South University's online programs

I started at South University back in January 2008, there weren't a lot of options for an online degree at the time and their reviews look good. I completed my BS in Information Technology in May 2011. Although some of the classes were challenging, I found the program to be very basic and not as difficult as I expected. Obtaining my bachelors has opened many doors for me. I don't think I gained a lot of knowledge doing it at South University. I grew more and more disgusted with the program as time went on, but I was so invested in it I was determined to finish. I tried to transfer, but the school I was attempting to transfer to wouldn't give me a straight answer as to how many credits they would accept. I don't blame South for this, it's common with many schools. The cost of the school is hardly worth it with so many other better schools now offering online programs. At the time it was one of the better options. I wouldn't recommend going to South for a degree. There is one advantage to going to a for profit college. You don't get the fund raising calls to raise money for one thing or another.

Horrible "advisors" will not assist you with anything but putting you in debt. BULLIES! You can take a class when giving birth to your 3rd child in 5 years. "If you take a semester off you won't be able to get financial assistance" When I couldn't keep up 3 weeks after the birth "the birth of a child is not an excuse for failure".

I have attended SUO since Feb.2012, I used the pell grant, the top doller you can get is $5500, per year with the pell grant. If you have loans and grants then you wont get a refund from the pell grant it all goes towards your education. I am a vetern and and I get 90% of my MGIBill. The pell grant takes whatever is the 10% that the mgibill does not cover. I have had no issues with them giving me loans that I do not ask for. I am not in debt with the school and I have only had one issue with an english teacher. I do recommand the SUO. Yes they have a high turn over of conselors, but every single one of them really helped me through the process. They even worked with me while I had my youngest son and a family emergancy. Read the fine print and if you agree sign and if not then dont. All reviews are based on what has happened to other students. Just because they have a bad experience doesnt mean you will.

South University is not a scam. South is a for profit private school, so it will cost more to go there. South is an accredited university and has its individual programs accredited as well. Online lectures are not for everyone as the pace is faster and are very solitary except for discussion questions. If you have never taken colleges courses either at brick and mortar or online then I would advised you to attend a traditional brick and mortar school first. This is so you get used to the rigor and the expectations of the work that has to be put in. I completed my undergrad in a brick and mortar university and recently finished my graduate studies via South Online. I will admit I was very intimidated by the process as I seemed to be alone for most of the work. However, its is online and the information you need to complete your assignments is online via the library provided by south that has reputatable sources. Going to school requires a lot reading regardless of online course work or in person lessons. Professors are not supposed to read to you, but as a student you will not learn as much if you do not read,read and read some more. I have been in so many classes when the professor tries to have a discussion about the material when majority of the students did even bother to open their books to read the material prior to class. Going to school is for the individual person and you will get out of it what you put in. With that said,I can not comment each person's experience but do not blame the university for you not doing your due diligence to see what is necessary to earn your respective degree.

I've been to college before and administration is always a pain. True, with South University you have to call, call, call, and keep at it like you are a bill collector with someone that owes you money. The thing is that you have to start out atleast a week ahead so that way you have time to get ahead. The cost is a bit, higher but it's worth it. The teachers, aren't bad always willing to help out with what they can. They also have a tutoring center that is open with awesome hours!

I was told I maxed my financial aid. I'm in my senior year and suddenly I'm owning $3800. They have my transcripts so I cant change schools until I pay 40 percent of the $3800 back. I'm already paying over $200 in loans from Sallie and Dept of Ed. I'm working part time and trying to finish this degree to move forward and this sorry school is holding me back! Im an honor student how is there no money available. I already had to pay for one class out of pocket now I owe for classes I took in 2010 and the last two I took. Why wasn't I notified when I asked if FA was available????? Seriously South Univ-Sav, isn't $13000+ I owe in student loans from classes taken with your institute enough? Thanks for the email to file a complaint with DOJ! Military spouses don't waste your husbands hard earned money!!!!!

For all problems with South University send an email to the DOJ Attorney General of Pennsylvania David J Hickton. Email is usapaw.webmaster@usdoj.gov This school needs to be stopped with the scams and fraud. I had to file a federal complaint about this school because they used my information to take out unauthorized loans in my name. Be aware of this school and never sign up online with out all documents sent to you to view in person. DO NOT LET THEM use your tax papers or information on school attendance application to use an electronic Signature. NEVER LET THEM MAKE YOU AGREE TO ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE..they use this to take out loans in your name that you will have to pay back for the rest of your life. Please Beware....

WORST SCHOOL EVER. The school advisers all seem so nice but in fact they are a group of salesman with a mouth full of samples. After taking 18 months of classes and hoping to finish soon I was told that I am only half way done and 15,000 in debt from loans they took out for me. I was never contacted on these loans as they used my social security number and a so called promisary note that they "help" you make. As far as I'm concerned this is fraud. Be careful of this school because I was expecting to pay about 7g for my schooling out of pocket they have charged me 15,000 and an unexpected extra long course. (3 years verses 1 1/2 year course. The total course will be 30g if I want my credits. Not what I expected because they lie to get you in the school they make your finance section of the student profile look appealing until you think that you are done and ready to graduate. They tack on extra money that you can not defend yourself. I have hired a lawyer and have contacted federal student aid and fafsa to put a complaint in On SU.

I had to file a federal complaint in order to get my finances straight with this university. They took my Army TA and never credited my account, made me pay out of pocket, and then didn't give me the military rate that is advertised. This place is horrible, you can find a real university to go to, skip this school.

I am in my second year at South University Online living in California. I had some financial aid problems in the past but they were worked out. I can see many of the reviews were not great but maybe it is because these students didn't apply themselves or expected the school to do everything for them. Many of these bad reviews the student did not acknowledge how they were doing academically. I feel the online classroom experience is very interesting and much better than physically going to a classroom. The discussion forums provide you the ability to determine and learn from your fellow classmates. I currently have a 3.91 GPA and I am very pleased.

I can't find anything negative to say about this school. I'm an online student in California and from day one, everything has been easy and painless. I've made attempts to sign up with other online schools and they were all way too complicated. I love my advisors and counselors. Everyone is so very helpful. I don't have time to play games. I highly recommend this school!!!

I am now close to completing my first year at South. I am a Psychology major. My initial experience was good. I have a number of teachers to who were very good, qualified, and dedicated. Others although they have very impressive academic credentials have proven to be poor online classroom teachers. This proved to be especially true in computer class, as well as the two math courses I have taken. A number of things I have experienced in the last several months at the university have raised a number of red flags for me. I am very interested in what other's experience are with regard to tuition charges and whether South practices a subtle version of tuition fraud.

40 credits from graduating and I am being told that I have maxed out my student loans! So some kind of way I am supposed to reach into my pockets and pay $5882! If I could pay for my tuition, I wouldn't have needed student loans, the Georgia tuition equalization grant and pell grants! I was even asked if I had put any money aside from the stipends that I received! You're kidding me right?! I am a single mom, yes I do work full time, but I have a house payment and an car payment and make about $26,000 a year. Thanks SUO for NOT making my dream of graduating come true!

This is a joke of a school. DO NOT enroll. The tactics used to get me to sign up were nothing short of arm twisting. A used car saleman looks like an angel compared to these sales people. BEWARE!!!!!

I am quitting this school. I have a few decades of business experience, and wanted to finish my degree to add to my resume. The formats for the classes are invariably the same--boring. The classes only teach people how to get in so called discussion groups and do nothing. Frankly, I wouldn't have hired most of the instructors as waiters, and the computer systems were extremely slow. The price is amazingly high, I received full student loans and still had to pay on top of that. This place has left me with huge loans, extra bills, and nothing to show for it.

The last two reveiws is a LIE. This is a horrible school. Also, what they don't tell you most of the teachers aren't certified. The best experience I had was with the admission person(Elaine). I read the reveiws before attending the school but I said I will still give the school a try. When I say I paid for it... I paid for it out of pocket. I had a death in my family unexpected very bad motor bike accident. I emailed all my teachers to inform them making sure if I could have a little time. They both said don't worry just make sure you get everything in before this session is over.But what I didn't know the instrutors and the admissions don't communicate. they dropped me from my classes in a week. I had to double pay and re take the classes again. Then I was reading on the website just surfing the South university web. They give a military discount but they never gave it to me. And when I ask about it. I couldn't get a straight answer out of anyone. Then I was told if you use the GI BIll then you don't get the discount. Its only if you pay out of pocket. So I ask what about when I was paying out of pocket at he beginning. Well I'm not aure about that and to this day. I still don't have a straight answer. I feel if you say you give a discount to the military then give it to us. The representative at this school for the mility is a joke... I guess people really do go to work just for the pay check.

I am very pleased with South University. My experience has been nothing but great. The only thing I would change is when assignments are due and how many assignments you get. Outside of that I am very much pleased!

I really enjoy how the classrooms are set up. It's very intuitive and easy to use. The instructors know their stuff... Overall I am pleased with my experience so far. -T J Little