Hello,

My name is Daphne and I just recently withdrew from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online as a graphic design major.  I was wondering if anyone knew of any regionally accredited schools that may except credits from the Art Institute which is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).  I have even looked at one of the "BIG THREE", Charter Oaks and they won't except there credits.  I didn't enjoy my experience at AIO, the lack of knowledge of the instructors, the poor student support and poor financial services were the main reasons I left but now I think I am stuck with a fairly nice size of credits that aren't transferrable to any regional schools.  If anyone can advise me, please do, I just want to complete my degree. 

Thanks,

Daphne

Do you want to continue in graphic design?

How many credits?

 Academy of Art University is one possibility. 

 http://online.academyart.edu/degrees.html

Dennis,

I have 49 credit hours in graphic design/interactive media and I would like to continue in that but am willing to compromise on some level, like web development or visual communications, even just art would work.  The problem is not the major, the problem is the credits transferring from national to regionally accredited schools.  Kaplan, Charter Oaks and Bellevue flat out would not except credits.  I am awaiting answers from Capella, Westwood and Herzing.  I just really don't want to have to start from scratch all over again.

Hi Daphne,

You should check out the ACICS Transfer Alliance.  The transfer alliance is made up of nationally and regionally accredited schools which will accept transfer credits from ACICS accredited schools.  

You didn't mention if you are strictly searching for an online program, but Rasmussen College  is regionally accredited, and they do offer a digital design degree online.  Check out the ACICS Transfer Alliance for other possible schools to transfer to.

By the way, the only one of the Big Three that will even consider credits from nationally accredited schools is Excelsior College, and there is an evaluation process you have to go through.  To my knowledge, this has not bee used much, and Excelsior itself seems to be feeling its way through this policy.

Another option is to check out the HETA Transfer Alliance.  These are schools that will do not base credit transfer decisions solely on accreditation.

You could also transfer to another ACICS accredited school...ITT Technical Institute.  ITT sometimes gets a bad rap because it has the same credit transfer issues you are experiencing with the Art Institute, but they are located everywhere and they do have a graphic design program.  It my be the most "stress-free" way of transferring your credits.

The reason I mentioed the Academy of Art University is, I believe, that it only recently became regionally accredited.  I believe it was previously nationally accredited.  They have a reasonably big building in downtown San Francisco that I seem to remember driving by.  I think they are expensive.

Northcentral University might be an option as would most private for profit universities.. 

Western Governor's U and American Public U (as pointed out ) might be a possible as they have both regional and national (DETC) accreditation.

 Alternatively most DETC schools would probably accept you but the degree would still be nationally accredited.

 http://www.detc.org/search_schools.php?searchSet=true&category=A
 

There really should be no shortage of schools.  Keep trying   

One more is Monash University in Australia.  It wouldn't be overpriced and appears to have a distance Art and Design program but you would have to check.  Equivalent to regionally accredited and good.

http://www.artdes.monash.edu.au/contact/ 

You are right, there should not be a shortage of schools and there really isn't, it's just been hard finding one that excepts those credits in my field.  I even tried UOP and they would except 24 credits which I could live with but they wanted me to pick a management major which is not what I am looking for.  Thanks again, I am still looking!

Oh I try the Academy of Art and I love what they have to offer but just can't afford to pay $670 per credit hour even with grants and loans.  Thanks again for all your help!

I tried to past earlier, but for some reason it did not go through. 

Check out the ACICS Transfer Alliance, which has a list of schools which have agreed to accept credits from ACICS accredited schools.

There is also the HETA transfer alliance, which has a list of a number of schools which consider transfer credit without an emphasis on accreditation.  

There is also another ACICS accredited school, ITT Technical Institute, which has campuses everywhere, would likely take all of your credits, and has a graphic design program.

tcord1964:

You should check out the ACICS Transfer Alliance.  The transfer alliance is made up of nationally and regionally accredited schools which will accept transfer credits from ACICS accredited schools.

It's not bad to check it out, but from the looks of it, the schools are almost all themselves ACICS accredited, which isn't all that helpful.  The HETA list is probably more useful for those interested in transitioning from national to regional accreditation.

-=Steve=- 

SteveFoerster:

tcord1964:

You should check out the ACICS Transfer Alliance.  The transfer alliance is made up of nationally and regionally accredited schools which will accept transfer credits from ACICS accredited schools.

It's not bad to check it out, but from the looks of it, the schools are almost all themselves ACICS accredited, which isn't all that helpful.  The HETA list is probably more useful for those interested in transitioning from national to regional accreditation.

-=Steve=- 

True, but I wanted to let the original poster know that RA is not her only option.  Just because one ACICS school doesn't fit her current needs doesn't mean another one can't.  

Rasmussen College is RA, is a member of the ACICS Transfer Alliance, and does offer an online program in digital design.   

Thanks to all who helped me, I actually have found that ACICS Transfer Alliance was helpful but just like Professor Emeritus said, they are mostly ACICS accredited schools. 

My problem and disappointment was with the school I went and really has nothing to do with the accrediting party.  It was just getting difficult finding places that were regionally accredited.  So I made up my mind that I wanted to attend a school that had Regional Accreditation because I know it would keep me from having as much of an issue with transfer credit. 

I have found a lot of places that regionally and nationally accredited which has been helpful thanks to all of you who responded.

Hello,

Even I also suggest America