University of Phoenix Accreditation?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by jstubbert, Feb 9, 2001.

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  1. jstubbert

    jstubbert New Member

    I am comtemplating enrolling in the University of Phoenix undergraduate program but I am unsure of their accreditation. This is what I found on their website

    "The University of Phoenix is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools"

    Would this accreditation be meaningful for someone in California who wanted to eventually get a masters at one of the state schools?
     
  2. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    The University of Phoenix is indeed accredited by their regional association. However, they are not accredited by certain business accreditors (AACSB or ACBSP) which may in fact be more important than regional accreditation is some cases, especially admission to a graduate school other than UoP. You should check with any potential graduate school to see what their requirements are.

    I'm sure that people better qualified than me with business programs will jump in here.

    Best of luck!

    Bruce
     
  3. Chip

    Chip Administrator

    You're wise to be asking these questions, as there are a lot of bogus accreditors out there.

    Fortunately, the North Central association is one of the six regional accreditors, and regional accreditation is considered by nearly all in the US to be the gold standard.

    Although admission to graduate school will depend on a bunch of things (your experience, coursework, GPA, the competition at the school where you're applying, etc.), your U Phoenix degree should serve you well.

    One thought, though: If you're seeking an undergrad degree, there are a bunch of lower cost programs that are also regiionally accredited that might serve your needs as well or better. Two very popular ones are Charter Oak State College in Connecticut and Thomas Edison State College in NJ. Both are state-run programs, have very low tuition ($3500/yr or under, even out-of-state), and have very flexible programs to permit awarding of credit for stuff you've learned through work and life experience, as well as credit-by-exam.

    And there are about 200 other regionally accredited programs as well.

    Hope this helps!

    Chip
     
  4. I second Chip's suggestion to look around for an undergraduate degree.

    U of Phoenix is accredited, but it is pricey compared to many other programs. My impression of them is that most of their students are working professionals, many with tuition reimbursement from their employers.

    If cost is an issue, I'd look into the schools Chip mentions and also community colleges in your state -- usually they have articulation agreements with the state universities, and many community colleges offer a great mix of distance/weekend/evening/day courses.

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    http://distancelearn.about.com/
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  5. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Better qualified, maybe, but better informed, no. Bruce is right on the money. AACSB accreditation is really important when applying to another AACSB-accredite program (say, an MBA after your bachelor's). But even graduates from non-AACSB programs are not excluded; they may find it tougher to get accepted and/or get their prerequisites waived.

    Another, much more narrow, area where AACSB accreditation could matter is if one was applying for employment at an AACSB-accredited B-school. Sometimes graduation from an AACSB-accredited program is listed as a criterion for employment. (Got that last one from someone working for La Salle in Philly [the real one]--AACSB-accredited--who was considering enrolling in MIGS. She said it was okay with her employer if she pursued a doctorate from a non-AACSB-accredited program.)

    Rich Douglas
     
  6. JimLane

    JimLane New Member

    This requirement often appears in position open ads in CHE.

    jim



     
  7. blahetka

    blahetka New Member

    UOP is regionally accredited. It isn't AACSB accredited.

    I received my BS in Business Manglement from UOP. Afterwards I enrolled in San Jose State U, an AACSB school.

    If you have a grad school in mind, check their admissions requirements. If it's AACSB, you may need to take the GMAT and have a particular GPA. Some schools increase their requirements, particularly the GMAT to regulate the number of grad students they accept.

    Check out my web site. I discuss the UOP program, its pros and cons. One con is the price. However, if you are willing to use student loans or if you have tuition reimbursement (which I believe the majority of their students do), it may not be an issue for you.

    I think it is a valid program at the undergrad level. While actual results may vary, I found my level of responsibilities an income increased during my program. I went the student loan route. The increases I experienced in the first year alone more than made up the costs of tuition and loan interest.

    Good luck!

    Russ



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