Is Ashford University a Degree Mill?

We've seen billboards in town for this university...6 week course - it sounded too good to be true.

So, is it legit?

Thanks.

 

Seems to be Regionally Accredited so I'd say 'no'...

Ashford University – Accreditations & Associations – Top accredited online & campus university since 1918.

 

The reason why I started to question it is when I actually went to the site www.ashford.edu and go to login, I can't use the login I just created. I was sent an email to log on using this link - https://oap.ashford.edu/online/login.php?entry=au-online&team=all
versus
www.ashford.edu and click on the login via that site.

What do you think? Does it look fishy to you? Man, I just used my credit card.

Thanks.

I

 

There are more than a few people with Ashford degrees on these forums.

Relax and call their support number after the holiday. If you paid with a credit card and something goes wrong it's easy to simply dispute the charges.

 

I went there for two courses while in my undergrad studies. They had some enrollment deal that gave free textbook credits, not app fees, etc, etc.. If you enrolled and completed two courses.

After I was in, they were very "canned" courses. I actually got a 101 (overall score) in one class, because it was designed on a weighted curve of some sort. It was to help all DL newcomers on their first couple weeks. It was changed back to 100 at the very end..

*By canned or cookie-cutter, I mean the Proff has little ability to change the syllabus or weekly assignments. If there is an issue, they refer back to the tech help themselves, instead of adjusting and moving on. They also do not create the material or sequence of the syllabus. They just execute it qrt after qrt. Books are all the same per qrt too... Blah...

I ultimately went with Excelsior College, whom I didn't really like either, but got me through the fastest. They were "canned" too.

 

Ok. Thanks for the reassurance.

 

Ashford is very legit. They are regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. Additionally, they recently received accreditation for their business programs through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).

In regards to the log-in issue, after you sign up and are accepted as an incoming student, you will receive access to the website. But it is not instantaneously as I am sure that they have to process you as a new student first. Remember, the timestamp on your second email shows 4:19 PM on the Friday before a holiday weekend. I suspect that they, like a lot of employers, had half the place leave early today to get a start on the weekend.

You will be fine. Just call them on Tuesday when everyone is back from the long weekend.

 

Degree mills typically don't have a campus. Ashford has a 24-acre campus located in Clinton, Iowa.

 

No, Ashford is not a degree mill.

 

LOL, never thought I would see this University's reputation questioned here.

This is a regionally accredited University that has been in existence since 1918. Having gone through several growth spurts and name changes in that time, the university has sustained very well and is a very strong B&M University now owned by Bridgepoint Education Inc. The for profit thing bugs me a bit but that seems to be the way things are going lately with higher education.

I know two people that graduated from this university, the courses at Ashford as most online classes in distance education is structured and delivered is by policy. The way the online courses are conducted are not canned or cookie cutter (what is a cookie cutter course?) or what the instructor created but dictated by the institution. The university, the department of education (in some cases) , and the accrediting commissions all influence what we experience as students. One of the Admins here is an Adjunct in an online program, I'm sure he can shed more light as to why things happens the way they happen online - from an instructors perspective that is.

One of the folks I know that is an MBA grad from Ashford is military, and the professors were more than flexible with with every aspect of the program from assignments and deadlines. So much so that I considered going there however I am not feeling the higher tuition costs, although it is not the highest I have seen for sure.

Ashford University is the real deal with a nice reputation and a SOLID history, if you decide to go there you could do 100 times worse - aka it's a good choice.


Good luck!!

 

Not trying to question the school's integrity or anything... but Ashford University has been around since 2005. Prior to that, the campus and assets were under the jurisdiction of the Sisters of St. Francis (Sisters of St. Francis)... a group promoting active non-violence, peacemaking, and social responsibility (see the mission statement on their homepage). The school was small, not-for-profit, student and community-centered, and thus faced financial difficulty and went under.

Since being bought out and going for-profit, Ashford University (whose name is always written with a copyright symbol), while still claiming a support for diversity in their mission statement, it aims to "maintain operational, financial, and strategic strength to ensure the future of Ashford University" (cite). For this reason, the university maintains a large focus on online learning, even though maintaining their physical campus and sports teams (see discussions on this forum regarding universities with football teams), and has grown to over 78,000 students with 111 academic staff (cite).... a 703:1 student:faculty ratio.

I repeat, a 703:1 student:faculty ratio. This may be why their course delivery is not very flexible... or "canned," as one person mentioned. It's just not possible for one professor, with so many responsibilities, to focus so closely on the needs of every student when they need to manage so many at one time. When considering your own education, I hope that this is important to you.

Ashford University is regionally accredited, yes. But issues like this may be why HR reps are hesitant to hire grads from for-profit schools and online programs. Although, I did not attend Ashford for my education... so I can not actually comment on the education available there, as others on this board can. Their input would be very important to this conversation.

I do want to point out, though, that even though Ashford University advertises that it has been around since 1918... it has not. "Ashford University, established 1918" is simply an advertising tool.

It is a new institution... just as if you and a bunch of investors bought Pepsi and changed the recipe. Pepsi is old... but even though you may bottle it in the same can, what is offered would be something completely different.

 

To answer your question about any school being a "degree mill," here is what the U.S. Department of Education has to say:

source: Diploma Mills and Accreditation - Diploma Mills

 

I know the history of Ashford, the name has been changed several times over the years, it's still the same school. It's not like they sell cars there now. Also, I know where and when it came into existence and under what umbrella(s), and there have been a few.

When a university get's a new president, is that now a new institution, of course not. When a Junior College changes the name from Junior to just plain old college is that a new school, nope. This is done regularly when an institution advances and/or changes some things required to simply drop the Junior College tag. Does adding benefits, programs, and higher level degrees make it a new institution, again no. This just affords the students additional benefits of attending there and makes it more appealing to new students.

Using the name Ashford University is not a marketing ploy simply because they are now "for profit". Ashford is a university just as Franciscan U was and since you've said that you cannot comment of the delivery of education at Ashford having not been a student there why make comment on the so called "canned or cookie cutter" courses. Seems to me you already have.

In addition to my two friends that have graduated from Ashford University, my wife also has a Masters degree from there as well. note: One thing PBS had right is they are all military as am I. However, I have had extensive contact with Ashford University having had to deal with the graduate courses in my house for a year and a half during 2009 - 2010.

Again, Ashford is not a new institution, the name is new, simply because it was purchased by an education group does not make it a "start up" or "new" company. How old is the ford motor company, that has changed hands many times over the years and with each new corporation taking the wheel it's still the old Ford Motor Company except with new ideas, if your statement was true we would STILL be driving the old model T Ford with a rumble seat. You don't allow for advancement or change without the entity having to become something "new" all together?

Besides, as I stated earlier Ashford could not advertise that "their brand new university" has been in existence since 1918 if it had not been, nor could they place it in the school's history as being such. The acquisition is just another part of the school's ongoing history.

"It is a new institution... just as if you and a bunch of investors bought Pepsi and changed the recipe. Pepsi is old... but even though you may bottle it in the same can, what is offered would be something completely different." Thank you -You've proven my point, it's still the same school.

With the exception of the legality of false advertising, this entire conversation about the school's origin is semantics..

 

It seems as though I've upset you, although I felt like I was maintaining a pretty objective stance. I realize now that writing "is" instead of "seems to be," as I did in a few of my observations, makes the comments of mine that you replied to in red seem a lot more opinionated than I meant them to be. I apologize that my first statement was not enough to let you know that I was not bashing Ashford, but offering a critique of some of the things that I have observed. The great thing about critiquing is that there are differing levels of knowledge, experience, and perspectives for whatever issue is being talked about... like yours and mine and other people's.

As I mentioned, and as you pointed out, I have no educational connection to this school. You do, though, so it might benefit the OP in his/her search for a good educational program if you were to offer insight into the school instead of firing back at me... especially when I was neither attacking you or Ashford University.

 

The fact that you had to ask this question speaks volumes about this school's reputation.

You don't hear people asking, "Is _________state university a diploma mill?" "Is Harvard a diploma mill?"

For some strange reason they are regionally accredited, however, that doesn't necessarily mean they have a good reputation.

 

Wow...I'm glad I checked this forum. I feel more confident now. Thanks so much everyone.

 

This article doesn't cast them in a very favorable light:

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Ashford_University

 

Not sure how true that is....

According to my husband's military education advisor, regionally accredited is better and employers are looking into more online degrees because you need more discipline to obtain an online degree. This avisor is not a university advisor, he is military personnel and he works for a military training school that my husband had to go to in order to advance in his career field. Don't know who is right, but I know that every single one of my Ashford credits transferred and I had people offering me jobs after graduation before I even completed the degree. I chose to transfer though because I did not like writing a 10 page research paper every month.