University of Phoenix

Lolita of Bronx, NY March 4, 2009

I was attending university of phoenix from nov. 08 to feb 09. their was a class that was rather tuff so early on i decided to drop the class three days into the class i dropped. now they want to charge me 486.50 for three days of class and besides i had student loan money they could have deducted it from the lender then sent the remainder. they also charge you for books that have 12 chapters a pdf file not a hard copy you only use 5 chapters of the book. because there is only 5 weeks to a class but yet they charge you 75.00 instead of just allowing you to purchase your own. i feel they are a great ripoff they constantly tell you about out of pocket expenses they always want money.

when i first went their i explained to them in great detail that i did not have any out of pocket money. now they are harrassing me for the 486.50 that they could have very well taken from my leander for which i borrowed 12,000 to go to school their. and they metion that i can take out a personal loan to pay them this money.

Tiffany of Na, OH February 27, 2009

I earned my bachelor's through University of Phoenix, and I have to say, the entire stay was no more than bittersweet. I really did have some great instructors, and then I had other instructors who when called about an assignment, I would have just assumed called a garbage disposal on. Anyways, for the tuition at the end of the day, I feel like 'just a number' who has over 20,000 of student loans out there, and a semi-credible Bachelor's degree behind it. All the prestige of working your butt off to earn a degree, but not necessarily the feeling that you truly are an expert in your field, because some of the instructors are only about lukewarm at best. Slightly depressing; you cannot get anymore mediocre than this.

20,000; need I say more?

Anita of Richmond, VA February 25, 2009

I began course with the university of Phoenix in February 08. Eveyobe was nice and helpful at first now it takes me an entire week to contact some of them. It has not all been a bad experience. i was told I had to check and do assignments 3 days each week. The catch is that 3 days for one class may not be the same for the other and often I find myself online 5 days a week and sometimes getting in assignments late. Also on Sundays we have huge essays that take me until 3am to finish because I work from 9am until 9pm. A lot of the time I come off feeling as though this has just become a huge mistake. All in the name of wanting to become a Teacher.

I do wish I had of did more homework on the school itself. My course cost me more every nine weeks. At first 855 per course and now all the way up to 980 per course. The books cost 65 each course. I am 19 I have been living in my own apartment since I was 17. I hate that there are standards saying that I should be a dependent student until 24 not even recognizing the circumstances. Not to mention I get less aid for being considered a dependent student.

Online courses are meant for those who don't have the time to sit in a classroom, but with Axia I feel like it's the big burden I was trying to avoid that somehow caught up with me. I made a quick and uneducated decision to go to Axia University of Phoenix Online. I must continue with it because it will cost me more to quit. Right now I am still waiting to get back into my courses once they have arranged for me to get the aid without my aid. in 2days it will have been my second month out of school for this.

My mother refused to sign my verification papers. I was told that I pretty much could not continue my education with out her. They claim I am a dependent student until age 24 even though I live alone and my mom wants almost nothing to do with me and my school. So after about a month and a half my financial adisor calls me asking about if. As it turns out I get less aid because my mother will not sign the forms. the most irritating part was that everyone keeps telling me there is no way around this and it is frustrating to go through this being labeled as a dependent student when i am independent in my own home.

Kathleen of Clinton, MO February 24, 2009

I am at theend of my studies through Axia college. I have had too many run-ins with the employees there. I have had it! The one I had today was a class I am starting today needs a code to access the books. No code is provided by the instructor. I now have been uninformed for the last time through these people that I have to pay for something beyond what I have already paid thorugh FA.

I called in before Christmas to the school to let them know I had called the Financial aid and academic counselors that were asiigned to me. Neither was supposidly there anymore. Recently, I was assigned to a financial aid counselor, but still no academic is on account. I called the main number and was treated rudely and still not given an academic counselor. I am paying for this. My money goes to have these services and it is not well spent at all. I spoke to a lady that I told I have been contacting the financial aid man on my accoutn and sent over 6 emails to him. I also told her I havve not heard from him in over 3 weeks, and no answers to my emails. He responded on the 16th of january and told me that if I had nay more questions for him that I could ask. He wont answer me.

I AM THOROUGHLY FRUSTRATED AT THIS POINT . THEY PASS THE BUCK TO ONE PERSON AND ANOTHER. I HAVE HAD FREINDS SIGN UP AND NOW WISH i WOULD NOT HAVE. I AM TIRED OF BEING TOLD ONE THING AND THEY ARE DOING ANOTHER!

Tammy of Greenbush, MI February 21, 2009

I enrolled in University Of Phoenix in July of 2005. I lost my job a week after enrolling. Three weeks into class and still not able to find a job near home and running out of money to even buy groceries, I took a temporary job for the summer 5 hours from home and I was to stay in a motel they provided. I told my counselor I would try continue if I could get access to a computer. I do NOT have a laptop I have a desktop. My desktop was 5 hours away at an empty house with the 'software' needed for the classes. Which is Outlook Express for the 'attendence participation' (threaded discussions 6 times a week) and to email my professors my assignments, and Microsoft Works to type the said 'assignments'.

But I still tried to keep up with the classes using computer access at a library and typing my assignments on yahoo mail. It was extremely time consuming and I hogged the computer at the library trying to post all this. That is IF I could get into the library before it closed. There was really not much I could do about the 'participation portion and I started failing for bad attendence (have to 'participate' 6 times a week) and even the assignments typed up were not good enough for they HAD to be typed in Microsoft Word and sent to their Outlook inbox in an attachment only. So I requested a temporary leave of absence until I could get back home after the job was complete. My counselor said that would be fine, I just had to clear it with my professors. I sent an email to the professors, via yahoo of course since I did not have much of a choice. And I recieved no reply back from either one.

When I came back home in September I had a letter in my mail box on behalf of University Of Phoenix, saying they wanted the full amount of my student loan of 2,625.00 or it will be sent to a collection agency. When I called my counselor back to ask 'why?' he stated, (coldly I may add now that I am no longer a student my best interest is not at stake) that it was the deciding factor of the professors and they did not approve of my leave of absence and 'dropped me failing' instead of 'withdrawl passing' and if I were to check my OUTLOOK inbox I would have read the denial of withdrawl and the copy of my request, and they are saying I quit participating in JULY and it is now my responsibilty to pay the loan back in full. It isn't as if I wanted to quit. I wanted to finish, but I needed a computer and the professors cared more about being paid than actually assisting a student who was clearly have a difficult time.

The defaulted loan has been sent to collections and there was a GARNISH of my income taxes and now my wages.

Ronja of Pace, FL February 20, 2009

My husband and I were working on our master's degrees together with UOP online. I had to take a break, due to medical reasons, and I informed my academic advisor that I would let her know when I was ready to resume classes. After a couple of months, I received an email from an instructor stating that I had not posted anything in the first two weeks of class. I contacted the instructor, as well as my academic and financial advisors to let them know that I did not register for the course.

My account was charged over 200 for dropping the class late, when I actually never even agreed to register for the class. No one was willing to help me with my issue, no matter how hard I tried. I finally paid the fees and assured them that they just lost 20,000 in tuition from my husband and me, as neither of us will EVER take another class with UOP.

Also, to those of you who mentioned advisors helping and posting for you during your first class...I found out that the enrollment advisors don't get paid their commission until you complete you first class. So, if you're a new student, expect UOP to be extremely helpful in the beginning. After that, you're on your own.

Michael of Thornhill, ON February 17, 2009

I have attended UOP and graduated in MIS/M. I have no bad experience with the school, but I found the grading was a bit easier than normal college. However, the instructors are great and willing to help, either by posting a thread or calling them...

Kayla of Rancho Cucamonga, CA February 14, 2009

University of Phoenix is a FOR PROFIT private university. It's a private institution that is set up like a business organization. So when you are paying for your education it costs more, but in return you receive more. Including people who actually care and hold you accountable. That doesn't mean it will be easy and they will help you get out of school because of migraines or a broken arm. It is still school and like any university you have to deal with the consequences of not completing your homework or assignments. Secondly: Yes in the real world when you work in teams you will have people you don't like or are not as smart as you. But you have to deal.

Thirdly: School loans with any institution are not going to just let you drop out of school and not pay your loans back. The loans are not through the university they are through the board of education AKA the government or a private loan agencythey want their money back. Once you commit to an educational program the government gives you the courtesy of not paying on your loans until 6 months after you leave school, otherwise payments will be required. Fourthly: If you are doing your associates that means general education requirements. This is required for accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. If you just want to study something specific like X-ray tech. go ahead go to a certificate trade school. There you wont have to do general education and in addition you wont have your degree, but it will all be about the subject not English or Math.

If you ask me, most of these complaints are simply of ignorance and stupidity. Try going to community college or a state school and see what help you get! Try telling the instructor about your migraine.. Try getting out of your financial loan without paying or dropping out of school and keeping the grant you received from the state... won't happen.

Im currently attending the MBA program at the University of Phoenix and I was pleasantly surprised at the level of customer service I received at the campus, as well as the Instructors level of experience and knowledge in their industry. I had taken community college classes while I was in high school, attended a traditional state college for my bachelors and now University of Phoenix for my MBA. It is a night and day difference. If you ask me, I think that the complainers here would rather complain about their life in general than do something about it. Hopefully one day you will take some responsibility for your own life. Good Luck to those who pursue and complete their degrees. Its not easy.

Shelbi of Austin, IN February 12, 2009

I dont have any bad experiences with the university yet. all i know is my classes start monday and after reading all these bad complaints im pretty scared about the whole situation now! i wish i would've seen this before i signed up. i still dont know what to think or if its all true but i guess we will see. i dont want to get ripped off though! i have a 6 month old little boy that i need to take care of. thats the whole reason i want to get my degree!

Nathan of Taylor, MI February 10, 2009

I was enrolled at the University of Phoenix. After having computer problems, I was unable to complete a course I was enrolled in. The University did not allow for me to drop out of the course, rather, its counseling staff went so far as to post threads for my class requirements. The counselor posted enough threads for me to get past the second week of class, at which time it was too late to withdraw without financial penalty. This persistency by the University seems to have crossed an ethical line. Anybody with a similar complaint should get in touch with Leann @ Arizona BBB,

As a result, my credit report is being held hostage. I have suffered the damages that go along with bad credit, for example, harder to get a loan, higher points with a mortgage, etc.

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