Are you looking for an online university that offers flexible, affordable, and quality education? If so, you may have come across Ashford University, a public online university affiliated with the University of Arizona. But what is Ashford University exactly, and what makes it different from other online universities?
In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive review of Ashford University, covering its history, accreditation, programs, tuition, support, alumni, pros and cons, and alternatives. By the end of this article, you will have a better idea of whether Ashford University is the right choice for you.
Ashford University’s history and affiliation with the University of Arizona
Ashford University traces its roots back to 1918, when the Sisters of Saint Francis founded Mount St. Clare College in Clinton, Iowa. This liberal arts institution was also an approved teacher education college from 1932 to 1954. In 2005, Bridgepoint Education, a for-profit higher education technology services company, acquired Mount St. Clare College and renamed it Ashford University.
Ashford University grew rapidly as an online university, serving working adults and offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 50-degree programs online. The university consists of five colleges: the Forbes School of Business and Technology, the College of Education, the College of Health, Human Services, and Science, the College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Doctoral Studies.
In 2020, Ashford University was acquired by the University of Arizona from Zovio (formerly Bridgepoint Education) and renamed the University of Arizona Global Campus. The affiliation with the University of Arizona, one of the nation’s premier research institutions, provides expanded potential for collaboration for the benefit of students and alumni. The University of Arizona Global Campus is an independent, accredited online institution that operates separately from the University of Arizona.
Ashford University’s accreditation and reputation
The University of Arizona Global Campus is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. WSCUC accredits institutions that meet rigorous standards of quality and effectiveness in teaching, learning, research, and service. In June 2019, WSCUC reaffirmed the University of Arizona Global Campus accreditation for six years, with the next scheduled reaffirmation visit in 2025.
The accreditation status of the University of Arizona Global Campus also applies to its former name, Ashford University. Therefore, students who graduated from or are currently enrolled in Ashford University can be assured that their degrees are valid and recognized by employers and other institutions.
The reputation of Ashford University has improved over the years as it has increased its academic quality, student satisfaction, graduation rates, and alumni outcomes. According to its website, Ashford University has a student satisfaction rate of 91%, a graduation rate of 42%, and an alumni employment rate of 86%. Additionally, Ashford University has received several awards and recognitions for its online programs, such as being ranked among the best online bachelor’s programs by U.S. News & World Report in 2019.
Ashford University’s online degree programs and courses
The University of Arizona Global Campus offers more than 50 online degree programs at the associate, bachelor’s master’s
and doctoral levels. The programs cover a wide range of fields, such as business, education, health, human services, science, liberal arts, and doctoral studies. Some of the popular programs include:
- Accounting, BA
- Business Administration, BA
- Communication Studies, BA
- Criminal Justice, BA
- Early Childhood Education, BA
- Health Care Administration, BA
- Psychology, BA
- Social and Criminal Justice, BA
- Education, MA
- Health Care Administration, MA
- Organizational Management, MA
- Psychology, MA
- Public Administration, MA
- Business Administration, MBA
- Education Leadership and Management, EdD
- Organizational Development and Leadership, PhD
The online courses at Ashford University are designed to be flexible and convenient for working adults. The courses are six weeks long and start every Tuesday. Students can access their courses anytime and anywhere through the online learning platform or the mobile app. The courses are asynchronous, meaning that students do not have to attend live sessions or follow a fixed schedule. However, students are expected to meet weekly deadlines and participate in online discussions with their classmates and instructors. The courses are also interactive and engaging, using multimedia materials, quizzes, assignments, and projects to enhance the learning experience.
Ashford University’s tuition and financial aid options
The tuition at Ashford University varies depending on the degree level and program. The tuition rates for the 2021-2022 academic year are as follows:
- Associate’s degree: $510 per credit hour
- Bachelor’s degree: $510 per credit hour
- Master’s degree: $635-$740 per credit hour
- Doctoral degree: $1,082-$1,148 per credit hour
In addition to tuition, students may also have to pay other fees, such as a technology fee ($160 per course), graduation fees ($150), transcript fees ($10), and prior learning assessment fees ($75 per credit). Students may also need to purchase textbooks and other materials for their courses.
To help students afford their education, Ashford University offers various financial aid options, such as grants, scholarships, loans, and military benefits. Students who qualify for financial aid may receive federal grants (such as Pell Grant or FSEOG), state grants (such as Cal Grant or Iowa Tuition Grant), institutional scholarships (such as Ashford Opportunity Scholarship or Forbes School of Business & Technology Scholarship), external scholarships (such as Fastweb or Scholarships.com), federal loans (such as Direct Subsidized Loan or Direct Unsubsidized Loan), private loans (such as Sallie Mae or Wells Fargo), or military benefits (such as GI Bill or Tuition Assistance). Students who wish to apply for financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet the eligibility requirements.
Ashford University’s student support and resources
Ashford University provides various support and resources to help students succeed in their online education. Some of the support and resources include:
- Academic advisors: Students are assigned an academic advisor who helps them plan their academic goals, select their courses, monitor their progress, and resolve any issues they may encounter.
- Faculty: Students can communicate with their instructors via email, phone, or online chat. The instructors are experts in their fields and have relevant professional experience. They provide feedback, guidance, and mentorship to students throughout their courses.
- Online library: Students have access to the online library that contains millions of scholarly articles, books, journals, databases, and other resources. They can also use the library services such as research assistance, citation tools, tutorials, and webinars.
- Writing center: Students can use the writing center to improve their writing skills and receive feedback on their papers. They can also access writing guides, samples, templates, and plagiarism-prevention tools.
- Career services: Students can use career services to prepare for their future careers and find job opportunities. They can access career assessments, resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, career coaching, networking events, and job boards.
- Student community: Students can connect with their peers and alumni through the online student portal, social media platforms, student organizations, honor societies, and online events. They can also join the Ashford University Alumni Association and enjoy benefits such as career support, networking opportunities, discounts, and lifelong learning resources.
Ashford University’s alumni network and career services
Ashford University has a large and diverse alumni network of over 200,000 graduates who live and work in various industries and locations. The alumni network is a valuable resource for students and graduates who want to expand their professional connections, share their experiences, seek advice, or find mentors. The alumni network also organizes regional events, webinars, podcasts, newsletters, and volunteer opportunities to keep the alumni engaged and informed.
Ashford University also offers career services to help students and graduates achieve their career goals. The career services include:
- Career assessments: Students and graduates can take online assessments to discover their interests, skills, values, and personality traits that relate to their career choices.
- Career coaching: Students and graduates can schedule appointments with career coaches who can provide personalized guidance, feedback, and support on various career topics, such as career exploration, job search strategies, resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, salary negotiation, and career transition.
- Career tools: Students and graduates can access online tools that can help them create professional documents, practice their interview skills, research employers and salaries, and find job openings.
- Career events: Students and graduates can participate in online events that can help them network with employers, recruiters, alumni, and industry experts. They can also attend webinars, workshops, panels, and fairs that cover various career topics and trends.
- Career connections: Students and graduates can join the Ashford University Career Connections group on LinkedIn, where they can connect with other students, graduates, employers, recruiters, faculty, staff, and career coaches. They can also share their achievements, ask questions, seek advice, or post job opportunities.
Ashford University’s pros and cons
Like any other online university, Ashford University has its advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the pros and cons of Ashford University:
Pros:
- Flexibility: Ashford University allows students to study at their own pace and schedule. They can access their courses anytime and anywhere through the online platform or the mobile app. They can also transfer credits from other institutions or earn credits for prior learning or work experience.
- Affordability: Ashford University offers competitive tuition rates and various financial aid options. Students can also save money on transportation, housing, and other expenses associated with traditional campus-based education.
- Quality: Ashford University offers accredited and reputable online degree programs that are taught by qualified and experienced faculty. The programs are designed to meet the current and future needs of the workforce and society. The courses are also interactive and engaging, using multimedia materials, quizzes, assignments, and projects to enhance the learning experience.
- Support: Ashford University provides various support and resources to help students succeed in their online education. Students can access academic advisors, faculty, an online library, a writing center, career services, a student community, and an alumni network. They can also receive feedback, guidance, and mentorship from their instructors and peers throughout their courses.
- Diversity: Ashford University has a diverse student body that represents different backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences. Students can learn from and interact with students from across the country and the world. They can also join student organizations, honor societies, and online events that cater to their interests and goals.
Cons:
- Isolation: Ashford University may not provide the same level of social interaction and campus life as traditional campus-based education. Students may feel isolated or disconnected from their instructors and classmates. They may also miss out on some of the extracurricular activities, sports, clubs, and events that are available on campus.
- Self-discipline: Ashford University requires students to be self-motivated and self-disciplined to succeed in their online education. Students have to manage their time, set their goals, meet their deadlines, and participate in their courses. They also have to deal with potential distractions, technical issues, or personal challenges that may affect their learning.
- Accreditation: Ashford University is accredited by WSCUC, a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. However, some of its programs may not have specialized accreditation or recognition by certain professional associations or licensing boards. This may affect the transferability of credits or the eligibility for certain certifications or careers.
- Reputation: Ashford University has improved its reputation over the years as it has increased its academic quality, student satisfaction, graduation rates, and alumni outcomes. However, some employers or institutions may still have negative perceptions or biases against online education or for-profit education. This may affect the value or credibility of the degree or the employability of the graduates.
Ashford University’s alternatives and competitors
Ashford University is not the only online university that offers flexible, affordable, and quality education. There are many other online universities that may suit your needs and preferences better. Here are some of the alternatives and competitors of Ashford University:
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University of Phoenix:
University of Phoenix is one of the largest and oldest online universities in the U.S. It offers more than 100 online degree programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The programs cover various fields, such as business, education, health, technology, criminal justice, and psychology. The online courses are five to six weeks long and start every month. The tuition rates vary depending on the degree level and program, but they range from $398 to $698 per credit hour. The University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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Southern New Hampshire University:
Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit online university that offers more than 200 online degree programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The programs cover various fields, such as business, education, health, liberal arts, social sciences, and STEM. The online courses are eight or ten weeks long and start every six weeks. The tuition rates are $320 per credit hour for undergraduate programs and $627 per credit hour for graduate programs. Southern New Hampshire University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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Walden University:
Walden University is a private, for-profit online university that offers more than 80 online degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The programs cover various fields, such as business, education, health, psychology, public policy, and social work. The online courses are six to eight weeks long and start every month. The tuition rates vary depending on the degree level and program, but they range from $335 to $1,035 per credit hour. Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Conclusion: Is Ashford University right for you?
Overview of Ashford University
Ashford University is an online university that offers flexible, affordable, and quality education to working adults who want to advance their careers or pursue their personal interests. With a history of over 100 years, Ashford University is affiliated with the University of Arizona, one of the nation’s premier research institutions. Additionally, Ashford University is accredited by WSCUC, a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Programs and Resources
Ashford University offers more than 50 online degree programs at the associate, bachelor’s master’s, and doctoral levels in various fields of study. Ashford University also provides various support and resources to help students succeed in their online education, such as academic advisors, faculty, an online library, a writing center, career services, a student community, and an alumni network.
Considerations
However, Ashford University may not be the best choice for everyone. While Ashford University may not provide the same level of social interaction and campus life as traditional campus-based education, it does require students to be self-motivated and self-disciplined to succeed in their online education. Additionally, some of its programs may not have specialized accreditation or recognition by certain professional associations or licensing boards. It’s also worth noting that Ashford University may face negative perceptions or biases from some employers or institutions against online education or for-profit education.
Making a Decision
Before you decide to enroll in Ashford University, it’s important to consider your goals, needs, preferences, and budget. It’s also a good idea to compare Ashford University with other online universities that may offer similar or better programs, services, and outcomes. Checking the accreditation status, reputation, and reviews of Ashford University and other online universities can provide valuable insights. Additionally, contacting the admissions office, financial aid office, or academic advisors of Ashford University and other online universities can help you get more information and guidance.
We hope that this article has provided you with a comprehensive review of Ashford University and helped you make an informed decision. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for reading and good luck with your online education!
Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about Ashford University:
How long does it take to complete a degree at Ashford University?
The time it takes to complete a degree at Ashford University depends on several factors, such as the degree level, program, transfer credits, course load, and academic performance. Generally, it takes about two years to complete an associate’s degree, four years to complete a bachelor’s degree, two years to complete a master’s degree, and four years to complete a doctoral degree at Ashford University.
How much does it cost to attend Ashford University?
The cost of attending Ashford University varies depending on the degree level and program. The tuition rates for the 2021-2022 academic year are as follows:
- Associate’s degree: $510 per credit hour
- Bachelor’s degree: $510 per credit hour
- Master’s degree: $635-$740 per credit hour
- Doctoral degree: $1,082-$1,148 per credit hour
In addition to tuition, students may also have to pay other fees, such as technology fee ($160 per course), graduation fee ($150), transcript fees ($10), and prior learning assessment fee ($75 per credit). Students may also need to purchase textbooks and other materials for their courses.
To help students afford their education, Ashford University offers various financial aid options, such as grants, scholarships, loans, and military benefits. Students who qualify for financial aid may receive federal grants (such as Pell Grant or FSEOG), state grants (such as Cal Grant or Iowa Tuition Grant), institutional scholarships (such as Ashford Opportunity Scholarship or Forbes School of Business & Technology Scholarship), external scholarships (such as Fastweb or Scholarships.com), federal loans (such as Direct Subsidized Loan or Direct Unsubsidized Loan), private loans (such as Sallie Mae or Wells Fargo), or military benefits (such as GI Bill or Tuition Assistance). Students who wish to apply for financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet the eligibility requirements.
Is Ashford University accredited?
Yes, Ashford University is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. WSCUC accredits institutions that meet rigorous standards of quality and effectiveness in teaching, learning, research, and service. In June 2019,
WSCUC reaffirmed the University of Arizona Global Campus accreditation for six years, with the next scheduled reaffirmation visit in 2025.
The accreditation status of the University of Arizona Global Campus also applies to its former name, Ashford University. Therefore, students who graduated from or are currently enrolled in Ashford University can be assured that their degrees are valid and recognized by employers and other institutions.
However, some of Ashford University’s programs may not have specialized accreditation or recognition by certain professional associations or licensing boards. This may affect the transferability of credits or the eligibility for certain certifications or careers. Students should check the accreditation status and requirements of their chosen program and field before enrolling in Ashford University.
What is the acceptance rate of Ashford University?
Ashford University has an open admission policy, meaning that it accepts anyone who meets the minimum requirements for admission. The minimum requirements for admission are:
- A high school diploma or GED equivalent
- A minimum age of 18 years (or 22 years for doctoral programs)
- A completed online application form
- A valid government-issued photo ID
- A signed enrollment agreement
- A completed financial aid application (if applicable)
Depending on the degree level and program, students may also have to submit additional documents, such as transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, essays, or portfolios. Students should check the specific admission requirements of their chosen program before applying to Ashford University.
How do I contact Ashford University?
There are several ways to contact Ashford University, such as:
- Phone: (866) 711-1700
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.uagc.edu
- Address: 180 South Arizona Avenue, Suite #301 Chandler, AZ 85225
Students can also use the online chat feature on the website or the mobile app to communicate with an admissions counselor, academic advisor, financial aid advisor, or technical support representative.
