University of Phoenix - Financial Aid

Ellen of Nicholasville, KY May 18, 2009

I enroll in this school in 2008 and have had nothing but trouble since day one. I recently withdraw from this school. I email my academic counselor KERA and financial advisory CAESAR telling then I was withdrawn from school because my husband had gotten laid off from his job and that I would be working two jobs just to keep our home from being reprocess and would have no time to attend school then I was told that I would need to pay 3000.00 back to them or they would turn me over to an out side firm to collect the money when I question then about the money I got the run around about how they would have to send 75% of the money back to Salle Mae and that was what I owe for the two classes I never started.

I was told by my financial counselorCAESAR when the school contact me to tell them that I can pay 5.00 a month which sounds a little fishy to me.I have a credit of 1725.00 which they have not send me but they send Sallee mae a refund for 3000.00

Heather of Colorado Springs, CO May 15, 2009

I am an active duty military member, currently terminating my enrollment with UofP. I have a credit balance between student loans and my Army TA payments to the tune of nearly 3600.00. I decided to attend nursing school, and let UofP know this. I also told them I need my refund of my credit balance by the end of June (over 45 days away). I am told that they don't even start the refund process until 29 days of no attendance (never mind I told them I wasn't going to be taking any classes) .. I have to do an "exit Interview" first. After this, they say in 2-3 weeks they will issue a check and put it in the mail.

So, basically, they are sitting with my that I should be able to get and use for my nursing classes and don't intend to release it for at least 6-8 weeks, plus mail time and bank holds. The kicker is that they have a statement in the help section of their website stating they no longer even require exit interviews. In addition, they have an electronic form where you give them your bank account information for a refund via electronic transfer (which I did). Now I am told that only applies for the upcoming financial aid year ... not for my balance. In short, they are holding 3500.00 of money I am obligated to pay for while causing me to have to pay out of pocket for my nursing tuition. Way to support students right ....

Consuela of Dallas, TX May 15, 2009

I am a graduate from the University of Phoenix. I received my BS in Management in 2006. Returning to the campus was not a problem for me at that time. Seemed to be beneficial to return; even with the horror stories from others. I enrolled in the MB program for psychology on-line. My 1st week of attendance I had a problem with my learning team posting on time. Second class, a new issue arrived. I contacted the instructor on issue about the class. He never responded. I talked with the academic advisor stated that I need to drop the class was not comfortable with it. I advised them the course I didn’t want I need to go back to the first choice HR. I was told not to drop the class due to financial aide till I was transferred to the HR program on ground. I done so was even advised that I will have none of the 3 or 6 credits already earned transfer. I was alright with that; meaning I will have to attend longer. After all was said and done they couldn’t get me from on-line to ground campus. The funds from financial aide was not applied to the classes, sent back as they said minus some fee I still am unsure of. Now I am receiving Apollo Group demand letters for 2004.00 and collection groups.

I tried to just go attend another university and when the excess funds come through for the new school pay on the balance. That didn’t work because the new school needs the transcript from my BS to place me in the Masters program. UOP states they are not releasing the transcript as long as I owe the two grand. Now because they didn’t handle the funds and class schedule accordingly I can’t continue my education. If anyone, know of a possible way that I can force them to release the program that is not with fees owed.

Holly of Las Vegas, NV May 14, 2009

When I first enrolled in this college I was told by financial aid that I would have an excess amout of money returned to me on certain dates and certain amounts, in any case they have kept all the money except two very small disbursemnets and they told me I had larger amounts coming to me. They lie and say anything to you. They said they would process the amounts for me and it took six weeks for me to become my own payee meanwhile they kept all the money except for thirtysix hundred for three classes with nothing left over for me.

Intially they said I would have four hundred ninety five two times and well over five hundred in may. Well I depended on the money big mistake and almost lost my car and home. I am stuck paying for my classes now and I called her superviser Kristina and she did not return the calls either. They cant tell me where all the money went to and it does not show where it went either.

I dont refer this college to anyone and I will finish out what I owe and move on to another school at the end of the year. The curriculim is a joke and you dont learn anything they have learning teams and you depend on other students for a grade.

Janice of wyoming, MI May 13, 2009

I had finished my bachelor's degree in April of 2008 at the university of Phoenix. My last financial aid disbursement was set to be released at the end of April to cover my last class. The unsubsidized and subsidized loans were returned to the lender and a letter was sent to me stating that I owe this money.

I have been told several different reasons as to why these disbursements were returned to the lender including I had received a Perkins Loan that year, I was out of attendance, to not enough credits scheduled (I had already finished my degree!), to unsatisfactory grades (I passed all of my classes!), to finally the last one I requested that the funds be sent back!! What?? I was given an opportunity to get my account cleared to zero if I take my master's degree at UOP!! This sounds to me like bribery!!

I had been dealing with this headache for over a year now and I don't know what else to do I have spoke to several individuals at University of Phoenix, Department of Education, and Sallie Mae (They have their own department that handles only UOP loans). They are holding my transcripts hostage and I was up for a position for the State of Michigan and can not pursue it due to I can not produce my official transcripts. I have my remaining loans in a hardship deferment and can not afford to pay this back right now or as Sallie Mae recommended get a private loan through my bank! It is as if I never went to school! I would appreciate any help to this matter !! Please!!

Martin of Detroit, MI April 29, 2009

I was a student at, University of Phoenix . The reason why I'm very angry about what happiened is basically this! In September of 2008 I had an class HUM 150. During the last two weeks of, class in, Detroit Michigan had two very bad storms in the area! Because of these storms the entire gird the links the University of Phoenix was, down that meant that I couldn' t transment my homework too my teacher on time . This wasn't the problem . Dr. Bowers was under orders from University of Phoenix too, not take the hard- copies from any student or , grade any work that wasn't transmited threw the University of Phoenix class work system.

However thats not the only problem. They changed my Financial Aid papers. The other problem too the story is this the University of Phoenix financial Aid is holding up the Financial Aid agreement papers because of, some imfomation wasnt given. At this moment I'm tring too, get into the University of Maryland. The University of Maryland needs the information si that I can finish enrolling their.

Deborah of Port Jervis, NY April 22, 2009

Deborah of Port Jervis NY (04/22/09)
The financial counselor was annoyed that I had elected to manage my own student loan funds. I requested several invoices to send in a check for payment for my upcoming class. I was told to retrieve the information on my student website. I advised the counselor, Tim E, that an invoice to download or the ability to make a payment was not available. He told me that I had to give him my credit card number over the phone or otherwise I would not be able to attend class. I refused and again requested an invoice to be mail or fax. I told him that according to Federal Guidelines, I had to keep accurate records of my student loan funds.

He insisted that I give him a credit card over the phone. When I refused he locked me out of class. The Financial Manager, Chad W, told me in order to receive an invoice I must post attendance in the classroom. I told him I could not post attendance because I have been locked out of class. He said, of course, because I refused to pay for the class. I told him that I need an invoice and a receipt before I pay for class. He said no problem, I can give him my credit card number and he will post the payment as a credit to my account and then at the end of the month I will receive an invoice. I refused. I needed to see what I was paying for. He then said that I will not be able to attend class because he is not allowed to send out invoices.

I have not been allowed to continued my studies unless I blindly give someone a credit card number over the phone.

Kim of San Diego, CA April 22, 2009

Kim of San Diego CA (04/22/09)
I started at UOP in 2008. I am in my third block of classes. I recieved my 1 disbursement and refund of the remaining amount in December of 2008. My 2nd Disbursement which consist of a Pell Grant and a Student loan was scheduled to be disbursed in April. I got laid off and I am looking for work and I knew that my remaining amount from my disbursement would come in the perfect time to help me. It would have come in time but UOP decided to pay off my classes with my Pell Grant and hold my Stafford Loan.

They claim that my financial Aid is under some type of review and that I may not get my Stafford loan disbursement for possibly 90 days. My account is a credit of 415 which they have not mailed to me as of yet. I owe them nothing. I am only 3 weeks into my 3rd block of classes and my 4th block is already paid for. Considering they posted my Pell Grant I don't see how they can say my financial Aid is being reviewed. It's a crock they are just holding my money.

I called my Lender and was told that nothing is wrong on their part; they mailed my money to the school April 15th and today is April 21st and still has not posted to my account. My financial Aid is in review is all my counselor will say to me. I told her that her other financial aid agent said she needs to file some kind of research request to find out why it's in review and she would not even do that.

She gave me a number to processing and said to call them for answers because it is out of her hand. I called them and was told they have done all the processing they need to do. They said they would document that she said to call them but I needed to call her again to file a information request to find out why my loan is on hold.

Especially since the fact that my pell grant was posted shows that my financial aid is fine. Ironically, when my financial Aid agent sent me the email after I called all day Monday and Tuesday; she accidentally sent me an email intended for someone else that was inquiring about her disbursement being held which leads me to believe that they are not only doing this to me but to many more. I think this is an illegal ploy to hold our disbursements for their own gain. Which is wrong and I really think it is illegal and being done on a grand scale. I just dont know how to find out how many of us this is being done too. If their is a law suit in the making please include me.

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