Master of Business Administration

I have been a UofP student for almost 8 years. I obtained by Associates in I.T., Bachelors in Business and now I'm 7 days from finishing my MBA. The road has been hard but well worth the effort. No other University would have been able to relocate 3 times with employer and remain at the same University. Furthermore, the classes are expensive but you pay for convenience just as the concept of a convenience store is (higher prices at convenience store versus your grocery store).

Now I own three small businesses and looking at a fourth. My education has helped achieve the level of successful and freedoms I have always wanted. Yes it is still stressful but not to bad to be 42 years old with 3 business and finishing my MBA. 

Just had to chime in on this conversation and give my feedback and personal experience. 

Best response yet!
Education, regardless of how it is obtained, is essential for professional growth but having a successful career does not begin or end in a classroom. Knowing what you want and having the skills to network and market your skills effectively is key.

University of Phoenix is a good school, if your a good student. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who apply and go to UOP for short stints of time because they assume that it will be easy. When they find out that not only is it expensive to bs yourself into thinking you can skate by they drop out. Hence why we have all the disgruntle comments. Sure the University has a lot of things they need to get a handle on. Financial Aid is crazy and some of the reps really need training. Most of the Academic Con. are good. At least 85% of the teachers are great... But all in all it's a school like any other... You have the good, the bad, and the omgs but at the end if you work hard, you walk away with a wealth of knowledge.

You will find a lot of negative posts about UOP which is understandable given the 16% graduation rate.  There are a lot of "kids" who were aggressively recruited, perhaps lied to, given federal student loans, told it would be easy, and they ultimately could not keep up with the time expectations and eventually dropped out (not that it is very hard curriculum, but it is time consuming).  Many of these people are not your sharpest tool in the shed and probably could not be accepted into any other school besides UOP.  Upset about owing $5K - $10K in student loans for the 5 months or so they were at the school, they bash UOP on online blogs and find solace in that they made the right choice to drop out because they read a random article on some webpage that said someone’s uncle works in HR and they won’t hire someone from UOP.  I am sure they have moved on, were accepted into Stanford, and are a top-level executive to be just as I am sure the earth is flat.  I don't blame them for being upset - they were not given realistic expectations that you actually have to do work to graduate.

I earned my associates degree in business from a traditional university as an adult and the amount of work at UOP compared to the traditional school is similar.  I will say UOP’s tests that are not a big portion of your grade.   At the same time, it is a lot of reading and a lot of writing with no summer vacation – it is back-to-back classes covering about 4 – 5 chapters per week.  Instead of being tested on what you just read, you write a paper about it, which in my experience, makes the information stick better than cramming.  At a traditional university, you cram for mid-terms and finals and breeze during most other parts of the semester.  You don’t have class on Friday, so you party Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night and recover from a hangover while you do homework all day Sunday.  If you can go this route, do it!  You will have a lot more fun than you will at UOP and meet a lot more people.  I wish I had gone straight to college out of high school and experienced the “college life” but oh well.

When it all comes down to it, your degree speaks nothing if you lack the talent, written/communication skills, desire and work ethic to be successful.  Is a company going to promote a bad manager with a degree from a traditional university over a  good manager with a UOP degree?  It is highly unlikely.  I will say if I were an employer and had 2 candidates both equal, I would go with the one with the traditional degree over the UOP – it is just the safer reasoning.  But, how many people do you know earned their way into middle or senior management out of college at 21?  Most people get out of school, get an entry-level position like everyone else making $30K a year and work their way up. 

Hope this was helpful.

Don't dismiss me as just another irate consumer that was mistreated.  I know certain things you don't.  Without adequate federal funding UOP would not stand a chance.  You must encourage your subscribers to call the Department of Education and demand the Gainful Employment Act become law.  You and your subscribers must demand it!! In case you are not literate of the law if the gainful employment act becomes law this school would not be able to increase tuition probably ever again and would probably be forced to cut its tuition in half which will snow ball into a layoff and launch its downfall.  

You have to understand the dynamics of the way the school works in order to understand this so you would have to just trust me on it.

~Continuing on,

Some colleges will say they accept them regionally accredited which u o p is regionally accredited. But like IUPUI, Indiana Univ, & Purdue would, Only if their curriculum and it was compatible, Someone said she received 60 credits at more from this school, and then only 1 single class was transferable. HELLO they do this so you "stay with university of phoenix" I wouldn't believe anyone trying to say it's  a great school, these are people who work for the school, or wished they wouldn't have went, place people to go there and get them in the same situation they are already in. I see more websites complaints about this school that are bad, than good resourceful websites that makes this school great edu. But, the bad out weights the good. If it's too good to be true, it’s no really great edu. Especially when you do all that work for NOTHING. It's a diploma mill. This isn't the only one. Devery online is another one that I heard about too. Don't do online stuff. More than likely it will NOT TRASFER!! You’re screwed with UOP if you stay, if you stay, you’re not recognized through future employers. Got to a traditional college that has online classes, don't just go with any school. I'm glad I learned a lesson from this place; I did my research because of rumors going around. It's true information. Any school will tell you anything to get you in the door and trap you just as I was did, if you don't believe me, go waste your time, I'm sure EVERYONE encountered a problem at this school and about 90% percent of them quit or was unsatisfied after finished. Nobody would say they were 100% happy with their service from the school. They say they have alumini too. Former doctor graduates. HAHAHA I bet they only get jobs at the UoP when they are done. Hehehe could you imagine going to a doctor's office that said they graduated from the University of Phoenix?? On their wall plaque, lmao, what a kick of a laugh, and a run out the damn door as fast as you could. -Joni B

Nobody recognizes diploma's from University of Phoenix.(I found several websites that employers will deny it. It's a diploma mill and all they do is make the curriculum hard for people to make it look like a substantial school but it's not accredited like other colleges. It's bad when I local college with great reputation won’t accept their credits. They purposely have these credit's so you "get stuck in UoP forever" once you finally are in so far, you may as well finish " if you want " not me I dropped my courses. Not paying no more to them! The more you go, the more you have to pay them! No-Thank you! Id quite if you’re not too far ahead, I was 24 credits in and quit! I was mislead from the beginning... noting I would be a nurse and stuff, do clinical in my bachelors year! I had to do associates in healthcare administration, and then I could pursue a b.s.n - with not prior education! Hmmm they should have informed me what b.s.n was and I would have gone to a different school. I realized this 10 mos after Id been in University of Phoenix. Why did the school accept me in their studies, if I could not do the nursing program? All they wanted was money, period! see they screw a lot of people I saw on ABC news where a lady was mislead and they found out evidence that she was mislead and the school gave her a scholar ship - hello?? who wants to go to this fudged up school when the diploma is not accepted through employers I highly suggest if you want to become a police officer, id or nurse, whichever it is, Id call several companies and see if they accept university of phoenix online school diploma’s! lol you will change your mind! if you want to be a doctor online - bahahaha - what a total joke! Don’t believe in that psychology degree associates all the way to PhD - do you think a graduate a "real traditional college of doctor's" is going to accept all your 500 credits from University of Phoenix psychology credits?? Hell no, they won't! Not only have you wasted time, money, and effort, for nothing, but you will have to "start all over" some place that is legit! or to a community college that transfers "normal credits, that are legit!" true stuff, it would suck to waste so much time in this place, waste of time, mullah, effort, not to mention the MONEY blown for NOTHING!! No school will take these credits!! Nobody recognized online credits period from places I've called upon. -Joni B

"Alumni of UOPX include U.S. Navy Admiral Kirkland H. Donald, current White House cyber security coordinator Howard Schmidt, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters, four-time NBA Championship-winner Shaquille O’Neal and three-time WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie." Wow.... and it’s stated that a degree from UOP is worthless... 
Well, if you don’t put forth 100% effort into your studies, you will reap minimal reward. While the admin staff leaves much to be desired, the faculty, I believe is exemplary. I recently had a History professor (PHD) who taught at Harvard for a year…. Although I have come across a few professors who perpetuate the stereotype of the “diploma mill” they just give you a grade, I say that they need to be fired... I value my education and I applaud all of the professors who take their job and role as an instructor and educator seriously (and I have had many). I considered UOP after a colleague graduated with her master’s and increased her salary by almost $20k. The classes are not easy and some a little bit more intense than others, but if you had a bad experience at UOP, then more than likely it’s you, not the school and you may not succeed anywhere you go with a certain attitudes and discipline.

Before I spend 25-30k for the MBA program, I would really like to know if anyone has heard negative comments from Human Resources or business owners about getting a degree from UOP? I work shift work so I need to do it online. I will work hard and basically want to know if I will get hired with a UOP Masters degree?

wow

This is really late because these posts are OLD, but I definitely understand quality of education.  I have been to so many schools it would make your head spin.  Each was different, but what I learned overall was that the true education depends on the student.  The knowledge is there to be gained, it just depends on YOU to get it.  There is a huge difference between passing and learning.  The problem lies not with the school, but mainly with the student.  You also have to take into consideration your own learning curve.  Could be that YOU learn best this way and can better utilize certian resources provided by the school you are in.  I personally draw knowledge from EVERYTHING i touch in school.  I make the experience my own and apply it MYSELF.  Most people will earn a lesser degree then me, tho they all say MBA.  It is what seperates us, I can apply what I have learned, they cannot.  It is always obvious to an A student when they are talking to a C student or "managed" by one (mediocroty).  You didn't learn anything - and that ultimately - is your own fault.

To Steve: I see your wods stated you paid 30k for a "FAKE BACHELORS DEGREE" so how did you enroll in the UCLA MBA program? Did you have another degree from somewhere else or was the degree from UOP good enough to get you into the MBA program at UCLA? Something to think about isn't it?

Let me tell you all something. I am about to get my BSBM from UOP and I have been on the fence about getting an MBA from there or going to Texas A&M here in San Antonio which is part of Texas A&M Kingsville. I called A&M and spoke to the Provost and she said they are NOT accredited with AACSB either and to do so is a lengthy process. A few well recognized and respected private universities in the area are not AACSB accredited either like the University of the Incarnate Word, Our Lady ofthe Lake University, St. Marys(which is a top law school), Trinity University, all are not AACSB but are ACBSP just like UOP which is the SAME accredidation. So does this make these schools degree mills also? This is using the logic that some of you are applying to this topic of UOP not being a real school or a degree mill. If that were the case why is it then that I can get into UTSA(University of Texas at San Antonio) which is AACSB in the MBA program or any other major university to get an MBA if my UOP degree is not real or accepted, please all you doubters please answer that for me since you all seem to know so much. CHEA and ACBSP recognize UOP as accredited which by the way is the same accredidation as schools like Duke, Auburn, US Air Force Academy (bet all of you will say thats not a real school either huh), Indiana University, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, the list goes on and on. I am not saying UOP is the best but I am saying that you get a real degree from there and can use that to go to another school if you choose to to pursue an MBA or stay at UOP to get one. It is expensive but no more expensive than a few of the private Universities here in San Antonio, in fact University of the Incarnate Word is almost the same price for an MBA. Please, I dare all you negative people to respond.

Great post David, UoP is a great school that has benefits some other schools do not have.  I graduated with  my MBA in NOV 09 and it has worked out wonderful for me.  I did my undergrad at the University of Kansas and between the two schools I found UoP to be more school and mission oriented than KU. I  loved going to both of the schools but UoP gave me an edge to be independent and find my way.  KU was more like highschool all over again as far a the undergrad program.  I am looking to go back to KU LAW for a third round because thats where I want to go.  UoP provides the chance to get a higher education diversely than a traditional B&M school.  It is no more expensive than another graduate program at a B&M school.  Every other B&M school has online classes that an individual can take just not as extensive as that school would like be.

For-Profit Degrees have a purpose, and that purpose is to help disadvantaged groups of people and those who work full time and have children. Most people have zero time to drop everything and go to school, so this fits a market. Its interesting that people will bash others for pursuing education. Accreditation is important and if the school is not measuring up then it needs to lose the Accreditation. Obviously this is not the problem at UoP. 

Whats really interesting is that some people who have deep pockets and the connections are able to get into Ivy League Schools while the rest of us suffer. When we try to better ourselves we are told that it is an inferior educational system. 

Make no mistake the current university system see's this as a potential threat and rightly so. What better way to stop it than to discredit it. I agree with regulation. It is important to have standards, however the same can be applied to the university system in America. If we really want to make this country competitive then lets have a universal education system where anyone who works hard enough will have the ability to graduate regardless of station.

I have just finished my MBA degree from UOP and I can really testify to the quality of the education. I notice a lot of people here talking and making comparisons about UCLA and UOP. Well, I am fortunate to have graduated from both universities - with my BA from UCLA. I was valedictorian from my community college. I enjoyed UCLA and cherished my experience there, just as I did from UOP. I graduted in the top 1% of my class at both schools. I can take the negative side and point to some bozo who somehow seemed to get through the program at both schools. It still puzzles me. I remember back in high school, I felt like tearing up my diploma because of the caliber of the other people who were getting the same diploma. I'm sure if you look hard enough, you can find the same kind of person at any university in the country, including Harvard, who you would swear should not have gotten their degree. I know I saw plenty at UCLA and UOP too. The problem is that there are many different kinds of intelligence and some people have other strengths that allow them to pass that society doesn't appreciate so much.
But on the whole both schools are what you make of it and I think if you tried to slide by in either school, you'd have the same negative feelings and results. But on the other hand, if you truly applied yourself at either institution you will have received a truly first class education and academic experience.

UOP has a excellent MBA program (non-online). Because it is a FOR-Profit institution their student resources such as career development are minimal. As far a requirments to apply to this instituion, I am not a fan of standardized tests being a reflection of your educational competency as this is completley untrue. The MBA curriculum is intense and if you are not committed to the program you can fail out of this institiution. UOP has the same higher education standards for their students as other Accreditted colleges and universities. It is expensive but offers a quality education experience.

Online Business Degree..
The online jobs that foundation you and moreover give you everything you need, such as takes, publicity or advertising material, make every human being that joins to cultivate their business quicker. Linking   an probability where the teamwork conception is in area is nearly a true bet for succeeding. As you follow-up these online businesses, create sure the lone you join is utilizing the teamwork conception and you can guaranty yourself a victorious scheme.

I am working on my last class at UOP. Like many, I am an adult learner, working full time in a management position, maintaining a family and running a household. This type of learning environment worked well for me. I too am using my degree as a stepping stone, as I plan on attending the University of Connecticut "Go Huskies" in the fall, for my Masters. Good luck to all.

UOP is a fine school. It is not top notch though; in real life, it serves a purpose as a stepping stone. By itself, there are some prejudice and lacking realities; so, use it to further your carreer. the BS is fine for admission to a better gold standard school MBA. The BS will gain you entry to law, med or CPA in most states. I am using the BS to gain entry to law school and also to attend a gold standard MBA. 
In the end, no one cares where you went to school, and if it is an issue, just attend the masters at a gold standard school and say "I have a masters from..." 
Use UOP to step up to better things or stay with it all the way for just a good degree. If you want an education, learn on your own and be happy to recieve an regionally accredited degree that you can achieve a high GPA from with  moderate work.

My Story wiht UOP...Final

Where To?
Once I’m done with my BSIT, I will apply to another school for my MBA at ASU (top 30 in the nation) or Cornell (around top 10). I’m going to another school not because I don’t like UOP, but because I have the opportunity to go to another school that is better (I will attend the executive program), and yes, I already did heavy research and UOP’s BSIT is more than enough to get in (given that I get my GMAT high and I get some good professional references).

Some one said something about ROI (return on investment). The problem with ROI is that you cannot look for the highest ROI all of the time. More than usual, what will give you the highest ROI will require too much of an investment (time, monetary, etc) which is simply not possible – so what do you do? Do you simply not invest? No, as long as you get a positive ROI worth your time, do it. Have you ever heard about seed money? This is how I’m using UOP for. With my UOP BS, I can apply for an MBA at a better school – This is because I can do it – If I couldn’t, then I would do UOP without regrets.

More about ROI
If I couldn’t afford to go to Harvard or Stanford, is it wrong for me to go to ASU or Cornell? No. If I did not have the means to go ASU, is it wrong for me to go to UOP? No. Remember, get the best degree you can afford, that you can attend, and that you can pass. Also, remember that any degree (even certifications) is better than having no degree at all.

Be Courteous
If you don’t like UOP, don’t diminish the Alumni as incompetent people. State your thoughts and opinions, but don’t be rude to the students. State your facts and opinions about your experiences with the school, but don’t let the Alumni feel low – this brings their moral and this can in fact prevent people from succeeding. I have a friend that graduated from Devry with a Graphic Design Associates degree, and he is doing fairly well (around 50k a year maybe) – this is really good for an associate degree, so should I say he is worth it because of his degree? No. I think he is a smart guy who took the best possible door that was available to him and made the best out of it. He is now thinking on pursing his BA, and I’m sure he will strive.

To Summarize
I hope this story helps others making a decision as to what school you want to go. Don’t just look at all the bad rumors; make informed decisions based on all factors, and make the decision that will benefit you the most, and which you can in fact afford and attend.

My story with UOP...Continued

My experience with UOP
UOP is a good institution with a very good curriculum. I have friends that have gone to Ivy League schools like Harvard and we compare what we learn…believe it or not, many times I come up with better strategies – but I will not take anything away from my friends: They are very, very smart people!

What I can say that UOP is lacking is on the instruction side. I get it because I know the work, so I can easily pick up what I need from books; however, those with little experience struggle much more. Teachers are far from teachers…They are moderators and are there to support you, not to teach you. This is something I really don’t like from UOP, but I have to deal with it because it was the only option at the time. This is why UOP is working adults!

Team groups are a good thing from UOP. I think this is where you get the most out of it, and yes, Ivy League schools like Cornell and Stanford also use team groups in their programs…Team works do help to learn; you solve most problems at work by working in a team setting, not by working alone.

UOP has also helped me a lot in my communications skills and simply sharpening my skills. I feel more confident and I see many more doors opening up. I don’t regret it.

My story with UOP:

I have been attending UOP for about 2 years now and will graduate next year with my BSIT in software engineering. I also had some courses I transferred from a bricks and mortar community college, which is helping me get my degree faster.

Why did I go to UOP?
When I first started to do research, there were simply no other Universities that I could find that would provide a good online education, and yes, I did go through about all the forums and reviews from people that are not pleased with UOP. As part of the research, I also found forums of people that did not like Harvard, ASU, UCLA, MIT, and so forth (believe it or not). What I found is that every school has some issues, and if Harvard has some issues out there, UOP should have more.

As part of my research, I spoke with counselors at other schools, employers, my boss, and his boss. Every body told me the same thing: A degree is just to get you in the door, but once you’re in, it goes in a drawer; it is you the one that keeps the job.

Once I finalized my research, I concluded that UOP is not the best University in the states, but it is a good University. UOP was the best option for me, a working adult who simply cannot go back to school the traditional way. I also concluded that UOP is not for every one. If you are a young kid out of high school, don’t go to UOP. UOP is for working adults who already have experience, not for inexperienced kids. Instead, do what you can to go to a traditional school. I went to UOP because I already make close to 6 figures without holding a degree at all. I have built a network and I’m very good at what I do. I’ve had offers to move to other states to work for other people within my network to make even more money, but I’ve turned them down because I don’t want to do this to my children. I’m the type of person that can get a job without a degree, so UOP will only enhance my resume by me saying “I have a degree”.

Coach...
I have 6 courses left to receive my BA in IT with the focus on Software Engineering. I already had 125 credits from brick and mortar schools but had a difficult time returning to that type of educational environment. When I went back, I decided to pursue a degree in Multimedia and Visual Communications because for the last 10 years, I have worked in Web Development and Graphics design. All of my credits would not transfer because they were in a different field. I received my AA in MMVC and have just decided to change to Software Engineering because I have learned so much in that area through the core classes and have found it such an interesting and challenging field. You will get out of UoP what you put into it. If you really want to learn, the resources and opportunities are provided for you. It is all up to you. As far as the instructors, I think they leave a lot to be desired with their participation but that seems to be the norm for instruction today from grammar school to the university level and I think it is not restricted to UoP. The same goes with the interaction with your advisors. Even though I am totally disgusted with my advisors, I have to admit I have gotten more personal attention from them than any of the other schools I have attended. When I finish my BA, I plan on continuing at UoP to obtain my Masters. I would really like to instruct there one day just to do some things a little different and because I have enjoyed helping some of my peers in their learning experience. I believe that most of the students who have been unhappy with UoP did expect a free ride and are disappointed that it was not that way. It takes a lot of work if you are sincere about getting an education and making good grades. Even at the level I am at, I only see about half of the students in my class that are that sincere. The others are still looking to get that degree with the least amount of effort. But...this is also typical for any school. In the process of research, I find thousands of students from all universities trying to get someone on line to either do their homework for them or find someone they can buy it from. That is why there are so many "term paper mills" online. Anyway...when I finish this degree, I will know what I am doing. I also expect to make my fortune doing it. In our field, the degree is not as important as the knowledge and experience that backs it anyway and UoP will give you that.

Does anyone here know if the IT program is any good. I am in my fourth block classes and all I have done is write, which I have gotten very good at. All these people bashing the UoP need to chaulk up there lose if they feel that badly. I question their grades and the quality of their work. If they aren't getting anything out of UoP, they are not doing their work. Out of the millions of students this place has had there is going to be some disgruntled students. If they are having a hard time finding work in their field, welcome to America. Even graduates from your top schools are having this problem.

FYI if an employer denies one's employment application because they received it at UOP, vs UCLA, UB, etc., then its EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION. The lawsuit from this alone would pay for someone's four year degree from all of the above schools. I would err on the side of caution if one is using this excuse to downgrade UOP because its not credible and it is bogus.

I am trying to decide if i should attend the UOP.  my concern is if i later decide to further my education if my credits will transfer.  i would hate to drop 30k+ and not have my degree taken seriously.

I am surprised at the number of people complaining about the cost of tution at UOP. I am currently attending UOP and prior to that I was going to Texas A&M. The cost of my tution is basically the same at UOP as it was previously. Also, prior to deciding on UOP I checked into several other online colleges and let me tell you UOP is no where near as expensive. Plus, I feel that companies are not looking down at a degree online anymore. Nowadays, employers are becoming more and more aware that a degree online can be even harder to obtain then one in the traditional college classroom.

well i did obtain my undergrad degree in business from UOP, and work for a private company.  I must say that I've found it difficult to move further both in and out of the company.  My company recognizes UOP (because they definitely pay for the tuition), but I really don't think it's looked at like other universities around the city.  I know of many people within this company that all have degrees from UOP both undergrad and MBA and they are still stuck in the same positions.  When we try to apply out....nothing.  I've had over 10 years of experience with this company, and tried hard to move up in my field many times, nothing.  It can be very frustrating when you feel you've done all that you know to do.   I remember one position I applied for outside the company, and just so happens that a friend of mine worked for that company and saw my application.  She said that they took the application and tossed it before even reading my resume.  When they saw UOP, they felt it was a waste of time.  Had she not worked there and been on the committee that considers applicants, I would have never known that.  First time that I heard of an organization rejecting because of where they got the degree. sad but soo true

can i get into a good business school with u of phoenix undergrad degree?? I know my gmat scores will have to be good but will it effect me at all in getting in somewhere else?

I attended the University Of Presentations (or University Of Passing, depending on who you ask) for two classes toward an MBA. Complete waste of a large amount of money. Re-started and finished at a 'real' university two years later that had a working adult program (and no, they didn't accept the UOP classes, but this is common at the graduate level) for 2/3ds the cost. Their "group learning model" was a joke. It was just another way for tuition-paying slackers to be carried through the program by the other people in the group who would do all the course work and then they would receive the same group grade as the others. No GMAT or GRE required. No undergrad minimum major or overall GPA required (well, maybe it was a 2.0 or something, I can't recall exactly, but that's pretty low), no requirement to have a business undergrad degree or even a certain number of business undergrad courses. Basically, if you were breathing, had cash money or access to loans, and had a BS in something you were good to go for the MBA. Going to UOP will drain you financially and reward you minimally in the employment department. You don't need an MBA to do a cost-benefit analysis on that one.

First, this is not necessarily a comment about UoP it is a comment about how to succeed in the corporate world using my career as an example.  

Second, I have been an executive and senior manager at several prestigious companies and start-ups. 

Third, degrees mean little, personal gumption, effort and social skills mean everything.  Did you know that most CEO's only have a BS in liberal arts.  When in the corporate world it is politics and having powerful friends.  Trust me when your invited to play golf with the board no one checks your degree. In every company I've worked for I have made friends/business associates of the President, CEO and many of the executives.  Not a one of them asked what my degree was, in, or from.  AND this was done no matter my position, a lowly programmer or an executive. 

Forth, learn to play golf most business is still done on the golf course.

Fifth, read everything you can get your hands on about business, current business and your competitors.  Executives want to see people who are interested and care about building the company. That means YOU have to do YOUR homework.  

Sixth, take your competitors to lunch or clients of your competitors. 

Seventh, get your ASS out of the chair and socialize at all levels.  Leave the water cooler junkies to themselves. See number three above.

Eighth, buy some real clothes, watch Wall Street a 100 times if you have to until you get it. At every company I have worked for I have always been told I would have won  the award for best dressed. 

a) polish your personal presentation skills, your vocabulary, you ability to learn quickly and be out going.  Most people who work in the corporate environment dress like slobs, speak poorly and have a small vocabulary.  People especially executives want to talk to people who can express themselves succinctly and clearly. 

Ninth, workout no company wants a fat, over weight executive. Ever seen one?

And number ten.  Leave your personal life at home.  

Now to the issue of UoP you can get into any school of prestige if you can pass the entrance exams.  You can sit for the CPA, you can go to law school, hell you can go to med school if you want to.  It is a good school that tries hard to please its students.  Like any organization that has grown too fast it has its issues.  AND if you think brick and mortar schools are boring, wait till you work in a company with 3,000 employees.  It is like trying to get a sloth to climb a tree. 

If UoP is such and issue then stop telling people your degree is from UoP.  Simply say I have an MBA 90% of the time no one is going to ask you where from.  Do you ever ask your doctor where their degree is from?

Plan out your life,  figure out what YOU want, and then do it.  

Good luck and God bless!

I have a degree in Global management from University of Phoneix Online and would like to apply to Columbia or NYU grad school to do Banking & Finance here in NYC but am not sure if these universities will accept UOP degree as an accredited instittue degree.

Response anyone !!!

I am so glad I found this blog. I am about to finish my first block of classes and was looking around for internships. I was wondering how well my attending UoP would come across. I hope all my time and money won't be wasted because I am trying really hard to finish something in my life. I agree with all that have said that UoP is a much better program than any other b&m school, I have attended 2 universities in Louisiana and the first was sooo easy, I hate I left. The 2nd was ridiculously overwhelming, with no assistance in sight. It said that it catered to working parents, yeah right!!! I can honestly say I am learning something!

I have mixed feelings about the MBA from UOP. I have plenty of work experience in the fields of both accounting and management. However the city I lived in while getting these degrees did not have much more than entry level jobs that a trained chimp could do. I tried for four years after gaining managerial experience and having a great salary to get another positon that was equivalent. It never happened. I even had recruiters from both AppleOne employment and Accountemps tell me that my MBA (regardless of where it was obtained) was as good as a High School Diploma?!!! I am sorry but with all my background and experience I expected to be at least halfway to a six figure salary. Unfortunately though living in a city where no career progression is available has made this challenging. I am currently trying to relocate to a larger coastal city where there is more opportunity and BTW if you are a current MBA student from a "real" university of graduated less than a year ago and can prove significant work experience there are several companies who offer specialty MBA programs to help you climb the corporate ladder faster. This is what I will try to do because the UOP degree and a good GMAT score got me accepted into a Top Ten MBA program ...even at the age of 32 I think I can pull this off and I HAVE to as the UOP MBA cost me over 100K in student loans.

I'm currently enrolled at UOP, and  find that I spend more time thinking and working on class requirements then other brick and mortar schools, I went to ECC in Everett WA and let me tell you that I find my education through the UOP to be better then ECC. Once I finish my 4 year degree, I will try to transfer to the UW for my masters. My degree is my degree, and if it is accredited it really doesn't matter

Seriously, you haters need to go.  When reviewing most of the careers one would hope to fall into when achieving an MBA, oftentimes it is not the degree alone but the prior experience one has as well that will help to land them a great job.  If I had an MBA from University of Michigan, or Carnegie-Mellon with no substantial work experience, I would still not get a 6 figure job.  And since we got so many other negative perceptions about UOP being thrown out there, I'd like to throw out some about brick and mortar schools.  Many people who go to brick and mortar schools sleep through discussions and are good test takers who acquire no real knowledge other than learning how to skate through life.  Many of the people who can afford to go to these schools time and money wise have financial contributors (mom and dad) lol.  Having gone to a WSU I can attest to that one!! lol I am currently half of the way through my MBA program from UOP, and having attended other brick and mortar schools I can say that the learning environment is different, however still effective and educational.  There are tests, there is plenty of research, and very high standards for graded assignments.  I would challenge anybody to say that UOP's quantitative reasoning class is not up to par with any other stats classes.  Why would somebody leave UOP to go to another school? So basically you wasted 30 g's, and now you are going to waste more an another degree, not for the knowledge of what you learned but the "name" behind the degree from what it sounds (Steve).  And guess what, if you have no credible work experience you still will not get a good job, even with your two MBAs.

I have been reading these rants from UoP haters since before I started this school in July 2007.  I have 4 classes to go and it looks like people still won't drop the negativity.  "Steve"  congrats, buddy.  You are going to UCLA, fine, now leave!  Are you trying to be a hero and save us all from UoP or what?!  I like UoP!  We do have to take tests!  I've had a EOC test in the last 5 classes.  Plus I've had other tests in previous classes.  I didn't write a paper for my Math I & II classes.  I took tests.  Most people who bail on this school are 1) afraid to speak in public 2) do not write very well 3) listen to the other UoP haters on forums like this one and think they know what they are talking about.  Everyone in my class already has a good job, but they'll have a better job with a BSB/M and having a UoP degree does not matter to their employer.  I have heard there is one person on Obama's staff that has a UoP degree.  If it's good enough for him, it'll work for me!

I have an MBA from UOP.  Do I think I wasted my time?  No.  Now I am pursuing a MSN at Drexel, their online program.   I sat in a nursing program for 2 years watching people shoot spit balls, trim their nails and sending text messages while instructors droned on and on thinking about their next vacation.  Give me a good online program anyday.  I appreciate the ability to choose where I work on my education instead of in a room full of people with other things on their minds.   I have never had problems finding a job with the degree and I feel I learned.

I failed a class at U of P which is why I stopped going there.  I did the assignments and participated in every discussion.  The teacher was obviously a racist or prejudice.

I am pusuing a degree in phycology at uop online my goal is to specialize in child phycology Will an online degree from this school keep me from a good job Does this degree transfer to other schools I am 40 and I dont have time to waste

Kate, your degree will be fine.  The requirement most colleges look for is whether your degree was obtained through an accredited college.  Since yours was, you will not have a problem.  Of more importance is the grades earned while in school, your GMAT (GRE, LSAT, MCAT, etc) scores (depending what program you want to attend) and other factors required by each college.  The only way you may face a problem is if trying to transfer credits from a non-AACSB school to a AACSB school.   

I find all these remarks quite comical at best. Personally, I believe that the only person able to argue the validity or breadth of education received from an online institution is a person who has attended one of those institutions. How can one compare the education received from a traditional B&M type school with that of an online institution if they have not attended both types of schools? Any attempt to argue the points lacks substantive foundation and merit. I graduated with a BA History from the University of Connecticut, BS Accounting UofP, and a JD from Cornell. The degree from UofP more then satisfied the requirements in order for me to sit for the CPA exam. In the larger picture, the degree is not worth much more than the paper printed on. A degree only serves a purpose in meeting minimum requirements in order to seek promotions or start careers. Ten years after the completion of schooling nobody will care what degrees you have or where you obtained those degrees. The only thing which matters is the types of experience received and level of positions held. A person’s individual abilities and or incompetence will determine how far a person will advance in his or her life.

I have  degree from University of Phoneix Online and would like to apply to Columbia or NYU grad school here in NYC but am not sure if these universities will accept UOP degree as an accredited instittue degree.

Response anyone !!!

hi I am getting my associates degree from uop right now. I think i will leave the school after this because they don't offer a program that I am interested in. But it's not all that bad. uop is an option for a full time working mother, i cant go to a reg school - i simply don't have time for it. did anybody have any problems getting to a school in ny after getting a degree from uop? i heard that schools dont recognize their degree even though the law says otherwise.

My experience at UOP was very rewarding and the MBA is accredited by ACBSP.

Most states will accept University of Phoenix credits to sit for the exam.  The requirements are usually 150 credit hours of education and 30-33 credits in accounting from a regionally accredited college.  Some states are accreditation specific such as Texas and NJ.  New Jersey will accept credits from any regionally accredited college but if you go to an AACSB or ACBSP "in NJ" then they require less credits to sit for the exam.  

The problem you may have with the University of Phoenix is its masters program may not fly to high with the larger accounting firms. 

I suggest looking into the following "online" programs.

University of Connecticut MSAcct.

Rutgers MSacct.

Western New England College MSacct/Tax

Bentley University MSTaxation

UTulsa MS Taxation

Auburn, Masters of accountancy

Syracuse University, Masters of Science in Accounting

University of Massachusetts MBA in Accounting

Florida Atlantic University MS ACCT and MS Taxation

**Other schools with programs to soon be online, Arizona State University, NYU, University of Michigan, Villanova University, Northeastern University, Boston University


If your going to get a Masters of Accounting online it would benefit you to get your degree from a well recognized, regionally and AACSB accredited school.  In the long run it will open more doors. You may have a tough time finding a job, or faculty position by earning a masters from the University of Phoenix may.  Getting employment is very important because most states require 1 - 2 years of work experience to obtain your CPA license. 

I'll share my personal goals with you.

I'm self employed financial planner looking to sit for the CFP & CPA exam in NJ.

2nd goal is to teach part time on campus or 0nline.

Schools I will likely attend

Bentley University MS Taxation

Western New England College MSAcct/Taxation

Rutgers MS accounting

University of Massachusetts MBA-Accounting Concentration

Can one sit for the CPA exam with a MS/ ACC from the University of Phoenix or not? Please email me : nana@ribotskylevine.com

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.

UoP Rocks!!!

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??!!!

Seeking a degree is all about ROI. What return on my investment into the education am I going to get. If you are seeking the degree for some type of self fullfillment then UOP will certainly give you that return you are looking for. If you are seeking a higher level of education for advancement in your career then you might want to reconsider UOP as an option. Talk to a recruiter in your field and ask how much weight a UOP degree holds. More recruiters are going to tell you that UOP is not going to help you get that executive position your looking for. If there are two candidates seeking employment with similar backgrounds and working achievments, and one holds a degree from UOP and the other an has a degree from an AACSB institution, the UOP graduate will lose just about every time. It is also important to remember that the net worth of a degree, particularly a Masters, is in many ways only as good as the networking that the University has with hiring companies looking for MBA graduates. I am an Executive MBA student at the University of Central Florida and 90% of the graduates have either accepted a higher position with their current employer or found new employment as the result of achieving the MBA 6 months prior to graduating. If the UOP had similar success with its graduating students it would be posting that data everywhere.  I just encourage you to do your homework and heavily consider what you expect from obtaining the degree.

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.

If UOP is so flawed and if the education is so worthless, why are the one of the largest online universities and why do they have so many students, and why are they still regionally accredited by the Dept of Education?  I just transferred to the Univ of MD because of the negativity I was hearing, but I do not like Univ of MD.  I told them I had some difficulty with a class and they told me to drop it.  What the hell?  UOP helped me when I had difficulty.  That really pissed me off and so I am thinking about going back to UOP.  I see that most companies recognize a bachelors degree, no matter what school you went to as long as the school is Dept of Ed. accredited.  The federal government accepts graduates from UOP, why wouldn't anyone else?

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.

Steve...Couldn't get into USC?

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.

Try getting a job with a University of Phoenix degree. If the University of Phoenix is so great, why is it not recognized in any major business journals or any major companies?  The difference in the quality of education between a state school and University of Phoenix is huge. At UOP, students mostly write APA formatted papers and do Power Point presentations. This school has very little testing. Not to mention, the UOP charges more than double the price of a state school. Mike, you are saying the NY times article has been debunked; however, the amount of negative press against the University of Phoenix speaks for itself. In reality it is impossible to get the same quality education as a state school finishing a masters degree in 1 year with each class being only 6 weeks. Most of the UOP's classes are incredibly easy and the professors rarely will fail a student. After I quit UOP and went to UCLA, I now can understand the difference in quality of education.  UCLA's networking program actually has real Fortune 500 CEO's; however, UOP only has 3 notable Alumni of which one includes Shaquille O'Neal.  Shaq would still be successful with or without his UOP fake degree. To get in to UOP's MBA program, all one has to do is simply have a 3.0 GPA and be working. Mike, you are saying people who bash for profit schools are "unaware". If these for profit schools where so great, why do schools such a Phoenix and DeVry have to sell their school using high pressure tactics?  I can go on all day explaining why UOP education is not as good as a state school. Their are too many reasons. Ask any professor at a major university or employer at a large company for their opinion about the UOP or DeVry. I used to stand up for this school because I put a lot of effort in to my degree only to find out that I have been scammed $30000 for a fake bachelors degree. The state school students will be considered any day over a Phoenix graduate.  However, if you are already successful in the work world, then your degree may not matter. But, for those of you who are young and starting out, where you get your degree does matter.  Trust me!

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.

One more thing to think about! The UOP is arguably more of a business than a school.  Trust me, I strongly urge you that the extra time it takes to complete your degree at a reputable school is well worth it. Some employers such as Proctor and Gamble and Intel will not hire UOP grads, let alone pay for tuition assistance for this school.  Columbia Universities Henry M. Levin referred to UOP's MBA as an "MBA Lite" with very low level instruction. 
UOP has the highest drop out rate of any school as well. According to recent statistics, only 12% enrolled finish. I am a disgruntled student who feels I did not get my moneys worth. It is sickening that the UOP charges almost the same for their lousy MBA as UCLA does for a real MBA. Until UOP can increase their standards I will help to spread the word. This school doesn't care about their students. This schools main concern is making money.  Think about it, the market cap for Apollo group is larger than Southwest Airlines. If you are a student at the school, you should demand the school start require testing and become AACSB accredited. Besides, many AACSB schools now have online programs. The only positive thing I can say about UOP is that the BA from this school was a stepping stone to get in to UCLA.

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.

I now work for citigroup also, I got my bachelors degree at UoP. I ask a very important human resource personnel in he company and she told me that a lot of companies are now looking for graduates from online courses because it shows that the students are independent and responsible. The understand that a person learns more online that in a class with 300 students.

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.

Good post Kevin...  I think you nailed it... I find myself not needing to defend UoP at all anymore and I work for a college...in fact I find that more and more people want to know about it and how we can begin to transition in that direction to tap into a new student type.... Online learning is becoming the new face of learning in both full online an blended environments.  Best of luck to all.....

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/accreditation.aspx#ACBSP)

John, I agree with the accredidation issue.  I hate to say it but I think I'd find myself defending UoP less frequently if it was AACSB accredited.

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.