University of Phoenix [UOPX] review: unethical business practices! 65

It has been over 100 days since my first post on this site. I have achieved A's in my first 4 classes and have A's in the two I am half way thru now.

I subscribed to receieve e-mail notifications to stay tuned to others feedback on this site as it progressed. I searched for 4 months on every piece of information I could find about other peoples experiences with regards to UOP. I wanted to make the best decision I could before signing away the next thee + years and $30, 000 +.

The factors that finally motivated my decision were the fact that the school is accredited, and has been doing the online thing the longest and how fast I can get it done. I took out student loans, so I don't care how much it costs. I will make all that back from the career I get, once I am done. The cost is about the same of a really nice car. My potential earnings completely out way the negative impact of the large amount of the investment. I plan to continue my education after my BA to prolong my payments and continue to make myself better, to get more money and a better career.

As I stated before, you have to go into this thing prepared to work. If you aren't a self starter, or confident, or able to tackle problems on your own, then online learning might not be for you. I spoke with an instructor one night for over two hours about the school, the students, and the potential after graduaton. He told me there are many students attending that just don't belong there. They either aren't prepared for the cirriculum, or don't speak english well enough to comprehend. Either way, the school could do a better job of ensuring people are able to handle it before accepting them, but its not like that is really an easy thing for them to do, and who is to say who can or can't handle it.

My advice to anyone considering ANY online school is to ask your self if you really want it. It took me 5 years to finally make the choice to go. In those years I had gone to councellors at different schools and came close to actually going a couple of times. By the time I made my choice to go to UOP, I was ready. I wasn't going to be detered by challenges that I knew I could face on the way. I committed my mind that this is what I am doing, and that I will work through all the things I need to.

UOP has presented a few situations where I was challenged to understand or deal with things. In these situations I contacted the correct people and was persistant in getting the information I needed to secure my own feelings. It is dissapointing to see so many people who seem to have these troubles, but UOP is very large and there are many peole involved. If you aren't satisfied with the information or treatment you are receiving, try looking elsewhere. Be persistant and push to get the answers you need.

Most of all, prepare yourself to work. I find that my Monday's are usually pretty open as far as school work goes, and the work builds to the weekends. My Sunday's are usually spent sitting at the computer for up to 6-8 hours doing the assignmnets that are due that day. I could spend the week doing them but am usually busy with my job and my kids and the reading that prepares me for the big assignments due Sunday. This is just the way I have built my own schedule and works for me and my wife.

It's not as bad as people make it seem everyone. Some of you no doubt have gotten a bad deal, but in any organization as large as UOP, those things are bound to happen. I am just subbmitting my HONEST experience which has been positive to help balance all of the negativaty that is out there. If your reading these posts and have had positive experiences at UOP then share them so otyhers who are afraid to make the choice can know that it isn't as bad as a lot of people make it seem. Making the choice and getting started is the hard part; after that, you just can't give up what you chose to do.

WORK IT!

I attended UofP online and found it to be the most overpriced, sub par education I have ever encountered. The student classroom discussion was a complete joke. The assignments ranged from being ridiculously easy, to being extremely difficult. Professor feedback was usually a cookie cutter response to assignments that offered no real constructive critique. I should have heeded the warning signs in my head when I first talked to my guidance counselor. He was all about signing me up as fast as I could KNOWING that I didn't have a up to date computer that was capable of using their site. After the first 9 weeks my enthusiasm waned greatly. I could honestly say that I learned absolutely nothing of value. So please, PLEASE stay away from UofP. Go to a real college and get a real degree that actually means something.

I had a great experience at UoP (MBA). Enjoyed most of the classes and the instructors but found that the majority of students really did NOT belong in a Masters level program. Yes I earned a 3.97 and yes I put in 3-6 hour a day 5-7 days a week for both on ground and online but It was the same as University of Maryland UC online and Drexel online. Is it a "for profit" business - yes but so are the State Universities. They are all businesses which many people forget. It sounds like most people on here are just whining to cover their individual lack of effort - sorry folks ... a degree takes work. Is it the best, most respected degree? Probably not. But that is because the student body generally are people that think getting a degree is easy or should be - come on did you REALLY expect to put in only 3 hours a week?

I have maintained a 3.97 average until my most recent completed block of classes where I still got A's but inexplicably dropped back to a 3.95. Yes, I had problems with one of the professors due to technical problems and he didn't check his email for the "back up" assignment. Yes, things have gotten even worse with this block, including technical problems and I am inexplicably failing one of my classes while still maintaining a passing grade in the other, despite assignments dis allowed in both classes because they posted with 0 content. Yes, there are definitely biases associated with this school, yes, I am probably going to change, and NO, I don't think I would recommend this school for anyone. I'm doing the work, the only way they can fail me is not to play by the rules, or to change them to suit themselves. I will pursue my education elsewhere. Thanks for providing the information that lets me know it's not me. It still hurts though. I hope someone does call them to account. I am planning on sending a letter to several accreditation agencies to let them know. I would suggest you folks do the same.

I graduated from the University of Phoenix Online with a Master's degree in Information Systems and a GPA 4.0. Unfortunately, I know nothing about computers or technology. Does that make sense? Of course it does if you are familiar with the University of Phoenix and their unethical business practices and poor quality education. They will tell you anything you want to hear to get you to sign up for classes, the educational material is poor quality and the instructors are completely worthless. I am out $30, 000 and have nothing to show for it. They give you A's so when you complain about the instructors and classes they can say you are doing great and what are you worried about. The education that one receives at the University of Phoenix is worthless and a complete joke. I have also submitted complaints to the UOP, but they will do nothing to rectify this situation because they are unethical and only out to steal your money. Please, please if you have complaints against the University of Phoenix, submit a letter indicating your complaints against the University to the Higher Learning Commission. This is the organization that accredits the University. We must stand together and make the Higher Learning Commission aware of what the University of Phoenix is doing. Please send your letters of complaint to Higher Learning Commission, 30 North LaSalle, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602.

I never thought to check online if there were complaints made about UoP. The fact is I was only interested in obtaining a B.S. degree to gain the minimum educational requirements to enter a law school program which has been my life long dream in becoming a lawyer. I'm 53 years old and thought "it's better late than never" University of Arizona Law School here I come!

I recently applied at UoP to enter a BSCJA/HS degree program which I thought would be the fastest way to obtain the minimum requirements for UOA Law School, and the application process went smooth with the help of a smooth talking, very articulate, and very nice looking counselor. I mean she called me everyday at least 2 times to update me on my financial aid process. She came across as someone who really cared about my success in reaching my goal, but something happened that changed the picture.

About 5 days after I applied a "snag" occurred. The National Student Loan Data System was reporting that I was in default on a student loan which prevented me from obtaining financial aid.
I explained to my counselor that this was obviously an error because I was actually in default 25 years ago but since had that debt discharged in a Federal Bankruptcy proceeding and provided her with indisputable proof. Additionally I immediately contacted the U.S. Department of Education and had them update the information in the NSLDS and also I had a 3-way personal conversation between my counselor and a U.S.Department of Education representative which they informed her that I was eligible for title 4 financial aid because I was not in default status.

Despite the fact that U.S. Department of Education provided a fax document of proof that a student loan was not in default, my counselor wanted the Department to re-word the documentation to fit the UoP language of acceptance. All of a sudden "Red" flags went off. I realized the counselor didn't know what she was doing. She was now questioning the officials from the USDOE, the one's who reported the errounious information and retracted it.

Thank God for the NSLDS errounious reporting and the ineptitude of the UoP staff. I was able to immediately read between the lines that their only concerns was to obtain and secure my financial aid and after doing a bit of research I immediately withdrew my application before starting class.

I am now enrolling in the University of Arizona, a very reputable entity, and starting over. I realize that it may take a little longer to reach my goal but the rewards and recognition will be charished.
Take your time and follow your instinct before committing yourself. Some people aren't as fortunate to encounter "snags" that save their dream. Good luck on your choice!

I am so thankful that I found this website! You talk about being unethical - that is TRUER than you think! I call them heathens because I am a minister and they refuse to put my name on my degree which I paid for not the school - but they won't put it on there because it has to do with religion...I paid for this degree - not the school and I am going to get an attorney - and we will win this - I thought I was the only one in which this had happened to - but it appears even during class sessions as well as online chats with some of those so-called professors (laugh) - there was identificiable discrimination and racism...

Sad, but I wish I read this information before I completed my AACJ. Now I am working on BSHSM, and I'm in my fith class. My instructor from Florida is a racisit, her along with 3 other's that have worked in cahots with each other. I am being forced to attend a class that she has told the student's not to work with me. I have called the enrollment counselor and academic counselor as well. No solution. The teacher does not call me back, but speaks daily with the other three. I have sufferred emotionally, mentally and academically. By not allowing student's to work with me, that is an automatic zero. So a failing grade is sure to come. What am I to do. I have never seen anything like this before. One of the ladies told me in class that I have "big ones" what?! But I am sure it is I who will suffer. Today I plan on visiting Troy State University in Phenix City, AL in hopes of a transfer. I could use any suggestions from the public, for I fear I am lost. My email is nikkil@rocketmail.com

Thank You!

For money School! PLEASE i beg you put your education in the hands of a school that actually gives a damn. This school only wants to suck your pockets dry and leave you with a confused look. Confused look meaning when you go out to find a job in a fast food restaurant or at Wal-mart because you found out that your degree isn't worth the paper it's printed on and that hardly any company will take you serious with a degree from UOP!

I thought going there would be a good idea since I am a military spouse and mom and we constantly travel all the time. I learned quick fast and in a hurry that the professors don't care and that if you tick them off about anything they will lower your grade. Also if there is a natural disaster they WILL NOT work with you! They will give you a zero if a large ice storm comes along and tears up the city and there isn't any power, and when you tell the teacher about it they will just say "well we have snow here and we get our work done" You then want to tell this underachiever where they can go!

But the day comes where you get fed up with all the "Fakery" and you transfer, only to get your head snapped off by the financial advisor, to a REAL school and realize what a good wholesome education you were missing out on. So yeah PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR OPTIONS! DON'T ATTEND UOP I'T'S THE WORST MISTAKE YOU WILL EVER MAKE!

I was a student getting my masters degree in education at University of Phoenix. I am also a very outspoken atheist as well. Over the last 6 months I have been going to UOP I have received emails demanding that I stop making any references to me being an Atheist. I still have the emails from my counselors asking me to stop. There are also many other students who post in their biography that they are of different religions and they hear nothing from the school. THis school discriminates against Anti-theist people.

I also recently had a teacher who was a religious nut from Orlando as I am now finding out. I google searched her name and the results showed many complaints in teacher ranking websites discussing her lectures having an over abundance of pro religion topics. I had an issue with a group member in a group project and the teacher over the last 4 weeks of the course refused to answer any of my emails about the problems I had after I turned in a paper about evolution and the disgust I have with it not being taught in Orlando. I of course was mad that my teacher would not address my issues at all and feel it is because of my Atheist viewpoints. I also tried to get help from my counselors that my teacher was not helping me and they told me I had no right to report her and I just had to deal with her. After much frustration I started taking my issues I had with my team member public.

I am a straight A student now facing expulsion and having my credits wiped out of UOP records. Maybe somebody knows an attorney that would be able to help me in my situation as I am having a hard time finding someone.

please contact me at rainman60110@yahoo.com

I agree that UoP is not my favorite school and I have experience with lots of colleges because I am prior service military and travel so much.
In the past, their course descriptions have been almost impossible to get, however they now are on their website. Their counselors aka recruiters are more salesmen than educational professionals in my experience as well.
However, if they are as saavy as they seem to be, I am sure that they are working to improve their product.

The want to charge me $745.00 for fulfilling their requirements to enroll for doctorate degree. They told me the class was free and would replace the ACT test. You know ACT is not $745.00. When I told them to take me off their rosters of classes they kept adding me to, they ignored me. They told I had to wait a month for my financial aid to kick in. They did not want me to pay, but they wanted my financial aid.
I contacted FAFSA and change my school code in my financial aid form. I also called [protected] for direct loan information changes; will contact state license for complain at [protected] x 226; and reported the incident to state education inspector general hotline report student aid fraud, waste and abuse at [protected] or www.ed.gov/misused.
I took 2 courses and paid out of packet 5 years ago and I had no problems. I guess because they did not have a financial aid package to over charge or abuse.

oh i attend university of phoenix i dropped out now i got to pay them im so poor i also dropped out from harvard they are not accredited harvard a bad school im worthless im complaining because i dropped out shut the [censor] up people all ya'll do is [censor] and [censor] cry me a [censor]ing river and get the [censor] over it [censor] and bigots mama me la verga

" I wanted to go to school for a Bachelor's in Elementary Education, but my enrollment adviser told me that I would have to get an Associate's degree first and they don't have an Associate's in Elementary Education."

First and foremost, B*LL[censored] they don't. I'm enrolled in that program right now. Don't say things that aren't true. I have also done a lot of research on the University of Phoenix, and I have heard a lot more good things about this school than bad. May I also point out that their Associate's program for Elementary Education has been there for several YEARS. I understand that not everyone is going to be pleased with an experience. I am sure that I could put a complaint about Sprint on here that many people would get angry about, but it would be an HONEST complaint. It would not be some made-up story from my imagination just because I didn't get the service that I want.

Secondly, the proper posting at University of Phoenix is two substanative posts on four different days of the week. That's not too much to ask. That's kind of like saying to a high school student, or a traditional college student, to discuss two different productive topics on four days of the week. Wow, something they should do anyway. When you attend college, it is to get your education, not to slack off. That's something you have to work at.

I understand that not everyone is going to have a good experience with this school. I have honestly not had the best one. Financial aid has REALLY been d*ck*ng me around, and it makes me very angry. However, I have had nothing but GOOD experiences with my teachers, my enrollment advisor, and my academic advisor. Now that I have a new financial aid advisor, things are going much smoother. If you all want a bad school experience, deal with the things I had to at the community college in Trenton, MO. No explanations about anything at all. Not school work, not enrollment, not financial aid, NOTHING. I'm sure other's had a great experience there, but I didn't.

First I will say, they there were some good expereinces with UOP Online. I basicly aproached them to quickly get a Bachelor degree because my employer was pushing me to do so.

My compaint is that they do not hold thier staff accountable nor thier "learning teams".

1st case was when a arrogant teacher had stated at the beginging that he would NOT answer anyquestions that were listed in the directions at the begining of the course. Fair enough. Except that when I followed those instructions, I was marked down for them. When I logged a complaint and stated the fact and the documentation, the teacher acknowledged his mistake, but would not change my grade. The school refused to change my grade, however offered me to take the class over again for free, although I had passed it.

2nd case and ongoing (which many may relate) is thier policy on learning teams. The teachers (all thus far in the year I was on) did not hold accountable for the other team memebers. We are graded as a team and not individually. I am a manager and when a team memeber is not doing thier job, I warn them, then fire them. I refuse to accept a grade when others did not do thier job in a class I am paying for and the teacher is not holding these lazy students accountable.

Thus now I am stuck with a new student loan-irony I just had paid off my other, and I would have been better off not going to this school to begin with.

Do your research. If you are going to invest time and money into something. Invest a little time researching the organization so as to make a wiser decision. I am happy for forums like these, just too bad not many people know about them. Imagine how many other people have suffered and said nothing...only to allow it to continue. Sad...very sad.

Take care and be safe.

i have had it with this unprofessional pathetic "school". I attended a community college after high school and wish i stayed there but figured online was easier. They play games constantly my financial advisor doesnt answer her phones or emails and when she does she makes NO SENSE. My counselor calls me every 10 minutes and i signed up way too easy..i had grants and loans way too quickly extremely scary. Anyway i completed 2 classes which cost me 2, 600 which is CRAZY i was gana stop cause everything was way too weird but my conselor convinced me to stick it out...i started my next two classes and started freaking out when i thought about all the money i was wasting...so i called ans said i wanted to drop asap i attended 3 days of my 2nd set of classes, and apparently now i have a bill for $300 dollars! 3 days of classes ! they fd me around long enough im so upset with myself for not looking into this school and researching before i signed up! now im screwed and have to work to pay off this [censor] that wont amounbt to [censor]! dont let them waste ur time! and money!

educate yourselves before signing anything people! Its not U of Phx fault, its your own for not looking at the financial aid master promissary notes or even your own syllabus. Also, to the person above who was withdrawn automatically from class, you have to miss 2 weeks of attendance before that happens. That entails not posting on at least two days of the week. Again, something your syllabus would have told you. University of Phoenix actually helps its students a lot more than traditional schools do. What other school would go over your entire syllabus with you and help you through your website for your first 9 weeks of class? This school is amazing!

I am attending UOP. I have been for 2yrs now. I am working on my bachelor's now. I've had constant problems with financial aid. I've had to take out loan after loan, as the cost of tuition keeps rising about every semester. For one class per semester is $1740.00. And now I am not eligible for many of my disbursements because the school is using my disbursements to pay for classes 4 at a time. That's right the four classes are prepaid before I even take them. UOP makes sure they get paid, while constantly promising disbursements that I have never seen. Why isn't someone investigating this school. I am trying to transfer to a cheaper school, and I plan to become part of a class action lawsuit!

I am so fed up with UOP. I am researching other schools. The financial aid that is rewarded to you as a student goes to pay for classes 4 months in advance. Disbursements are never on time, if you get them at all & for one class I am now paying $1740.00. Tuition goes up just about every semester. I have 3 Stafford loans & a Pell Grant, which is exhausted due to the tuition hike. How can they use your disbursements to pay for classes 4 months down the road? Is that even legal? My academic counselor & financial counselor are often changed, so getting the same story from anyone who works there is almost impossible! I will be reporting them to the department of education and BBB! I am considering becoming part of a class action law suit as well!

The University of Phoenix has lost their accredidation! Those would be the headlines that you would be reading today if I had anything to do with it. You've read the complaints on this site and other websites, essentially shady practices by the University of Phoenix. Yet the University of Phoenix is allowed to continue to conduct shady and unethical buisiness practices for one reason, the Department of Education allows it to happen. The Department of Education is as gulity as the University of Phoenix in that even after complaint after complaint to the Department of Education regarding the University of Phoenix, they sit idle. The Department of Education in this case has failed to protect the very people that they are here to serve and has failed in thier mission which is ensure that American's get what they pay for; a good quality education at a reasonable price. That unethical schools are not allowed to exist. The Department of Education is the University of Phoenix's best friend.

I want to comment .. I was enrolled with UOP online three years ago .. I completed two written assignments for one class. Was offered a new job in a new state and was relocating. Called them and they said No Problem to withdraw and start up again later on. I asked if I owed anything, they said don't worry about it .. you will get something in the mail, if you do. I asked about my student loan - they said there would be no billing of the student loan because I had completed the required percentage of the quarter or class or whatever .. three years later .. I get a phone call that I am in default of my student loan and it has been purchased by Texas Guaranteed and that they were getting ready to garnish my wages .. at first I thought this was a hoax .. a way for them to get me to send them money .. I took down all the information and started doing some checking .. looks like I do have a student loan and it is in default .. and it's about 3, 000 .. so after talking to the guy at the FAFSA site (who by the way, said they hear stories like this all the time from people) I found out that there is very little I can do about it. Whatever University of Phoenix billed for, I now owe 3, 000 and if I don't do something quick they will be garnishing my wages .. sweet .. I am going to be paying on this loan for quite some time and all I have to show for it is two completed written assignments for one class .. and those assignments are about two paragraphs each .. pretty expensive wouldn't you say ? .. I just wanted to personally THANK the University of Phoenix for a wonderful experience .. it has been truly rewarding ..

Hello there,

I am sorry that you have not had a good experience with the University of Phoenix. If you have a specific issue that you'd like us to look into, please contact the Office of Dispute Management. They will assist you with filing a formal grievance. Please feel free to contact us at UofPhoenix@phoenix.edu or [protected].

Kind regards,

Libby Bailey, Sr. Student Relations Administrator
for the University of Phoenix, Office of Dispute Management

I started attending University of Phoenix for the first time in 2006 to pursue my Bachelor's of Science in Business Management, I had excellent grades. I was working for a job where it was mandatory to work during peak season. I submitted all of my homework, attended all of my classes except the last one, the instructor failed me because I was not able to take off work for the last night of class, and the school allowed her to drop my grade from an A to a D-. My daughter attended University of Phoenix, she was in her core classes, she was told by her academic counselor that she had to take her maternity leave more that three months before she was due to deliver, they held her refund for over a year, and never gave it to her now they are telling her that she owes them 5, 000.00 and cannot get her transcript.

Now I am currently a student of UoP and every time it is time for me to get my refund I get the run around. Last year they made me pay for four classes then sent me a little over a thousand dollars after I raised holly heck with them. This year I have straight A's not on any academic or financial probation. I was told that I would receive my refund of over 3, 500.00 on June 7th, then on June 15th, then again on June 22nd, then I was told on the 29th that my money was deposited in my account but today is July 1, 2012 and I have nothing.
I have told these people at the school that I am having medical problems and need to purchase my medication, having financial problems and they claim they care but they don't. Bottom Line is I went online this morning to check my account, University of Phoenix has charged me for my next two classes when they have a letter one file from a year ago telling them that I will manage my own funds. They do not honor their word, nor the word of the students. The have no morals, they are an unethical business and the steal the students refunds, I need my money I am paying for the loan. Then they have been lying to me for a whole month so that they can make me pay for the next two classes that do not start for a month.

I have had practical experience 1st hand. Most of the stories stated here could have been written by me as these are all shared experiences. It seems University of Phoenix and the Apollo Group have perfected a system for defrauding people.

this school is double charging its students when they try to leave and they also direct your funds to lenders for collections. they are charging you for classes that you have not taken and that is a breach of contract.