Ashford University

I have been going to online colleges for 3.5 years. My disgust is with these schools and their financial disclosures. Nowhere in the last 3.5 years did anyone tell me about aggregate limit in financial aid. Now here I am, 3.5 years later, no degree on my second school and still not even half way to my BA degree. So I decided to downgrade my degree to an AA and now just found out all my credits are trash and no good. Now that I switched my degree, I am still not even half way to an AA. So almost $60k in the hole and nothing to show for it but a big fat bill and a bunch of liars.

Like most of you, I have been screwed by Ashford University. I have a Genetic Heart Defect which sometimes causes me to become sick, and having to go to hospitals over one hundred miles away from where I live. I explained this to my adviser, who then sent me to another office which issues Disabled Students an Authorized Accommodation. This, in theory, is supposed to be sent to the instructor, who is supposed to give the student more time to finish the course. To make a long story short, Ashford dropped me from the class, which was already paid by my Federal Student Aid; yet, now I have to pay for the course out of my own pocket even though it was already paid for.

Recently, the same thing happened, only this time, I could get no help from the instructor, and my adviser would never return my calls or e-mails. I told them they could shove Ashford University where the sun never shines. Of course, although Federal Student Aid paid for the course, I am now again in debt with Ashford for this course also. I told them I was going to have to speak to my attorney about this, and my adviser told me an attorney cannot do anything because I signed a contract that prevents me from filing any type of lawsuit, and have to enter into arbitration with the people who are stealing from me and the Federal Government.

Well, I found a way around that, and I am asking all of you interested in finally getting justice from Ashford University to e-mail me at ** with your concerns and what Ashford did to you. This is no joke, and I am not trying to set anyone up. I have found a way around Ashford's contract, and the more people I can get involved with this, the more Ashford will be forced into finally do what is right, and quit feeling they are above the law. My name is **, and I am not going to allow Ashford to steal from the government any longer. You see, their actions today against us will directly hurt our children in the future when Federal Student Aid will be too expensive for them to go to school. We have to act now to stop the fraud, and I hope you will join with me in doing this.

I recently graduated with my BA in Social Sciences/Education and Psychology. I, like most of you, had some issues within the school, especially in financial aid. The thing is that you must expect some troubles when you enroll in a school. When I first enrolled, the advisors were a little pushy; however, this is their job! They do not hold a gun to your head, and you're free to ask questions; I did.

They did misplace a lot of my paperwork, causing me to have to resend. Overall, I feel that the college did a wonderful job in educating me. The worst problem that I had was trying to get an address change. Their computers kept rejecting it! However, this is not something to get really upset about, overall. I have read a complaint about their sister college; however, I chose not to use that part of my degree anyway. I was never told that I owed money, and I usually got my stipends on time. I would definitely recommend this college to people, so long as the people want to be proactive and do what is required of them. Thanks, Ashford, for a great experience!

I attended Ashford for two years, never carried an owing balance on my account/records. If anything, Ashford always owed me money. In August 2011, I decided to take a break from school due to being transferred from Idaho to Oklahoma. Oh my God! Did this disrupt my academic and financial life. I did not owe Ashford University a dime when I called and said I would like to drop my upcoming classes and take an LOA. Everything was perfect and I could return at any time according to Lori **.

Within a week, I owed them $3000, then they supposedly returned sub/unsub loans, which caused me to owe more money. Then I watched as my military tuition discount was charged back to my account, making me owe more money. Then book fees were added (even though military receives a book waiver). Right now I supposedly owe $4980+. They have held my transcripts which is making it impossible to enroll in any other educational institution. I have tried since August to get an answer on how they could charge me for books, tuition waivers for the military, etc. They also won't release my supposedly returned financial aid so that it can be used at another university.

I was a 4.0 student and my grades were changed after I left AU. I am yelled at by academic, financial and other types at AU. I have been told to shut up, I have been told I am too stupid to understand what they are saying, I have been told to contact the Financial Aid Clearinghouse myself to have funds released. I would like to know how to get these issues corrected!

In December 2011, I enrolled in Ashford's Organizational Management program. My first class began in January 2012. Almost immediately, I determined the program was not for me and began the official withdrawal process. Almost two months later, my Ashford experience just gets worse. I completed the Master's course and earned an A.

In January 2012, one-half of my annual financial aid was issued to Ashford to cover 9 credits/3 courses. Following the directions on my Ashford financial aid award paperwork, I had 30 days to cancel all or part of my issued aid package. Day 30 fell on the weekend, so I issued my aid return request on Monday in writing as instructed. I requested that 100% of both my subsidized and unsubsidized loans be returned to the lender. Instead, Ashford retained my student aid and applied my first Master's course against the available aid balance on my student account.

Next, although I was issued my diploma and my BA degree conferred by Ashford on November 27, 2011, Ashford recently altered my official transcripts by giving me zero credit for a transferred course (which it had previously credited me) and replaced the credits with the (3) credits I just completed in the MA program. I have tried to work with the lender and the Department of Education on getting my funds released/returned and determined if what Ashford has done with my transcripts is common place or perhaps unethical. Both agencies keep telling me to contact the Ashford financial aid office. I cannot get any person at Ashford to return my calls or emails. Even after reminding them that I am an alumni, still there's no response nor return of the balance of my funding to the lender.

Stay away, far, far away. And spend your money at a school that cares about you, because this for-profit educator can really disrupt your academic progress by holding your funds as long as it is legally possible while also refusing to communicate with you. 120 days, according to my research on the FAFSA site. May 2012 will be 120 days. However, the frustration is definitely time-consuming. I had to work closely with my new university to make the final half of my 2012 aid cover 1/2 of the annual tuition at the new university, because the national lending site still says that Ashford has consumed 1/2 of my available 2012 financial aid. In fact, my student account hosts an $8k+ credit balance since January 2012.

I guess Ashford is an excellent educator to do business with, until you want to take your business elsewhere. Then the consumer is set adrift, aid-less and communication-less. And for at least 120 days, it could be held a financial aid hostage - something only the student consumer seems to care anything about.

I just want to say that I have attended 5 classes at Ashford University and have had no troubles whatsoever. I have been completely satisfied with my admissions counselors, the financial aid department, the quality of the textbooks and the instructors. The online program at Ashford has far exceeded my expectations in both platform and education. I cannot imagine wanting to go anywhere else as I am maintaining a 4.0 GPA where I failed attending a traditional on-campus university. I feel that many of the complaints that have been filed here are either from students that just were not prepared for or capable of handling high quality education (the work is definitely real work, particularly the research papers) or employees of other lesser quality online schools attempting to eliminate Ashford's competition by filing false complaints. I think that many of these complaints should be investigated for their legitimacy.

I am currently finishing my last class at Ashford University. I called them to tell them that I am transferring schools and I want to cancel my loans from Ashford University. With this, I asked them if it was possible for me to fill out a loan cancellation form so that I could make sure that I can start at my new school. I am still waiting for that form to be sent to me.

Also, I asked them when the school updates the NSLDS website so that it would show that my loans are cancelled. They told me that I had to call the department of Education. So, I did that to find out when the site would be updated. The Department of Education told me that it was up to the school to update that site. But I was just getting the run around from the school and no answers. So now, I am telling people if you want to go back to school, do not go to Ashford University, the school does not tell the truth about anything.

Just for the record, I am not someone who is going to school just for the stipend checks. With that in mind, I think Ashford University has the absolute poorest advising department and financial aid department, and quite possibly the entire office is ineffective. I failed a class, so I understood that this would delay my stipend. I was told by email, phone, and by my award letter that my funds would be sent to the school by February 21, 2012 due to me failing a class. I was okay with that, even though they had already changed the date 3 times previously.

So, on that day, my funds came(only my loans supposedly). I was told my Pell would be there by the end of the week. That did not happen, and I was told it could be 30 days before they received it from the government. So I called the Department of Education and Fin. Aid, which told me that they had already sent in the money on the 23rd. Ashford still claimed that they did not have the money and there was nothing that I could do. So I checked every couple of days. Finally, after getting rather crappy with several different departments and advisors one day, my Pell showed up. This was March 6th, 2012. I was then told that within 14 days, I would have my stipend, which I needed to buy a new computer and programs.

In the meantime, I noticed that my ledger was really jacked up and I called in to have them fix that and drop me from a class that I could not take because I did not have the program required. I was assured that it would not affect the release of my stipend, and in any event, it would be taken care of. This did not happen for a few days, and I was not formally dropped from the class till I got hateful once again. Well, it has been 16 days, and still no stipend. My ledger is finally correct, but still no money for me. So, I called again and since I can rarely get my own advisor or her boss, I talked to whoever I can. At this point, no one will tell me why I have not received the stipend, or even a date when it will be direct deposited to my account.

I was sent an email saying not to be unprofessional, and not "yell" at them through emails by typing in all caps. Really? How professional is it not to do your job as an advisor? All I get now is sometime this week it should be sent to Fannie Mae. Then they will process it and send me the excess. I wait tables for a living, and if I did my job the way the office staff at Ashford does theirs, I would be fired in a second. Since, technically this money is mine, and I have to pay it back, I should have the right to know what is going on, and be given something concrete to go on, instead of being continuously put off- very unprofessional! I also managed to do a three way call, where two different departments got into a catfight on whose fault this was. Now, neither department will talk to me.

To top it off, last year, my money was at the school and they showed where they had it, but it took a month to get to me, yet no one knew why or would make an effort to fix it. I have seen where many other students have had issues with them. I know some just don't understand the process of fin. aid and course load, etc. But, not all of them ! I have attended my last semester at Ashford. I love the classes and the flexibility, but the hassle with fin. aid for two years in a row is just ridiculous. Worst customer service that I have ever experienced. I am so afraid now, that they will try to mess me up as much as possible. There should be some laws that protect and ensure students from being taken advantage of and being used as banks for questionable practices performed by universities. There is not much recourse for the student, especially online ones.

I have been a student at Ashford University since September of 2011. I am currently on my 5th subject towards a bachelor's degree and possibly a master's degree. I honestly do not have anything negative to say about the school. Some of the other experiences I've read sounds downright horrific and would have scared me off.

I did my research and did read some negative feedback. The only problem I had personally was getting a call back from advisers on occasion. I think in any situation people should be proactive. If you cannot get an adviser or admissions, financial aid or whatever department you are trying to contact, then send an email. I have taken that route and have always gotten someone within 24 hrs. I am not trying to criticize anyone's post but, if you are only enrolling at Ashford or any other school, just so you can get the grants for personal use, then you will be frustrated after those grants are applied towards your classes and you only receive a few hundred dollars.

As far as transferring credits, my conversation was, I needed to know exactly what credits were transferable and what was not before I signed anything. What is the accreditation and make sure those requirements are met. It is your money and your future, be more proactive and don't be forced or misled by anyone into anything. Sorry for all your bad experiences, but as for me and mine, I am quite happy thus far. 4 stars here and that's because they are not perfect just like any other academic institution.

Everyday for the past two weeks, I have been receiving phone calls from Ashford University from 10am to 11am, asking for my wife, Jessica **. She had gone online and put her resume for a job on the internet. Ever since then, she has been receiving several phone calls from educational places regarding info to further her education which she never asked for.

I have repeatedly told the person (who by the way is the same individual every time) to stop calling and harassing me. Pete refused to stop calling and even went so far as to say he would continue to call until he received an e-mail from Jessica telling him to stop calling. This is a clear violation of FCC regulations regarding phone harassment! I am reporting this to the FCC and hopefully will get the opportunity to sue the individual and the University itself for harassment charges.

Well, I took classes online in 2009 to 2011. I thought I was going to get a job but that did not happen. Every place that I went told me that I had to have the training. But the school did not have anywhere to place me. I feel like it was a waste of time taking these classes online because I can not get a job. And what's the use for the degree if it is not helping me at all. Even if I wanted to enter into another college to get my MA, I can't because I already have a bachelor's degree which does not mean nothing. I need hands on training not just classroom online teaching. This school really sucks. I think they should be upfront and let people know what they accept and what they do not.

I am not happy with this school at all and I wish I never signed up with them at all. Because they did not help me at all as far as helping me get hands on training. They could have found some schools and placed me at one of them here in GA but they did not. My husband is very upset as well because I lost a lot of sleep and time away from him. I will never do this anymore and I will not recommend anyone else to attend this school. If I have to rate this school on a scale of 1 to 10, it would be a 4.

I talked with admissions, Mr. Jason **, to see if Ashford University will transfer my 52 credits plus at Cedar Valley and Florida Tech University. Mr. Nicholas **, counselor, told me yes, 100% of my credits will transfer over and it didn't happen at all. Now, they did a debate switch, changes after I become a student. That's unfair treatment and now they reevaluate me twice to come back. Jason ** told me they can do only 35% of my credit and will go toward my associate degree that they lie about. The whole situation is not fair. It's only about money. They don't care about me as student. This problem is really very stressful. It has not been resolved. I repeated a couple of class over. I kept calling and emailing Jason ** . It took long periods of time for them to get back to me at a time. This is their fault. They won't do anything about it. I'm suffering about this situation. Please help me.

Financial Department calls regarding info on cost of books and tuition with financial aid (and that they would hold off until then). I asked about this specifically. I am on disability with very limited finances. I can't afford a cash charge before I am allowed to finish a class. Lately, they state there are still textbook charges for some classes that cannot be taken from FAFSA nor Pell grant! I am leery and suspicious as to what the truth really is. Because of this I've decided not to pursue education from this group.

Overall, I will have to say I have had a decent experience with Ashford. I transferred last year to them. I was attending Westwood College but they changed their platform from what I was used to, so both my wife and I looked around and found another school (Ashford) that used e-college instead of blackboard. I was a criminal justice major at Westwood but when I transferred to Ashford in 2011, I became a history major.

Well, I had an unsuccessful grade, yes an F, and now they are saying I owe $1,200. Yes, I admit I owe the money. My complaint is the fact that they are unwilling to work with me to return to classes. They say I have to pay the amount to get back into class or that I can make a payment arrangement. But they are unwilling to work that payment arrangement into my income. I am a disabled student living on $625 a month and they are unwilling to help me with a lower payment than $155 a month. I like the school but I have to agree it's not about the student or the education, it is about the money they can get from the government and that student.

Be very careful. Keep your grades up and don't disagree with your professor. This is what happened to me. I was vocal in the class with my disagreements with the professor and I paid the price. My fault, I should have seen the writing early in the class and withdrawn but I stuck it out and paid the price. Some battles are better off not engaged in. I owe the money but I also want back in but I can't afford the $155 a month. Nice catch, they told me they want me back in, (they want that federal money), but they are unwilling to work within my income. I have checked with my local area universities and my credits will transfer if I want to change schools but I don't. I like the platform of the classes and the professors are generally good. But be warned, financial aid and the business office are not willing to bend on anything.

Scam School, Beware: Ashford is laughable and money hungry. I have attended Ashford for three classes. Now let me tell you, two of the classes are not transferable. They never required me to send in my transcripts first off. Then I wouldn't sign the loan paper because I had a grant and the rest would be covered by FAFSA. They then made me sign the loan paper and said I could cancel the loans before they would be charged to me just to get me started. I have had financial and student advisors not return my calls or emails for over weeks repeatedly. Apparently, I owe $4,800 in loans now for three classes. My books were covered since I'm in the military.

My grant, which was approved for these classes, said it was used also, so $3,000 from them just disappeared. They refuse to answer me where this money has gone or give me any receipts or answer emails. The last time my student advisor wrote me, she was upset that I needed forms to stop any future loans. It's ridiculous. I am going to Jag this week and going to get this school blacklisted for scam to help any future military personnel.

A guy named Alex keeps calling my house everyday. I told them I was not interested in going to school. I told them to stop calling and they keep doing it. It is the same person for Ashford University. I want to sue them now. This is the fourth week straight that somebody named Alex has called. When he calls I have been hanging up. The last four times I hung up, he sent me several e-mails soliciting the school.

I have been enrolled at Ashford University since December 2010. If I had to rate my learning experience at the school from a scale of 1-5, I would give it a solid 4. The professors are pretty sharp and pay attention to your assignments that you turn in by providing constructive criticism. I am happy overall with the learning. If you asked me to rate my academic advisors from a scale to 1-5, I would grade them at a 2. I have asked for my academic advisors to be changed twice because they provided no help whatsoever. Then when I finally got a good advisor, they decided to change their policy and put students with advisors that match their discipline. I finally seem to have a advisor that know her stuff and stay on top of her work.

Now, the financial aid department has been the worse experience I have ever had in my life. I would rate them at a low -0. They always say they are missing documents that has been submitted. The worse thing is you think you submitted everything and you are waiting on a return call from them for weeks to find out that you are missing information. You would then think they would be proactive and call students back, however, they do not. I have fought with them since October 2011 in regards to my change of financial circumstances forms. They continue to say I have missing information. I wrote everything down they requested and sent it off again. Then they say, we need additional information. I finally asked my academic advisor to step in. She and her supervisor both checked my information and said everything looks correct. We both conference the financial aid department and spoke to Tina, who just read notes and didn't know what she was talking about.

It feels like they have high school students working in this department. Actually, high school drop outs working in this department. They are completely incompetent. I have 10 more classes to go, but I'm thinking if they can't read and process simple information in a timely manner, then do I want to continue to pay $1250 per class? (Cost of class and electronic book) Overall rating for the school in my opinion would be 2.

I'm very dissatisfied with my loan refund amount. How can Ashford just take my whole loan amount, then I have to pay all the loan back? I just don't understand. I have been at other colleges, and I got all my loans for myself, and my grants paid for my college course. I really need somebody to help me. I can't afford to pay a student loan back, that I can't use for myself. I have been doing a lot of researches, and find out that I'm not the only one who is very upset about the refund amount, that Ashford awarded us.

I called Ashford, and they said that there's really nothing that they can do for me. I want to take it to the next level, and get a lawyer to help me find out what happened to my loan. I really want to stay enrolled at Ashford, but I need my loans right. My husband believe that it's a scam. I'm starting to really believe that I'm going to owe them so much money. What can I do now? Please help me! I want an attorney to call me about this. I'm so upset. I want to enroll somewhere else, but they said I will get charged for the classes that I haven't completed. How can that be? I've been on the phone all day, with everybody, and getting the runaround. There's no one giving me real answers.

My friend recommended me to Ashford University. As a military spouse, I was looking for a supportive and better class structured then from my previous college. I started attending Fall 2010 in Ashford. I sent all the correct documents and followed all procedures in order to attend Ashford. I applied for aid and loan because aid was not enough to cover all costs especially even after the military discounts. My last class ended December 19, 2011. I choose to go back to University of Maryland College because they had a better program for psychology and counseling than Ashford. They also had better certification programs that fit my needs. I never had any major issues with University Maryland but the longer courses. Obviously they changed it to shorter courses that delighted me. At Ashford I had a hard time contacting via email and phone with the advisors. I understand they have so many students, but trying two weeks to withdrawal from the College University is unacceptable.

I signed a cancellation form for all future loans and disbursements. Since the loan amounts are scheduled to come in tentatively at the end of January, you would want to fill out a loan cancellation letter that is attached above. You will want to make sure everything is completed that is necessary on the form and submit it back to me at your earliest convenience. You can review the amount of loans that you would like to cancel by reviewing your award letter that was sent out to you via email for this award year, as per my financial aid advisor. I thought I was in the clear not owing in any money because this form was for future loan amounts and aid amounts that would be obtain 2012. I withdraw led and did the correct procedures. I even checked my balance and in fact it did state I owe any amount.

On February 17, 2012 I received an email from the Ashford's collections stating I owe $8,895. Last time I check I did not owe anything. Come to find out they took upon themselves that they cancelled the fall 2011 loan and Pell Grant after I received it. My classes were paid for and yet they took it upon themselves to cancel the previous aid/loan that paid for my classes in the fall. What I don't understand is how can they cancel a loan or aid that I did not cancel in fall 2011 when in fact I was still in school. I did not even request a loan or aid cancellation until mid-December for future sources. Secondly I finished my last course in December, which ended the 19th in 2011. I was also told I did not meet the academic quota for courses and aid/loan and had to retrieve the loan/aid back. I called the lender and they said they received refund from the fall 2011. I told them I did not cancel funds for fall 2011; I only cancel funds for future resources. He told me they refund 6,000 something dollars. Pell Grant was only $1,170 or around there. That means what was the other money for? What upsets me more, that before anything Pell Grant should be used and yet they did not used the Pell Grant before the loan. Also, the loan and any aid cancellation were for future disbursements but yet they took back the fall 2011 when I was actually attending Ashford at that time.

I had not emails or notifications of owing any money. I have checked and been told I did not owe any outstanding balances. Then when I retrieved this collection email, this has become news to me. I feel Ashford has abused and committed fraud in the system. I believe because I withdraw I am being punished. I have never had any issues with aid/ or loans with any college or university before until Ashford. I never had to owe money or had a college go behind my back, and misuse the system.

The complaints I have been reading on here are people who didn't want to complete at least four classes before receiving their stipend. I have been at Ashford my entire four years and I am getting ready to graduate this year. I have had a wonderful experience with my online education with Ashford. The professors across the board, I would say, are very good.

Every professor has a different style and approach in teaching. I recommended friends to Ashford and they have had the best experience. I feel those people with complaints should address their issues with their academic advisor. You can actually address them with any academic advisor on staff, they are always willing to help and find resolutions for any problem that you may encounter.

I have been going to Ashford University for 2 years, and I have never had a problem with financial aid. I have read the complaints and people should understand that you have to finish so many classes, before you receive any of the extra money. I do agree that some of the teachers are a little lax, and others are very strict. I believe they need more TA's. I have recommended Ashford to others, and they are very satisfied with the school. I believe that you should go to school to learn, and not get the money.

I enrolled in Ashford University online, in Sept of 2011. I was told by my admissions adviser that it would only take financial aid four weeks to get to them, and I would have it by the end of October. October came, and they claimed that I needed to fill out more forms, and they had to discuss matters with the Federal Aid people, before I could get my aid. I didn't actually receive aid until Jan. 2012, and they told me I could only get $634 out of $7,990 in my aid. I had failed one class, due to the fact that my computer crashed the first day of class, and it cost me $400 to fix it. The adviser told me I would have to be charged twice for that class, and have to retake it. I would have to take five classes for the term, instead of four. It is clear to me that it is a scam.

The teachers don't have real subjects that you can do research papers on, and the whole degree is based on writing papers for every class. Most are repetitive in content. The computer class was a joke. The teacher was of no help, and had no teacher's assistant. At the end of December, my admissions adviser, and my academic, financial aid advisers changed. The financial aid and academic person became one, and no admissions adviser exists now. I have a student, who is my adviser, and it is a joke. He also works for Everglades University online, because I checked into getting in with them, and he answered my call as an academic adviser there too.

This is all fraud and against the law. They are clearly pocketing our financial aid. I saw a post by them today in my emails, that they just now are applying for accreditation regionally, so therefore, none of their credits will transfer to regional colleges to get a masters degree. This is so bogus. I am transferring out to our state college in the fall or before. I know I am not staying at Ashford. Also, I was told that even that there are minor degrees offered, I wasn't allowed to take any along with my major. It is highly annoying how they chose what curriculum and classes you take, and wont let you chose when you pay dearly for it. I am sick about my choice, and will be leaving there as soon as my balance is zero with them.

In 2010 I attended a few classes at ASU. I was told everything financial aid wise, was taken care of. I am a reservist so I asked about the G.I. Bill and told it had been applied. A few weeks before my classes were to end for the term, I received emails telling me I owed around $1,300.00. Of course, I asked what this was for, since I had been told my financial aid was all paid. ASU told me it was a left over balance. I asked them how it could have been left over, would you not know this or notify me of this before class. ASU told me it was my responsibility to know what I owe. I told them how could I know I owe something if I was told my financial aid was covered? Long story short, they later sent me a letter offering to reduce the $1,300 to $625.

Upon reading the numerous complaints, I decided to challenge them on this. I made a complaint with ASU and that got me nowhere. Now I am trying to attend another college and of course, they will not release my transcript, until I am paid in full. This seems so unfair! At least I know I am not the only one out here experiencing this nonsense.

First, it is disheartening to view all these complaints about a university. Education should be about development not pain and frustration. I was a former enrollment adviser at Ashford University. I loved working with the new students and felt proud that I was making a difference in someone's life. Ashford afford free tuition for their employees; which attracted me to the position. At this time, adviser's pay was based on the enrollments of new students.

Enrollment advisers were told to push students, get them to fill out applications before the student was ready to attend. This is demonstrated by the 68% withdraw rate at Ashford. My enrollment team went through 5 managers in 4 months. My enrollment numbers were low, but I had a 100% retention rate for my students. Soon as I applied for classes and the tuition coverage, I started getting write-ups for poor performance. I was not allowed new student leads, instead I had to cold call old leads, many over a year old. I had more phone calls than anyone on my team. I complained and stated that the business practices used were not in the best interest of the students. I was terminated soon after.

My student problems began in the Spring of 2011. All of a sudden, $900 was placed on my account and I was notified by email. I contacted the school and they said it had something to do to the fact that I moved to Missouri and that I needed to contact Federal Student Aid office. I contacted FSA and they had no idea what I was talking about and they recommended that I contact Ashford again. My Financial Adviser could not explain why I had the balance and guessed that it had something to do with a grant I received from the state of Iowa. I wanted to then attend a different university; but found out that Ashford would not release my transcripts until the balance was paid. So I paid the $900.

I tried to get into another university but found out many of my credits would not transfer to the program I wanted. So I opted to return to Ashford. On May 22nd, my home was destroyed by the EF5 tornado that ripped through Joplin, MO. I informed the school that I would not be able to attend classes until I figured out my living situation. In late July I found that I was dropped from course due to lack of attendance. I then had to go through many hoops to get back into classes. I completed two more classes only to find myself dropped again. I contacted Ashford as to why, all of a sudden I reached my limit on federal funding. They never gave me an indication that I was close to this limit. Had I known, I would have made other arrangements.

I was told that I would not be able to attend classes unless I could get private loans. I tried; however, most lending institutions did not recognize Ashford as a viable institution. Thus leaving me 22 credits short and a 3.64 GPA. In December 2011, I received an email saying I owed Ashford $1345 due immediately. Again, without my knowledge or any indication that I would have a balance. Not even a mailed statement, just an email. Again, they will not release my transcripts. I was also told that they could not do anything about the balance. I am unemployed and have no means to pay off this amount. I just want to be done with the school entirely.

I have gone back and forth with the student dispute center and they say there is nothing that can be done about the balance. Now I find out all of these similar stories and the investigation that Senator Tom Harkin is conducting on these institutions practices. I have worked in diesel mechanics for many years. When we have a customer who needs a $1345 repair done to their vehicle, we don't perform the repair and then expect that customer to pay for it, holding his truck in the shop until he does. Instead, we inform the customer first, explain the problem, show them what needs to be done, and ask for his permission to make the repairs.

When I explained this concept to Ashford, they stated they did not see the relevance to my situation. If, by chance, I did make the $1300 repair to the vehicle without the customers consent, under the consumer fraud act, I would not be able to collect the money. Even if that was the case, I would gladly cover that repair because I did not conduct my business ethically. I want Ashford to do the same. I believe that all these students filing these complaints are entitled to their tuition being reimbursed by the University. I hope we can receive some kind of justice, it is not fair to students to be treated this way. We need to come together and bring more attention to this problem.

I was misled by the advisers at Ashford, in a coordinated and slick manner. The promises made were about financial aid disbursements that would enable me to attend school, full time online. They told me I would get the first 30% of what I was entitled to after 7 weeks, and the rest around the 20th of January. My advisers changed in the meantime, and my financial adviser and student adviser were combined into one. I asked him around the 14th, if he needed anything from me for the money to come as promised. He played me and pretended it was coming as planned, to keep me in school, and logging attendance. He then said it might be a week late. The day it was supposed to arrive, he would call me back to let me know. He didn't call. After multiple complaints from me, he called to say I had to wait for two more weeks of enrollment, then another two weeks for processing. He then said I could sign a form that would make the money available within 7-10 days, much sooner, and he would email it over to sign it, and then send it back right away so I could get the money sooner.

7 days has passed today, and now it's a whole new story. Now he claims I have to wait for another quarter to end, and the reason is because of that document changing all the rules. In other words, he intentionally conned me into signing a document by making me think it'd result in a more timely disbursement, and now spun it and is using it to not disburse anything until another quarter. This is the 3rd or 4th time they have knowingly, and in a coordinated fashion misled me, to get me to do what they want and to hold onto the money.

It is clearly a well coordinated scam that involves an intentional system of false promises. I went out and bought a new PC based on their promises and representations, so I could attend online classes, and now have a power bill due. The money did not come and my power has been cut off. They make promises and habitually mislead people to get an enrollment. They do not practice truth in disclosure ethically, and if you rely on them in any way economically you will regret it. They lie regularly.

The education is below par. The teachers do not teach you anything. The only thing they grade is grammar, not content, and often the teachers do not know the actual subjects at all. It seems so far to be a huge scam, and a way for advisers to access student loan money made in the student's name, and a con game follows so they can play games with it ,and control it. You are stuck in a position to try to get a degree, even though the education is laughable content wise, since you have no real instruction, just a book. Otherwise, you will be stuck with a huge bill and no degree. Don't fall for it. The positive comments here, are made by advisers benefiting from the scam. On campus students are also involved in the scamming.

I entered Ashford University in October 2007. I was told by my academic advisor that I would receive all the courses I needed to receive teacher certification except for my student teaching. In 2009, I was told this was incorrect and that I would have to take a few classes at Rio Salado College and complete my student teaching. I continued because I felt that they had me. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in July 2011 with a GPA of 3.97. Due to health issues I was unable to immediately start courses with Rio Salado. Now six months later I apply to Rio Saldo and learn as of July 1, 2011 they are no longer taking students from my state. I am now $40,000 in debt. My student loans are coming due next month and I do have the courses needed for certification as a teacher in my state. When I contacted Ashford, I was advised that I had slipped through the cracks because of a bad academic advisor and they had now changed the program. Yeah, right.

I had a bad professor and appealed the grade. I lost the appeal, but I won with the academic board who could not understand the directions on a paper that lost ten points out of fifteen. I was to have the course dropped, as if it never existed; and that's when the nightmare began. Ashford did not drop the course and charged me again for the repeat. I dropped two other courses due to a medical condition which landed me in the hospital and was charged for those also.

Ashford tried to tell me that they had no provisions for medical emergencies, but I pushed it and they came up with one. I was charged for the two courses and upon my graduation, Ashford placed six holds on my account, keeping me from graduating with my classmates. My GPA was 4.0, and I worked very hard for that with my Master's in higher education specialization. I completed my MAED in May 2011, and it took Ashford a year to fix the appeal overcharge and several months to fix the other two courses.

They kept changing my account and telling me that they had done things that I did not notice. They told me that I ran out of money and owed $1,571.00 for my capstone and my graduation. I ended up in surgery this past Thanksgiving and called to ask that they work with me, as I would not be able to work until March or April 2012, not to mention the fact that I have been unable to secure employment with my degree from Ashford because I do not have a teaching certificate.

They must have known that I would need that certificate, and it would have been easy to complete it while I was finishing up my Master's. Ashford refused to work with me on what they claim I owe and told me that it was going against my credit if it was not paid immediately.

It was extremely difficult to reach anyone at the University. I was led to believe that my fees were covered, then received a bill. Unable to cover that bill, they sent it to collections with a 33% charge. I spoke to Patricia ** at Caine and Weiner collections. The first time I called her she was nice, and told me to contact Brian **. He never returned my calls and it was so difficult to get email contacts or other names. Then she called me back a day later and was extremely nasty and hung up on me when all I said was I was going to give Mr. ** a week to get back to me. In the mean time, I need my transcripts for Law School that they will not release.

I enrolled in 2009, and qualified for full financial aid from the government and full Pell Grants. I maintained an almost 4.0 grade-point average for almost the entire time I have been there despite several medical emergencies, 2 surgeries, 2 hospitalizations a week each, (one because I almost died), and living in a horribly abusive relationship while being a full-time care-giver of my disabled child. The classes are okay as far as content, and I am sure I would have learned more if the teachers were more involved, but it seems like no matter what you post, you pass the class. And I have seen teachers post glowing feedback on discussion posts with maybe 2 or 3 misspelled, confusing sentences, with no citations, and no capitalization, when the assignment was for an in-depth post of at least 200 words with at least 2 outside references.

Also, since I have 0 income of my own, I need my financial aid to buy my books, and to pay for my internet services and computer upgrades to attend the school. Well, my experience with the financial aid department has been terrible. Instead of getting stipends every 3 months like everyone else I know who has been in college and received financial aid, I get sometimes only 2 stipends a year. Like in 2011, I have received a stipend in March, and one in June. That's it. I failed a class at one point because I had no electric for 2 days, no internet for over a week, and no phone for 3 weeks and missed a deadline for turning in a final paper. I already had a low grade for that class because of internet outages making me late on several discussions, and I wasn't allowed to submit the final paper once my internet was working.

That took 30% off my grade and I failed. I submitted all my paperwork to the school showing numerous technicians had been out to my house, but Ashford wouldn't reconsider. I was told that internet problems are not a reason to have trouble with internet school. They told me I should have walked to my mother's house, (15 miles away) to do my assignments or I should have bought a laptop (with my student loans that they never send me on time) and walked to McDonalds with my 4 year old son and done all my homework there. And since I failed the class, even though I was desperate for my next stipend and it was due, I was told I would have to wait until I passed 4 more classes (so 20 more weeks) before I would receive another stipend.

Now this is in October. It has been 4 months since my last stipend. I have $0.00 to buy books, my electric is about to be shut off, my internet is about to be shut off, and my computer needs a Microsoft upgrade for me to be able to do my assignments correctly, but I have to wait 20 more weeks to get a stipend. I emailed my financial aid adviser and called over and over. He finally got back to me several weeks later and told me there was nothing he could do. I was supposed to pass those 4 classes without the books so I could get the money to buy the books to pass the classes. I finally threatened to contact the attorney generals office. He laughed at me, and said "go ahead, we are doing what we are allowed to do. You chose this school." I sent a few more weeks of emails and finally he called back on November 17, and had me fill out and email back some forms to put me in charge of all my money, even though he told me Ashford will technically still be in charge. He then explained that since I am only a few classes from graduation, my stipend amount won't be that much, just $839.50 and that it will come in about 14 days. I asked if there is anyway to get it sooner since I am about to start a class and need the money to buy the book. He told me "off record" that usually the money is issued within a few days and that if it doesn't come within a week to contact him again. Well a month goes by and no money is issued and I am emailing every single day, 7 days a week.

He got back to me on December 16, and says nobody ever told me $839.50, there is no way I would ever be entitled to that much, and the largest amount they can cut me is $299.00 and that I have to pass at least one more class before I can get that. Now I am in a class that I don't have the book for and am just winging it and because of Winter break, I won't be done with this class until the end of January. So I will not see my stipend until February or even March. So I am going 8-9 months between stipends. I told my adviser that's it I'm going to the attorney generals office and he laughed at me again, told me to do what I had to do it wouldn't change anything. I was so upset I hung up. So he sent me an email that is really snide saying "You hung up on me before I could discuss your options. Seems we always have the same conversation Shannon and you never let me give you answers. Instead we run circles. Please call me." Well the only options he had given me was to keep trying to do the work without the books or assignments, or to withdraw and quit.

My daughter is attending Ashford on-line and having a horrible time. It seems that this school has a real pattern of misusing funds meant for students. I believe that there are two very simple reasons. One, is that many people are not going to realize that Ashford is cheating them. Ashford then gets to keep that money. But I believe that they make a lot of money through one simple technique, they keep all that lovely financial aid in their bank account for months and months, while they do their little runaround with it. It has to be millions of dollars each quarter, and the interest on that money has to be substantial.

Their scam starts almost immediately. You are given a choice between managing your own money, and letting them manage it. It is made clear, you should not manage your own money. They give you a very narrow window in which to pay for a class. They tell you that you can send the money in, but they might not open the mail for a period of weeks, at which point the money will be overdue, and there is a very substantial fine for being overdue. They can also fine for paying early. So, they make it clear, if you dare try to manage your own money, we are going to take it from you. We will make you regret it.

Has anyone else noticed that the online "teachers" do not exactly have a degree in the class they are "teaching", that they frequently do not grade or even read the papers (this is left for unpaid student volunteers, in other words, students with no degree at all, grading student work). They do not help their students, do not have to make a lesson plan, do not create the assignments (they come straight from the book), in fact, do not do much, besides write a few emails. For which I am sure they are handsomely paid but, with 15 or 20 or more students each paying about $1,500 for a class, the university is really raking it in.

Also, the textbooks they use a new edition for many, many classes. This means they will not buy the old book back, and they do not sell used books. No online book seller has the new edition, as a used book either. Just another scam. This college needs to be investigated, and a lot of changes made. Actually, I think it should lose accreditation, and all students be facilitated in switching to real colleges.

My daughter is just short of her degree. She has not had a stipend since June of 2011, and they say they will not send another until February of 2012, and that it will be $299, not the more than $800 they promised a month ago. She may have to drop out, and they say that if she does, they are going to keep all of her remaining money.