Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Computer Support Specialists
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Rio Salado College, University of Advancing Technology, Arizona State, and Pima 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 Dine College, South Mountain Community College, Arizona Western, and Cochise.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Yavapai College, Central Arizona, Mohave Community College, and Phoenix College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of University of Advancing Technology, Embry Riddle - Prescott, University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Embry Riddle - Prescott, Northern Arizona University, University of Advancing Technology, and Dine College.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Embry Riddle - Prescott.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at University of Advancing Technology.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Dine College, Embry Riddle - Prescott, University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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University Of Phoenix • Phoenix, AZ
Studying Information Technology (completion in 2008)
• 8/15/2011
"Overall I am satisfied with my education. The only two drawbacks were lack of hand-on assignments and the school's reputation. However, the classwork performed and class flexibility made it a good choice for me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | For working adults the University of Phoenix is an excellent choice. It provides the flexibility needed to balance work, school, and family. For a student fresh out of high school, I would recommend a brick and mortar school. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | As I mentioned in an earlier response, the online nature and advertising methods of the school concern me. In addition, the online environment did not provide adequate opportunity for hands-on lab work. I am concerned that a theory based education may not be as valuable to employers as one where students performed lab work. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Although I feel as though I received a quality education from the University of Phoenix, I am concerned about the school's reputation. I feel as though my degree may be looked down upon by potential employers because the University of Phoenix is mainly an online school that does quite a bit of television advertising. |
| Instruction | 8 | All instructors are professionals in the fields they teach. They were all able to provide relevant instruction due to their experience and backgrounds. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Although the assignments could be very challenging, I never had difficulty making an A in all but two of my classes. My concern here is that I suspect many instructors simply gave an A for on time submission of an assignment. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Being an online school, my education was nearly all book learning. The University of Phoenix has a policy of "writing across the curriculum" meaning that demonstration of learning is achieved through the student writing papers. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | My degree was earned entirely online. This environment allowed me to complete coursework whenever and wherever I could. Classes were five weeks in length and it was expected that students took only one class at a time so they didn't become overwhelmed. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Although it was online, I still rated the University high in this category because the online library and student discussion areas were extensive and easy to use. In addition to books, the library contained endless articles pertaining to seemingly every subject. |
| Social Life | 5 | This is difficult to answer with an online school. Although there were no parties, organized social events, etc., school spirit seem high among my online classmates. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I have seen very little if any interest from the University as far as job placement is concerned. Other than the alumni website, there has been no mention of job placement assistance. In fairness, I was already employed at the time of graduation so I may not have seen the assistance that may be available. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The University of Phoenix has an alumni network that consists mostly of a website and email reminders about happenings and upcoming events. I rate it average because I have never seen anything on the site or in the emails that will provide great assistance to me. |
University Of Advancing Technology • Tempe, AZ
Studying Software Engineering (completion in 2012)
• 8/15/2011
"I would recommend the school to absolutely anyone looking to get into computer programming or graphic design. I never had a bad experience with the school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Absolutely I would. The amount of knowledge you get from the school is expansive. You leave the school with a firm foundation in the subject matter you were taught. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I would say that UAT is the top notch, premier computer technology school. That is all they focus on and it shows in the quality and passion. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The school is expensive, but the instructors and professors are amazing. They only have a few degree paths, but they teach them well. |
| Instruction | 10 | The school was always on the leading edge of technology. Sometimes we got software before it was released to the public with deals from Microsoft. I felt the classes always went above and beyond to make sure we understood the material. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Lots and lots of trial and error is a part of learning to program computers. Once you start to learn the languages, though, it starts to feel like second nature. You have to be very analytical. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Technology is hands on, and you can only learn so much from a book. We always had great book resources and used them often, but we were always putting our learning to practical use. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | They have your standard Monday - Friday classes, but no night classes. Their online classes were great, and you could take a double full time load if you had a high enough GPA. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Anything you could ever imagine you'd need was provided. The software provided to you was free and state of the art. |
| Social Life | 9 | The school offered and planned trips to E3, ComicCon, and other developers expos. There was always something to do and somewhere to go. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I did not use the services provided by the school as I was already employed, but the general word was that the services were adequate and useful. I am sure that if needed, I would have been happy and quickly placed. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | It seemed that everyone, faculty and students, were always on the same page and interested in the same things. The campus felt less like school and more like a family. Everyone always helped each other and the resources available were amazing. |
University Of Phoenix • Phoenix, Az, AZ
Studying Administration & Management (completion in 2010)
• 9/12/2011
"I was able to attain a degree with this program as well as a 4.0 GPA."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend UoP just because of the flexibility and learning environments. It would work for traditional students as well as parents and people who have to work. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | They are a very well-known school. The majority of my colleagues have chosen this online learning environment. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It seems like it just covered the basics. It was an online program so I didn't receive the one-on-one experience that I needed. |
| Instruction | 3 | The teachers were often very knowledgeable. They taught what they did for a living. |
| How Difficult | 1 | The workload was very easy. Since it was online I was able to work my own schedule. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a mix between the two, depending on what the class was about. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Since its an online environment I was able to manage my own schedule an choose when I wanted to log into the classroom. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The students have access to many online resources as well as campuses located across the US. They had many tutoring programs in place. |
| Social Life | 3 | They had a learning team environment which put you in touch with your classmates. Being that it was online there were rarely any onsite events. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I do not have any experience with this though I do know that they offer these services. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I haven't had that much experience with the alumni program. |
Northern Arizona University • Flagstaff, AZ
Studying Information Systems (completion in 1999)
• 11/20/2011
"College is a fun period for a guy's life but it's expensive."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Because I attended... any other reason? |
| Program Reputation | I really don't know how it is. I've never cared. | |
| Program Quality | 6 | When it comes to IT support, generally it's know what you know but what you can do. NAU provided a healthy level of knowledge, but the most I learned was on my own. |
| Instruction | 5 | I really don't have a context for comparison to other schools. I was satisfied. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I don't have really have a rule of thumb for comparison. I have no complaints. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It's a liberal arts school, I didn't expect much. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | It worked with my schedule, I have no complaints. |
| Academic Facilities | I have no point of comparison with other schools. They sufficed for my intent. | |
| Social Life | 10 | I had a great time. It was fun. |
| Placement Services | 2 | It could have benefitted from improved networking opportunities. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I had to find my job on my own. It probably would have been easier if the school networked with the community. |
University Of Arizona • Tucson, AZ
Studying Computer Science & Math (completion in 2007)
• 1/12/2012
"Science isn't very useful without being able to apply it. It's not worth spending thousands of dollars to be told that you must take classes that they don't provide."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I'd have gotten much out of my money on training programs provided by companies like Microsoft, Cisco, or both. Certifications from those companies would have cost far less than college and would be far more useful. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It is difficult to get accepted into the program but graduates are extremely desirable. They are consistently in the top ten in the world. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The instruction was good and I learned a lot, but there was too much theory and not enough practical use. I grasp theory so quickly that I didn't need the lengthy instruction on that, but I struggle with practical application and received little help. |
| Instruction | 5 | The instructors were among the best in the industry, and they were generally very fair. I just wish they were more helpful in assisting students to apply the theory we learned. |
| How Difficult | 9 | I first went to another school, where I got all A's and B's but didn't learn much. At UofA I got B's and C's but learned more in one semester than in two years at the previous school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was little assistance with hands-on learning. I once talked to a professor about it and was told that they expected me to figure out the hands-on part myself because they wouldn't help. They told me that if I want help with hands-on learning I should have gone to a technical school, not a science school. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | In my program, classes were usually available at good times and I was able to get into them. However, general education classes required by the school were usually unavailable, making it very difficult to progress toward a degree. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I've seen other schools, including the university my wife currently attends. UofA had significantly superior facilities to other schools I've seen. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school has a very active social life. Unfortunately, everything is generally geared to Greek life rather than serious students. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I received no job placement assistance. I've had periods of unemployment but receive no help from the school to find new jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I've had no support from the school at all. The only thing I get from them is a request for money to support the useless alumni association. |
University Of Phoenix • Phoenix, AZ
Studying Information Systems (completion in 2010)
• 1/14/2012
"I would not have wanted to go anywhere else. I took 50 classes in all at this school and learned more than I would have ever imagined. The combination of the online environment and excellent instructors made this school a home run."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This school is especially great for those currently working or even working within the general area they are studying. I would not recommend it for people just getting out of high school. It is very much geared towards the working person. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | For some reason, the University of Phoenix has a bad reputation when compared to other schools. Many simply do not like the online environment. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I thought that the programs at my school were very effective in teaching many different aspects of Information. The online environment allowed me the opportunity to work with other people in my field. The instructors and other students presented a wide range of knowledge and expertise. |
| Instruction | 7 | The instructors work in the fields that they are teaching and are generally very knowledgeable. On many occasions I was able to ask questions that pertained to how a certain topic fit into the instructor's profession. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Being in the field already and having taken 40 classes in the online environment prior to starting my masters degree, I found the program middle of the road in the area of difficulty. I was challenged most by some of the programming and development classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school had a good mix of both. The book learning was teamed up with excellent exercises that challenged the mind and enforced what was learned from the textbooks. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | It is an online university that is all about flexibility. I was able to participate in class when I was available to do so. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The online environment was excellent. The ease of use made it simple for even the most novice user. The library and other services were also excellent. |
| Social Life | 5 | I only rated this a 6 because it is an online university and has no real external social piece. The social activity in the classroom was excellent. |
| Placement Services | 4 | The University of Phoenix does offer job placement and assistance, but it is somewhat limited. The online environment creates a very large area and number of people looking for placement. This makes the success rate limited. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I get several emails each week from the alumni association. Each has good tips and tricks. The University of Phoenix also assists in job placement. |
Mesa Community College • Mesa, AZ
Studying Applied Science (completion in 2010)
• 2/8/2012
"Got a lot of valuable training. Worth the money."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Will train you the right way. Will help you get a job. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Most popular college to attend in the Phoenix metro area for computer training. Very cost-effective. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Very flexible program with many options for attending class. Teachers are very demanding, but fair and helpful. The school has all the latest equipment. |
| Instruction | 10 | Experienced, knowledgeable teachers. Lots of real-world stories and examples. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Had to study 3 to 4 hours every day. Lots of tests. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A mix of online publications and books. Lots of hands-on work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Can take many classes online. Lots of options for class times through all the Maricopa County college system. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Just the best for a community college. Huge, centrally located library. Very good equipment to learn on. |
| Social Life | 4 | I did not find a lot of socializing on campus. Most students went to class and then went to work. |
| Placement Services | Did not have any experience with career placement at college. I guess they will help if I need it. | |
| Alumni Network | Have not had any contact with other alumni. I did not join the alumni association. |
University Of Phoenix • Phoenix, AZ
Studying Management Of Information Systems (completion in 2008)
• 3/23/2012
"I loved the online learning environment and would pursue it again. The short class duration was a major bonus for me. I didn't have to pay attention for too long!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I loved UofP and the online experience. I thought the program was tough enough and they diligently avoided plagiarism. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | UofP is still a top-notch school. I have several co-workers who are contemplating furthering their education with UofP. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The University of Phoenix online program was a wonderful way for me to earn the academic qualifications for what I already love doing. Attending school online was an easy way for me to learn. |
| Instruction | 8 | I learned a ton in my degree program at UofP. The few business related classes really helped to advance my understanding of the business world and in the recent tough economy it made a difference. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The UofP Management of Information Systems was a tough program. The programming class just about killed me! My program got stuck in a loop and after 12 hours I was not able to resolve the loop. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were a few hands-on courses, but mostly just programming would have been hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | My program was all online. Every piece of work for my entire academic career was due on Monday evening. I had every weekend to do my work and get it submitted. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | I had everything I needed. The program was online, so I am most talking about their online library tools. |
| Social Life | It was an online program, I'm not aware of any social aspects. I talked to classmates and worked with them. | |
| Placement Services | I did not receive any job placement nor career service assistance. I am not aware if they offered any career services or job placement assistance. | |
| Alumni Network | I am not involved in the Alumni network for UofP. |
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