I know someone that just completed their AA from UoP. They could barely form a complete sentence. Based on this experience, I would say that a UoP is worthless unless they start demanding more of their students. I also know someone who is having their friend complete all their homework for them. This person can't even spell their name and they're about to get a degree. Draw what conclusions you want from this, but my feeling is that traditional schools will always have the upper hand for the simple facts that they can be sure you are doing you're own work at least some of the time, and they demand a minimum level of quality in order to pass a class.

Having attended a brick and mortar state university for my undergrad engineering degree, I was slightly skeptical with the quality of education that I would receive from the UoP. I was traveling excessively with my job and my HR person recommended that I attend UoP at the company's expense (as long as I maintained a B in each class). The UoP MBA program certainly exceeded my expectations. The concerns quickly diminished when I started the program. Each of my instructors were professionals in their field and provided a great real-world learning experience. The degree has certainly had a positive impact on my working career and I would recommend this program to any professional. The program isn't for everyone, and you must have a lot of self-disclipline and determination to complete it. Those that enrolled in the program that didn't have these traits didn't last long and usually dropped out in the first couple of classes. This aspect was very similar to my undergrad experience as well. Like many things in life, it is what YOU make of it!

I am not here to defend UoP. But, diligent students with self-discipline with the goal to learn will concur to what I am about to write. I have an engineering degree from a prestigious four (4) year university. I have worked for Fortune 500 companies in my industry and I have worked in various levels of management positions. I currently consult in my industry. I have decided to pursue my MBA at UoP as a personal development goal about four (4) years ago. Given UoP was a "non-traditional" type of school, I was skeptical in the beginning. However, my experience at UoP was extremely rewarding. Simply, puts it,"Be ready to study DILIGENTLY!!" UoP is definitely not a diploma mill!!! In any academic institution, how much a student learns highly depends on the individual's self-discipline. You slack off. Dont blame the school or the instructors. Instructors at UoP do have HIGH expectations and are professionals with years of hands-on experiences and degreed credentials in the course topics taught. Those who do not study will drop-out/survive! My MBA class started with twenty-two (22) classmates. By the fifth (5th), those who were obviously struggling dropped-out of the program. Believe me, you will know who the slackers are in terms of your classmates. Another point is other prestigous universities like Harvard and Standford are copying UoP's online program. There was a case study I have read in the past. Bottom line, the traditional academic institutions are threatened by UoP's success...... Thumbs-up UoP!! Continue to have high expectations from students and eventually UoP will become a prestigious school worldwide.

I recently graduated from UOP in June 2008 and I must say that my experience has been great and full of knowledge. The instructor's are at minimum with master's degree and really pay attention to their class and success of students. It is not a traditional university and requires concentration, self motivation, self decipline, determination, and hard work. I believe having all these attributes and doing MBA while we have families is a big accomplishment. UOP graduate classes usually have 6 weeks of hard work and of course there some that try to get by but I think overall it gives us as students more brain power and thinking outside of the box since we only have 6 weeks, unlike traditional school. The UOP database library has wealth of information, also the simulations are great way to solve real and practical problems. For me UOP has played integral part in my professional and personal life which I believe is a great assest.

Like any other institution, the value of the education is really up to the person searching for the knowledge to evaluate. I have worked with individuals with degrees from Towson or Loyola (both reputable institutions), that the individuals were lucky to tie their own shoes. I admit that I graduated with my undergrad and also MBA from University of Phoenix. The education is what you make of it. I was very fortunate to learn from the instructors and the other students. I also was fortunate to network with these individuals and build bridges that I know will serve me well for many years to come. University of Phoenix is fully accredited, and you can verify this on the Department of Educations website. I recommend the experience to any who ask about continuing their education.

I graduated from UOP in Fall 2006. I had my ups and downs while attending class in the online environment. For the most part it was a very good experience and I learned a lot from both, teachers and students. Is UOP perfect? No, but what school is? When I started in 2004 it seemed easy. By 2006, the University seemed to care more about quality then in the past. UOP has started an online learning revolution. Today, there are many schools trying to capture part of the working adult marketshare of online education. When I think back about team members who did not want to participate fully, I often think of how the late nights working with other students who wanted to succeed made me a better student. It also shows a valuable lesson in the business world; you can not always count on people. Am I proud to say I earned my BS from UOP....not really and it is because the school has gotten a bad reputation as a degree mill. However, in the future, we will see the ability of the many UOP grads who have gained positions within vast organizations.

Hi i want to do my MBA here, but my graduate & undergrad degrees are not from accredited universities. Whether will i be considered for MBA program? If so how much it costs here? I do have 10 plus years of work experience. Thnks.Jude

Hello, I am a UOP graduate. I received both my bachelors in management and my MBA from UOP. I will admit the program had its ups and downs. For the most part I came away from the program with a greater understanding of both working independently and as a team. Like anything else you will find those that say the program is a rip off etc. I think you will find that with any college/program. It is a bit expensive but is very comparable to the prices of its competitors and other universities today. I have been out of the MBA program for about a year now. I have yet to look for another job or test the impact of the MBA on the job market so I cannot comment on that aspect of it. If you are a hiring employer please contact me at dmooney79@yahoo.com with your thoughts on degree's from UOP. I'd be interested in hearing from you. I'd also be interested in hearing about this class action law suite just out of curiosity. Thank You

09/03/08 Please anyone that knows anything about a class action lawsuit agains the UOP please email me at jcook1979@hotmail.com. I have been stuck in there scam since 2004, and I am still trying to get it paid off or at least a settlement... They are deciving, and promise you grants and then send you a bill for a loan for over $5000.00 for two classes.

Online universities are not for everyone but are wonderful for dedicated, disciplined and busy adults who are focused on completing the goal but cannot accomodate a traditional schedule. In effect, online learning is more challenging because you have to keep up, there is no make up work or cutting a deal with the professor. You have to do the work and share and you learn from people that have career experience and are from many industries and from all over the world.

I feel that what I have gotten out of my MBA program (3 classes from finishing) is worthwhile. Often I am a little concerned about the reaction from others when I say I got my bachelors from Phoenix or am working on my MBA from Phoenix, but I also know many people who have Phoenix degrees who prefer others with Phoenix degrees. Some people don't take the team assignments seriously enough, but those of us who survived to the end of the degree program seem to be extremely serious about participating. I think the material is worthwhile and the intructors can be fickle but have good knowledge of their industries. I have attended Phoenix since 2001 and the classes, programs, and instructors have improved significantly since I started.

I graduated from University of Phoenix in 2006 with my MBA in Technology Management. I admit that there were at least 10% of students within my class that I seriously questioned why UoP allowed in the program. However, the remaining students and majority of the faculty were industry professionals which I learned a great deal from them all. Overall, the program was more than adequate. I have been recognized and received promotions since graduating with my MBA. My salary has increased over 55%. I am cannot attribute my promotion to my degree alone, but it has made a significant impact on my career. As everything else, I work very hard to be in my position and I can say that I worked just as hard within the MBA program at UoP.

Rip Off University - This is what the University of Phoenix should be changed to. I worked with two UOP graduates and I am embarrassed to say they did not meet minimum standards to achieve their tasks. This school should be ashamed to take their money because I think they actually dumb down folks.

I graduated from UOP in 2002 with a MBA degree and must say that I have experienced a lot of success since graduation. While a student at UOP, I worked for MBNA America Bank which was #23 on the Fortune 500 at that time. MBNA also paid for my tuition. After I graduated, I earned double the amount of income and have become a business consultant for Leerink & Swann Company. UOP is a great school!

I am a student of UOP. I am doing my MBA from UOP. Till this day, I have never had any issues with UOP. The interaction with staff, advisors has always been fruitful. I strongly feel opinions of 3-4 people that the university is not good should not be taken as a opinion of mass.

My friends who attend MBA or any other regular university course say that interaction with the professors is very very less. They say professors teach a few lines, answer your questions and then its all on your own!! In UOP/any other online courses the professor gives his comments online. You can ask any questions online and we get an answer within 24 hours. That answers the question that there is actually no difference between online MBA and regular MBA.

There are people who comment that online MBA lacks classroom interaction. I have had very good interaction with my team mates at UOP. We have regular group meetings over phone. The interaction in the class room is through an interface which is so userfriendly. Our attendance is constantly monitored. Even if I miss a day (out of 4 days compulsory attendance) my grade reduces.

I am not sure about other classes. But all my classmates have minimum 5 years of experience and working in management positions in very good companies. This has enabled me to develop very good contacts.


One more advantage in online courses which have to be definitely pointed out is that it allows people who are introverts to come out and show their talents because there is no face to face interaction. One can think, put in their full knowledge, time and then answer questions.

I read online that there are students who feel that any students gets admitted to UOP and the quality of the students is bad. I havent faced this issue at all. I find every student in the class to be so competitive that I am motivated to put in extra hours in order to read more and more in order to remain competitive.


I hope this answers that UOP can definitely be considered as one of the options.

I am doing my MBA from UOP. The program has 15 courses including the proficiency course. I have completed 3 courses so far. I am completely happy with the course. I have read online the reviews written by UOP students that UOP is a "degree mill",they have worst faculty etc. These may be individual opinions. But at the end of course what does one learn is what is important. The knowledge one gains, the confidence one develops is what is important. Every institution in the world should not be compared to Harvard, Kellogs etc.

After I started an MBA from UOP I have developed self-confidence. The professors are excellent and encouraging. They encourage if you are REALLY HARDWORKING. If one tries to take advantage and do not participate in the weekly discussion properly or do not submit weekly assignments, it would definitely show in their grades. I strongly believe these kind of students who arent able to manage time properly, who arent self sufficient complain about the University.

It is the students who build an image of a college. They have to realise THEY ARE THE LOSERS if they tarnish the image of the college.

I would like to say that UOP MBA is not a piece of cake. It involves hardwork, commitment, time management. It does lack a few things like group discussions, spoon feeding :-)etc.

I request the students of UOP to unite together and give some of the good facts. There may be negative opinions. But am sure every university will have bad and good points.

I am a graduate of the University of Phoenix with an MBA. The program is appropriately accredited both from a regional and business perspective. Yet despite this reality those who have had negative experiences would rather work to discredit the program, than identify the reason for their dissatisfaction. A core theme I have identified is that younger students, fresh out of their undergradudate degree may not be finding the traction they desire from the UOP MBA vs. an ivy league degree etc. The reason for this is not the MBA or UOP - it is the lack of professional accomplishment. Soon after graduation and entrance into the workforce the focus will become professional accomplishment - not school of education. Does the candidate meet the basic educational and professional accomplishments ? BA or MBA or CPA or CIA etc ?

UOP serves a vital educational service to many adults across the country that are working to advance their educational knowledge and grow within the careers. Many are doing so as single parents, while raising a family or running a business. I doubt that any of the adults in that situation would enjoy being on campus, with a group of recent grads in their early 20's who desire to work on their team project at Starbucks on a Saturday morning. Those adults are probably running to the soccer field, or a childrens birthday party.

The MBA as a complement to my professional accomplishments has served me well. Advancement, increased compensation, and an executive position.

Best of luck to all - the naysayers included, because each of you deserves an education, and opportunities.

Good afternoon, I appreciate the very interesting and diverse responses by everyone. I am a UOP MBA grad, undergrad at Baylor University. Here is the deal. Baylor is an AACSB certified business school. What this means, in a nutshell, is that they certify business schools set up for research excellence...i.e. they require a certain percentage of full-time salaried staff and require a research library that fits the criteria in their accreditation. I was taught at, much of the time, by grad students and surrounded by 18-22 year olds falling asleep in class from the previous nights hangover. UOP is has adjunct instructors and no "library building". The business school is accredited by AACSB, which focuses on teaching excellence. The instructors in the MBA program had completed one or two masters degrees or had earned PhD's in various fields of business, from schools including, but not limited to, Harvard, Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, Univ. of Tx., SMU, etc. I was in class with some very bright, motivated adults with a good work ethic. No one was falling asleep. Certainly, as with any school, there were people who could not spell their name nor wanted to work. What is funny is that most of them had graduated from a traditional college. Does UOP have shortcomings? Yes. It is for profit, which makes enrollment wierd, and the classes are not long enough to really dig into the meat of some of the courses. What's the point to this? The reality is this. It is your attitude, your work ethic, your people skills, and your leadership that will get you ahead. I learned more from my MBA at UOP than my ed at Baylor U. For those who worked at UOP and left disgruntled, but had their MBA paid for by UOP, why are you crying? You do not have a loan. How do I know? I used to work there too. Good luck!

UoP is definitely unconventional, but let me tell you, people that complain and laugh about this program need to understand what the real function of UoP. UoP provides the tools and necessary accreditation for people who need the flexibility to learn at their own terms. The program is great for individuals who have a desired to learn in their own or with moderate supervision. Yes, some classes do not have a "test" but how often do we have tests in the real world, as far as I know only when we looking for accreditation or licenses. UoP forces you to complete tons of research, and I have learned and retain more by researching alone that I did taking tests in other institutions. Dont get me wrong I would have loved attending to a regular college however life happens, UoP is an alternative that allows you to further your education. Those who said they used to work there or went there obviously are not there anymore because they rather have someone telling them what to do than trying and learning on their own. UoP is not the only option, but if you chose UoP make sure you understand that it will be up to you to make it a great learning experience or a great waste of time just like anything else in life.

Hi -- My name is MJ Karimi and I live in Washington, DC where I hold a position as the Executive Director Assistant to the Presidents Committee for People with Disabilities. I enjoyed my education at University of Phoenix (UoP) and truly learned how to incorporate my knowledge into real life experiences. I personally believe that most traditional schools are threatened by UoP efficiency and not to mention the reputation of being a pioneer in distance learning. Psychologically, these traditional schools have to push UoP down, in order for themselves to look good. Additionally, Harvard has mimicked UoP's online MBA. If you have gotten the chance to apply at Harvard, you will know that they want to know how much $ you or your family have got (Ref. Page4/12 Admission Application). Also, they want to know if you are related to Bill Gate, Opera Winfrey, etc... (Page 7/10 Application)... go figure. As adults and most importantly professionals, we all know that getting along with others is the key to success. I had a staff member graduated from Stanford University that unfortunately I had to fire this past week, because he did not get a long with others. Perhaps, such schools need to put their energy on training their students to have courtesy and respect before they feed them with academic propagandas.

The bottom-line is that UoP is a great school and the quality of the school is skyrocketing; especially, in the current years. UoP will be among the best colleges in the year 2008, per new rankings and booklets. Congratulations on the job well-done.

I'm surprised how many traditional college graduates cannot do a 20 minute presentation and work in teams. U of P takes care of that with their grad. If you hire a U of P grad you can be assured they are awesome in a team enviroment and dynamic with presentation and speaking to decision making people. That is real world that is U of P. They take education and mix it in the current workforce. When you hire a graduate from a traditional university you hope the product works, when you hire a graduate from the U of P you know the product works. They have great critical thinking skills, poise in presentations, and phenomenol mission orientated attitudes. I will hire U of P grads anyday. They are polished products, not text book!!!

The school does not have AACSB accreditation. That's all you really need to know. I worked at University of Phoenix and all it is is a giant scam to rip off the Federal Goverment of financial aid money. There are no professors there, only "facilators". UOP does suck!!!!!

I just completed my MBA with UOP. I had previously started with another college and I can say that UOP is on the leading edge in technology and learning environment. If you aren't disciplined enough to keep up, you won't be able to handle this program.
The strengths of UOP are the facilitators who have experience related to the subject being studied. In addition I learned insights from my classmates (from all over the world) as they related their experiences to the material being covered. This is something you don't get in a traditional classroom.

My experience was one of the best academic experiences I have had and I have attended a great deal of universities and colleges, my class mates included a civil engineer, a CEO and many people with undergrads from big name schools. You must be very committed and sacrifice a great deal, as will your family if you have one. By the way if you Google * University sucks there are many complaint forums for most other schools out there. I recommend UOP highly, if you want a reference just look at some of the schools rated lower than UOP on this site.

This school is a joke. Why wouldn't you just attend a real university? My brother attended UOP and he never had exams. What kind of school is this? Even first graders have quizzes and tests.

University of Phoenix lacks AACSB accreditation for its business programs. Intel will no longer fund employee educations at this school do to its lack if highly accredited MBA programs. One professor, in a NYT article states the UOP has an "MBA-lite."

UOP is a joke. I got my MBA there, I know many people who work there, and the complaints and problems are almost endless. This blog (http://www.uopsucks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=27) objectively evaluates the quality of UOP in general as a school, and the website uopsucks.com has a lot of good and true information. UOP is only for those who only need the piece of paper, not the education.

A lot of people are ignorant to schools like University of Phoenix. I am not sure if the MBA requirements are the same for all students; however, I enrolled in the Alumni MBA program and you need a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to enter. If your GPA falls below a 3.0, then you are put on academic probation. I would not call this easy. Besides, I took a few classes at Boston University which was also intense. While Boston is an old school that is more well known, the learning material is different but not necessarily better. For instance, my companies CEO went to Harvard. His knowledge is good as one would expect but I have no trouble keeping up with him having only a UOP education. Like I said, people are ignorant when it comes to education. Names are a form of marketing. Harvard is a great school but it is not the best school simply cause it is the most well known. We should give ourselves credit. If we were not working, we could get in to these fancy schools as well. If you are in the UOP MBA program, it is not easy.

Fabulous! Loved every minute of it. I graduated last February and have been promoted at my job based on the skills, terms, and thought I had put into my job from attending UOP. To anyone using this as as tool to make a decision, please know that it does come with the stigma, so if you are after a job that requires a reputable no questions asked school, this may not be the right choice for you. As to some previous comments about a 98% acceptance rate, this doesn't mean anything because everyone deserves a chance. Those that cannot pull their weight and keep up with the rigorous course load do drop out. Then of course there are the naysayers that will chime in that UOP just takes the money (via financial aid) from these poor souls that immediately drop out after a few classes - but hey business is business and someone who was not serious enough to be commited should not have started classes in the first place. I personally enjoyed the entire experience from beginning to end. I put a lot into it and got a lot out of it. I highly recommend it to anyone serious about learning without all the frills out the name.

Amazing how many people still don't realize the degree programs are all accredited by the same institutions. And by the way, all education is what you put into it. Those you took the easy road didn't graduate with honors and those that wanted to learned, learend everything they expected.

I got a B.S.M from this school and didn't learn a thing... No tests! and I didn't have to remember a thing. Just wrote about my company the whole time(over and over again). RIP OFF

I am currently enrolled in the MBA program at U of P. I think it is a great program and honestly, those people who do not like it are probably idiots who do not know how to think for themselves or who are not self-motivated enough to work hard on classwork to get the most out of it. Students who are serious about U of P can get a great education. I use the information and concepts that I've learned all the time in my job. Plus, being able to go to class anytime, 24/7, gives me incredible flexibility. Sure, some of the instructors are easy graders, but most of them are true instructors whose goal is to teach you the concepts and make sure you understand them. I've never been a fan of grades, yet I have to achieve a 90% or better in class for my corporate tuition reimbursement, so U of P is ideal in that I can achieve the grades I need and really learn about the concepts I need to know. During my undergrad, I barely graduated with a 3.0, but even in the classes I recieved Cs in, I learned a TON! U of P is great because it rewards me for my hard work. I would recommend this program to anyone who is serious about their education and is offered a corporate tuition reimbursement program.

MIS/Management instead. A few of my coworkers also attend the UOP and are pursuing MBAs in
Technology Management. I currently have a 3.91 GPA, which
has been very difficult to maintain. There is no free lunch because the two coworkers of mine each had to drop courses on numerous occasions and both of them are pretty
brilliant. I've learned so much from doing many research papers on topics that I had no idea about before. In addition, the discussion questions and participation is excellent because student can learn from each other and debate about topics. In some cases, the instructors can also learn from students depending on the work experience
of the student. I know too many individuals that attend the traditional universities and graduate yet have no valuable work experience and sometimes struggle in the work environment. The UOP instructors constantly challenge students to apply and compare topics to their current work environment. I believe that this is very effective because I've been able to advise my organization on better techniques for Risk Management and Project Management. Furthermore, I use all of the negativity about the UOP as motivation. I am determined to prove that my "sub par" UOP education is good enough for me to make it to the top.

I am currently a CFO for a multi-state multi-million dollar company and am currently completing my MBA with UOP. I also received my undergraduate degree from UOP. Yes some ill-informed mainstremers do not respect UOP but that should never keep someone from attending. I have attended several other Universitys and they're no different. UOP revolutionized the working adult educational system. Many University's such as Pepperdine, University of La Verne, University of Redlands, Cal Baptist etc. mirror their programs after UOP. I find it funny when people want to challenge my education with these facts present. Look, an education is what you make of it; you can either skate or not!

Unfortunately UOP's own marketing has come back to bite them. By being so widely marketed, they are perceived as a papermill. It would be in their best interest to try to change that image. In the mean time, understand the risks of obtaining a degree from UOP. If you are ready to answer questions about UOP, you can overcome the stereotype of UOP in an interview.

Good Luck!

UoP is a decent school, not great, but not bad either. The online aspect is VERY time consuming in that you must participate with substantial interactions at least four days a week. This means students spend a minimum of 90 minutes a night, four nights a week, just reading posts and replying with substantive responses. That time does not include any homework or paper researching. Believe me, the time it consumes is WAY more than I expected and Ill bet its beyond what most sticks and bricks people face. Teams can be a problem and there are goldbrickers out there that will take the free ride from students who are willing to work hard. I have had that problem only once since I have been able to attend all of my classes, except one, with the same three people who are all very dedicated and helpful. I spoke at length with a woman who earned her E-MBA approximately three years ago from a well-known school and she spoke about team members who were losers and couldnt work with others. Those people are everywhere and UoP has no greater measure of them than any other school. The teachers range from never there to in your face but I had the same issue when I attended undergrad design school. Some teachers have been excellent while a couple were a bit of a joke. On the whole, the teachers have been very knowledgeable and helpful but they seem constrained by the teaching methods the school uses. The question remains, What value does the UoP MBA give to a person? Well, thats entirely dependant on your position in life and where you want to go. Im not looking to work at an investment house and I already make 6 figures. UoP answered a need and they are providing me with a decent education and Im getting back exactly what I put into it. If others want to slam the school, knock yourself out but I would suggest that those that complain about it actually attend it before slamming it. Much of the complaining about the school centers on academic standards but Cs get degrees, even from the better schools. I spoke with a fellow employee who got her MBA from UC Berkley and she asked why I was doing so much writing for my UoP MBA. We never had to write that much when I was going to school, she said to me. I was floored. I have had to write multi-thousand word papers repeatedly for UoP assignments on top of numerous lengthy team projects. UoP is not easy, its not a degree mill and it answers the needs of thousands of people out there who are looking to extend their education during certain life stages where regular school is not an option.

Hello all,

I am a MBA student at UofP. If you are interested in this program, read my comments. I am very serious about my education. I will discuss all of the good aspects that I feel this program offers and I will inform you of what I think needs to be corrected.
Before I begin about the program I would like to inform some of the readers about the psychology of people. People tend to flow with the status quo. When people are taken out of their norm, i.e. the college experience, they become agitated by the difference in online versus to what they know or think they know about the tradition-learning environment. This fact would lead me to believe that most of the bad reviews are from people that did not fully understand the requirement of this type of education.
I am now going to address the issues of online programs versus traditional educational institutions. State schools and large private schools have been around for years, Harvard September 8, 1636 (Harvard, 2006). Due of this fact, older institutions do not have to advertise as aggressively as some universities. Being a minor, I also understand that older school have incorporated testing and outrageous tuition to prevent the under privileged from attend their institutions. They have also built a great brand image by telling the public that their way is the only way to get educated. Online program scoff at the status quote.
Now that I have upset a few of you, I would like to tell you about my experience at UofP. This is the most intense program of any type that I have ever been associated with. The workload is very large and the professors demand a great deal of each student. On average, I produce a 1500 - 2100 word paper every week. The program is very challenging. I LOVE IT. I do not want it to be easy. If it were easy, everyone would have an MBA. One my professors stated the first night of class, If you do not think about quitting at least twelve times during a graduate program, it is not worth completing (Kight, R. 2006).
Every program has its problems and UofP is no different. The first problem I encountered was with the financial aid department. Someone between my enrollment counselor and the FA counselor inputted my name wrong and it was a three-week hassle. Then I discovered that each class had an assignment due the first night without any specific instructions for the professor. The student just has to guess at what the instructor expects. This issue gets easier after the third class.
I feel confident in recommending this program to individuals that want a challenging and rewarding MBA experience. I have learned a great deal and hope to keep that trend going.
If you would like anything else about my experience in this program, please fell free to email me on this site. Only serious questions please.

UOP is an excellent school which serves its purpose. Trying to compare it to traditional Universities is like comparing apples to oranges. I am appalled at the professionals which state they will not hire or represent (recruiters) a person with a UOP education. This makes me question their education. Actually, as time goes by, UOP will become more accepted. Just think about it. If the school is graduating over 27,000 MBAs a year, the probability is 60% that they will be the people representing or hiring people which have degrees from other universities by the year 2019. This information is derived from my sub-standard UOP MBA education.

University of Phoenix under delivers of everything they promise!!! They don't care about you or your education!!! Visit www.myuopmistake.com to learn about my story

I've never understood what bothers people about UOP: Is it that it is a "for-profit" enterprise? Some of the finest schools in the nation are private, for-profit schools; so that doesn't stick. Is it that it is online? How many universities offer online classes and programs? Many great business schools do. That doesn't fly either, then. What about admissions? Pretty liberal, huh. So are many State colleges. But no one questions thier credibility. The reality is that online degree programs are here to stay. Furthermore, any university that does not flex to accomodate the massive influx of non-traditional students, is going to go the way of the dodo. THEY know this, but thier silly snobbery persists. I did my undergraduate degree in business at an ASCCB accredited college, then earned my MBA from Phoenix, so I have seen both sides of the fence. Phoenix had a trully rigorous curriculum. This is true of thier MBA at least.

I enjoyed earning my MBA from UOP. I say this with both pride and realism. My program was intensive, non-stop and intellectually stimulating. The program was also rife with poor instructors and unworthy students. I got a great deal out of the program because I put a great deal of effort into the program. Many people went through on autopilot and should not have receive the degrees they received. I pursued the UOP MBA even though I was aware of the school's poor reputation, limited accreditation, and, in my opinion, questionable marketing practices. I remember a school recruiter trying to convince me that regional accreditation was better than AACSB accreditation. I enrolled at UOP because it fit my life. UOP allowed me to go to school and maintain my marriage, child, and work responsibilities. My employer also paid the bill. My investment was the two years. I know that many potential employers chuckle when they see UOP on a resume. Fortunately my employer, a major telecom, finds UOP to be an acceptable institution. Many of my peers and subordinates are pursuing various degrees from UOP. Since graduation I have received two promotions, both at least partly due to my MBA. My salary has also doubled. [Don't be overly impressed with this one. 2 X 0 still equals 0.] Yet I know that having UOP on my resume is not always helpful in my quest to potentially grow my career away from my current employer. I also realize that my UOP MBA will not be my ticket to an executive suite at corporate HQ. UOP can't compete with the B-schools that get people into those offices. My advice to anyone reading this would be to look at schools with stronger reputations and accreditation. There are many more flexible programs at good schools today than four years ago. UOP should be a last resort. However, if UOP is your best option, I would say go for it and get the most out of it you can.

I'm about 2/3rds done with my online MBA. I currently have a 3.75 GPA and that is not an easy task. I had to earn the grade, studying 20 to 40 hours each week. I agree the standards for acceptance are very low, and that there are a lot of students that are sub-par. Because of this, learning teams are hit or miss. I try to analyze each member in the first week in hopes to find the good team members. This is a good way to avoid a bad group. However the advantage of having a bad group is that it gives you an opportunity to work on communication and leadership skills. As in any school, there is a mix of good and bad teachers. I am very impressed with the credentials each teacher has. I smile inside at people preferring teachers with a PHD. I would prefer being taught by a teacher with more career experience than a highly educational degree. Remember that saying "Those that can't do - - Teach." Although I do agree a teacher with both experience and education is a win-win situation. I believe that through the years, as the school becomes more recognized and accepted, the degree will carry more weight. I do agree that UoP has a reputation of being "commercialized" and "sub-Par." However over time, as on-line degrees become more common, that reputation will diminish. I travel a lot, and that is why I chose the UoP online degree. In my travels I ran into a retired executive that hired Stanford and Harvard graduates. He mumbled UoP to him, and I was surprised to see that he knew about the school. I asked him about how well the candidates did from each school. He said all three from Harvard were awesome. Two out of three from Stanford were good, and I was very surprised that two out of three from the UoP did well in his organization. He also emphasized that interviewing skills is the most important thing in an interview. It's not the school or GPA that is important. It has more to do with your interviewing skills! I know a lady that has a UoP MBA. She also mumbles when she announces where she got her degree. However she has bounced around in various management roles in my organization and is now working as an IT consultant earning about $100,000. Not too shabby. I rate the school with 5 stars because it really is a decent school. It gives me the flexibility to work full time, and still have time with my family. It was the best choice for me, and it has fulfilled all my expectations. Best regards, Ian

I'm in my first MBA class at the University of Phoenix, and it is great. After being out of school for nine years, the classroom setting is priceless. Anytime change comes to the world people initially criticize because it is not traditional. This society is not traditional anymore with the advances in technology etc... . The University of Phoenix programs are on the cutting edge of different forms of learning, and is where the future is headed. University of Phoenix graduates will be the new business leaders soon, so we all better adapt and position ourselves for the present and near future. The old business world is dying with scandal and corruption. I would recommend U of P to anyone who wants to be challenged and forced to dialogue with others and grow.

I am in my seventh class in UOP. I go to the UOP in Arizona. I read everyones opinion and while I respect your opinion I think UOP is a fine. The one weakness the school has is that it does not have a recruitment program for current students and graduates. I think if they had businesses coming in meeting with their MBA students that would bring a whole bunch of life to the program. What attracted me to the program was just my thirst for knowledge. Being an African-American I just have to be realistic and my goals have to be precise. UOP prgrams gives a student alot of incentive to just go out and start a business. The finace managerial classes help students understands working capital and shows a student which companies to invest in. As far as me earning this degree and working for a company I just don't think thats realistic based on my skin color and my experience knowing that there are not alot of minority managers of color other then women. I have lived on the west coast for 6 years and I have never seen a manager of my same ethnicity and age. So with the game tilted against me all I can really do is learn how to make money thinking outside of the box. I have computer skills that I can capitalize on and I also have a really good thumb for the stock market. My biggest challenge will be coming up with enough capitol to start my investment portfolio. But as far as schools its not as outgoing as far as outside recruiting as lets sat devry's business school which I have personally seen present in a fortune 500 company. The bottom line is a MBA student has to be aware of career fairs where the recruiters are looking for MBA grads and interns. The investment of hunting down those career fairs can be quite expensive dependin on your location.

Oh my gosh – Hooked on Phonics! I love it. I went to U of P and yes I have to mumble it. Someone posted they treat you like a client and not a student – that is correct. Like companies, the bottom line is MONEY! It is the money they are making not the education you are receiving. Although I went to U of P for my Bachelor’s, I would never consider it for a MBA. They hook you in by guiding you through the financial aid process and before you know it, if you quit you pay back all your loans right away with no degree. I had one professor who spent two hours describing his life story and the reason he had a second child, I had another professor who spent a half hour showing us how to make a table tent (so our names could be displayed), I had another professor spent two hours talking about his web site. I had one class that consisted of watching videos the entire three hours and another that involved ‘quiet time’ where we could study. I haven’t had quiet time since elementary school!!! I felt like this was a business – everyone was after money – the professors were in it for the money and often seemed too tired from their full time jobs to put in any effort; the advisors were after the commission they received for signing students up. My papers rarely had feedback and I often felt they weren’t even read but check marked. If you want to go to a school for a piece of paper without any effort and no relevance in the real world, than U of P is great. But if you want something reputable with a solid background and an actual curriculum, U of P is not for you.

I will begin by first stating that I strongly feel that an MBA from the University of Phoenix is probably not a good idea unless your employer is sending you and values a degree from this institution. If you have that assurance, then it probably wouldn't be a waste of time and energy. If you don't have that assurance however, I would explore other options. They're out there! I've seen a lot of people defend the University of Phoenix by stating that it is accredited. This is true it does have a REGIONAL accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools based in Chicago, which give a blanket accreditation to the entire school. However, the University of Phoenix does not have a specialized accreditation from an organization like the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which is important when we're talking specifically about MBA programs. I can't speak for some of the other graduate programs, but if they are missing specialized accreditation, I would take that into consideration. The fact that this is such a debatable issue should be another reason to think twice about going. There is no debate about the value of an MBA from a traditional institution. Sure, some are held in higher regard than others, but there isn't the sort of stigma that a for-profit institution would most likely carry with it. The University of Phoenix has definitely done a good job getting it's brand out there, but it carries with it a huge stigma in many peoples eyes. The perception that many people have regarding their program is that a University of Phoenix graduate decided to take the easy way out. Whether that is because the University of Phoenix doesn't really have a rigid admissions process or because of it's questionable academic rigor or it's debatable accreditation, the fact is that there is a stigma. This is apparent by just reading this message board. People often opt for the University of Phoenix because of it's flexibility and it's convenience. One should consider, however, that there are a lot of programs out there from traditional institutions that offer a great deal of flexibility and even complete online programs. The University of Massachusetts, Amherst (Isenberg) would be one. The University of Maryland, University College would be another. In the latter case, they don't even require GMATs or letters of recommendation (much like U of P) Outside of that, unless you live in the middle of nowhere, the local regional university probably offers something on a part time basis. I am one