The University of Phoenix is expecting sanction from the HLC

They could get away with charging Harvard tuition prices when they were the only online university in town, but not any more. If they do not raise their tuition for another 13 to 20 years, then they might become competitive, but until then, it's too expensive.

 

Still no end in sight at UoP. Enrollment dropped again in the fourth fiscal quarter (June to August) of 2014. That's the 17th consecutive quarter of declining enrollment.

476,500 3Q 2010
470,800 4Q 2010
438,100 1Q 2011
405,300 2Q 2011
398,400 3Q 2011
380,800 4Q 2011
373,100 1Q 2012
355,800 2Q 2012
346,300 3Q 2012
328,400 4Q 2012
319,700 1Q 2013
300,800 2Q 2013
287,500 3Q 2013
269,000 4Q 2013
263,000 1Q 2014
250,300 2Q 2014
241,900 3Q 2014
233,500 4Q 2014

UoP enrollment is now down by 51% (so more than half) since the peak in 2010.

 

The enrollment number is still high comparing with other universities or university systems.

 

And UoP certainly isn't the only institution losing enrollment. Many of the schools in Virginia have seen declining enrollments for the past few years. Granted, I can't say they've lost 50%, though.

-Matt

 

In 2010, UoP stood out -- their 476,500 students made them #1 in the nation.

But in 2014, their 233,500 students can be topped by many state university systems. Here in California, for example, both the California State University system (446,500 students) and the University of California system (236,691 students) are bigger.

And the same would be true for other state university systems across the country -- like the University System of Ohio, the State University System of Florida, or the State University of New York. They are all easily larger than UoP in its current condition.

So UoP is still a large system -- but it's not unusually large.

 

On a statewide basis, college enrollments in Virginia dropped from 529,007 in fall 2011 to only 524,792 in fall 2013. That's a drop of 4,215 students.

So OK, enrollment is down. But compare that loss of 4,000 students to the loss of 243,000 students over four years at the University of Phoenix. That's comparable to the entire statewide college enrollment in Kentucky (258,098 in Fall 2013).

 

I've been a UOP regular since 2007 but I do about half the courses (8) each year as I did back in 2010 (16) - and I think I did more than that in years previous.

It certainly isn't for lack of trying. But the New Classroom is not helpful and policies seem to be aimed at making it easier for students to succeed without trying (fewer discussion responses, no discussion due dates).

 

Liberty is 100,000 and growing with only one campus.

 

I see more enrollment loss for UoP simply because more universities are offering online programs. For instance, my university launched an online MBA 3 years ago. The University of the Cumberlands is another example. Southern New Hampshire University is a relative newcomer as well.

In Indiana, expected high school graduations are expected to be flat for the next 4 - 6 years. So we launched an online MBA, and are working on a degree completion program for our business school.

 

Hello Dr. Ambrose,

Have you seen a difference in MBA enrollment prior to it being launched online? I have a friend of mine that is currently doing his MBA at University of Saint Francis and he likes it very much. He speaks well of the school, the students and the classes. I've looked at the online Master of Organizational Leadership degree myself. Looks like a good degree.

 

I agree, University of Phoenix enrollment is decliming because more universities offer degree online. If you pay the same price, why's not go with a better reputation school?
i.e: Now, even Georgia Tech offers Master of Computer Science online for less than $6,000.00

 

PhDtobe wrote: "Liberty is 100,000 and growing with only one campus."

By one, you mean two, right?
1. Residential
2. Online

 

I don't get the impression from Liberty that they differentiate between the two.

 

We went from 20 in the MBA program to over 200...

 

Sure they do. In the same ways that every other program does.