Master of Business Administration

John C. August 4, 2007 at 2:02 p.m.

I received my business degree from UOP. My only knock against the university is that it is not AACSB accredited. However, it is every bit as expensive.

Kevin December 31, 2007 at 12:05 a.m.

Hmmm, the business school is accredited by the ACBSP, which standard's are more in line with the university's mission.

The difference between the two accredidting bodies is as follow:

ACBSP standards for academic excellence are designed to align with the mission of teaching institutions with an emphasis on student learning, supported by continuous quality improvement and faculty scholarship. This is an excellent match with the mission and focus of University of Phoenix. The AACSB standards for academic excellence are designed to align with the mission of research institutions with an emphasis on faculty scholarship and research while recognizing the value of teaching and continuous quality improvement. These do not match as well with University of Phoenix’s mission and focus on student learning and teaching.

(UOP Website, 2007. http://www.phoenix.edu/about_us/accredit...)

Eric January 27, 2008 at 7:32 a.m.

I am getting my degree at the University of Phoenix this year in Business-Finance. I would agree with everyone else in this forum by stating that I don't like the fact that UOP is not accredited by the AACSB, however most corporations value the degree. I work for a fortune 500 company, and they reimbursed me for my education. I will also mention that I worked for Citigroup in the past, and they paid for my classess at UOP.

Steve March 5, 2008 at 6:37 a.m.

I finished my Bachelors degree in business at UOP because the program worked with my work schedule. However, after getting out in the work world, I have realized that UOP graduates are treated as 2nd class by most employers. Also, the school is ridiculously expensive. Many of the state schools and top rated schools now have online MBA programs. I just dropped out of the UOP MBA program and decided to go to a reputable school UCLA. The testing was rigorous and difficult. The MBA will take twice as long but well worth it and practically the same price as a UOP MBA. Which would you rather have UCLA or UOP?
After seeing how much employers don't respect this school, I strongly recommend you study hard, prepare for your entrance exams, and go to a real school. Again, many top schools, and state schools now offer online programs. Don't waste your time with the UOP.

Mike April 2, 2008 at 3:54 a.m.

The NY Times article has been debunked.

Steve, what school is not interested in making money, either private or public?

I work for a public (tax payer funded) state college. I assure you every year the administrators are lobbying the state for more (tax payer) money, and they ALWAYS get more (tax payer) money. The waste in public institutions is incredible! While so many unaware people bash for-profit universities for profiting, public universities and colleges fleece taxpayers of multiple hundreds of billions of dollars every year.

Ron May 13, 2008 at 1:10 a.m.

Why is it a scam if I am willingly and knowingly "purchasing" a quality, approved, successful, "product" that works for its intended, legitimately represented purposes? If you want to go to a state school - Go! If you are young and able to take the time to go to a "legitimate" school like UCLA, by all means do so. But please stop making the rest of us working adults who find the environment, teaching methodology and educational model of University of Phoenix more, efficient and appropriate for our needs feel as if we are second class citizens being scammed into some mediocre diploma mill because we don't know any better. There are plenty of employers out there who do respect the degree, I have been significantly challenged by the curriculum and have found the instructors to be highly professional both as educacators and business leaders.
But the number one negative thing for me concerning earning my degree from University of Phoenix has been the negative talk of all the elitists who prefer to go elswhere. Please. Just go! But don't make us all out to be fools because we have made the choice not to. I started my undergraduate degree at University of Cincinnati and was unable to continue due to logistical situations that were just not conducive to my situation as a working adult with two small children. I do not feel as though University of Phoenix had to "dumb down" the degree in order for me to make it, and I resent all the implications along those lines. I was finally able to complete my bachelors degree at U o P and I am about to begin my MBA this summer. None of this would be possible for me in a traditional school - online or not.
Of course if all possibilities were available to me and I had unlimited resources, time and academic abilities, I would want to go to a more prestigious school, but to imply that Universtiy of Phoenix is a scam or illegitimate is an insult to those of us with limited options. To those of you with brighter futures, more options and longer time spans to work with - you should be grateful for what you have and should graciously accept your opportunities without belittling others who are walking their own paths.

NAGNAG July 25, 2008 at 4:49 a.m.

AACSB is very important for several reasons.

Only AACSB schools will accept transfer credits from other AACSB colleges.

Many professional designations require AACSB credits, for example CPA.

Many of the top business firms do review MBA degrees that are AACSB accredited for those applying into top senior positions who are using an MBA as a major credential.

AACSB isn't everything, however it is important and its importance should be weighed on what your goals or expectations are. For example if you want to get a job with Deloite they will require an MBA from a regionally accredited college, AACSB isn't a must but many applicants have degrees from AACSB so it will reflect.

April October 2, 2008 at 12:29 a.m.

I also think that with UOP (online btw), you get what you put into it. Its a lot of participation and interaction with the students, which I found to be VERY helpful in completing assignments and understanding the material. No, there are no exams. They have final projects due at the end of 9 weeks. I do not do well with exams. I can do well all throughout the class, and get A's and B's, but then fail the exam because I'm so nervous that I forget everything I read and can't think straight! UOP is better for some people. You still have to be disciplined and work hard, but because it can cater to the different personalities out there, like mine. I think it's more for people who have been in the work world for a while and just want a degree to move forward. I don't think its for the recent high school grad. I graduated in 2001 and just started school last October. I think they may be more for me than Univ of MD.

Someone mentioned that they rarely fail anyone: I saw several people fail at UOP.

cornered October 29, 2008 at 11:46 a.m.

I understand both sides of the argument. UOP may be a great school but if the reputation is so tarnished, does it really matter? Isn't that a moot point? On the other hand, I am about to start my MAED at UOP. Why? Because I am a military spouse stationed at a remote island overseas and guess how many masters degrees with teaching certification choices I have--ONE! UOP...no more, no less. So, I have to go to UOP b/c I am stationed here for 2-3 years and there are NO jobs for Americans. Our host country allows us to be here as long as the host people are offered the jobs at the commissary, bx, etc. No problem at all with that but it leaves me a long time to do nothing. I wanted to change careers anyway and becoming a teacher is a dream for me. I have one path that leads from here to there.....UOP. It is such a shame that I will have to defend my degree and hope and pray that I can get a job in a school when I get back to the states simply b/c I attended the ONLY college that offered the program overseas. I am a veteran and a proud spouse and I will be made to feel like a fool. I will face judgment and shame when looking for a job. All of this is due to the UOP haters more than anything else. If people kept their opinions to themselves, would the reputation be so damaged? I do not believe so.
So, what am I to do? I have already stressed, lost sleep, worried and now I have to face the facts. If I want to become a teacher so that when I return stateside I can begin my career as my husband's ends then I have to attend UOP. Do you really want to hurt my chances of being offered a job to teach? If not, please, please, please stop demeaning the degree and give me a fighting chance to make a difference and "serve my country" again in a new way.
Please??!!!

Jay November 9, 2008 at 5:14 p.m.

Hey guys, I read the pros and cons concerning UOP and I guess we could debate this all day long. I currently attent UOP for its psychology program. I have another year to go. I think in every education, it is what you make of it. I read that some people question UOP based on its non stringent testing or the lack of overall. This school caters to the working adult which is now becoming a significant growing demographic in America today. Bottom line is as someone else mentioned, if you are starting out fresh right out of high school, then aim higher but if otherwise, this place is a good place to get something worthwile under your belt.