Complaint Review: University Of Phoenix Online Aka Apollo Group - Phoenix Arizona

Katrina victim: I am not happy to hear someone enrolled you when you had to flee Houston. I had a number pf students that had to do that as well and I DID NOT enroll them knowing that no one was sure what was going to happen. Also, I have another suggestion, I do this as a student as well to control my expenses and scheduling, I do not provide my CC info for automatic billing. This forces your Finance Counselor to maintain communication with you as future classes come up. You always have the option to mail in any payments or pay through your school site once enrolled. About your FA disbursements. PELL IS NEVER GURANTEED. You may be eligible due to your data from your FAFSA, but this could change due to Verification that triggers changes from incorrect info from your IRS documentation, actual attendance (you have to attend 60% of the calendar period of your 12 credit hour disbursements. UOP this is ca. the 3rd week of your 3rd class to "earn" your PELL grant. This does not prevent disbursement, but it does prevent and "overpayment" which the D. of Ed. will demand back if you do not meet that requirement), the FA office of the school you attend finds that you do not meet the requirements for PELL due to their costs on file with the D. of Ed. (this last bit is in lay-terms, please go to: www.studentaid.ed.gov for the official statements from the US D. of Ed.). Next, a quick review about Student Loans. They come in a few forms: Stafford subsidized, Stafford Unsubsidized, Perkins loans and Private/ Alternative Educational loans. Stafford loans are through private lenders, but guaranteed to a student if they meet the Federal Student Aid requirements (go to www.fafsa.ed.gov for those requirement and refer to the studentaid site above as well). The subsidized funds do not hold you responsible for the interest accruing as long as you are meeting attendance and grade requirements in school-- the gov't pass the interest. Unsubsidized Stafford loans accrue interest. You should try to pay that down while you are in school if you can afford it. Perkins loans are another set of loans from the gov't but through your school if they participate. These loans have a fixed rate of interest at all times and start coming due for repayment 7 years after you take the loan out. Alternative/ Private educational loans are credit based through private lenders to help one pay for school. Stafford loan repayments begin 6 months (grace period) after: dropping below half-time status for attendance, dropping out, or graduation with your final degree (if you keep going to school at least part time after you complete a degree). Lenders also have additional programs to help people repay/ defer paying if they cannot afford their payments. You need to contact your lender for their rules and programs. Last, if you feel that you were not helped during the Katrina period, call to the University and ask about the Katrina/ Rita relief help. This was instituted by many (not all) Universities and Colleges to help victims. I hope this helps.

A poster stated in an ealier post that she/he has not had to pay a dime out of pocket and has been enrolled since April of 2005. Your Pell/Stafford loans only go so far and after that it rolls over into student loans so be very careful. I was enrolled in UoP in 2001 and I'm still paying off my student loans, even though I had the grants. If I remember correctly, the Pell is not to be paid back but the Stafford is a student loan that is paid back at a fairly low interest rate, though I'm not entirely sure about that. Either way, I know that I had the grants, had many classes and was so impressed that I didn't have to pay anything out of pocket. That is, until 6 months after no longer attending then you must start repaying the student loans. Granted, it's not much per month but that isn't the point. When you are excited about enrolling, you don't think too much into the future and how you will go about paying back those loans. Just wanted to let you know to be very careful.

I made the mistake of giving my information to UOP via another website. Their counselor called me and sent me tons of emails, even after I said I couldn't do anything, due to a parent who is ill. Their reputation, from what I hear, isn't the greatest.

Angel, you should read my report on this website. Don't defend this school. I was WIPED OUT by Katrina and UOP has done nothing but try and swindle me ever since. Even refused me admission to another campus. We are the rule, you are the exception.

I think you just got the wrong person. When I enrolled I applied for my Pell and my stanford loans. I have not paid anything out of pocket since starting in April 2005. I think it is all in who handles your accounts. I have not had any problems thus far. When Hurricane Dennis hit I missed 3 weeks, but they worked with me. When Hurricane Katrina hit they waited 3 weeks to let me start my new block. Everytime my new blocks are coming up I am asked if I want a break in between. I would suggest if you decide to give it another try to talk to a different academic and financial counselor. Best of Luck!