Complaint Review: AIU Online

I'm sorry Sandra, but you have obviously left very much out of your story or have no idea what you are talking about. I had a friend attend there and there were good things about the University and bad things. Just like any other school.

They are fully accredited and have always been. Yes they were on probation, but that doesn't mean they lost their accreditation. My friend weighed the pros and cons and attending the University and decided to go with it. The were taken off probation at the end of 2007 by SACS, which happens to be one of, if not the toughest accrediting body in the US. Next, as far as "the state of Alabama" not accepting your degree. A state does not accept a degree. What is that supposed to mean? Another University may accept a degree, but the key to accepting credits or a degree is the accreditation. (FYI Regional Accreditation is the highest you can get).

It seems AIU charged you because you didn't withdraw from your next set of classes in time. If you never went into the class, you would have been fine, but obviously you did. This all could be solved if you NICELY and POLITELY call and ask to speak to someone there. Your advisor or whoever handles that sort of thing. But if you get on the phone and start yelling and getting all upset about being ripped off, odds are, it's not going to help and you'll just get shut down.

Your grads supposedly not being posted in a timely manner is something you need to take up with your teacher, not the University. Did you turn your work in on time? I know that classes close and grades have to be posted within a few days of the end of class. So maybe your grades were so late because of when you turned in your assignment.

I honestly don't think AIU is a ripoff. Again, it has it's positives and it's negatives, just like any other University or business for that fact. I think the bottom line is a lot of people, like yourself, didn't do their research and then find something they are upset about, whether it is that the University used to be on probation or that if you log into your class after a certain date, you are charged for that class (which is standard in education), or that your state requires more than just that degree for you to be a teacher, so they then start screaming that AIU is a rip off. My advice is when taking on something of this magnitude, financially and life altering, take your time, do your research and think about it. Don't jump into it blind and blame others for your mistakes.

I'm sorry Sandra, but you have obviously left very much out of your story or have no idea what you are talking about. I had a friend attend there and there were good things about the University and bad things. Just like any other school.

They are fully accredited and have always been. Yes they were on probation, but that doesn't mean they lost their accreditation. My friend weighed the pros and cons and attending the University and decided to go with it. The were taken off probation at the end of 2007 by SACS, which happens to be one of, if not the toughest accrediting body in the US. Next, as far as "the state of Alabama" not accepting your degree. A state does not accept a degree. What is that supposed to mean? Another University may accept a degree, but the key to accepting credits or a degree is the accreditation. (FYI Regional Accreditation is the highest you can get).

It seems AIU charged you because you didn't withdraw from your next set of classes in time. If you never went into the class, you would have been fine, but obviously you did. This all could be solved if you NICELY and POLITELY call and ask to speak to someone there. Your advisor or whoever handles that sort of thing. But if you get on the phone and start yelling and getting all upset about being ripped off, odds are, it's not going to help and you'll just get shut down.

Your grads supposedly not being posted in a timely manner is something you need to take up with your teacher, not the University. Did you turn your work in on time? I know that classes close and grades have to be posted within a few days of the end of class. So maybe your grades were so late because of when you turned in your assignment.

I honestly don't think AIU is a ripoff. Again, it has it's positives and it's negatives, just like any other University or business for that fact. I think the bottom line is a lot of people, like yourself, didn't do their research and then find something they are upset about, whether it is that the University used to be on probation or that if you log into your class after a certain date, you are charged for that class (which is standard in education), or that your state requires more than just that degree for you to be a teacher, so they then start screaming that AIU is a rip off. My advice is when taking on something of this magnitude, financially and life altering, take your time, do your research and think about it. Don't jump into it blind and blame others for your mistakes.

I'm sorry Sandra, but you have obviously left very much out of your story or have no idea what you are talking about. I had a friend attend there and there were good things about the University and bad things. Just like any other school.

They are fully accredited and have always been. Yes they were on probation, but that doesn't mean they lost their accreditation. My friend weighed the pros and cons and attending the University and decided to go with it. The were taken off probation at the end of 2007 by SACS, which happens to be one of, if not the toughest accrediting body in the US. Next, as far as "the state of Alabama" not accepting your degree. A state does not accept a degree. What is that supposed to mean? Another University may accept a degree, but the key to accepting credits or a degree is the accreditation. (FYI Regional Accreditation is the highest you can get).

It seems AIU charged you because you didn't withdraw from your next set of classes in time. If you never went into the class, you would have been fine, but obviously you did. This all could be solved if you NICELY and POLITELY call and ask to speak to someone there. Your advisor or whoever handles that sort of thing. But if you get on the phone and start yelling and getting all upset about being ripped off, odds are, it's not going to help and you'll just get shut down.

Your grads supposedly not being posted in a timely manner is something you need to take up with your teacher, not the University. Did you turn your work in on time? I know that classes close and grades have to be posted within a few days of the end of class. So maybe your grades were so late because of when you turned in your assignment.

I honestly don't think AIU is a ripoff. Again, it has it's positives and it's negatives, just like any other University or business for that fact. I think the bottom line is a lot of people, like yourself, didn't do their research and then find something they are upset about, whether it is that the University used to be on probation or that if you log into your class after a certain date, you are charged for that class (which is standard in education), or that your state requires more than just that degree for you to be a teacher, so they then start screaming that AIU is a rip off. My advice is when taking on something of this magnitude, financially and life altering, take your time, do your research and think about it. Don't jump into it blind and blame others for your mistakes.

I'm sorry Sandra, but you have obviously left very much out of your story or have no idea what you are talking about. I had a friend attend there and there were good things about the University and bad things. Just like any other school.

They are fully accredited and have always been. Yes they were on probation, but that doesn't mean they lost their accreditation. My friend weighed the pros and cons and attending the University and decided to go with it. The were taken off probation at the end of 2007 by SACS, which happens to be one of, if not the toughest accrediting body in the US. Next, as far as "the state of Alabama" not accepting your degree. A state does not accept a degree. What is that supposed to mean? Another University may accept a degree, but the key to accepting credits or a degree is the accreditation. (FYI Regional Accreditation is the highest you can get).

It seems AIU charged you because you didn't withdraw from your next set of classes in time. If you never went into the class, you would have been fine, but obviously you did. This all could be solved if you NICELY and POLITELY call and ask to speak to someone there. Your advisor or whoever handles that sort of thing. But if you get on the phone and start yelling and getting all upset about being ripped off, odds are, it's not going to help and you'll just get shut down.

Your grads supposedly not being posted in a timely manner is something you need to take up with your teacher, not the University. Did you turn your work in on time? I know that classes close and grades have to be posted within a few days of the end of class. So maybe your grades were so late because of when you turned in your assignment.

I honestly don't think AIU is a ripoff. Again, it has it's positives and it's negatives, just like any other University or business for that fact. I think the bottom line is a lot of people, like yourself, didn't do their research and then find something they are upset about, whether it is that the University used to be on probation or that if you log into your class after a certain date, you are charged for that class (which is standard in education), or that your state requires more than just that degree for you to be a teacher, so they then start screaming that AIU is a rip off. My advice is when taking on something of this magnitude, financially and life altering, take your time, do your research and think about it. Don't jump into it blind and blame others for your mistakes.

I disagree that AIU is an accredited University.The state of Alabama would not accept their degree,and therefore;informed me that to continue to seek a degree in Elementary Education/Information Technology would not be accepted by the state of Alabama.If it is not so, that AIU is not a "RIPOFF" so-called institution,why then, do they continue to ripoff unsuspecting students. AIU actually charged me over $5,000 just because I went into my student email searching for my grades that should have been posted at least a week earlier.My grades should have been posted timely manner as it should have been.

Once, I discussed this matter with my instructor,I was directed to my student email account where my grades were going to be emailed to me. The school notified me that once you have withdrew from the school,you cannot enter your email with the school. As I stated in the beginning of this statement,I was instructed by my instructor to go into my student email to retrive my grade,I did so,but;to my surprise when I received my tuition statement,I had an additional charge of over
$5,000 charged to my student account. AIU is a "RIPOFF"

San

AIU Online has a fairly large following among working adults. While spending 23 years in the US Navy, I ran across many Sailors that had obtained a degree from AIU and were completely satisfied with the curriculum and the recognition of the degree. I personally earned my BS through Excelsior College, Albany NY but am quite interested in a graduate degree from AIU. I contacted them and was quite impressed with their curriculum, standards and learning environment. I haven't noticed any hard sales tactics.

Currently, I am a Training Specialist for a large company dealing with DoD contracts. AIU is recognized and accredited in the training industry. This is important to me because I will continue in the training environment for my next career after the US Navy. Additionally they are an approved university for my MGIB and offer a 15% savings for military personnel and veterans. These are major points to me but they may not be for others.

Lastly, AIU took notice of their probationary status and made the necessary changes to gain full accreditation through the Southern Association of College and Schools. If I learned one thing in all my years, making a mistake is not a true indicator of character; it is what you do after that mistake that defines character. Call me silly but I appreciate the fact that they were under scrutiny for a year or two and succeeded in gaining full accreditation.

I'm still unsure if I will attend AIU but many of these posts seem to lack the understanding that Online learning is vastly different to a traditional learning environment. Yes, the courses are fast paced and retention can suffer. However, that is more a reflection on the student than the curriculum. What you get out of the courseware it is directly proportional to what you put into. Retention only happens through repeated exposure.

If one feels they are not retaining the material, spend more short sessions of course study/review and not one or two sessions. This is called chunking information. The Science of Learning is definitive on how we learn. I remember the days of cramming for exams and felt when I walked out, I knew nothing. Truth was, I didn't. Had I spent five or more study sessions of lesser time, I would have been better prepared and retained the knowledge much longer.

I can't address the personal beliefs of ex-employees. I am certain they have their reasons for their opinions. However, when things get personal, I have noticed that objectivity often suffers. Again no flames intended, I just try to scan past these types of posts.

Will I attend AIU, who knows. I am looking at Strayer, Jones International, Capella and others. One thing I like about all these, AIU included, is that they have curriculum that fits my busy life style and the courses seem more relevant to current trends in the work force. It appears to me that traditional universities are less flexible and are a step behind the work force in some instances.

This is not a knock on traditional learning; I would love to have the time to dedicate to learning the traditional way but until that happens, I like the latest offerings from the Online Universities. It is a great alternative for working professionals without sacrificing the quality of instruction.

I have noticed that some posters state that their credits will not transfer. I have found this to be incorrect in my situation and the credits transfer pretty much the same way as other universities whether traditional or online. Being career military, I have attended many colleges and universities. In other words, I have credits from Old Dominion Unversity, Emery Riddle, University of Maryland, Thomas Edison State College, College of Southern Maryland, Excelsior College, Colorado Technical University, Tidewater Community College, Oklahoma State along numerous CLEP and DSST exams. I found my credits transfer without any issues. I can certainly tell you some programs may scrutinize the courses that are being used for transfer credit to ensure they meet their standards. To date, I have not had any issues between how my my Online courses and my traditional college courses are accepted. They truly seem to be accepted with the same weight.

I have no dog in this hunt, so thats my unbiased opinion based on my experience.

AIU is still not a real school. None of their credits transfer anywhere, except to maybe another one of those junk, fake on line schools.
All brick & morter colleges and community colleges offer on line classes now at reasonable state tuition rates. If everyone would just stop this Bull$#*& of attending these rip off places of higher education, you would not be getting yourselves in a financial bind, or having these rip off companies trying to ruin your credit. Then UOP, AXIA, STRAYER, CAPELLA, and who ever else Jon Doe for profit schools will close up shop and be gone for good!

These on line schools are a 100% rip off. I have taken a few on line classes through one of my local community college's and I am satisfied to know that its 100% accredited and transferable to any 4 year university, no questions asked.

Please everyone, stop giving yourself a heartache

You will be happy to know that AIU is now off probation!

CEC OWNES AIU AND MANY OTHER COPSHOP UNIVERSITIES. THEY USE RIPOFFREPORT.COM TO REBUTE STUDENTS WITH "REAL ISSUES"

WHAT REAL SCHOOL HAS SCHOOL OFFICIALS ON RIPOFFREPORT.COM DOING THIS?

THIS IS WEIRD, TACTLESS, AND SAD.

CEC REPRESENTATIVES NEED TO GET LIVES AND LEAVE PAST/CURRENT STUDENTS ALONE.

AIU Online is a great University. We operate with integrity, consistency, and we are student centered. Information about our probationary status is posted on every site we own. We have never lost our accreditation. Being accredited is what allows students to apply for Title IV Funds when they are seeking financial assistance.

We are not deceptive in our practices. We are very forthright about our challenges and our successes. We do not badmouth other universities and we do not force students to apply without doing their research.

It is very unfortunate that this misinformation is posted on the Internet. I'm sure you can find someone who has had a bad experience with every university. We have 50,000 alumni throughout the country. That number will probably put these postings in perspective.

If I didn't believe in this University, I would not work here and go to school here. Find out for yourself if this is the school for you. The online option helps many people get an education who can't go the traditional route.

CEC which owns AIU is being investigated by news stations, educational department, federal government and being sued by their students and faculy.

What dependable college get sued by their students and facult???

CEC schools including AIU are traded on the NASDAQ under CECo. What college wants their future riding on the NYSE?

This isn't a good thing to say the least. CEC has been ripping students off for years now and they are walking a fine line which looks to be breaking.

Check out the CBS investigation we have into CEC and many other investigations and reports from prior students. These reports you can't rebute and clog with with nonsense from CEC representatives. CEC schools are running for profit chopshops.

(All these reports can't lie)

facebook: (((link redacted)))

myspace: (((link redacted)))

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

I am an employee of AIU Online for over three years and would like to clear up some incorrect opinion expressed in your report.
First of all, AIU publicly posts their accreditation status on the home page of their web site. True, AIU has been on probation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This is being taken very seriously by the University and the employees. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to improve and become an even stronger institution.

The suggestions that were made by SACS are being embraced and acted on. We would be crazy to not take the opinions of some very distinguished individuals from SACS who are considered experts in their field. This school is amazing and gives a very high quality education to many people and helps to improve their lives. I understand that other schools may bash AIU or make the probation a negative thing. This I attribute to them being insecure about the quality of their own programs.

You mention that you were made aware of the probation by U of P, have you checked their rip off report? Their accreditation or their lawsuits? Not pretty. I am not going to bash them, but I also urge you to do more research. I think you would be amazed about how many very good schools (both online and ground campus) have been on probation at one point or another. I know that you are working hard on your degree (that program is not easy!) and should be commended for furthering your education. Take the time to speak with your advisor about this probation (the results will be in by December by the way and I truly believe that we will be taken off of probation at that time).

I also urge you to check the SACS web site for more information rather than take the word of an advisor from another school who has no clue. I also would like you to know that even in the unlikely event that AIU would lose their accreditation all of the classes that you did up to that point would be conferred and would come from a regionally accredited University. Again, I state that I really do not expect us to lose our accreditation and personally believe that AIU is a stronger school than they ever have been and that you would not be disappointed by staying. I hope this at least helps a little. I am proud of AIU and you can be proud of your degree! Good job!

They are still on probabation but AIU Online has improved on the changes that were needed and recommended by SACS accreditation. I am currently a student and have witnessed the changes occur in front of me.

In the past months AIU AIU Online has incorporated these changes:

They have programmed turnitin.com into the virtual classroom. This decreases plagiarism. Many online programs were using turnitin.com before AIU Online incorporated it.

In June 2007 they will now offer LIVE one on one tutoring. They are free and students can sign up for multiple sessions.

Since September 2006, full-time enrollment is not the only option, they offer flexible scheduling now.(part-time enrollment, 1 class every 5 weeks).

Since the beginning of 2007, They have added a quite a few more concentrations for associates, bachelors, and master's degrees.

AIU Online is on the ball making changes for their online education. They will continue to make more changes. Change is good.