Hello,

I've decided to go back to school and do it online and get my Associatees in Criminal Justice. I have looked into both UOP and AIU and cannot decide which to join. Is there anyone who is enrolled in any of these school and can give me info on which is better?

I've heard that UOP is a very prestigious school, UOP is not clear on their tuition and fees, that it's more expensive. On ther other hand some people have not even heard of AIU but I heard that you never have to buy any books or software. I cannot decide.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hi ana - I'm sorry to tell you that neither U of P nor AIU are especially prestigious here in the USA.  Please look here for alternatives:

http://www.elearners.com/online-degrees/associate/criminal-justice.htm

Neither of the above schools are "bad" but each has negative characteristics.  You are smart to check around before making a choice.  There are many, many Criminal Justice degree programs available.  Most are not included in the above link.  Read carefully before you decide.

Neither school is even remotely prestigious.  AIU is on probation with their accreditor, and Phoenix is okay, but wildly overpriced.  For less than the cost of an Associate's at Phoenix you could get a Bachelor's from Fort Hays State University, a school likely to be better received by employers and grad schools.

-=Steve=- 

 

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

Good question!

I actually attended both Universities so I know a good amount about them.  First of all they both have the same accredidation which is good.  I am currently attending UoP and I have found that AIU has some pretty sleazy ways of doing business.  It takes 90 credits to get a degree there and 60 at UoP(60 is the standard at any traditional college).  So AIU advertises a cheaper cost per credit but since it takes more credits to get that degee then you end up paying much more money.  Almost $4000 more just for an associates.  UoP is a bigger name too so its going to be more recognized.  Infact I think a big reason I have had such a good councelor at UoP.  He still works there too give him a call.  He can really help you out.  His name is Brad.

 

PhxCop:

Good question!

I actually attended both Universities so I know a good amount about them.  First of all they both have the same accredidation which is good.  I am currently attending UoP and I have found that AIU has some pretty sleazy ways of doing business.  It takes 90 credits to get a degree there and 60 at UoP(60 is the standard at any traditional college).  So AIU advertises a cheaper cost per credit but since it takes more credits to get that degee then you end up paying much more money.  Almost $4000 more just for an associates.  UoP is a bigger name too so its going to be more recognized.  Infact I think a big reason I have had such a good councelor at UoP.  He still works there too give him a call.  He can really help you out.  His name is Brad.

I know UoP has ACBSP accreditation for their MBA program. However, I am not sure AIU has that.

Last I checked AIU does not have ACBSP.  Neither school has an especially wonderful reputation, I personally like the University of Phoenix and believe they have done a lot in the promotion of distance and professional education, however I find their marketing strategy to be intrusive and damaging, hurting the reputation of the school.  But that's my .02.  AIU however is a very expensive school of questionable business practices.  I have no doubt they are rigorous academically though.

I agree with Cajun 100%. Last time when I checked, AIU's RA is on probation. People hate UoP's marketing tactics and wonder about distance learning, but UoP's accreditation is solid. I had no problem with their BSIT degree and transfer credits to public university's business school which had RA and AACSB accreditation. I could not say that for AIU with same amount of certainty.

kcdpas:

I agree with Cajun 100%. Last time when I checked, AIU's RA is on probation. People hate UoP's marketing tactics and wonder about distance learning, but UoP's accreditation is solid. I had no problem with their BSIT degree and transfer credits to public university's business school which had RA and AACSB accreditation. I could not say that for AIU with same amount of certainty.

The funny thing about wondering about distance learning because of Phoenix's marketing techniques is that they have more students on all those campuses of theirs than they do online!  Why doesn't anyone question the legitimacy of campus-based programs because of Phoenix's marketing?  It would be just as justifiable.

-=Steve=-

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

SteveFoerster:

kcdpas:

I agree with Cajun 100%. Last time when I checked, AIU's RA is on probation. People hate UoP's marketing tactics and wonder about distance learning, but UoP's accreditation is solid. I had no problem with their BSIT degree and transfer credits to public university's business school which had RA and AACSB accreditation. I could not say that for AIU with same amount of certainty.

The funny thing about wondering about distance learning because of Phoenix's marketing techniques is that they have more students on all those campuses of theirs than they do online!  Why doesn't anyone question the legitimacy of campus-based programs because of Phoenix's marketing?  It would be just as justifiable.

-=Steve=-

I think many professors questioning UoP's education quality as a whole regardless the program is on campus or online. The reason is quite simple: UoP is different and it has a unconventional way of teaching which is suited for working adults. The conventional education systems have not yet embraced fully to the new approach and revolutionary way of education in the information age. Now, we start seen more and more bricks and mortar schools are starting offering more online education. Such as the one I just been accepted from CSU MSIT program (it requires GMAT/GRE and each class requires proctored exams at ETS testing centers in order to meet AACSB standards). Traditional educators still fell any education without exams are not acceptable for instance. I don't think they will every accept UoP's education as equal to certain extend. Only time will tell.

PhxCop:

 I am currently attending UoP and I have found that AIU has some pretty sleazy ways of doing business.  It takes 90 credits to get a degree there and 60 at UoP(60 is the standard at any traditional college).  So AIU advertises a cheaper cost per credit but since it takes more credits to get that degee then you end up paying much more money.  Almost $4000 more just for an associates. 

The reason why American Intercontinental University takes 90 hours for an associate's degree while the University of Phoenix takes only 60 hours for the associate's degree is that AIU is on quarter hours while UOP is on semester hours. Since a quarter hour is equal to 1 hour a week for 10 weeks while a semester hour is equal to 1 hour a week for 15 weeks, a quarter hour is equal to 2/3 of a semester hour. Hence, 1 1/2 quarter hours is equal to 1 semester hour. Hence, tuition per quarter hour is usually less expensive than tuition per semester hour. Lesson to be learned: when looking at cost of schooling, find out tuition per hour and number of hours for the degree in order to find out total tuition for the degree.  

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Theodore L. Heiks, BA, History/Political Science, Western State College of Colorado, 1984; MBA, Entrepfreneurship, City University Washington, 1992; MBA, Marketing, City University Washington, 1993

kcdpas:

I agree with Cajun 100%. Last time when I checked, AIU's RA is on probation.

I am 100% certain that AIU is no longer on probation with the Southern Association. I believe the date that probation was lifted was December 2007.

---

Theodore L. Heiks, BA, History/Political Science, Western State College of Colorado, 1984; MBA, Entrepfreneurship, City University Washington, 1992; MBA, Marketing, City University Washington, 1993

ana:

Hello,

I've decided to go back to school and do it online and get my Associatees in Criminal Justice. I have looked into both UOP and AIU and cannot decide which to join. Is there anyone who is enrolled in any of these school and can give me info on which is better?

I've heard that UOP is a very prestigious school, UOP is not clear on their tuition and fees, that it's more expensive. On ther other hand some people have not even heard of AIU but I heard that you never have to buy any books or software. I cannot decide.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Institutions of higher education offering the associate's in criminal justice via distance learning include: Adirondack Community College www.sunyacc.edu ; College of the Albemarle www.albemarle.edu ; Andrew Jackson University www.aju.edu ; Ashworth University www.ashworthuniversity.edu ; Barstow College www.bcconline.com ; Bemidji State University www.bemidjistate.edu ; Bismarck State College www.bismarckstate.edu ; Bossier Parish Community College www.bpcc.edu ; Central Texas College www.ctcd.edu  Charter Oak State College www.cosc.edu ; Clovis Community College www.clovis.edu ; Colorado Technical University www.ctuonline.edu ; Columbia College www.ccis.edu ; Columbia Southern University www.columbiasouthern.edu ; Danville Area Community College www.dcc.vccs.edu ; Darton College www.darton.edu ; Everest University www.everest.edu ; Fort Hays State University www.fhsu.edu ; Gaston College www.www.gaston.cc.nc.us ; Grantham University www.grantham.edu ; Greenville Technical College www.greenvilletech.com ; Hopkinsville Community College www.hopkinsville.kctcs.edu ; Indiana College Network www.icn.org ; Jefferson Community College www.sunyjefferson.edu ; Kaplan University www.kaplan.edu ; Keiser University www.keiseruniversity.edu ; Kentucky Commonwealth Virtual University www.kcvu.org ; Kirtland Community College www.kirtland.cc.mi.us ; Lansing Community College www.lcc.edu ; Liberty University www.liberty.edu ; Lock Haven University www.lhup.edu ; Monroe Community College www.monroecc.edu ; Mountain State University www.mountainstate.edu ; Mount Wauchusett Community College www.mwcc.mass.edu ; Northwestern State University www.nsula.edu ; The Paralegal Institute www.theparalegalinstitute.com ; Penn Foster College www.pennfoster.edu ; Randolph Community College www.virtualrandolph.org ; Remington College www.remingtoncollege.edu ; Saint John's University www.stjohns.edu ; Saint Joseph's College www.sjcme.edu ; Salt Lake Community College www.slcc.edu ; Southwest University www.southwest.edu ; Stanly Community College www.stanly.edu ; Taft College www.taftcollege.edu ; Taylor University www.tayloru.edu ; Thomas Edison State College www.tesc.edu ; Tunxis Community College www.tunxis.commnet.edu ; Utah Valley State College www.uvsc.edu ; Weber State University www.weber.edu ; and West Shore Community College www.westshore.cc.mi.us .  

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Theodore L. Heiks, BA, History/Political Science, Western State College of Colorado, 1984; MBA, Entrepfreneurship, City University Washington, 1992; MBA, Marketing, City University Washington, 1993

tedmeister:

kcdpas:

I agree with Cajun 100%. Last time when I checked, AIU's RA is on probation.

I am 100% certain that AIU is no longer on probation with the Southern Association. I believe the date that probation was lifted was December 2007.

Thanks for the update. Do you have any information about why they were on probation? A friend of mine is interested in AIU's program as well.

kcdpas:

tedmeister:

kcdpas:

I agree with Cajun 100%. Last time when I checked, AIU's RA is on probation.

I am 100% certain that AIU is no longer on probation with the Southern Association. I believe the date that probation was lifted was December 2007.

Thanks for the update. Do you have any information about why they were on probation? A friend of mine is interested in AIU's program as well.

Neither the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools www.sacs.org nor American Intercontinental University www.aiuniv.edu says anything on their respective websites as to why AIU was on probation.

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Theodore L. Heiks, BA, History/Political Science, Western State College of Colorado, 1984; MBA, Entrepfreneurship, City University Washington, 1992; MBA, Marketing, City University Washington, 1993

tedmeister:

kcdpas:

tedmeister:

kcdpas:

I agree with Cajun 100%. Last time when I checked, AIU's RA is on probation.

I am 100% certain that AIU is no longer on probation with the Southern Association. I believe the date that probation was lifted was December 2007.

Thanks for the update. Do you have any information about why they were on probation? A friend of mine is interested in AIU's program as well.

Neither the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools www.sacs.org nor American Intercontinental University www.aiuniv.edu says anything on their respective websites as to why AIU was on probation.

May be AIU is not on probation now, but they were. Check out this link below and I beleif the information are legit: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/203/RipOff0203329.htm