University of Phoenix - Online Campus Review

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Overall 3.26 of 5 view all 139 reviews

usnnc
Athens, GA

Be careful and aware of what you need

cost-conscious, a mom, Internet Addict, serious student, have advanced degree

Pros

Flexibility, Attend classes day or night

Cons

Cost, Misinformation given, Too many changes in counselors

MAR

2008

University of Phoenix - Online Campus —

I worked for a university, and one of my many jobs was as an advisor to prospective students. I would take all their transcripts, crunch numbers and give them an idea of time, cost and exact classes needed to obtain their undergrad or graduate degree.

I had several students who came in with University of Phoenix credit.
This is a regionally accredited campus. That is good. What this means is that the course work taken can be granted, upon departmental review, equivalent credit at another regionally accredited school.

HOWEVER, I was never able to get the students any credit from the coursework they took at this school for the following reasons:
[1] The students never had their course syllabi or any descriptors of coursework.
[2] The campus would never send out descriptors of their courses, so that the coursework
could be reviewed and granted equivalency. Calling to speak to administrators directly,
I was told that making their specialized, copy-righted course standards and descriptions
available to the public was against campus policy.
[3] Going through the Arizona State Board of Education, I was assured that the Univ. of
Phoenix was regionally accredited (North Central Association), but I would have to
contact the school for course descriptors.

For my own state, I was able to get any descriptor and all the state standards for courses offered by any of our public campuses directly on-line, and contacting the individual school was usually unnecessary, unless I needed to locate a course descriptor from 25 years ago.

Univ of Phoenix wasn't the only school I had trouble with, but it did fall into the category of "diploma mills". I couldn't get any information when the format of a campus was totally electronic classes. Typically this coursework was shoved down the student's throat at exorbitant prices. They did get the work done, however. The schools made sure of that. But what is this worth when no one can check the quality of the coursework itself, nor can those classes be transferred to another regionally accredited campus?

Good idea, but in my non-student, administrative experience I would have to say that this program is a total ripoff. I have not spoken to any local employer who would voluntarily speak up in favor of the coursework offered by this campus. In speaking with my students, sometimes the reputation of the school where they got their degree(s) was an important part of their resume. The power company, for instance, is well known as preferring to hire from certain engineering schools.

Last edited on Jul 11, 2008