People who want to get continuing education like to get into the best school that will accept them, but working adults find scheduling classes around their busy schedule usually doesn't work. With the technological revolution and the invention of the internet, online schooling has become an option. Among the hundreds of online universities you could choose from, the University of Phoenix is the most well known and trusted. So what are some of the pros and cons of an education through the University of Phoenix?

Pros of a University of Phoenix Online Education:

The University of Phoenix was established in 1976 and was one of the first accredited online universities. Through their efforts, many of the modern conveniences of education such as evening classes, continuous enrollment, online libraries, and ebooks were pioneered and established as acceptable practices by the University of Phoenix throughout the education world. Today they service over 57,000 students making them the largest private institution in the North America. They have over 200 locations and are able to be accessed through the internet in most countries.

The University of Phoenix has worked hard to be recognized as quality educators. Because of this commitment to high quality education, students have found more job opportunities and advancement in their workplace. Employers trust an education from the University of Phoenix and do not discount a degree from there as they do with many other online universities. Graduates from the University of Phoenix regularly report a better experience in the job market than graduates from other online programs.

Quality education is where the University of Phoenix really excels. Because of the length of time they have been in operation, they have really perfected the art of serious online learning and teaching. Their teachers and counseling services are reported to be among the best, which is rare for an online educator. They offer over one hundred different degrees with classes taught by practitioner faculty, so students are seeing real life experience in action. The educators are working professionals at the top of their fields, so students are really learning from the best.

 The biggest mark in favor of the University of Phoenix is its convenience while still maintaining a good classroom environment. Classes can be taken day or night online, or you can attend in a classroom setting at one of their many convenient locations. Online classes are often thought of as sub par, but with the University of Phoenix, the faculty is instructive and thorough for the most part. They provide virtual classrooms with trained faculty and strict classroom participation and assignment submission. Because learning is so convenient through the online setting, most students at the University of Phoenix are able to complete twenty-seven credits or more in the time it takes a traditionally schooled student to complete fifteen. The student to instructor ratio is low. The limit on students in a class is eleven.

An open enrollment policy allows people from all walks of life to improve their education. They require a high school diploma or equivalent to be able to attend, but if you don't have one, they help you arrange for testing to get one. The only other requirement for admission is that you are employed and have held a full-time job for at least one year, but since online learning is generally catered toward working adults, this isn't a problem for most students.

If you don't want to enroll to get a degree, but just want to acquire job skills, the University of Phoenix also offers professional job development courses. You can take as many courses as you want in whatever length of time you need to complete your education. Most traditional four year degrees can be earned at the University of Phoenix in a lot less time if you are willing to put in the effort.

The University of Phoenix also has a great online learning program designed specifically for military personnel. They are committed to helping those who serve the United States get a quality education. They also assist military personnel with obtaining their Veterans benefits and tuition assistance.

The University of Phoenix is also concerned about the environment. They have developed a, "Go Green," approach to running their facilities and have been recognized as one of the top ten schools that utilizes green power. They are committed to teaching their staff and students to use environmentally friendly practices and have launched a website to assist in this education process.

Cons of a University of Phoenix Online Education:

Every university and college has its problems, things that make them less appealing, and the University of Phoenix is no exception. Student complaints are easy to come by and are generally about the same thing, which means there are some issues that need to be addressed.

 Although the University of Phoenix is committed to a high quality education, a lot of students complain that they aren't really getting it, even if they get a degree. The biggest complaint is about the below average quality of the instructors. The instructors are professionals in the field they teach, so besides teaching a class, they are also trying to run a business. Which one is going to be put on the back burner if things get a little busy? Generally, the instructors are good, but several do not participate or communicate to the extent that the University has promised. Lack of communication or complete silence when their students' have a question does not make for a good learning environment. Prompt and clear communication is vital for an online setting, but a lot of students complain that they aren't getting it. This may be happening because the instructors are not as well paid as they would be teaching at other universities. Because of the small pay, there is a high turn over rate of instructors and a general lack of motivation to teach on their part. When the primary complaint among the student body is the poor instructor quality, you know there is a serious issue that needs to be addressed by the school's board.

Students have also complained about the counseling faculty. Counselors are very supportive and helpful in the first six months or so, but after that, students complain they are on their own. Reviews of the school often mention that when you have been there a while and you call a counselor, they don't call you back. However, for many students this problem has been resolved simply by requesting another counselor.

Another negative is one with the technology, or lack thereof, on the university's end. This is a serious complaint when your entire education is based online. Students complain of slow servers, unsophisticated email support, and the network going down almost every night. Although you run into technological problems with any education, having the quantity of problems that University of Phoenix students report does not reflect well on a school who boasts to have the best technology available.

The expense of the University of Phoenix is also a wide-spread complaint. The typical price for a four year degree from the University of Phoenix is around $40,000, when compared with traditional state colleges at half that price. But when you are a working adult looking to improve your education while working full-time and maintaining a family, the added expense for the convenience and flexibility may be worth it. They are more expensive than other online universities, but you are also paying for the University of Phoenix's name and reputation, which is better than the rest.

One complaint to take seriously when first looking into the University of Phoenix is that their admissions counselors are trained sales people rather than counselors. Many students have complained of being pushed into a program that wasn't right for them or of being hounded by their counselor until they enrolled. This is bad business practice on the part of the school, but you don't have to put up with it. No one can make you enroll, and no one can make you take classes or a program that you don't want to. Generally, this complaint comes from students who were unsatisfied with their choice of education and looking for someone to blame. Don't let yourself be pushed around and you won't have a problem with pushy counselors.

Summary:

The University of Phoenix is considered one of the top online universities, so if you are looking for a high quality education, they are a good choice. You may read some negative reviews of the school, but people generally share a bad opinion when they have one rather than their good opinions. Although there are some issues with the University of Phoenix, the general student population is satisfied and confident in their education. You get out of it what you put into it, so if you have a bad experience with the University of Phoenix, it's probably because you are not cut out for online education rather than there being something seriously wrong with the school. They have a name as a great educator for a reason.