Ashford University Online

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Highlights

  • Reported by the school to have one of the lowest online degree program costs
  • Ashford University® is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association (www.ncahlc.org).

About the School

Ashford University Online is a part of Ashford University, a liberal arts school situated on a scenic bluff above the Mississippi River in Clinton, Iowa. Established in 1918 as Mount St. Clare College, the college was renamed Ashford University in 2005.

Ashford University Online offers Associate, Bachelor, and Master degrees programs in liberal arts, sciences, and business. These programs are aimed at working adults and those that have not yet finished their degree.

Academic Programs

The university offers a wide range of educational programs across its online degree areas. Its liberal arts programs include accounting, business, education, communication, education, health care, psychology, marketing, social sciences, sports and recreation management, and more.

The Master of Business Administration program's goal is to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to become upper-level managers in any type of business or organization. Business students delve into various aspects of a market-based economy including finance, human resources, marketing and information management.

Introducing Ashford
A Promotional Video from the School

School's president, faculty, and students discuss why they like Ashford. Both online and on-campus programs are profiled. Created by Ashford.

Learning Options

The University runs its online courses asynchronously to maximize scheduling flexibility for students. This approach is like email in that students can login at any time of day to communicate with classmates and teachers and to post completed assignments. Students typically login at least two times per week per class.

Through its online programs, Ashford offers the possibility of earning degrees at an accelerated pace. The school runs classes continuously in five to six weeks segments. Online students usually take one at a time and immediately begin the next course without a break. Students can often begin course sequences for a degree program every week. Students can transfer previously completed coursework and in some cases can graduate in less than two years for Bachelor's degrees.

Faculty

Ashford's online faculty typically have doctorate degrees and for business courses they have practical work experience.

Student Notes

Since Ashford University Online students are typically working adults, the school provides Academic Advisors that support each student through their entire education process. Students also can receive no-cost tutoring.

High achieving Ashford online students have the opportunity to be a member in the school's chapter of the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society. Members are seeking their first Bachelor's degree, are in the top 10 percent of their class, and complete a minimum level of coursework

For the graduation, each online student is invited to the school's ceremonies held in May and December at its campus in Clinton, Iowa.

Admissions, Loans, Grants and Scholarships

The school reports that it offers one of the lowest-cost online program of its type. Financial aid is available for those that are qualified. The school's Financial Services Advisors work with students to review their options and assess eligibility. These options can include educational loans, grants, and scholarships.

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Highest Rated Characteristics of This School

Schedule Flexibility
Instruction

See All Ratings and Comments

Student/Alumni Reviews of This School

To help students evaluate their options, BrainTrack has asked hundreds of students to profile their schools with a review and ratings. See below for a summary of this school and for detailed reviews.

CategoryAverage for This School
Overall Satisfaction
Schedule Flexibility
Instruction
Facilities
Affordability
School Reputation
Placement Help
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Ashford University • Online
Studying MBA (completion in: 2008)

• 11/19/2011

"I graduated and was satisfied. However, it is too expensive for what it's worth."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?maybeIf people really want to get their degree online, I think it's a good school. However, I would recommend the classroom.
School ReputationI've not compared the reputation. I've not come across anything.
Satisfaction With Major7It was a convenient program. It was a little expensive. I thought the teachers were nice, but going to school online is not as informative as going in the classroom.
Instruction6It was online, so I did not have any lectures. I mostly learned from the book. However, the teachers were helpful and made themselves available.
Cost3It was much too expensive for the education I received. I didn't have much contact with the instructors or any other resources, so I think it should be cheaper.
Schedule Flexibility10It was all online. I studied and did my work on my own time schedule.
Academic Facilities6For being online, everything was very accessible. Not as accessible as it would have been being on campus, though.
Social Life1There were no social aspects. This was to be expected since it was online, though.
Placement Services1I did not receive any career placement help. I wish that they would help me find a better job.
Alumni NetworkI am not involved in any alumni support. I think it is available, though.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Bachelor Of Arts In Education Studies (completion in: 2014)

• 11/20/2011

"I have really enjoyed my time at Ashford. I have learned a lot about myself and others through this experience. I look forward to my future with the degree I will receive from Ashford University."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesI would encourage anyone to pursue their academic goals. Many people do not attend school because they are unable to physically go to school. With the option to learn in an online environment, people can achieve the dreams they are seeking.
School Reputation5Many people are not knowledgeable of the advancements made to internet based learning. Because people are unaware of the advancements in online learning, many people look down on the online education process. Once people learn that many online schools are as accredited as other schools, they will begin to accept the idea more.
Satisfaction With Major9I believe that the instructors and texts provide a great academic experience, but I sometimes become concerned about fellow classmates' written grammar. I get an uneasy feeling when I see discussions posted that have extensive spelling and grammar errors, and the instructors do not encourage the student to make corrections. I feel at a collegiate level, most people should at least know how to spell the word 'does.'
Instruction10I feel that I have learned a great deal while attending Ashford. I believe that due to the instructor guidance and course curriculum I have learned at great deal as I move toward my degree.
Cost10I feel that I am currently getting the best education available to me. I do not feel that my money is being wasted in any way. I look forward to the classes and feel that in comparison to other schools, Ashford is very reasonably priced.
Schedule Flexibility10I really value the flexibility that Ashford offers. I am able to complete course work at a pace suitable for me. I am not obligated to log into class every day, and I am able to log into my courses at any time of day.
Academic Facilities10As mentioned previously, I do attend Ashford online. I am able to access Ashford's online library, which is great! There are many different sections in the library that allow you to access different types of literary works. There is also a teaching assistant that is there to assist with various questions and issues, and the instructors are always available for help, too!
Social Life8I socialize with my peers through discussions. I have gotten to know many of my classmates through these discussions. Many peers will share information about their lives, and we communicate back and forth about the assignments as well as other happenings in our lives.
Placement Services10I am rating Ashford at a ten for career placement because I can only go on word of mouth for this vote. I have not yet graduated or requested work placement assistance from Ashford, but I have read of other classmates utilizing this resource. From the information provided to me, Ashford was very helpful.
Alumni Network5I chose average in regards to the alumni network and support simply because I have not been informed of any alumni network or support. I attend Ashford courses online which may be why I have not heard about any alumni.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Sociology (completion in: 2013)

• 11/20/2011

"I am satisfied with my experiences at Ashford. I have learned a lot and I feel soon I will be ready for a career in my chosen field. I think the counselors and staff are very nice and well-rounded."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesI would recommend them if they needed an education but did not have the time to go to class everyday. I would tell them that online education is a little harder because you don't have a lecturer, but if you have commitment it will work.
School Reputation9As far as I know they have a good reputation, though I have not applied for a job using them yet. I would hope that they have a descent reputation for my future career's sake.
Satisfaction With Major9I am happy with the major I chose because it will prepare me for a career. I also think it will be a good stepping stone to me obtaining my Masters degree after I get my Bachelors.
Instruction9Everything is great material and is very relevant to your chosen path. I have learned a lot in my almost two years at Ashford.
Cost10It is not that expensive. Even though I am an out of state student the price is much cheaper than what I paid at my previous school. We did just have a rate increase, but I think all colleges did.
Schedule Flexibility10I am able to work on assignments in plenty of time to get them turned in. Assignments are usually due on Thursday, Sunday, and Monday, and they are usually in essay or quiz form.
Academic Facilities10I have the ability to get any resource I need for a paper by just clicking on the library or any tutorial within the writing center.
Social LifeI don't attend classes on campus so this question is not really a valid one for me, but through Facebook and twitter I have met many people that attend the school.
Placement Services1They do not provide job placement help for me in my home state. They do provide help with resumes and other job finding tools. I was told that if I lived in their state closer to campus I would have job placement services.
Alumni Network7There is always someone to help if need be. The alumni network is based mostly on campus students, but with social media it is easy to stay in touch.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Psychology (completion in: 2013)

• 12/6/2011

"Ashford has provided an environment where I can actually learn and excel. I have attended other online schools and I don't think I really learned anything, except that $5,000 for a semester is way too much."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesDefinitely. There is no perfect school, but as far as schools go, Ashford has been perfect for me.
School Reputation8Because Ashford is in Iowa and I am in North Carolina, I don't know that I have a good grasp on how employers feel about Ashford Graduates. With that said, I will say that Ashford does provide a running list of employers that have approved Ashford for tuition reimbursement, and the list boasts some of our nation's top employers.
Satisfaction With Major8After attending other schools online, I have found Ashford to be the right school for me. I would have given the school a perfect 10, however, the 5 week courses often provide little room to makeup an assignment if one is missed. Also, the workload is extremely heavy for some of the courses.
Instruction8Most instructors have made themselves readily available and are invested in their students' learning. Ashford offers a good support network which includes tutorials, sample papers and citation generators to assist teachers. In addition to the electronic supports, most instructors have a Teaching Assistant (TA) that provides additional information and support to students that may need a little more attention.
Cost10Compared to other online schools, Ashford offers a great value. They are fair in their tuition pricing and their books, which can be purchased digitally and drafted from FA.
Schedule Flexibility8Ashford offers the flexibility of online courses, which creates a flexible learning environment in itself. However, in terms of course options, they are usually not very flexible.
Academic Facilities9Ashford provides digital course materials that are accessible through the web or through the college's mobile app. In addition, there is access to an on campus library or an e-library with many of the same books.
Social Life2As of right now the only socializing Ashford students do online is in the student cafe. The cafe only gives you access to current classmates - old ones are lost forever.
Placement ServicesMy school does not offer job placement help. If they do offer any of this, it is not in my field.
Alumni NetworkI am not an alumnus yet, so I am not sure how valuable this network is to its alumni. I will say that as a current student, there is always some type of alumni activity being messaged.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Bachelors Of Arts In Psychology (completion in: 2013)

• 11/28/2011

"They have taught me a lot. I feel like a better, more learned person."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesIt will offer a great experience. Nothing else is like it.
School Reputation9It really does have a good reputation. I have heard many great things about it from others.
Satisfaction With Major10This is a great school that really and truly helps each individual. I am highly satisfied with the help I received.
Instruction9Each teacher is different. Some really get into the teaching, while others may not.
Cost5It is expensive. That is what is required for a great education.
Schedule Flexibility10It is great to be able to attend school when I can. I love the flexibility that it offers.
Academic Facilities10They have everything that you could need in terms of resources. I can complete papers and research all within their sources.
Social Life9I have not joined any activities since I take classes online. They do offer many though through their campus.
Placement ServicesI am not really sure about the job placement. I have not reached that far.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Business (completion in: 2013)

• 11/24/2011

"I am very satisfied with Ashford University so far. I want to stay in the program and graduate. I love this school so much and I'm happy I chose them."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesI would definitely recommend my school to others pursuing a degree in Business. I have only had good experiences with them. They are helpful, offer great books and resources, and I just really have learned so much so far.
School Reputation10They have a very good reputation. I know a couple people personally that have attended the school and they only have good things to say about Ashford University.
Satisfaction With Major10I really have enjoyed their Business program. I have learned so much so far and I want to continue at their online school.
Instruction10I have learned a lot so far. The curriculum is top notch and it's better than what I expected. The books are great and the teachers help me when I call to ask questions.
Cost10They are not too expensive. And the information they have provided me is of excellent value. I have got so much so far with the money I spent on their school so far.
Schedule Flexibility10They are very flexible. I can take my time and make my own schedule. I work full time and do my school work when I have extra time during the day. I also spend time on school work on the weekends.
Academic Facilities10The resources that they provide are good. I have a couple of advisors I turn to when I have questions and they write me back quickly. The information they provide is very helpful as well.
Social Life5I haven't gone to any of their social events since I don't live near them. But when I graduate I plan to visit the school, and I can't wait to meet other graduates there.
Placement Services10I haven't graduated yet, but I heard from other students that attended there that they are helpful with career services. They offer so much so graduates are not left in the dark and are able to find work almost right away.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Intro To Film (completion in: I didn't complete my degree)

• 12/12/2011

"I was very satisfied to complete the one course I took. It only took me 5 weeks and seemed painless."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?maybeI didn't necessarily go for a career, but I would recommend this school because of the ease of the online courses. Only the most non mechanically savvy individuals would have difficulty here.
School Reputation8I am simply not 100% sure of this college's nationwide reputation. I'm sure it has the potential for a good reputation.
Satisfaction With Major10I was very pleased to "attend" this online course. Ashford University made it very pleasant and very easy to succeed despite my busy lifestyle.
Instruction10All the lessons were displayed prior to the week. Everything was clear and concise and I never had any questions regarding what I was supposed to do.
Cost10This class was free for me. I used tuition assistance funded by the United States Air Force.
Schedule Flexibility10The flexibility was very generous. I was given extensions due to my traveling for work.
Academic Facilities10For the class I took, the school generated its own text for me. I found it very useful for the course and had no problems with it.
Social Life10My classmates were extremely friendly and always provided non biased feedback. I would gladly sign up for another class just due to this fact alone.
Placement Services10From the assistance I received I was very pleased. I didn't require much information but it was there if I needed it.
Alumni NetworkI'm simply unaware of the alumni program. The classmates I had during the one course I took were very encouraging, however.

Ashford University • Online
Studying I Pursued A Masters Of Arts In Organizational Management (completion in: 2011)

• 12/11/2011

"The way the curriculum was presented was easy to follow and the online classrooms were very easy to navigate through. The communication regarding financial aid, graduation, and registering for the classes needed was excellent. It almost spoiled me."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesI have already recommended Ashford University to others. One of my old co-workers wanted to return to school and wanted to follow an online curriculum as well but had had a bad experience with other online universities. She is fully enjoying her experience at Ashford now.
School Reputation5I have not heard bad reviews of this school from employers. However, I also have not heard any high praise either.
Satisfaction With Major9The quality of education met my expectations and even exceeded them. The way the online classes are set up allows you to focus in each class without being overwhelmed and the assignments are created in a way that really makes the material stick in your mind. I have been able to take many of the things I learned into my everyday life, not just my professional life.
Instruction9The professors were very knowledgeable and willing to help the students to understand the material and find ways it applied to their lives. Many were very enthusiastic about the classes they taught and that enthusiasm transferred over to the students, making us love the subject matter and want to do the work.
Cost5It feels to me personally that higher education is too expensive regardless of which university you attend. However, after attending Ashford I felt my self confidence rise and I really understood the material so much better than when I had previously attended school. That could very well make it worth paying more for.
Schedule Flexibility10The online classes provided an extremely flexible schedule. You could do your homework ahead of time for the most part. Not having set times for logging in throughout the week and only due dates to worry about it made it very easy to work full time and go to school.
Academic Facilities10The online libraries provided were incredible and provided a wide range of resources. The school also provided online support to help students with their writing, both so they could improve their grammar and so that students were provided help in writing in the APA format.
Social LifeSince I attended online and out-of-state I did not participate in the social activities at this university. The web page did provide a calendar of events that kept me up-to-date on the activities as they happened at school.
Placement ServicesI have not used these services through the school. I cannot rate them as good or bad without that experience.
Alumni Network6I have not participated much in the school's alumni associations. However, they have communicated very well with me to offer me the opportunities that they would offer all alumni and they ensure I get all the information.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Early Childhood Education (completion in: 2013)

• 12/13/2011

"I am happy to be receiving an education that will help to further my career, and am grateful for the opportunity to do it all online. However, it would be beneficial to be able to choose whether or not I would like to complete more than one course at a time."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesAshford has a great selection of degrees available to those searching for higher education, plus great flexibility.
School Reputation3I haven't completed my degree, and therefore I don't have a great grasp on the reputation of Ashford. I can say that I, personally, had never heard of them previous to an online search, and that most people I have talked to also, have not ever heard of the school.
Satisfaction With Major6The courses are short, 5 weeks long, but sometimes they aren't particularly interesting or intriguing. It would be helpful if you could take more than one class at a time, perhaps even just two. The early courses tend to drag a little, because they are introductory, and it would be great to be able to knock them down two at a time.
Instruction6The instructors vary, depending on the course. I have had some that were very involved, gave great feedback, and were clearly committed to their students; and I have had others that had very little interaction, gave most of the feedback work to their assistants, or used automated forms for feedback, which was very impersonal and unhelpful.
Cost5Any education is expensive, and I don't necessarily feel as though Ashford is above average in terms of price, but for classes that are only 5 weeks long, the bill is quite high.
Schedule Flexibility9As an out of state, full time student, finding a way to complete my education has been difficult. Ashford's online program was a great answer to my schooling dilemma.
Academic Facilities8They have a remarkable online library for research, regardless of where your location is. The resources available to students in regards to APA standards and formatting, as well as tutorials, are great.
Social Life7I have had success thus far with Ashford, and hope to complete my degree there. I don't have a good grasp of their on campus activities as I am an out of state, on line student.
Placement ServicesI haven't had experience with this as I haven't yet graduated.
Alumni Network7The support from the staff has been good; they follow up on you when courses are starting or beginning.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Sociology - BA (completion in: 2012)

• 12/14/2011

"Overall, I enjoyed the college experience and the opportunity to earn a degree. I wish they could fix the students with local organizations for internships to gain experience in the education field."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesIt is a great way to obtain a degree without stepping into a classroom. It can give the education that is needed to get a job.
School Reputation10In my career choice, employers don't really care where the employee obtained their degree, as long as they have a degree. If the person is interested in teaching, then you must research your area for the minimum requirements.
Satisfaction With Major10The Sociology program has a very thorough curriculum. It is flexible for students that have other commitments.
Instruction10The instruction is challenging and it keeps you thinking. The instructors are professional and they offer encouragement.
Cost3The school is very expensive and I am going to end up paying $50,000 for my degree. However, a person can easily make that in one year with a college degree, especially in the government sector.
Schedule Flexibility8The Ashford University's online programs offer a flexible schedule and you are allowed to do your assignments in a convenient manner. They offer a one course-at-a-time approach with each course lasting 5 weeks. There are deadlines for assignments and many instructors are strict about the deadlines.
Academic Facilities10They have educational tools to help students succeed. They have proofreading and anti-plagiarizer tools to check your own work. They have several online libraries to conduct research for research papers.
Social Life4The online program doesn't offer too many social experiences. They do have facebook and twitter accounts. They also have an online cafe which is a place for students to talk about anything.
Placement Services5Ashford University offers help in career postings through their website. They offer assistance in job interviewing and resume writing.
Alumni Network2Ashford University doesn't have an alumni network for online students. However, they offer graduate degrees.

Ashford University • Online
Studying General Program - English 101 (completion in: 2009)

• 12/12/2011

"Somewhat satisfied with the education that I received. The cost of attending was higher than what I had wanted to pay initially."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?noSince my experience at Ashford wasn't necessarily a positive one overall, I wouldn't recommend others to go here, especially if they are not financially stable.
School Reputation6I think that most employers will not recognize Ashford as a prestigious school. I think that the overall reputation is about average.
Satisfaction With Major7I wasn't really sure what to expect from Ashford, especially when it came to dealing with schoolwork online. I'd give it an overall rating of 7 because I feel as though I had a good experience, but it could have been better.
Instruction6I learned more from my fellow students that I attended class with and the online textbook than I felt I did from the instructor. It wasn't exceptionally good so I can not give it a higher rating.
Cost3I think that the overall cost of going to Ashford was way beyond my budget. The student loans that I had acquired were too high.
Schedule Flexibility8I really like the flexibility with online scheduling for classes. When reading about other courses offered, there seemed to be a lot of flexibility.
Academic Facilities7Teachers and tutors where widely available to students, especially those who attended the distance learning or online classroom settings. As far as accessing the school's library database, I was limited to that online.
Social Life4The only real social experience that I had was with other Ashford students in the online classroom. They had different lives and different ideas, yet I didn't have that real connection outside of the internet.
Placement ServicesI've never utilized the career services or job placement help. Again, I would assume the rating would be about average compared to other institutions.
Alumni NetworkNot really sure about the alumni networking system. I assume that it's about the same as any other school.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Organizational Management (completion in: 2012)

• 12/31/2011

"It has afforded me the opportunity to finish my BA in a timely manner. I feel as though I got a quality education."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesIt is convenient and accessible. Online is equal to brick and mortar.
School Reputation10Many employers recognize the name Ashford when it comes to military education options. Many of my fellow employees either attended Ashford or know some one who has.
Satisfaction With Major9Being able to attend online while working in the field helped me to have a real world understanding of the classes. Having an organizational background, I was familiar with a lot the material and the information was current.
Instruction9The instructors were very active in the discussion boards and graded assignments promptly. The quick turn around on assignments helped me understand what the teacher expected.
Cost8The military paid for most of it so I have seen little out of pocket cost. I do believe, however, that this school is cheaper than most.
Schedule Flexibility10Going online provided me with unlimited freedom to do my job and enjoy life. The class length of 5 weeks is perfect and offers just enough time to retain the information.
Academic Facilities10The professors were very responsive to questions. I have never experienced any technical difficulties.
Social LifeI go online so I don't feel qualified to answer this.
Placement ServicesI did not use the job placement help as I am already employed. I don't think it would be of much help since I live in California and the school is in Iowa.
Alumni NetworkI have not had the opportunity to participate in the alumni program. I am still an active student but from what I hear they offer assistance to any alumni that seeks it out.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Criminal Justice

• 12/30/2011

"I got a decent education for a decent price. I have pursued further education and am liking that too."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?maybeIt was a good experience, but not right for everyone. As well, it may be better just to go to a physical institution which specializes in what you want than taking classes online.
School Reputation5The actual institution I have my degree in seems to not matter as much as the fact that I have it. I feel Ashworth itself does not really matter when it came to my employment.
Satisfaction With Major5It gave me good insight into the Criminal Justice field. However, it was somewhat easy and not overly comprehensive.
Instruction5Once again, it was a nice education and experience, but not overly hard or challenging. I got what I paid for, I suppose.
Cost5I got what I paid for. Not overly expensive, not overly intense.
Schedule Flexibility10Since I took classes online, it was very easy to do things around my schedule. This was a major plus to the experience.
Academic Facilities2I never really had the need for the resources, etc. of Ashworth. But, at the same time, I didn't have much access to resources being an online student.
Social Life2I had little experience with others at Ashworth because of being an online student. However, I did have some experience with classmates, etc. in classes, and they were enthusiastic enough.
Placement Services7The school did well in preparing me for the work force and getting me involved with it. I would have liked a bit more "learning for learning's sake" than job placement help, though.
Alumni Network2I have not really been active in the alumni network. But, at the same time, I have not been contacted really or anything, so that is a detriment in its own right.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Bachelor's In Education (completion in: I didn't complete my degree)

• 12/27/2011

"Wasn't what I was looking for in a school. Had to drop classes to keep up with my life."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?maybeIt would depend on what my friends needed from a school before I recommended them.
School Reputation5Haven't heard excellent reviews, but haven't heard poor reviews either.
Satisfaction With Major5At first the classes were great, but I was not happy with the instructors' interaction with the classes.
Instruction4The curriculum was not what I had expected it would be for an education curriculum. It wasn't very detailed to the degree I was going after.
Cost4Still paying for classes.... almost $4,000.
Schedule Flexibility7Was hard to make time to sit and do my courses. Seemed like it would be more convenient, but it turned out to be harder.
Placement ServicesDidn't complete my courses so unable to answer.
Alumni Network3I was not able to contact my advisors on my time when I needed them. The instructor was the worst to try and contact.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Health Education (completion in: I didn't complete or don't plan on completing my degree)

• 1/2/2012

"I make do with what I have."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesIt's not about the school - it's more about one's personal drive to become successful. If you have that drive, than the school does not matter because you make do with what you have.
School Reputation5I take online courses, but this school has a very good reputation for an online school.
Satisfaction With Major7I believe the school's curriculum for my major is great. They provided a lot of information.
Instruction5Being part of an online program, there was not much teacher face time. Nonetheless I did pick up my required knowledge.
Cost6College is an investment and however you look at it, considerable amounts of money will be spent. But it is reasonable.
Academic Facilities1I am part of an online course, so I don't get to go to use the college facilities much.
Social Life5Once again, I take online courses.
Placement Services5It's going OK. I am still in this process.
Alumni NetworkI never spoke to alumni, so I can not be of much help here.

Ashford University • Online
Studying I Was Working Towards A Bachelors In Psychology. (completion in: I didn't complete my degree)

• 1/8/2012

"I don't hate much, but Ashford is one of those things. It wasn't even worthwhile as a learning experience for me. It was frustrating. It wasted time and money that could have been better spent elsewhere."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?noAshford would be the least likely school for recommendation, in my opinion. There are far better places that offer a better value and support. That includes the online sector.
School Reputation5I don't know that a lot of people know about Ashford. I think those that do have mixed feelings. There are some people that learn useful things at Ashford. The problem is, you can finish a degree at Ashford by not doing even close to your best and hardly learning anything.
Satisfaction With Major2At Ashford, I had a difficult time with Teacher's Assistants. I also was put off by the lack of grammar in many classmates work. It was difficult to correct things I was supposed to. So many things were wrong with these students' work, yet they were passing classes and getting grades similar to mine, despite far poorer grammar and other skills. It was frustrating because the class syllabus would say one thing, but the grading was more subjective. It was difficult because I was docked a lot of points because the teacher's assistant said the file I sent didn't come through formatted right. I got a D on a paper because of that. It was formatted right on my computer, and I don't understand what happened. I asked a few classmates to read their papers after we turned them in and was livid about the quality of the papers that were getting A's. There was a huge bias and grading was very unfair.
Instruction5The professors, for the most part, were quality. The Teacher's Assistants were shady a lot of the time. They weren't fair graders. Some of the teachers had a huge lack of understanding when it came to problems. I was hospitalized during one of my classes and the professor almost failed me. They knew I was in the hospital and didn't deem that 'important' enough not to be able to turn my work in on time.
Cost1If I would have known the experience would have been so underwhelming I probably would have taken some Adult Ed Community classes to bide my time until I could find a better school. I actually think I would pay more for a Community Education class than I would ever pay for Ashford again. The education was far from excellent. It was substandard and frustrating.
Schedule Flexibility5The class flexibility was decent. The problem that I had was that if I took time off, I got dropped from financial aid. More than a few weeks break in between classes, and I got in trouble, so to speak. It was frustrating when they pride themselves on flexible online classes and degrees that it can be so hard to take a few weeks off for health concerns without the risk of being removed from the program.
Academic Facilities3As an online student, I was underwhelmed by the library options and books available for the students for courses. The books were all online, however they were very elementary. I felt like it was a waste of money learning things I already knew instead of expanding my horizons and completing a quality secondary education.
Social Life1It was almost impossible to even get in touch with classmates, and even sometimes the professor, outside of the online classroom. There was no real way to communicate outside, and it was hard to understand the poor english of some of the students enough to try to bond and form a relationship.
Placement Services5Again, I don't have a large amount of experience with this part of the school. What I did look at and talk about wasn't ideal for me, which is another reason I transferred.
Alumni Network5I didn't graduate. I stopped at Ashford and am now pursuing a degree at another online school that better fits my ideals and goals.

Ashford University • Clinton, IA
Studying Computer Graphic Design (completion in: 2012)

• 1/12/2012

"I would not go to any other school if I was given the choice. Ashford is a great school. I wish I could stick around longer as a student to learn more."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesThe computer graphic design program and the school itself is growing. It is a good place to learn from our knowledgeable professors.
School Reputation7
Satisfaction With Major8I give this an 8 because I do love attending the school. However, when I entered the school it was a lot smaller, which was why I chose it, but now it is becoming larger with full classes. The scholarship and athletic opportunities I was given made me grow as a person.
Instruction10The teachers at Ashford are very helpful in many ways. They are completely understanding as well when I have to miss class.
Cost10Now that we have amazing academic scholarships, I am very pleased. If I continue to play my sport I will be going to school for absolutely nothing, which would help my family because my sibling is going to an expensive school.
Schedule Flexibility5I don't like that there is only one option of times for many of the classes. This semester I had a problem with a class filling up very quickly so I could not take that class that I desired.
Academic Facilities10I love the availability of the graphics lab 24 hours for graphics students and only graphics students. The remodeling of certain classrooms to make presenting easier was very nice (5th floor classroom).
Social Life10Everyone is very polite and says hello even if they do not know you. It is more of a family atmosphere among other students and myself.
Placement Services10They offer an internship and help getting you that internship placement, which is very helpful. They also have job opportunities available for students and there's the chance to get a masters paid for while working for them.
Alumni Network7I have not looked too much into information for alumni but the fact that they offer many discounts and networking abilities in cities is appealing to me. Alumni games and the opportunity to go to homecoming as a reunion is attractive as well.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Bachelors Of Arts In Psychology

• 1/8/2012

"My classes are taken at my own pace. I am enjoying going so far."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesThe curriculum is low stress. The classes are easily accessible.
School Reputation5I have not applied for any jobs yet. I don't know what their views are.
Satisfaction With Major10The teachers have been pretty helpful. The program seems to be good so far.
Instruction5I am going to school online. I don't have too much communication with my teachers.
Cost5The rates are within my affordability. If I felt it was too expensive, I wouldn't be going to Ashford.
Schedule Flexibility10I can choose when I want to go to class. There is no pressure to be in class by a certain time.
Academic Facilities5My advisors are pretty helpful when I have a question. The materials are easy to access.
Social Life1I am going to school online. I do not socialize with my classmates.
Placement ServicesI am still in school. I have not had an opportunity to use them yet.
Alumni NetworkI am still in school, so I'm not sure what the network is like.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Marketing/Public Relations (completion in: 2012)

• 1/10/2012

"Ashford is a godsend to help me finish school without disrupting my life. It is a great help."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesAshford prepares you well for a career in business. Also, its convenient programs help you achieve your goals.
School Reputation7The university is accredited and therefore is looked upon with respect. Its name recognition factor is not as high as it could be, yet.
Satisfaction With Major8There are informative classes with dedicated teachers. In addition, the classes are focused on actual business practices.
Instruction8All teachers can be reached by email. In addition, they provide instruction each week regarding the material.
Cost6It's a little on the expensive side. However, it provides a high quality education with flexible time schedules.
Schedule Flexibility9With a few week's notice, you can schedule any class. Counselors are there to help you and their online program is impressive.
Academic Facilities9I have never used the university's physical library. However, the online library provides many helpful resources.
Social Life3Since I attend only online classes, there is very little social interaction. The discussion boards allow for some conversation between classmates.
Placement Services7I have been contacted a few times by companies interested in me because of my major. Ashford helps you achieve your career goals by preparing you for them.
Alumni Network5I have not come into contact with anyone from Ashford outside of school. However, their counselors support you well and help you achieve your educational goals.

Ashford University • Online
Studying History (completion in: 2012)

• 1/5/2012

"It's going pretty well so far. We shall see how prepared I am for the job market when I get finished."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?maybeLack of experience in looking for employment explains my lack of conviction here.
School ReputationI don't have any experience with this yet.
Satisfaction With Major7While I appreciate the compact schedule and only having one class at a time, it seems that the classes are not as in depth as they maybe should be.
Cost6Not bad - more expensive than UW but far less expensive than some of the other options out there.
Schedule Flexibility10The flexibility of the online program is what brought me to Ashford in the first place.
Academic Facilities7These resources are pretty good, but they are a bit lacking when compared to the resources I had access to while at the University of Wyoming.
Social Life5Being an online student, there really is no social experience.
Placement ServicesI don't have any experience with these areas as of yet.
Alumni Network7

Ashford University • Online
Studying Early Childhood Education Administration (completion in: 2013)

• 1/9/2012

"I have been very satisfied. I have not had a problem with any of my instructors."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesI love taking classes at Ashford. I have recommended it to several people already.
School Reputation10I have not heard anything bad about Ashford. I have told several people about how great I think the school is.
Satisfaction With Major10I have really enjoyed the classes - they are fun and easy. I really enjoy the fact that I take one class at a time.
Instruction10Instructors are very friendly. They are always good at replying to emails and answering questions.
Cost10I love it that I am able to get financial aid for my schooling. All together, it is not too expensive to attend school.
Schedule Flexibility10I absolutely love that I can take classes at my own pace. I enjoy being able to concentrate on one class at a time.
Academic Facilities10The resources are unlimited. I never have a problem finding things that I need for my assignments.
Social Life10For each class there are plenty of chances to interact with our classmates. Even though they are online and we don't meet face to face, we are able to connect and get to know each other.
Placement Services10Haven't explored this area yet. But I do see it posted on their website and enjoy knowing it will be easy to access when the time comes.
Alumni Network8I have not had much experience in this area. I just started taking classes this past summer and not have finished yet.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Didn't Pursue A Major -I Took An Online Writing Course For Personal Growth And Development

• 1/6/2012

"I liked Ashford. Even though online courses aren't for me, I enjoyed the course material and the instructor's feedback."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesI was a creative writing major at another university. Other creative writing or English majors would benefit from taking this course.
School Reputation5I do not know what employers think of this school. I didn't get any feedback from my supervisor after mentioning I took an Ashford course.
Satisfaction With Major8I enjoyed the writing class, but I'm not a huge fan of online courses. I prefer face-to-face meetings with a professor.
Instruction7I didn't have enough time with the instructor. I also would've preferred meeting face-to-face.
Cost5It was fairly priced. I paid what I have paid for other online courses in the past.
Schedule Flexibility1An online class was the best for my schedule. I wasn't able to attend classes physically.
Academic Facilities5Because it was online, I didn't use the facilities. I visited the local library mostly for resources.
Social Life5Again, this was online. I didn't attend social events, athletics, etc.
Placement Services5I didn't use career services. Again, I simply took one course. I've heard they help a lot with full-time students, though.
Alumni Network5I don't know much about the alumni support. I simply took one course.

Ashford University • Online
Studying Medical Transcription (completion in: 2012)

• 1/22/2012

"I consider it average because it was not extremely expensive and the material on the subject was very informative and relevant to the occupation. I do think the personal support could be much improved."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?maybeI think it would highly depend on if the person was extremely motivated and could handle working without much instructor involvement. If a person is dependent on an instructor in an online environment, then absolutely not.
School Reputation4I have talked to several employers who had mixed views on Ashford University, but the majority were not so impressed with its reputation. However, the transcriptionists that have come from the school do very good work.
Satisfaction With Major7There isn't a lot of personal support in regard to the way the program works and the syllabus. I do think it provided a huge amount of information on the subject and I was very impressed with the specificity of all of the different modules in each different medical discipline.
Instruction8I believe the curriculum is very good in preparing one for the actual job. It is very detailed and provides examples of transcription rules. I also think it provides a good amount of job training and feedback of assignments.
Cost5The cost of the education as a whole wasn't as expensive as other schools I had looked into. I believe that for the price, the quality of the support was somewhat poor, but the material was relevant.
Schedule Flexibility10I am an online student so my schedule is extremely flexible. My assignments and tests can be turned in as I complete them. This is one of the reasons why I chose online study.
Academic Facilities4I think the library and availability of advisors and faculty could be much improved. Professors usually take on average 2 days to get back to you and this is really not acceptable when you need answers quickly. The resources are minimal for my program, medical transcription.
Social Life3I am an online student, so in response to the social events and parties I cannot really give much information. There is a forum online where students can meet and chat. As far as the online experience, this is the biggest social part of the university. I am disappointed that there wasn't more for my actual curriculum in the way of study groups or chat groups.
Placement Services5I have not used the career placement center, but it seems that it is based primarily on contacting one of the representatives. The information is not available just by going into the career services area to obtain quickly. I am not too impressed with this because it isn't convenient at all to an online student.

Ashford University • Online
Studying My Major Was Psychology (completion in: I didn't complete my degree)

• 1/16/2012

"Again I enjoyed the academic challenge. The business practices decrease my overall rating for this school."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?noI attempted to work with the business office and was still let down. I am an experienced adult familiar with real world challenges. My experience with Ashford applied to a college freshmen fresh from high-school would surely leave a bad taste in their mouth. My experience may not have been typical, as there are many people in forums who feel differently, but it was enough to change my mind about profit oriented academia.
School Reputation1I have received feedback from several employers and graduate school counselors, and I've found that Ashford has as a bad reputation as being a diploma mill. I don't believe this simply because I have completed the work and felt challenged by the classes, but their public image is struggling.
Satisfaction With Major3I found the class instruction challenging and rewarding, but the business practices were more or less robbery. I qualified for financial aid but my package was never completed and after repeated attempts to get the Financial office to correct the error, I left with an enormous bill.
Instruction6Many of my professors participated on a consistent level, however there are a few..very few.. that see this as ONLY a job and not the foundation of other people's lives.
Cost1I would have found the pricing acceptable if my financial aid package had been properly filed and permitted me to remain a student there.
Schedule Flexibility10Given the 5 week time frame to complete the work, the schedule allows you to really see the benefits and challenges within a short amount of time.
Academic Facilities6The resources were acceptable, though I believe more tutelage was warranted for their extensive system.
Social Life3I am sure some find it a social environment. I took online classes where interaction was limited to group projects and corresponding with social networks.
Placement Services3Nothing has come of my association except debt. I found no additional services available to me after I left.
Alumni Network1Had I received the support I truly expected and was made to believe would be available by the recruiter, I would have a lot more pleasant things to say about Ashford. Instead, the enrollment counselor was the nicest part of my experience

Ashford University • Online
Studying BA - Computer Science (completion in: 2014)

• 1/17/2012

"My first experience with college has been a positive one. I don't have any complaints."

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale

CharacteristicRatingComment
Would Recommend?yesI appreciate all of the extra attention my counselor has given me. My college experience has been a positive one so far, and I am looking forward to my future.
School Reputation9In my opinion, my school has a wonderful reputation. That is good enough for me.
Satisfaction With Major10My guidance counselor is very helpful and supportive. The online classroom is easy to navigate around and simple to understand.
Instruction10My teacher gives assignments that challenge my mind. He gives positive criticism and encourages individuality in my assignments.
Cost8While checking out potential schools, Ashford University was the least expensive of the regionally accredited colleges.
Schedule Flexibility10I am able to work from my home online. The classroom is available 7 days a week/24 hours a day.
Academic Facilities10I especially like the online library at the school. The library has particular databases which pertain to my particular field of study.
Social Life5I look forward to getting involved at a later date. for now I am focusing on my studies.
Placement ServicesI have not experienced these services. I plan to use them when I get my degree.
Alumni NetworkI am new this year, so I have not had any contact with alumni yet.

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