The University of Arizona Global Campus Reviews

Where can I start with my list of complaints with Ashford University. I transferred to AU from Grays Harbor College in the Spring of 2009, my first class starting at the beginning of March. A lifespan psychology class that I had taken at Grays Harbor and gotten an A in, I was told it was "required for all AU students to take it", then came the computer class, in my professional life I worked on the computer systems for radio stations programming their automation systems. I tried to explain this to my adviser but once again "required".

Where do I start? First, I was very adamant about the need for grants to cover almost all of the cost. I would email financial aid, before registering, and ask them very specific questions to get very generic answers. When those answers didn't get me to register, I was given answers that were misleading. They used a play on words. When I was enrolled in or about June, I qualified for 1/2 Pell Grant for spring semester, so I was told to quickly apply for the grant again so that my next classes would be covered, mostly by them, which I did.

I have been attending Ashford from Iowa online for over 9 months. They coaxed me into signing up and taking classes before my financial aid went through, and convinced me I would qualify for help. I was naive and fell for it. 9 months later, I have a huge debt and no aiding funds. Everytime I call, they tell me to fax another paper in, and then wait. I waited and nothing happens. My financial aid advisor will not pick up her phone or call me back, or email me back! They keep sending me loans that I'll have to pay back. I do exactly what they tell me to do to send them back, but they will not take them off my account, saying it has been too long now!

First, please register a complaint with BBB regarding Ashford if you have had a negative experience. Second, contact the staff at Bridgepoint Education (who own Ashford). Ashford's invoicing and billing processes are terrible. They feature misinformation, run-around, staff finger-pointing, and inexperienced and poorly trained staff who have no ability to solve problems.

Last fall, I was ill and injured, my kids were ill and my brother had a stroke. I asked Mark ** for a few weeks off school to recover before beginning my new class. He said he would alert my academic adviser, Fran **. I called and emailed several times, but never got a response. I logged into my online account and saw that I was registered for the class. I emailed the professor to let him know that I was not supposed to be in his class and why. He looked into it and emailed me that I would need more help than he could provide.

I have been going to Ashford soon to be a year now and at first, they were doing good with my financial aid but now it seems they are really having a lot of problems going on. They hold funds that are supposed to come to me. Then when I have questions about my status of my financial aid, my financial adviser gets upset because I am trying to get in touch with her.

After speaking with the enrollment advisor, he assured me that I would be able to transfer my previous credits from another school and gain my remaining credits from Ashford. At which time, I would have completed two full years and earned a certification in that field of study - that I would be able to transfer to Ashford and continue my studies on towards an associate degree. I faxed every single paper he asked for and attended classes for two months. All of a sudden, the paperwork they received was not completed according to their school. They blocked me from taking classes and saddled me with a debt. I was also scheduled classes that I had already taken from my previous school which means that I am now out of pocket for books regarding the classes I had already taken.

I have had several issues regarding being able to communicate with my academic advisor and most of all with the financial aid advisor. Also, my dates of money to be sent to me is not being followed properly. I have been able to get no proper answers to questions I have asked regarding the funds that are in my account.

I really loved going to Ashford University - that is until I finished. I am owed $1,700.00 from financial aide. They said it was in compliance with the U.S. government to hold that money for 45 days from class completion. After that, it would be released but would take another 2 weeks to be mailed out. I did not read in my agreement with the government about this 45 days. I cannot understand this and he said that was that. There was not anything I can or could do. I really could use the money as things are very tight. He was monotone and said that he would make a note and check on it at the end of the 45 days. I am not holding my breath. This is a lousy way to finish such a great experience.

Basically, none of my answers or concerns was answered in truth. My financial aid paperwork wasn't handled properly and the only reason I found out was because I called. Due to a personal issue, I spoke to my academic adviser and I was instructed to fax in some paperwork and I would be re-registered to start a new class on May 12th. I logged in and there were no classes posted. I called several times and no calls were returned. I then received an email stating I had been out of class 29 days and that I owed the school money. When I called to inquire about the email the person I spoke to was very rude, and after speaking to him, the remainder of my phone call was holding and being transferred. I have yet to hear back from anyone from the school.

I enrolled at Ashford University online in April 2009. After communicating extensively several times with the enrollment advisors and being reassured multiple times that all my tuition would be covered by my grants, which was reconfirmed by my advisors during the beginning my first week of classes (that all my paperwork had been finalized and all my tuition was being paid for). However, during the middle of my 2nd week, I received a notice that I had no student aid, nothing was being paid for, and that I was going to have to take out 2 interest loans to attempt to pay for my tuition. I tried repeatedly to call and email them to figure out what was going on and try to resolve the matter. But all I got in return was having my calls and mail ignored for the past week.

My program kept getting scheduled incorrectly and I could not get any follow-through from my assigned academic advisor, Helena **. She sent emails, then didn't read my replies, which became obvious the first time I finally connected with her by telephone. At that time, she had to be made to pull my messages up and read through them, and even then, she kept trying to stop to talk about something else. She would tell me she had fixed a scheduling problem, and days later, it would not only still be wrong, the accounting department was sending me invoices for tuition. This happened three times before I just gave up and withdrew. This was back in November 2008. Since that time, despite emails and voice mails, she has continued to cheerfully call me and email me monthly, wanting to know why I'm not enrolled in a class and what my intentions are. My last two voice messages back to her have been left at shriek level, and it has made no difference!

Ashford University overbilled $4,067.75 for tuition. I have left this University numerous emails and phone calls to have them refund this amount to me because I didn't re-enroll in any classes there, and I transferred to another University. I was sent an electronic receipt from them on 12/23/08 stating that they received $12,271.25 and that my account was paid in full. But they billed me for $16,271.00. I sent them an email informing them of this, but they won't respond at all. This is very frustrating that they can get away with keeping $4,067.75 of my tuition money.

I have been threatened by the university that if I do not pay a fee that I was not aware of when taking a break from taking classes, my credit will be jeopardized. The admission counselor I joined the school with is conveniently no longer employed there and the school is saying I agreed to a $1,800 fee, which I did not since my employer only pays for credits and I, as the student, pay for books. I see this is a trick and others have complained online. I don't want to ask my work to pay for something that is not legitimate nor be harassed if not legit either if this is a scam! Very disturbing to agree now to pay something I did not agree to. I was faxed over my and another student's application, which I did not sign. They said I and the other student signed electronically. This did not happen at my other college (University of Phoenix). Please advise.