I graduated from AIU this summer with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. I can say alot of good and bad things about this school, but I must be fair.

The education, frankly, is top-notch. The instructors are excellent, qualified individuals with alot to offer. The course material is relevant and the the program is intense. I had 9 years in the law enforcement field prior to starting at AIU, so i can tell you that the education they are providing is real-world and cutting edge. I have absolutely no complaints about the courses, the instructors, or the education I received.

Now, on the flip-side, AIU is on probation with SACS. This is a fact I wasn't aware of when I enrolled in 2005. I made the mistake of not doing much research before I applied. I believe AIU was placed on probation just prior to my enrollment. I can honestly say that the administration at AIU is less than desirable. This school is owned by a private corporation which is not in the business of providing education, they're in the business of generating profit.

My other complaint about the university, which comes right down to dollars, is that I had classes with alot of people that should not have been there. The admissions process is a joke, and there is almost no standard for admission. Show them the money and they'll show you the acceptance letter. Grade inflation is common and necessary to make sure that those who can't keep up with the program and submit sub-par assignments remain in the program and keep paying. It's frustrating to those who work hard.

As an example of how the administration works, it might take 3 days to get a call back from your advisor when you need help, but rest assured that if you're tuition payment is even 1 day late, you will get a call from the finance department. This is the sad truth behind what could be a great institution of higher learning.

I wouldn't discourage anyone from attending AIU as the education is excellent. The instructors, courses, and the virtual campus are all second to none. I am confident that the accreditation issue will be resolved and AIU will remain accredited in the future. Hopefully the issues that SACS has raised will correct some of the administrative shortcomings.