What do you think of those Phoenix online degrees? As credible as a University?

Question

Most employers juat want someone with a degree to work for them. Are these Phoenix degrees credible?

Answer 1

I'm an instructor at the University of Phoenix, so I obviously know a
great deal about that aspect. But I have done a good bit of research on the subject, so I think I can answer your questions objectively.

1. How do employers view a degree from the U of P?

First, check out the following article from a respected online job
information site:

Vault
http://www.vault.com/nr/newsmain.jsp?nr_page=3&ch_id=407&article_id=19393&cat_id=3092

The article desribes the results of a recent Vault survey of HR
professionals. 30% of them had encountered job applicants from an online university. Here is the meat of the survey:

"26% of those surveyed believe that an online bachelor's degree is as credible as an offline degree, while 61% say that the online degree is not as credible, but was acceptable. Another 13% said that online degrees were not credible and were unacceptable. Likewise, 37% of those surveyed believe that an online graduate school degree is as credible as an offline degree, while 54% said that it was not as credible, but was acceptable. Another 9% said that an online graduate school degree was not credible and unacceptable."

The good news is that this view is slowly changing. I dare say that 5 years ago, only a very small minority of HR professionals would value an online degree of any kind.

Here are some additional thoughts:

* University of Phoenix is the largest private university in the
nation
* It is fully accredited
* As stated, any graduate school is required to accept your UOP degree since it is from an accredited university.
* The view of online universities is going through a revolution right
now. By the time you graduate, I dare say a majority of HR people will view your degree favorably.
* The tide toward online degrees has begun and there's no stopping it. Within 5 or 10 more years, your degree will be as readily accepted as any other.
* Many major schools, including the Ivy Leagues, are getting into
online education, or distance learning. This is the wave of the
future.
* In my humble opinion, I think an online degree teaches you some
things that an onground degree doesn't teach you. You'll have a lot
more self-discipline. You'll also know how to work with difficult
people, since group work is required at UOP.

Now, the negative aspects.

* Yes, you're a few years ahead of the curve. When you graduate, there will still be those who look down their noses. This is especially true of the large, prestigious private schools such as Harvard, etc.
All things being equal, if you and a Princeton graduate applied to
Harvard MBA school tomorrow, with one slot open, you'd loose.

I like to explain it this way. A UOP degree is not as good as a
Northwestern or Harvard degree. Then again, it's probably better than some state schools, and most community colleges. There is a definite prestige pecking order among schools, and you are not at the top. Then again, you're not at the bottom either. :)

That may be somewhat of a nebulous answer, but it's the best I can do!

2. Once I receive my degree how do universities such as UCLA,USC, or the California State University system view my degree if I was to apply for graduate studies to get my Master's Degree?

As alluded to above, the California state university system will
accept your UOP credentials, as they would from any other accredited university. They are actually required to. However, if you are competing for limited slots in graduate school, for example, your degree will of course not carry as much weight as an Ivy League school. Remember, there's a prestige pecking order. But if you're a California resident, applying to a state school, you really shouldn't have any problem, assuming your grades are good.

3. What are some negative experiences that students have had with the U of P that I should be aware of?

Wow, that's a hard one. There are always going to be disgruntled
consumers when you have 160,000 students worldwide. And I'm sure you can find lots of places on the web. Here's one place I found:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/education/phoenix.html

But, overall I've found the complaints I've heard rather petty and
self-serving. People say, the value's not there, the administration
was unresponsive, the teacher gave me too low a grade, etc. There has been, to my knowledge, no problems of any great magnitude or consistency.

As a matter of fact, I think the UOP program and administration is the classiest, best-run program I've every been associated with. They try to respond quickly, they're dedicated, and excited about the future.

One problem you didn't mention: the technology leaves a bit to be
desired for such a big company. The servers are slow sometimes. Worse, there is no dedicated software technology. They simply use Outlook Express. For a company this size, both of these shortcomings are pretty inexcusable in my mind.

Still, if I were getting my education online - for whatever personal
reason I had - I rest well at night.

Thanks for the question!

Prof

Answer 2

I've seen employers just throw away resumes with University of Phoenix. The classes are extremely simple compared to a decent brick and mortar school. Look at previous questions about University of Phoenix to see how everyone thinks how useless a degree from there is to employment. Go to a community college. Lots of them have online classes now a days. Good luck.

Answer 3

Most people state that University of Phoenix is not accredited and not an acceptable means of education. That is completely false. Not everyone graduates from University of Phoenix because many will see the material as being hard and rough. In a typical 16 week period a UOP student will read close to as many 25+ books from front to back. Submit more than 30+ papers and do presentation that will judge your understanding on what you've learned. Granted there is good and bad in any school and it is the same way with UOP. The reason the graduation rate is so low is because people think that it is a fly by night school. I will tell you from personal experience, it was tough! I'm a self learner and perceive that I am incredibly intelligent, but the teachers will give you what you put into your degree. I was one that put a lot into mine. I would say go to UOP only if you have circumstances that would not allow you to obtain one the traditional way. NOT EVERYONE IS SO LUCKY TO HAVE THEIR PARENTS PAY FOR THEIR EDUCATION OR HAVE TIME TO GO TO REGULAR COLLEGE WHEN YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT YOURSELF. Judge accordingly. It was fun for me.

I only went to UOP after moving and finding out that my last 3 years of college were in vain. I went to a school that couldn't transfer my credits if I was not going to one of their ivy colleges. What to do? I had a full time job, living alone, and seen myself as starting all over. I did what I could. I can tell you, it is not up to the institution to teach you to learn, it is up to you to teach yourself. If a book is given, you can read. If a study aid is available online, you can learn. It is all in what you make of your education!

Answer 4

Phoenix University is accredited. I am not sure by what accrediting body. I would check that out to see if it is kosher. I know they have a huge building in St. Petersburg, FL, so it is not just some guy out of his basement. Go to www.firstgov.gov as a starting point to look up college accreditation. Good luck.

P.S. I think you are right, employers just want a degree, some won't even see you for a job screening without it.

Answer 5

My employer pushed University of Phoenix, I went 1 class. I think that they are shisters. When I enrolled they said that I would need 30 credits to complete my BSN, but at the end of the class, they said they made an error, and I would need 64credits. They refused to accept credits for english/ humanities/ natural science cources that I had taken at a Big Ten university. They are just money grabbing mills as far as I am concerned, run the other way.

Answer 6

i dont know.
some major universities are giving out online degrees now too (NYU, Boston U, Penn State among others) and I suppose those I would find more credible as the sources are well known.

Answer 7

751

Answer 8

you need to research through the 4 accreditation places for instance in the south its SACS -southern accreditation of colleges and schools you can go to that website and get links for the other or look up the department of education website and they will tell you what you want to know.

Answer 9

I think they are credible and I'm sure you'll learn something, but not as much as at a traditional college.

Answer 10

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