Sarah Said:

Who's graduated from the University of Phoenix and received their online degree? Do jobs accept their diploma?

We Answered:

U of P isn't a scam, but it's also not a very respected university. But it isn't a scam - that's a real degree. It's regionally accredited, which means that the degree is real, and you can transfer to another uni to complete your bachelors.

However, it's a proprietary/for profit university, and a lot of employers dislike such schools. And worse, U of P is famous for being a proprietary/online school, so a lot of employers don't like it. It's kind of a lightening rod. You need to be aware of that. You're asking the right questions. So what does all this mean for you?

Some employers don't care where you went to school; others do. So what is it that you want to do with your associates degree? Do you want to work in security? Your U of P degree would work for that. Would you like to join the police force? Your U of P degree would work for that. Likewise, with corrections. Many employers in these fields don't care where you got your degree - they care that you got it. But ask around where you live. Do some "informational interviews" with companies you'd like to work for when you graduate. See how they feel about your school. If you find that people in your field disrespect the school, then transfer to your community college (which is hugely cheaper anyway), and finish up there.

And if you're really uncomfortable with all this, then check to see which community colleges and reputable unis in your state offer online degrees, and go there instead. Your credits from U of P are eligible to transfer, and many ccs offer online degrees now. If yours don't, use mine:
http://sln.suny.edu/dg/dg_associate.shtm…

Again, a degree from a community college is guaranteed to be reputable, and it's significantly cheaper than a U of P degree - well worth looking into your transfer options.

Angela Said:

Is it worth it for me to get an online degree at the University of Phoenix?

We Answered:

Employers have been known to toss job applications listing U of Phoenix degrees directly into the trash. Don't waste your time and money.

Incidentally, Northern Michigan U has recently started degrees in Engineering Technology. Worth looking into.

Jacob Said:

Is the University of Phoenix Online a legitimate degree?

We Answered:

Legitimate? Yes.

Respectable? No.

The school is accredited. However, it is a For Profit Corporation that costs a lot more than respectable public universities. The school was fined a record $9.8MM last year for sleazy recruiting practices and is currently under investigation for padding their placement numbers.

Employers do not respect people with degrees from the school for two reasons. The first is that the school accepts nearly everyone. The lack of standards makes it hard for people to know what they are getting. The second is that it is felt that the classes taught there are light on the material.

Companies like Intel have recently decided that they will not pay for employees to take classes there because they lack rigor.

Jon Said:

Has any one gone to University of Phoenix online? Did the degree help you find a good job?

We Answered:

I currently am attended the Axia College of University of Phoenix on-line and it's been ...well, different. I've attended a physical college before and there certainly is a lot of anxiety attached to this type of forum. At first, the feeling was just that you aren't in a classroom, just an email waiting to be read. However, the more you reach out and try to make it a REAL environment, it becomes that. Be careful though, distance learning can be overwhelming! It can consume your thoughts 24 hours a day. A schedule is imperative to success through distance learning. Really think things through before you do it. Also what has been a problem for me, because my computer is in a central location in my home, it's not very conducive to learning, when you have drones of reading to do and your kids are running around and television is a distraction. The most important thing is honesty. If you plan to cheat, think again. No one is going to keep you motivated but you! Life is gonna keep happening and you'll have to make school a priority for yourself. Good luck!

Ross Said:

Anyone done an online degree at University of Phoenix?

We Answered:

My sister just signed up for the masters program at phoenix for 14, 000. She was interested in getting a degree in education.The classes last for 3 weeks which is equals a semester. All the work is done on line. She currently lives in atlanta, however the degree is not accepted in new york state and five other states. She decided that if she can not take the degree where ever she wanted to go that it was not worth the 14, 000. Do your research and make sure that the degree with be accept anywhere you go. You dont want to be limited to certain states especially when you are paying that much money. Good Luck

Howard Said:

Do you consider an online degree from University of Phoenix equivalent to a ‘in person’ 4 year degree?

We Answered:

I too may be biased, but I got my degree online. AIU
I too sat through class, via live chats with my instructor and fellow classmates. I had to do the same research, along with Discussion Board postings, which in turn is like responding to someone in the classroom. Maybe even harder, since you're REQUIRED to respond to your fellow classmates, along with posting your own discussion. You're NOT allowed to just sit there and listen.

As far as group projects....TRY doing one with 6 other members and getting them to be involved with out the phyical contact.. MORE than once I've been left stranded with those trying to come in at the last minute to get credit where no credit was due.

Personally, If I could of attended a class in person, probably would of made my life easier, but being disciplined enough to do your work, when you'd rather be doing something else...really hard!

AIU has several campuses, which one can attend and sit through the class, or do what I did and accomplish each one at an accelerated level of only 5 weeks per class.
I also know of other colleges which offer their classes online now...

AIU campuses:

Buckhead in Atlanta
Dunwood in Atlanta
Houston
London
Los Angeles
South Florida
AU Dubai
and ONLINE

ONLINE classes are beneficial, especially to those of us who are serving our country. It enables us to still serve, and further our education at the same time.