Another California Coast University Story

If students are locked-in to pay the full cost of the degree regardless of completion, then that seems to be a questionable business practice. I have more incomplete programs than completed. I would have been a homeless person, if I had to pay in full for all the incomplete programs.

There was a discussion here I thinks that one can benefits from CCU by completed many courses in a semester. So I guess that it is not the case. The cost is fixed regardless of how many courses you completed in a semester.

 

Thank you all for your replies and input, and I respect the opinions of those who say that schools shouldn't give degree or transcripts before full payment has been made, however that isn't my major issue.

Like most who makes the decision to further their education, I was excited and ready to jump in head first. I'm not picking and choosing replies based on favorable replies to my belief, but as CalDog states, it would have been better to put a side note on CCU's internet payment options plan so it was in plain site, rather than bury it in the catalog, especially when most (at last myself) will look to the internet webpage in a way that is misleading.

For my RA BA, I took the deferred payment option where I'm making double monthly payments yet my degree sits in a nice frame on my wall and my official transcript is in my safe. Even while taking courses my unofficial transcript was accessible to be printed or pdf'ed.

Okay, I should have read the fine print buried in the university catalog, I'm at fault for that, and I know. However, to not even allow unofficial transcripts, I had never heard of that before. So I did some checking, and there are institutions that don't offer unofficial transcripts, however they at least say they don't.

I wouldn't have blocked out all social life and used leave to reach the much needed 1 year of graduate education a lot earlier than scheduled classes had I known that unofficial transcripts aren't provided, only a printout of the degree plan that doesn't state which program the credits are for, or a letter where they "cannot disclose how many credit have been earned."

Don't get me wrong, I like the learning platform CCU offers, however I feel that CCU should specifically state that unofficial transcripts RIGHT next to their online payment option plans and/or on the enrollment documents. You see, CCU only speaks about "official transcripts", they mention nothing about unofficial transcripts.

And once again, yes, I am in good standing for my payments, I've never been late as I not only pay my bills on time, but also its a reason one may be dropped if the student is late on payments.

The whole point of this thread was for future students. If you believe you will need proof of what you have learned, don't count on a transcript if you're chosen one of the payment options and haven't saved or don't have the money to pay for those classes. Sure you have the knowledge, but it counts for naught as you won't be provided even en unofficial transcript, only a piece of paper that states the classes you've take, yet isn't from a .edu website or states what program you're in.

To Lerner,

I understand and thank you for your reply, however the whole reason I began with CCU is because they're NA and also offer interest free.

To Rich Douglas,

I understand your post, but I do not agree with the reasoning. For example, if I buy a big screen TV from Bestbuy on credit, your comments read to me that I can take the TV home with me, however we won't give you the remote control to turn is on I fully pay the remaining balance (in which there already is a payment agreement in place) in full. Doesn't really make much sense. Yes the education will benefit me, however it won't while in the same employment position.

To RAM PhD,

Other than this thread, I have nothing but good to say about CCU, however I feel I was "duped". As I stated previously, had I known that I wouldn't be able to get an unofficial transcript so I can hope and better my employment situation, I may have decided to apply for and enroll at an RA institution where I would have time to save for the next course while partaking in the previous (current) course. The payment options on CCU's website state nothing about not being granted an unofficial transcript, only official, and I'm used to always being given unofficial transcripts from the many schools I'd gone to.

You say I wasn't "duped", okay, fair play, that's your opinion as you're used to studying at institutions that don't provide unofficial transcripts. I on the other hand are am used to studying at institutions that provide unofficial, official, and degrees so long as the student is NOT behind on the agreed repayment or owe fees. The last time I checked, there was a difference between tuition and fees in the academic world. But thank you for your reply, I just respectfully disagree with you on this one.

CCU knows what they're doing, even though a student learns what they're supposed to, they cannot apply the credentials unless they've paid, yet that same student can be sued at the same time. This practice is holding students hostage. After all, I can't fathom how a person can be in debt, yet not be able to use the product/service as was meant in the first place. The education is very important, but without that piece of paper from a RA or Na saying that one has that knowledge, then it means squat. CCU knows this, hence the reason they will not provide a letter that tells how many units have been earned.

I guess my mistake was my reasoning that if you bought something (education in this instance), then bought the entire product and manual (take the transcript for example) that goes with it, but apparently not. Yet I don't see a discount just for the knowledge without the paperwork, only for the piece of paper (transcript). With this practice, CCU have proven that knowledge means nothing, only the transcript that says it does. Great student services, great education, but poor methods to ensure that the student will repay, especially those who have been in good repayment standing.

After all, if I decide to default on the repayment plan (which I won't), how on earth can CCU come after me for payment when to the rest of the world I don't have the education I have because there isn't that piece of paper from CCU that says I do? Just a thought!

Thank you all again for your replies, I'm really not bashing on CCU, just their marketing practices that sucked me in.

Education Lover

 

Violent agreement abounds.

 

To the OP,

You're not being screwed. This is a common practice. However, I should mention that Ashworth College allows you to get an unofficial transcript for free as do many of the other schools I've studied through over the years. So while paying a few bucks for an official transcript is no big deal, I do understand how it's inconvenient to not be able to get an unofficial one easily.

 

Greets All,

Again, thank you all for your replies.

To Learning Addict.

While you feel I'm not being "screwed", fair enough, but that's in the eye of the beholder, just like beauty. As to the "common" comment, sure, however it still wasn't common enough for me to know this!

While $2000+ may be only a "few bucks" for you, and that's great, but it's not a "few bucks" for me, LOL, especially when I was counting being able to prove my education to make what you call "a few bucks". LOL.

As stated, I was naïve in thinking that I would be able to get unofficial transcripts to prove my education. I guess that I should have looked at the situation like that of a car that was financed. While I may be in debt for the car and making monthly payments, the car title (or transcript) for proof of ownership won't be released until paid off. This is a lesson I will never forget.

But still, the purpose of this thread was to let those other's who are thinking about going back to school and the consequences of choosing a paying plan with CCU. Although the payment options are great, you won't be able to prove you have the knowledge until you've paid more than what you agree in the payment plan. I've since paid off what I owe so I can get an official transcript for the classes I've taken, but not everyone will have that luxury of being able to do so.

Thank you all once again for the input you have provided.