<p>Even if people do get “degrees” from some of these schools, the amount of actual “education” they get is questionable, often. We seem to have become a “credentialling” culture, getting our passcards stamped at each level however we can.</p>
<p>To clarify my post #2–yes, the “schools” get tuition while drop outs are stuck with the loan payments. BUT also, some get loans to pay for living expenses and never go through the program, but keep the $ and default on the loan. Plenty of blame to go around.</p>
<p>The only way in which Univ. of Phoenix and its ilk compete with Yale, Harvard, and MIT is to see which can charge the most. Educationally they are not playing in the same league, but cost-wise it’s a close contest. The for profit schools are very expensive.</p>
<p>According to [University</a> of Phoenix - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“University of Phoenix - Wikipedia”>University of Phoenix - Wikipedia) , University of Phoenix is regionally accredited, but its business degrees are not AACSB accredited. Perhaps those companies in question prefer a business degree to be AACSB accredited?</p>
<p>There’s a Wyotech campus near where I live that focuses on areas like auto repair. From what I gather they have a reasonable track record. I am also aware of an ITT grad from their computer program who’s doing well as a PC technician. Compared to non-profits, they seem to let the student take courses that are relevant to the degree rather than requiring them to take endless number of history and art courses that are irrelevant to the student.</p>
<p>Just because something is for profit doesn’t automatically make it bad, and all non profits aren’t saints. Most companies we deal with in life are for-profits and we’re perfectly OK with that.</p>
<p>Perception of quality is not necessarily determined by regional accreditation. </p>
<p>I worked for a department within a medium-sized financial firm that was burned so much by undergrad business majors from lower-tiered universities…mostly accredited that they’d only consider hiring one if they went to an elite undergrad b-school like Wharton, UVA-McIntire, NYU-Stern, Berkeley-Haas, etc. Below that top tier, no.</p>
<p>This thread has been an eye opener for me. I had no idea that the University of Phoenix was a for profit institution, or, for that matter, what a for profit institution was. I have clicked on the links in this thread and become educated on this subject. I feel somewhat uncomfortable, because a very good friend of mine just became a part time professor with Phoenix, and he is extremely happy with this career move. I’m having dinner with him tomorrow night…should be an interesting evening to say the least.</p>
<p>All states should adopt laws similar to Oregon, which makes it illegal to try to present a degree that’s not accredited (by a government approved accrediting body) as a qualification. Also accrediting standards need to be tightened, especially for online programs.</p>
<p>I’ve recommended legitimate online programs to many people on “advice sites” like this. Many reputable, “brick and mortar” (read, REAL) schools offer online programs. For example, my high school Chemistry teacher just got her masters in Educational Leadership using an online program from Gardner-Webb University. Since it’s a real degree offered by a real school, she is actually currently in training for an assistant principal job.</p>
<p>Online education can be beneficial. For example, my Chemistry teacher was able to continue working and stay at home with her kids. My aunt is looking into a combined online/classroom program at a local university for a similar reason. I just don’t get how people are so easily duped by diploma mills like ITT Tech or the “University” of Phoenix.</p>
<p>Honestly I think usage of the term “University” or “College” should be regulated.</p>
<p>There are various accrediting organizations that are not regional accreditation organizations that accredit career colleges and the like.</p>
<p>Perhaps the problems of the for-profit colleges have more to do with those which have gained notoriety due to questionable sales and marketing methods (see article linked in #25).</p>