Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Accountants And Auditors
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Rio Salado College, Arizona State, Pima Community College, and Mesa Community College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Arizona State, Northern Arizona University, and University of Arizona.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Phoenix College, Estrella Mountain Community College, Pima Community College, and GateWay Community College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Yavapai College, Mohave Community College, Phoenix College, and GateWay Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Rio Salado College, and Arizona State.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, Arizona State, and Yavapai College.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, and Arizona State.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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University Of Phoenix • Phoenix, AZ
Studying Accounting (completion in 2009)
• 5/1/2011
"The program moved quickly. The learning was minimal because of the speed at which the program could be completed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Other schools provide a better learning environment. I chose to transfer to Rasmussen College to finish my bachelor's degree. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The school is widely known. There were many people in this school all over the country. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The school moves at a quick pace. The school did not provide as many subjects relating to accounting as I would have hoped. |
| Instruction | 5 | The school had an online program. The personal attention received was minimal. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Accounting is my subject of interest. Accounting comes easier to me than to some people. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There wasn't much hands on learning in this school. There was a lot of reading and writing. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | The learning environment was online. You could study at your own pace within reason. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The school had an online library. I used it often without much difficulty. |
| Social Life | 3 | The learning environment was online. I did interact with some students through email and classroom portals. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I never had any job placement assistance. I don't know how much help they would give students. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I never got involved with that program. A program such as that did exist. |
University Of Phoenix • Phoenix, AZ
Studying Business Admin./Accounting (completion in 2014)
• 5/8/2011
"I am satisfied with the academic portion of the school. The cost is what I am having a bit of an issue with."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend the school to someone that understood that the level of involvement has to be self motivating. I would advise to do the research needed and explore all options. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Highly accredited. For online classes this school is one of the best available. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I attend this school online, I do find some of the classes challenging like economics and math. I would recommend this school to other for academics. |
| Instruction | 4 | In my earlier classes the instructors that I had were very interactive and interested. I find that as the classwork hardens the level of instructor feedback has declined. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The program is fairly easy to relate to. Time management is the most difficult factor for myself. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | You have to be really involved. These classes require that you take the time needed to study, take any assigned quizzes and test. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The online classes are very flexible. They allow you to attend at your convenience with a structured schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Resources are available online such as a library and support. Workshops are also available in your living area. |
| Social Life | 8 | You have an online profile that you may create to chat with anyone in attendance. Within your class you obtain names, numbers and e-mail addresses from classmates to keep in touch with. |
| Placement Services | 6 | The school job placement is pretty good. They have job listings available for a student's convenience. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I will be honest I have not looked into this area of the school. With taking the online classes I find that I usually just do what's required and don't involve myself with anything extra. |
Arizona State University • Tempe, AZ
Studying Finance (completion in 1994)
• 7/20/2011
"I am happy with my experience at ASU. The curriculum prepared me well for my career in accounting/finance, the flexibility in class schedules allowed me to work while completing my degree, and the social aspect provided experiences I'll never forget."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would certainly recommend ASU to anyone that is serious about pursuing a degree in business. However, given the sheer size of the university and all the associated distractions, it is easy to lose focus. For someone that is mature enough to stay on task, I couldn't think of a better place to complete undergraduate work. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The curriculum and staff are outstanding at ASU. The reputation as a party school, however, sometimes tarnishes the perceived quality of education. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Professors were actively involved with the students and provided real-world experience to enhance textbook learning. Admittance to the Business College had to be accomplished by completing a rigorous program of pre-requisite courses, so only those students serious about a business degree were accepted. |
| Instruction | 9 | The required courses covered a broad spectrum of business areas, and elective courses offered a broad selection of more specialized areas of study. The professors were professional and readily available, and usually had extensive practical experience in the field. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The material was challenging, but support from the college and professors made issues easier to deal with. Tutors and study groups help with handling difficult material or projects. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Obviously, in the areas of finance/accounting there will be a fair amount of studying textbooks. However, there were also practical experiences gained from case studies and group projects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to complete my degree by taking evening classes almost exclusively. Also, classes were offered at multiple locations throughout the greater Phoenix area. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I was very happy with the facilities and resources at ASU. I had many options for completing my degree, got support as needed, and had good experiences with my professors. |
| Social Life | 9 | The social experience at ASU is outstanding. The sheer number of students means there is a great chance of meeting people with similar interests, as well as the opportunity to interact with those having very diverse backgrounds. There is something for everyone. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I am probably not a good source of information on the topic, as I did not attempt to use any of the career services. I completed my degree at night, working during the day as a staff accountant. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | ASU's alumni organization actively communicates with me even if I do not reciprocate. I receive periodic newsletters, and local alumni groups are organized in most large cities in the U.S. |
University Of Phoenix • Phoenix, AZ
Studying Business Management (completion in 2010)
• 8/1/2011
"I was disappointed in the quality and rigor of the program. I did not gain a strong professional network from the experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I believe that there are much stronger programs available at other schools that have better reputations in the professional world. Additionally, other schools can offer added value through the development of professional networks and outside-the-classroom activities. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | The weak academic standards maintained by the school diminish the value of my degree in the business world. I have come across too many professionals who assume I basically just paid for a degree instead of earning it through study and skills practice. |
| Program Quality | 3 | I felt that the admissions standards and academic standards were severely lacking. The program lacked opportunities for enrichment. |
| Instruction | 7 | I like that the school requires the instructors to have real-world experience in the fields that they teach. Most instructors will engage in the online forums with students who wish to go above and beyond in understanding the material. |
| How Difficult | 2 | The academic standards were so low that even students who could not write on a 4th grade level were making A's on their essays. The Learning Team model allowed lazy students to slide on team assignments while forcing the responsible students to do all the work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program was completely book-oriented. There were no aspects of hands-on learning beyond potentially the occasional Excel exercise (from the book). | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | The school offers frequent short online classes as well as limited ground campus classes. They could be more flexible by offering different length/intensity courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Accessible instructors and active study groups make it easy to find human support. An excellent online library provides comprehensive resources to support study. |
| Social Life | 2 | As an online student, there really was no social aspect to the education. Additionally, it was rare for me to find fellow students in the classes with whom I could relate. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I have no experience with these services. I have no basis to provide a rating. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have no basis of comparison to rate how strong or weak the alumni network is. I receive regular emails; however, I have not really found any services or support offered that would benefit me or my situation. |
University Of Phoenix • Phoenix, AZ
Studying Accounting (completion in 1998)
• 1/5/2012
"I'm very satisfied with my degree from UofP. It was very expensive and very hard, but I have that degree now for life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If the person thinks they can handle the pace and expense, I recommend it. Don't start, though, unless you're really sure. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I know that some private universities don't have a good reputation. Fortunately, I have never had any question about UofP and many people in Phoenix are also alumni. |
| Program Quality | 8 | UofP is a good school, but it's a difficult program. You have to be employed to be a student and it's still a full-time class load. I did learn everything I needed, but it was rough. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors and program are very good. The instructors also have to be working in the field they're teaching. This makes everything more realistic than instructors who only know the academic side. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The classes are very condensed and there's lots of homework and regular study group activity. It was good to learn the subject with other students and have to keep up. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program is very book-driven. The study groups can be more hands-on, but they weren't for me. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | The programs are very structured. You go right from one class to the next and cannot change or you need to work very hard to continue. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The classrooms were very nice and comfortable. I never took any classes that needed a library, etc. I'm not sure which of these facilities are even available. |
| Social Life | 4 | This was adult education while still working. You do stay with the same classmates through the program, but no extra social activities existed. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I don't know that UofP has these benefits at all. All adult learning while working changes the type of education experience. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | UofP isn't a traditional university, there are no dorms or football team. I'm only aware of informal alumni groups, like on LinkedIn. |
University Of Phoenix • Phoenix, AZ
Studying Accounting (completion in 2009)
• 3/31/2012
"As previously stated, I would not recommend for anyone. They lie about things, and do not follow through to help with your education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would not recommend it, and I try to let people know that it is not a good place. I really believe that going there has hurt my chances in getting jobs. |
| Program Reputation | I have heard different things from different people. Some students think they really got something out of the school while I do not feel like I did. | |
| Program Quality | 1 | With the classes that I took online, I do not feel like I learned the way I would have if I had been in actual classroom classes. The school did not care and neither did some of the teachers. |
| Instruction | 1 | They did not care. You could turn items in or not and sometimes you could still get a 100%. They were hardly ever there to answer questions. |
| How Difficult | 2 | It was easy. I also do not feel that the aspects of the learning were what would have been taught in traditional classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was online so there was nothing to do hands on. I did work with groups, but sometimes that was a headache. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They do have campuses, but I took all my classes online. It worked extremely well for me because I was able to get my degree and I am not really sure I would have been able to do it other wise. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | They did offer many resources to look up information, though they did not offer accessibility to professors or any type of tutoring or study groups. |
| Social Life | 1 | I sometimes try to hide the fact that I went to the school. It was a total embarrassment. Would not recommend anyone to go to school there. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They are not there to help, and I have not been able to find where to go for the help. It's like all they care about is the money. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | They send emails quite often, though they do not try to help you find a job and aren't there for what you need in finding a job. |
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