worthless in the sciences, and only a small miracle on the GRE General and GRE Biology can save me if I want to pursue a M.S. degree in Cell Biology. He suggested I drop out and take courses at the local Community College as they would be more relevant. Just Great.

I wanted to finish of my degree I had started in the 80's and decided on Ashford. My enrollment guy was as nice as they came. Very supportive, told me everything I wanted the hear. Promised me they would transfer 60 of my credis and add potentially 33 more for extra work I had completed. They did a pre-evaluation on my transcripts and said I'm accepted and in the program. They then said it would take a couple of weeks to finalize the credit transfer. Funny enough the calls stopped from the enrollment guy as did the emails. I might further add I had started a course and had invested many hours into reading and other assesments not to mention books and shipping costs. Then I get a call from the matriculation officer only to find out the pre-evaluation was done incorrectly and I had on 56 credits to transfer and that made me not meet the standards for acceptance to Ashford. So, they basically kicked me out. I asked if they would accept my HS transcript along with my 56 credits and they refused due to it being from Canada. They said I needed to send my HS transcript to a outside evaluation service (at a cost of $300) for them to approve it was real. The enrollolment guy never bothered to call to apologize or discuss the problem. They had no interest in trying to resolve the issue and cast me aside with nothing more than a "sorry about that" from the matriculation officer. The net net for anyone considering Ashford is this...they will tell you what you are looking to hear and promise you everything. They are your best friends calling twice a day and emailing supportive comments etc. They promised me the moon and delivered the sky. Total over promise and under deliver group of people. The courses are expensive and the online department is based in California making it hard to talk to them before 11am if you live on the east coast. Finally, they owe me money for books and shipping I now cant use and have not had any refund or promise of a refund. If you are looking for a school that will help or admit when they have made a mistake Ashford is not for you. Be very careful on what school you funally decide on. Once trust is broken and they lie to you its hard to ever take them seriously on anything.

I have been a student at Ashford since March 2007. I am pursuing a BA in Organizational Management. From the beginining to this point I have not had any problems that have not been resolved in a timely manner. The Advisors check in with me from time to time to discuss my progress and to inquire if I need anything. I was initially very nervous about returning to school, but Ashford has made the transition easy and comforting. Ashford accepted my credits and I am well on my way. I would and have recommended Ashford to my friends and family. You will get out what you put in. I have had health and family issues that cause me to not put out my best work, but my advisors and my professors worked with me and I am back on track and will be back on the Dean's List before you know it. GO SAINTS!!

I have nothing to say but good things about Ashford University. When I began enrollment proc. They recognized and honored my education and training I recieved in the military (44crd) training. They allowed me to earn my major credit hrs. before taking core reqs. I began in Aug. 07,I will grad in May 2010 w/ BA in Org. Mgmt. Best Choice I could have made. I have only seen one not so good review from some person who sounded like a quitter. You will never be satisfied if all you do is quit when the "perfect teacher" is not your teacher, or upset because one school will not honor another schools credits (If the two schools do not have a matriculation agreement between each other,they are not required to honor any crd. reccommendations from anyone.)

5 months ago I shared my thoughts on Ashford...I am now 4 more classes into this venture (9 over all), and very glad I chose to stick around. Very military friendly, and I actually feel like I've learned a few things. If you want to earn a college degree, and you don't have the time that is required for a traditional setting, I highly consider Ashford. I'm not sure if I will pursue a Masters through Ashford, but ONLY because accelerated courses are very demanding.

After reading many reviews for online classes, I came to realize that all colleges receive a mixture of reviews, both positive and negative. Those who struggle in class seem to be the ones who scream the loudest about the integrity of the college they are bashing, often refering to the school as a diploma mill. Let me set the record straight. Whether at a brick and mortar campus or an online classroom, you get out of your educational experience what you put into it. I have been enrolled at Ashford for one year, and will be graduating March of 2010. I currently hold a 3.97 GPA, but I will tell you that this is not a cake walk. On average, I put in approximately 20 hours per week to maintain this average. When grades are posted, a class average for each assignment is posted so you may gage your accomplishments to that of your peers. Let me tell you that not every classmate does this well. For example, on our latest writing assignment, the class average was 6.16 points out of a possible 10, I scored much higher than the average, but this speaks volumes to my statement of you get out of it what you put into it. I have found all but one of my classes to be challenging, and the instructors are always posting questions to students Blackboard disscussions, pressing them to explore further. Ashford is a quality school, that is accredited. If you are serious about learning, not looking for a free pass, Ashford is an excellent choice.

I have only completed the mandatory introductory course; PSY 202, as well as one course within my major, and I am basing my evaluation soley on these two courses and the interaction I have had with my various advisors. I have given Ashford an overall rating of 8.5. I feel that they have met all of my expectations thus far, but a 9 or 10 rating is reserved for exceeding all expectations. The materials used by Ashford are the same texts that are used by a traditional university. they do have a few "custom" texts, however I think the only thing "custom" is the Ashford logo on the cover. The content of the books appears to be exactly the same as any other non-custom text. The teachers, for the most part appear to be experts in their fields. I only had minimal interaction with any of the teachers, I did however interact with the teaching assistant. All of my emails or Blackboard postings to either of the instructors, were answered in a reasonable time. The grades were posted on a consistant basis, and constructive feedback was provided for all papers that I was required to write. I feel that the institution rating feeds back to the overall rating of "8". I have rated the support a perfect "10". I have called or emailed my enrollment, accademic, and financial advisor more than 15 times for various reasons. Each and every time I received a response from them within 1-3 hours. They appear to be very accessible and haven't made a habit of "passing the buck" if my question or issue wasn't their particular area of work. As for value, I have rated Ashford a "10". I am a Military student using the Montgomery GI Bill. My books are provided by a Military grant and my tution is $750 per course regardless of the level (upper or lower). The course cost, along with the support functions make this school an extremely good value for me as a Military student. Being that Ashford is an online school, of course they are using technology. I don't see them using more or less than any other school, and I rate them an "8" Taking my experiences into consideration I would reccomend Ashford Universtiy to anyone seeking an online BA.

Ashford university tends to use high pressure sells techniques. For example, the tell you they will transfer up to 99 hrs, get you in before they evaluate your transcripts, then will only accept 66 hrs. They also try to get you enrolled and in class before your financial aid is approved. This can be very stressful. I feel they are not completely honest. My acedemic advisor is very rude and condesending. I hate to even talk to her. They will tell you anything to get you enrolled, then out come the fangs.The classes are ok, I have completed three so far. One teacher was great. The other two might as well not even bother. Like "what teacher?" Looking to transfer, but is there anything better out there as far as online schools go?

I have been attending Ashford for about 2 years. I started out going for my degree in Organizational Management, and later added a second degree in business administration. I will admit that the school has some drawbacks, but it's worth the time. The academic advisors have changed a few times for me, and there have been some miscommunications, just like other schools. The only difference is that when I had an issue I didn’t have to wait in line for a half hour, I just sent an e-mail and waited a day to hear back. For someone that is a self starter, I would highly recommend this school. You don't have to listen to boring lectures, and you can join in with the class at just about any time. I have had professors from several great schools such as MIT, and Yale. I would not have had an experience like this at any other school. I was not the best student before, but after trying school online, I will never go back. If I get tired, and want to check out of class, I can. And if I wake up at 3am and want to go to school, I can. This has boosted my motivation, and I continuously want to do better. I have a GPA of 3.84 right now, and I am very proud because I worked very hard for it. Plus my tying skills have improved dramatically. I was able to side step my career to something that is far less labor intensive, and I am doing better than I ever have. It’s really hard to sum up Ashford in a few paragraphs. What I can say is that if you are a self starter, then you will do well here, but don’t expect it to be a cake walk.

The Good: An acclerated program. At Ashford your writing will improve, the curriculum is geared toward writing papers of modest length, using multiple sources for content. Two to 3 papers are due for every 5 week course. The weekly quizzes account for 20% of the overall grade, they're open book, and even if you don't do the assigned reading you can still do well enough on the quizzes. The Bad: You are required to write two 300 word posts every week, and respond to a minimum of four posts. Everyone typically gets 80% to 100% credit for posting - regardless of quality - and sometimes the quality can be pretty poor. Just write something, anything, and you'll get credit. The Ugly: Pretty much everyone passes. Just pay the money and show up.

I had always planned on going back to school and finishing my Bachelors degree as I dropped out of a community college after completing 66 units due to financial issues. Well, at the age of 50 I did so and chose Ashford U. after researching several other colleges (both on-line and traditional). My advisor got me started (first class in March, 2006) and I took out a couple of student loans to initially pay my tuition. Everything went smoothly for me. The classes were challenging and, as in any school, some instructors were better than others but none were poor. I found that my e-mails and phone calls were responded to in a timely manner and the instructors were willing to work with their students when issues arose. Again, as in any school, there were students who took issue with grades, complained when they were late with assignments and lost points or didn't purchase the text and expected to receive an A. Let's face it; you get out what you put into your academic career regardless of where you study and on-line classes take discipline as it is up to the individual to succeed or fail. I graduated on June 30, 2008 with a degree in Organizational Management (suma cum laude) and within a month received a promotion at work. Though I spent many a morning and hours on weekends studying, researching and writing papers, it was all worth it. Quite frankly, I miss the interactions and challenges of the classroom but it is nice to be able to surf in the mornings again! I feel that Ashford U. was a great experience and I am very glad that I chose this school to fulfill my goal of obtaining my BA.

I used to make instrument cases, but the money was not very good. I attended Ashford for better than a year. I loved the learning experience. There was only one Professor I didn’t like and that was because we seemed to have a personality conflict. In general, each of my professors responded quickly to my questions and I was very pleased with my education. During the time I was attending I was on the Dean’s list every time it came out. I worked hard and did my best with every course. There were some of my classmate’s posts that I did not reply to, because they did not have good writing ability. It disturbed me when they could not spell and had poor punctuation. Ashford professors take everything into consideration when they give grade points. Using the proper APA format to cite the reading materials and research is another important factor in making the grade. I was confused with how to use this format and wish that my advisor had placed me into an English class first so that I would have had a better grasp of it. However, I took the initiative asked questions and quickly figured it out. If someone really wants a degree at a top notch university, I would recommend this school.

I have been attending Ashford since July of 07, and i have been enjoying the classes, they are challenging, yet exciting. My only problem i have with Ashford is that their "elite corps of advisors" are as knowledgeable as Gomer Pyle. I have gone through a few academic advisors and as many financial aid advisors as Murphy brown had secretaries. The amount of communication that goes on between departments is non-existent. i am currently in my 16th class and dont have another class scheduled because they havent recieved financial aid documents that have pretzeled my college term permenently. starting out with the "no problem" financial aid spiele, and ending in a financial aid nightmare leading me and my husband to elope early to ease financial aid. though its taken a YEAR for the changes to take effect. if anybody from ashford calls looking for any sort of document, take my advice: faxing is a waste of time, find a scanner and scan the files on your computer and send it to EVERYONE you can think of at Ashford. it might get to where it needs to... possibly. my classes still land in Limbo, my (current) academic advisor never returns my calls/emails etc. if/when they might call you (probibly hitting you up for money) they *always* call you at times that you are notably unavailable and get mad at you for it. maybe if they ditch Bridgepoint (based in CA which is where most of the advisors are sourced out of) they would be great! (it is noted that i did have one financial aid advisor who was FANTASTIC who worked for the University itself.) but it seems like anyone based out of the CA office is a joke. you have been forewarned.

I have been enrolled for a year so far. SO far so good. I have been able to transfer credits from my local community college with no problem. I have also applied for financial aid with no problem and receive my money in a timely manner. I have read how others have had issues with communication, but I have had no issues and live 5,000 miles away from campus. Yes, it is expensive, but my location limits me in my options. Phoenix University was more expensive, less flexible and had a longer program. Remember, Financial aid is up to you. You have to be the one to apply online at FAFSA.org once you do this and designate your appropriate school, fill out the proper forms for your school, its all good. Unless you missed a deadline, there should be no problems besides possible human error.

I've been an Ashford University student since 2005 and I just graduated. So, I have a lot of knowledge and experience about their classes and instructors. All I can say is that they have treated me very well. My academic adviser and financial adviser, have always treated me well and taken care of my concerns. Technical support has made much more improvements in blackboard over the years, and they are avilable 24/7 if you need help. My professors and instructors are always there to help me and worked with me on any emergencies in my personal life. If there is anything negative to say is that I had disagreements with classmates and instructors, but all of that is normal just like any ordinary classroom. On-line courses is not just for anyone, it takes discipline and lots of reading to make it through, and with that you become much more smarter. I will continue my eduction with Ashford University in receiving my MBA.

I enrolled at Ashford and quite frankly this was a waste of my time and money. The classes were VERY expensive. Every time I tried to find out what the cost to complete my degree would be, I got a run-around. I withdrew in frustration over the lack of assistance from their administration. I also was charged $500 for matriculation that never was done, etc. There are online programs that are MUCH less expensive and are upfront about the costs involved.

I start my 5th class tomorrow. Ashford has been a challenge, but one that I have enjoyed. It's frustrating to read negative reviews, because they are so far from the truth. Ashford's curriculum is NO joke!

Let me first say that you get out of your classes what you put into them. I enrolled with Ashford in April 2008. I was quite nervous about signing up without knowing what I would qualify for financially. I took my enrollment advisor's word that I would qualify for aid. I knew my income would disqualify me for FSA, however, my enrollment advisor ensured me that there would be no problem with the Stafford. I am glad I believed in him! To date this has been the best educational experience I have had. Other than being uneasy about finance, the remainder of my enrollment was smooth. The classes have had a wealth of information, the instructors are top notch, provide feedback, and guidance. My Stafford was approved by the beginning of my second class and has been seamless since then. Some have mentioned a hidden fee of $990 taken with the second class, which is true, but my enrollment advisor informed me of this before I signed anything. My thought is that those who claim they were not aware may have overlooked it during enrollment as there is a lot of information to go over with your advisor. I am proud to be enrolled at Ashford. Go Saints!!

So it is interesting and I felt compelled to write a review on my experience at Ashford. I never had any issues getting a hold of individuals to assist me at Ashford University whether it be an enrollment advisor, academic advisor or any of my instructors. My enrollment advisor was extremely knowledgeable and never FORCED me to do anything I didn't want to do and never lied to me. Yes, you may have an instructor that you don't see eye to eye with; Come on People, we meet people like this every day of our lives and it doesn't hold us back. Most of the individuals who had problems with financial aid more than likely didn't have their paperwork in order or on time. I used it and NEVER had any problems in the two years I attended here. Someone had mentioned they were upset that they withdrew from a class and had to pay the university; WAKE UP and smell the coffee, because it is like that in almost every university! They are not going to waste their money on someone who isn't serious about their education or quits when they realize it isn't as easy as they claim it is or was. Someone who has likely been fired or quit from this institution probably isn't going to have anything good to say. If the university's policy says that in order to receive free courses, you must meet the requirements of enrolling so many students, that is meant for motivation to get people into college and is pretty acceptable. That does not mean that all they care about is money, because obviously they are spending a great deal to allow their employees to take classes. If anything you should be grateful for the opportunity because most employers do not offer free education on any circumstance. I always enjoy the comments about how they hand out degrees because I know how hard I worked and how many hours I put into the projects and papers, and I cannot tell you how dissappointed it makes me that someone (who obviously doesn't know what they are talking about) would ridicule it.

I attended University of Phoenix and enjoyed it! I was able to get 24 credits right away but I did not have a life. I worked fulltime and sometimes weekend it just was not for me. At the time, they did not offer one class at a time so it was hard. I transferred to Ashford after my 24 hrs. I am enjoying it here as well. I like the 5 weeks and you start another class right away. I was disappointed earlier because a co-worker stated, "online degree's are not really earned degrees" What do you all think? I feel that it is up to the individual to learn and benefit from learning as much as possible. I enjoy the fact that I don't need to drive. I attend at my own time. I get fraustrated at times because you do get tired of reading,homework & postings. I just keep pushing myself and I am determined to get that piece of paper. Reality also is that any college now a day especially online you will need to get loans even if you qualify for FAFSA there is no way around it! I am willing to pay for my education at whatever cost. That payment will remind me yes I got my degree. good luck!

My husband and I attend Ashford and we love it. People need to check their facts before believing what they read. Sometimes the person entering college doesn't listen and research before compulsively joining; then they get upset when they realize they made the mistake. A private school education is not free and if you are looking for a hand out, get some easy certificate, but if you want a real accredited degree that is not an online degree but you can complete online at your convenience, look into Ashford. As always, think for yourselves.

I have read through the reviews and I do have something that I wanted to share. I have been enrolled at Ashford for a year now and it has been an absolute wonderful experience! I still communicate with my enrollment advisor at least once a month if not more. She was never too pushy at the beginning even when I was unsure about enrolling. One thing I have learned about any university is that it is your responsibility to ensure your paperwork is in order. I did a followup on my degree progress and found elective courses which I had transferred in that were eligible to be part of my general ed. requirements. I notified the registrar and now they are properly applied where they belong and in the process I have opened up electives which I can begin the smart track for my Master's degree. As long as you are a dedicated person the professors will work with you. All of the professors I have had were very responsive..some provide you with phone #'s and some don't, but you will always be able to contact them via email. No matter where you go to school you will find professors that you love, like, or hate and honestly I have found I love all of them. I worked for my grades...raising 3 children, with a home to take care of and a husband who works two jobs. I am full-time mommy, wife, and homemaker. This has been the best way for me to obtain my degree and I am loving every minute of it! I am not eligible for FASFA so I have Stafford loans which take care of all of the cost except for the books. There is a one time 990.00 tech fee which takes care of the entire degree and it is posted during your second class. There is no group work...it's all individual. All homework is either due on Thurs.(typically two discussion posts with APA documentation at least from the book) or Monday (responses to at least two of your classmates in both post and papers). Every BAOM course has a 3-5 page paper due in the second week of class, a rough draft of the final reflective paper due on the third week of class, and the 8 page reflective paper due on the last day of class during week 5. I love how it feels to know that in 5 weeks I earn 3 credits. I never feel that 15 week drag like in traditional programs (and I have taken courses at 4 different colleges in the past 15 years). I am now 7 courses away from my degree and I feel like I have learned so much and accomplished so much. I even was able to apply my Spanish credits toward a concentration in Spanish. (I used to be a Spanish major in the college I obtained the majority of my transferred credits along with a study abroad experience in Mexico which they also accepted). If you are a motivated person who is eager to obtain a degree and work hard for it...Ashford is the best online school. As with anything you want in life you have to give it your all..and I was able to do that while still having a life and a family!

I started at Ashford in April, 2008. At first, I got frustrated with the online thing but the tech support department is great at walking you through the steps to do what you need to do. The Financial Department is wonderful. The Academic Advisor I have is so helpful. I would not change schools now for anything.

When it comes to attending college, you get out of it what you put into it; with this I agree. I was initially concerned that some of the people in class did not appear to belong, but as things progressed I noticed that those people tended to drop out and the cumulative competency of the students rose. Isn't this at least part of what college is all about, to weed out the folks that cannot perform? And to be truthful, administrative support at the school needs work, but the school is growing at a break-neck pace, which may be contributing to the problems people are experiencing. Another thing that struck me was that a lot of the difficulties communicating had to do with the fact that for a number of students, English was a second language, which probably made conversational postings a little difficult. Just because people have difficulty speaking your language it doesn’t mean that they are stupid. There have been accusations that Ashford is a degree mill. I believe this to be utterly false. People going through the motions or trying to buy degrees is not unique to an institution like Ashford. I know of students at prestigious traditional schools (I pay through the nose so my son can attend TCU, so I have a frame of reference) that cheat on their assignments and do as little as possible to get through, so you get losers in all kinds of environments, even the high-priced institutions. Regarding the quality of the program (which should be your primary concern), the curriculum at every regionally accredited school is evaluated and must meet minimum standards to qualify for recognition. Ashford is a regionally accredited school, so if you are willing to put in the time and effort, you'll come out of the experience a better-educated and better-rounded individual. Anyway, as I moved through the program, my appreciation and respect for Ashford increased; I came to believe that my success was contingent on my effort. I put in the effort, so I succeeded. I am now poised to choose a graduate school and after talking to several admissions counselors, my initial concerns with Ashford have been erased. It is a respected institution, so feel confident in your decision to attend. And take a few minutes each week to follow your school’s sports teams! I know the school is small and doesn’t compete in Division 1, but it is nice to have a traditional school to identify with and sports teams to cheer for. Go Saints!!

Ashford offers an excellent program designed to aide the most time-challenged of us, to receive a degree. I've personally examined a number of on-line programs, and Ashford is, by far, the best. My advisors have always been responsive and articulate in their discussions with me in reference to any issue I may be having over my time at Ashford. There are issues with every on-line program because technology is continually changing, but that is to be expected. I would recommend Ashford to anyone looking to finish a degree without a huge financial burden at the end. Apply yourself to the program, accept the challenge of the information technology environment and you will be successful. Good luck to all of you who decide to try the Ashford program, you won't be disappointed.

I have attend community college in California, University of Phoenix, ground and on-line, and now I am happily enrolled and making good progress toward completing my BA, I have one year left, and will stay for my post graduate work. If I could go to a bricks and mortar campus, I would, it is undoubtedly preferable. My second choice was and is now Ashford; I am enjoying having the same academic advisor as when I started last October, the same financial aid advisor, and most of all I enjoy being liberated from University of Phoenix Learning Teams. No school is perfect I have found fault here as well, but I will earn my education and will be able to proudly announce it on my resume.

I am currently pursuing my BA in Organizational Management through Ashford. I have had a couple hangups with various steps of financial aid (mostly due to my own error, admittedly), but overall I am very satisfied with the convenience and affordability of Ashford. Sure, they are a for-profit school, but any endowed academy is certainly not in the business to lose money, are they? I've noticed many people have commented on the support system and how it takes so much effort to contact and/or get an advisor to respond to phone calls, emails, or what have you. My advice? Save any and all emails from your advisors. If you have a problem, reply to any one of them, CC to every other advisor you have, and word your complaint strongly (yet tactfully), and you will get a timely response. Case-in-point, I qualify for the military grant, which means $750 per course instead of $990 for level 200+ courses, and $0 for the tech fee. I noticed after my second class that I was not given the military grant, nor was I discounted the tech fee. I politely responded to my academic advisor's last email detailing the problem. I CC'd my enrollment advisor, Vince, my financial advisor, Daniel, as well as my work email. I received a response at noon eastern the next day (it was midnight when I sent the email). Last week, I found that my account was still not in-line, so without being overly frustrated, I completed the same process, this time also CC'ing Ashford's VA coordinator. My account was credited that same day. As for the professors, all of mine I've had so far have been extremely insightful, supportive, and knowledgeable. Much more so than the in-person college I attended in 2002. Go Saints!

I hae read most of the reviews. I agree with most in some way. I do however think overall, this is a good school. All things considered, it is good. I don't understand how some people are saying they have not bheen able to get in touch with anyone. I never have a problem at all. Email does seem to work the best but even when I have called and left a message, I got a return witin a day. I will say the financial aid part is VERY vague. I do feel like they are purposely not explaining total cost. I was shocked to get the $990.00 technology fee during my second course. No one explained that to me. I know I am responsible to read my catalog, but really, that should be pointed out. One other thing is that I had to be very insistant on not wanting to take any outstanding general education courses with them. They just enroll you in courses without any explanation. I am taking those few general education courses at the community college to save money and do not want to pay for them at Ashford! My degree audit was sent to me and then resent and were different. I called and spoke to my advisor and she said she had no idea what I was looking at, so I emailed her back her original email (that was funny) to show her what she had done. She did not apologize for the error or admit it, she juwt looked and basically said that I didn't understand what the first one said. I then nicely let her have it and only then did she "realize" there was a mistake and she better drop me from my current class because I did not need it. All in all, here's the thing. Not matter what university y0u attend they will all have their problems. I don't see fraud at any level, just people doing business. As a student, it is our responsibility to keep on top of our paperwork and ASK QUESTIONS. Yes, they will make mistakes. We will make mistakes. Just keep on top of them. We are paying for an education. Being online students, we reallly aren't paying for an experience or we would have done that right after high school!

I will be graduating from Ashford in September of this year and have been satisfied with the classes overall. I always received my books and enjoyed many of the instructors teaching method and instructional feedback. One thing I can agree on with the negative posts is that it is sometimes hard to get in touch with the advisors and the Financial Aid dept. My sister just graduated (we both major in Organizational Management) and she still has not been able to get a hold of the advisor regarding a hold placed on her financial record. Taking the classes are no different than attending other colleges or universities. I transferred from ITT and THAT was a horrible experience. That school DID take people with little or no education and I thought I was in the twilight zone. Overall, I feel that I am truly earning my degree and I look forward to continuting with the Masters program.

I am now in my 6th class at Ashford University. I am 42 years old and have been in my current career for 18 years. I was looking for an online environment that was challenging but still allowed me to be flexible. There has been several issues with ordering books. My last class they actually ran out of the books in the bookstore, and they did not arrive until the 4th week. I now make sure to order the books weeks ahead of time, using ebay or amazon to save money. The online environment, what they call "blackboard" is extremely confusing and took me several classes to become comfortable with. My academic advisor, (I was switched to her with no notification) is ok. She will never answer her phone however, so I must always wait for a call back-which can be difficult during the day as I work full time. My instructors have been great up to my last class. They have been very easy to communicate with, have provided a phone number to call them if needed, and have seemed fair with the grades. I bust my butt to keep an "A" average and my work has paid off.....so far.... My last instructor for a basic computer class-INF 103-was Melanie. She was horrible. She was rude to students in responding to issues (she would cc the entire class when she responded to a student regarding a computer issue-it was completely rude and unprofessional), she was pretty much non existent during the class, I had to ask for a review on one of my projects where she deducted points (she then realized she had screwed up and had to change my grade), she refused to explain her feedback and/or offer assistance with her grading criteria, she refused to allow any communication via telephone, and she was rude and very arrogant in her emails. I would not recommend her for any classes with Ashford. I realize that not all instructors are like Melanie, just like all bosses and fellow employees in the workplace are not always ethical. But I am paying good money for this education, and she was unacceptable. Although I received an overall B+ for the class, I am lodging a formal complaint against her for her ethics as an instructor. I am not asking for my grade to be changed, but I am asking for action to be taken against her by the University. We'll see...... I am sticking with my schooling for now, as not one bad instructor does a school make-however, one more instructor like Melanie and I will go elsewhere.

I thought Ashford was a great school. I got a BS in Org Management with a concentration in Education. It was challenging but books and starting was easy. If you want to get your degree, and are organized enough to work from home you can get you degree. I also noticed that Ashford was ranked in the fourth tier. I don't think I saw any other online schools on the list. I have noticed people fall from classes. Many want a walk in the park and a degree certificate. If you want it get. I did. My advisor always answered me within 24 hours and almost always answered the phone (I ask a lot of questions!) Slightly annoying items were they changed Blackboard. Some days now it seems slow but they are fixing it. They have custom texts. Some of the text books could have been more learners friendly. Black and White no index etc. It would be nice if more instructors used some type of PowerPoint or presentation for lecture. Some do some don't. It goes back to you have the same stuff at colleges (brick and mortar) But, I saved time and got more done from home.

Going to Ashford was the best decision I've ever made! They accepted all 82 of my transferable units, 30 being from military work experience. I was able to finish my degree in a year and 7 months and felt that I received an excellent education. The financial aid process went smoothly and I had great communication with my advisors. This is one of the most affordable online Universities out there!!! I was able to graduate with minimal debt. As for technology, if you know how to navigate the internet you will have no problem accessing the online classroom. I am proud to be an Ashford Graduate!

I thought that the bad reviews were from people who did not try or didn't do what needed to be done...I was sadly wrong. I wasted about $3000 at this school, time and the ability to graduate in the timeline I had set for myself. The bad reviews are there for a reason and please consider what these people (as well as myself) have been through. Everything started off fine but, after that first class, there was no communication, it was hard to receive return phone calls and I believe they know they are doing something wrong if they are going to charge you a 990.00 technology fee after you start your second class, when all the other schools will break it down over the course of your enrollment. Proffesors never called back or responded to my emails and your advisor will drop your class and tell you to take it over, as if money grows on trees. I have a lot of concerns with this school and I am very upset not only because of the money but now I have to go through the whole process of finding another school and making sure they will provide me with the financial aid needed. If you are a on-campus student maybe its a good school but for those online PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BEWARE!

The enrollment advisors are like car salesmen with tricks up their sleeves. I am sorry - I know there must be some great ones out there, but the joke of an advisor I got has tained my entire experience. My advisor (initials I.Q.)gave me the whole speech, the pitch, and I was sold, which is fine by me, I want to be excited going to school. Well.. after I enrolled was the day I stopped hearing from him. COMPLETELY. I must have called him up to 5 times a day during my first week of school and he never returned my calls. Left msg's over the weekend. Heard nothing back. Sent up to 4 emails a day (cc'ing everyone, the financial aid people on it to) and NO ONE ever returned my email/call in a timely fashion. I was very disapointed. I ended up quitting the first week because they pushed me to enroll and get started without figuring out how to pay for it. When I told them my financial information (Very detailed) they claimed I would get nearly everything paid for. When I actually got my Fasfa results, I didn't get JACK. I then was already in my 2nd day of classes, and not knowing how to pay for school, and no one would return my calls. So I finally called a manager of another office (where their brick n' mortar school - their internet/online degree advisors are all in a seperate building located in California) and she told me how to quite without getting charged. So far I haven't gotten a bill, I quite within 1 week (so no charge as long as you don't sign in more than 3 times). But Financial Aid did call me the other day and left a msg. Who knows what they want now. Now they call, when I don't want them anymore. Be ill-advised to sign up. My experience has been they are conning you until you enroll, then you really don't hear from your advisor again.

I enrolled at the college, letting them know that I would not be able to afford to attend without financial aid. They said it would be no problem. They enrolled me before my aid was approved and never told me when I started or how to order books. I received an email from the professor welcoming me to the class that began that day. I had no books! It took twenty phone calls, 30 emails, and 6 months to get my aid, and then it didn't cover very much at all. They also charged me a $990 technical fee that I was never informed of. I'm wasting time and money just trying to get ahold of someone. It takes weeks to hear from advisors, they are heavily understaffed and teachers are not very helpful. The only advantage to taking courses from this school is that they are eager to enroll you. I DO NOT recommend this school to anyone who does not have money to spare!

Ashford made it possible for me to finally complete my degree 30 years after dropping out in my junior year for medical reasons. Although I had attempted to go back many times, I was always told that very few of my credits from Boston University would transfer because it was a private school and because it was so long ago. Ashford accepted more than half of my credits and in addition accepted CLEP and DANTES. As a working mother, taking one full time accelerated course every 6 weeks allowed me to finish my degree so that I can now pursue a graduate degree. My enrollment counselor, Jessica Abbott, was wonderful as was my advisor, Kami Bear and the registrar's assistant, Renee Farrell. I found the coursework rigorous and the burden was definitely on me to stay on track, do the reading and complete the assignments by the due dates. I had to order my books for the next course around half way through the current course to be sure to have them in time. Half the time, I could find them on Ebay or Amazon for a fraction of the price and saved a few dollars. I did have occasion to follow up on a few speed bumps however they were resolved both timely and fairly. As a mother of a 19 year old college student, I can tell you that I have had to advocate and assist my son a few times to navigate the system in a well known, top notch, private institution as things occasionally fall through the cracks. As with anything in life, you get out of Ashford, what you put in to it. I studied an average of two to three hours daily, sometimes more on the weekends when papers or additional assignments were given and when I slacked off so did my grades. Some teachers were very engaged, some were so so and some started off very strong and disappeared towards the end but I still was held accountable for the assignments and had to demonstrate knowledge gained from the course content and other sources. I highly recommend Ashford University as an affordable, good university for any non traditional student wishing to round out their education to match their experience. I am very proud of my Ashford Diploma.

I don't understand how someone could have a bad experience? The process of enrollment, ordering books and taking classes online is quite simple. If you are computer literate, motivated and disciplined with your time you should have no problems. I recently graduated with a BA in Organizational Management. My experience with Asford has been excellent. I was skeptical at first, but I did plenty of research and decided Ashford fit my needs. I originally transferred 75 credits(the maximim allowed at the time)from a traditional campus university I had attended. Ashford eventually raised the maximum number of transferrable credits to 99 which I took adavantage of, and I graduated sooner than expected. I have made the decision to continue my education with Ashford, enrolling in their MAOM program. I highly recommend Ashford University.

I am not happy at all with Ashford. I took one class, no problem, then the second class I ordered the books well in advance and didn't recieve them until 4 wks into the class. My advisor told me to drop the class and enroll in the next one coming up. I wasn't told that they would charge me for the class they told me to drop. Then while taking the class again I finally got ahold of The Dept of Education in my State and was told that the classes that I was taking would not transfer in my state, so I didn't finish the class. Now Ashford has had their collection agency trying to collect $2,100 for the two classes. I had gotten a federal grant and the money went right to them. I was just trying to better myself and now I have a huge debt that I got nothing out of. If anyone has any advice or has had any similar situations with Ashford, I would really appreciate hearing from you!!

My overall experience with Ashford was excellent (July 2005 - July 2007). I was able to transfer in all of my credits which enabled me to finish in two years. The classes were well organized and required a lot of self discipline and time management to get through. I can't say the content was necessarily difficult but then again, the major I was in - Organizational Management wasn't necessarilly rocket science either. However I did learn new things from each and every class which have been very helpful in carrying over into my career in many aspects. I have to say 90% of the classes I had were awesome and the teachers were attentive, knowlegable and some even inspiring but there were a few where they weren't around much which resulted in the class not being so great. But keep in mind that you can run into poor professors on campus as well....as I did this past semester at an "excellent" on campus university. As far as my advisor, he did an excellent job, returned all of my phone calls and was very helpful. Additionally, the financial people were well orgainized and did an excellent job as well. So yeah, overall - a great experience and I'm happy to have chosen Ashford! Tonya G.

The individuals who gave their sour grapes opinion probably have a special ax to grind. I am a mature learner and have enjoyed every minute of my experience at Ashford U. I am highly educated in another field and Ashford has given me the opportunity to change my vocational plans without disrupting my life. The price was right, the loans are easy, the financial department at Ashford has been very supportive. My counselor calls me often, sends me emails, reminds me of things I need to remember and is very helpful, will always answer the phone. (Thanks G.S.) The classes are quick paced so you have to organize yourself or you will be behind. Most of my learning comes from reading and internet research. You must like to read! Participation in the discussions can be enlightening with opinions from around the nation. It gives one a taste for how other people think in this country. My only complaint is the same complaint I have with other schools...BOOKS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE! But, that isn't Ashford's fault. I would say this school meets my needs.