Why so much hate for University of Phoenix?

As someone who's barely been to the US (except for a one-week romp at Dallas), I find it hard to fathom why the University of Phoenix receives so much hate compared to other online extension programs such as Harvard Extension or Coursera or any other similar extension program. Thought of starting a discussion on the pros and cons of University of Phoenix, and ultimately, the pros and cons of online-based learning platforms for higher education. Begin!

 

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GoldenCinderblock: "I keep spending all my money on exotic fish so my armor sucks. Is it possible to romance multiple females? I got with the blue chick so far but I am also interested in the electronic chick and the face mask chick."
 
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I think most people associate online learning with University of Phoenix because it is a very large platform within the space and most people don't know the differences between online learning providers. I will only speak from my personal belief and background, but I'm not too sold on online extension programs / online learning programs in general. My fund has looked at 2 online education/professional training firms in the past 12 months and we've passed each time for similar reasons: most online self-pay colleges/programs/courses don't do a good job of providing tangible benefits to their students in the form of career upgrades (there's still a stigma with online learning) and most will cycle in a downturn as disposable income tightens and people lose their jobs.

Taking a step back from the finance perspective of it, I don't have a lot of experience with knowing people who use these platforms and meaningfully improve their lives, but this might be a factor of me being in a specific bubble. As I said before, I candidly don't know too much about Harvard Extension or Coursera, but I would assume they pitch their brand name partnerships pretty hard - Coursera has logos of top universities on their home page. I frankly just don't see someone getting a meaningful career improvement from using one of these platforms, but I don't discredit them offering worthwhile and educational courses. Just my 2 cents.

 

There's also a perception (particularly with places like University of Phoenix or Devry) that all you have to do to get the degree is continue paying. So the institution (and thus the professors) are incentivized to keep passing you onward, even if you didn't show that you retain / understand the material.

The online extension courses such as Coursera don't receive as much hate, because for the most part I don't think there's a public perception of the knowledge passing itself off as comparable to a traditional degree. I've always viewed it as a supplement to an existing degree (e.g., if you've always wanted to learn French, Coursera could be a could way to learn French in a structured, "classroom" setting.

 

I saw some devs and traders in top prop shops and BB S&T from U Phoenix. Hence the question.

GoldenCinderblock: "I keep spending all my money on exotic fish so my armor sucks. Is it possible to romance multiple females? I got with the blue chick so far but I am also interested in the electronic chick and the face mask chick."
 

For real? The majority of Phoenix grads I met were either coming from a difficult background or people who started businesses at a very early age and then decided that they wanted a college degree.

But if there are indeed some working for BBs, reputation can't be that bad

I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. See my Blog & AMA
 

While I agree, i've always found this line of thinking odd.

Are for-profit educational institutions scams because they don't support some better mission (thus are less likely to support general research programs)...or because something else?

what about for-profit health systems?

i don't disagree...i think you find the best academics at places that stimulate and support innovation and research, which for-profits are less likely to do. but i know plenty of great teachers who have no desire to do research. does this make them charletans? or just focused on what they want?

not meaning to flame or disparage...just want to contribute to the conversation.

Director of Finance and Corporate Development: 2020 - Present Manager of FP&A and Corporate Development: 2019 - 2020 Corporate Finance, Strategy and Development: 2011 - 2019 "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin
 
unfuckthis:

There's also a perception (particularly with places like University of Phoenix or Devry) that all you have to do to get the degree is continue paying. So the institution (and thus the professors) are incentivized to keep passing you onward, even if you didn't show that you retain / understand the material.

If this is the reason, then yeah, the hate is deserved. Never knew it was an arrangement like this.

GoldenCinderblock: "I keep spending all my money on exotic fish so my armor sucks. Is it possible to romance multiple females? I got with the blue chick so far but I am also interested in the electronic chick and the face mask chick."
 

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