Lana Oconnell
Argosy University was a for-profit college chain with approximately 20 campuses across the country. In 2019, Argosy University campuses closed, sending students scrambling to complete their education and obtain their degrees. Graduate and doctoral students, particularly those close to completing their programs, faced challenges in transferring to other institutions. Argosy University had faced scrutiny for deceptive marketing practices and was accused of misleading students about its accreditation status. The validity of degrees obtained from Argosy University may be called into question due to the closure and the institution's controversial history.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Argosy University campuses closed down | March 2019 |
| Number of students enrolled | 26,000 |
| Argosy University's website boasted | "Flexible learning", "affordable tiered tuition plan", and more than "$16 million in scholarships" in the past academic year |
| Argosy University's graduation rate | 6% |
| Argosy University's parent company | Dream Center Education Holdings |
| Argosy University's accreditation | Higher Learning Commission in 1981, WASC Senior College and University Commission in 2011 |
| Argosy University's reviews | Poor, with complaints about unresponsiveness from professors and counselors, late payments, delays in payments, and issues with graduation |
| Argosy University's reputation | Accused of deceptive marketing practices and engaging in predatory lending |
| Argosy University's degrees | Not accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) |
| Argosy University's transfer policy | Argosy has agreements with some institutions to accept transfers and maintains a list of universities that will accept transfers |
| Argosy University's closure impact | Students struggled to find new education options and transfer credits, particularly for graduate and doctoral programs |
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What You'll Learn
Argosy University campuses closed in 2019
In 2019, Argosy University campuses closed, leaving graduate and doctoral students struggling to find new education options. Argosy University was a for-profit college chain with approximately 20 campuses and around 26,000 students enrolled across the country. The sudden closure of the campuses sent students scrambling to complete their education and obtain their degrees.
The closure of Argosy University campuses was a result of financial issues and ownership disputes. In February 2019, the US Department of Education cut off federal funding to Argosy University due to concerns over financial mismanagement and poor finances. It was reported that Argosy University failed to distribute millions of dollars in financial aid to its students, and the situation was further exacerbated by the university's ownership changes and financial troubles under the Dream Center's management.
The closure of Argosy University campuses had a significant impact on students, particularly those close to completing their graduate and doctoral programs. Many universities were reluctant to accept transfer credits earned at Argosy, and those that did accept transfers may not transfer all the credits, resulting in students having to retake courses. The complexity of transferring credits was further compounded in specialised fields such as law, psychology, medicine, nursing, and education, which have additional requirements for programmatic accreditation, course content, and residency.
To assist affected students, Argosy University's accreditor, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), provided resource information and transfer possibilities on their website. Additionally, other accreditors, such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) and the American Psychological Association (APA), also listed possible transfer options and resources. Argosy University maintained a list of universities that would accept transfer students, and institutions with similar offerings expressed interest in helping Argosy students complete their programs.
The closure of Argosy University campuses also resulted in legal repercussions. Attorneys general from multiple states joined an agreement that secured student debt relief for former Argosy students, with a settlement of $2.1 million in student debt cancellation due to alleged fraud and deceptive marketing practices. This settlement held Argosy accountable for abandoning students and causing negative consequences, including debt and damaged credit ratings.
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Argosy students struggle to find new education options
Argosy University campuses across the United States have shut down, leaving graduate and doctoral students scrambling to find new education options. Argosy's parent company, Dream Center Education Holdings (DCEH), had been searching for a buyer but was unable to secure one. As a result of the closures, Argosy students are facing significant challenges in completing their education and obtaining their degrees.
One of the main difficulties for Argosy students is transferring to new universities. Many universities are reluctant to accept graduate-level course credits earned at other institutions, and those that do may not transfer all the credits, requiring students to retake courses. This process is further complicated by the limited number of transfer credits accepted by institutions to ensure the coherence of the program of study. Additionally, certain majors, such as law, psychology, medicine, nursing, and education, require programmatic accreditation and have specific requirements for course content and residency, making transfers even more complex.
The closure of Argosy's psychology programs has been particularly disruptive, as the field currently faces a high demand for psychologists. Nearly 800 Argosy psychology graduate students have reached out to the Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP), a nonprofit institution offering teach-out programs for Argosy students. TCSPP president Michele Nealon has expressed concern for the affected students and acknowledged the small and interconnected community of doctoral-level clinical psychology programs.
The American Psychological Association (APA), which accredited ten psychology doctoral programs at Argosy, is assisting students in transitioning to other institutions. They have held webinars to help students submit their credentials and internship documentation to relevant boards and registries. Additionally, Argosy maintained a list of universities on its website that would accept transfer students, and some institutions, such as Northwestern Health Sciences University, have stepped up to facilitate transfers and teach-out programs for Argosy students.
The financial fallout from Argosy's closure has also impacted students' ability to continue their education. Argosy failed to distribute millions of dollars in federal financial aid to its students, and the Department of Education's decision to cut off Title IV student aid to the university further exacerbated the situation. The sudden closure and loss of financial aid have left students struggling to make ends meet and restart their educational journeys.
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Argosy University engaged in deceptive marketing practices
Argosy University was a private for-profit university with campuses across the United States. It was owned by Dream Center Education Holdings (DCEH), LLC, and Education Management Corporation. In February 2019, the US Department of Education cut off federal funding to Argosy University, leading to the closure of all its campuses.
In 2009, students of Argosy University in Dallas filed a Texas lawsuit alleging that recruiters inaccurately informed them that the school would soon receive accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA). The school had not completed the accreditation process by the time the students graduated. Argosy officials rejected charges of fraud, noting that the pursuit of APA accreditation for the Dallas campus was still underway. As of 2013, Argosy University in Dallas did not offer any degrees in clinical psychology and was not listed as part of the university's College of Clinical Psychology.
In December 2013, Argosy University's parent company, EDMC, agreed to pay $3.3 million in restitution and fines to settle charges with the Colorado Attorney General that the university had engaged in deceptive marketing practices. The Colorado Attorney General alleged that Argosy University led students to believe that the school was working to get its Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology degrees accredited by the APA and that graduates would be eligible to be licensed psychologists in Colorado, when that did not appear to be true. The settlement did not require EDMC to admit liability, and Argosy University changed the Ed.D. in Counseling psychology curricula to meet psychology licensing standards.
In 2011, Argosy University was investigated by the Florida Attorney General following eight consumer complaints. The university cooperated with the investigation. Argosy University was also one of 15 schools named in a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which found that recruiters at the school made "deceptive or otherwise questionable statements" when speaking with undercover applicants.
The closure of Argosy University campuses has caused significant disruption to graduate and doctoral students, who have struggled to transfer to new universities and complete their degrees. Many universities do not accept graduate-level course credits earned at different institutions, and those that do may not transfer all the credits, requiring students to retake courses. The APA has offered support to Argosy's psychology graduate students, helping them transition to doctoral programs at other institutions and maintain access to their academic records.
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Argosy University reviews are mixed
Argosy University, formerly owned by the Education Management Corporation (EDMC), has received mixed reviews from its students. While some students have praised the university for its helpful staff, rigorous programs, and positive experiences, others have criticised it for its organisational issues, financial aid problems, and deceptive marketing practices.
On the one hand, some students have expressed satisfaction with their experience at Argosy University, particularly highlighting the helpfulness of the staff during the admissions process. One reviewer mentioned that the admissions counsellor, financial aid team, dean, and academic adviser were all very helpful in answering questions and providing the necessary information. Another student, a DBA student at Argosy, expressed appreciation for their knowledgeable and experienced professors, both on campus and online. This student also acknowledged the rigorous nature of the program, which they believed was on par with what they would have received at a public university.
On the other hand, several students have had negative experiences with Argosy University, citing organisational issues and problems with financial aid. One student mentioned that they had not received their financial aid even after a month of starting school. Additionally, there were concerns about the university's deceptive marketing practices. In 2013, EDMC agreed to pay $3.3 million in restitution and fines after allegations that Argosy University misled students into believing that its Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology degrees would be accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), making graduates eligible for psychology licences in certain states. Despite these allegations, Argosy University denied any wrongdoing and asserted that they were still in the process of pursuing APA accreditation for the campus in question.
The closure of Argosy University campuses across the country has further added to the mixed reviews. Students, particularly graduate and doctoral candidates, have faced challenges in transferring to new universities and completing their degrees. Many universities have been reluctant to accept transfer credits from Argosy, leading to concerns about the validity of Argosy degrees. The American Psychological Association (APA) has offered some support to Argosy psychology students, helping them transition to doctoral programs at other institutions and maintain academic records.
While Argosy University has received both positive and negative reviews, the negative reviews highlight significant concerns about organisational issues, financial aid distribution, and deceptive marketing practices. These issues have had a substantial impact on students, particularly those who were close to completing their degrees when the university closed.
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Argosy University's accreditation status
Argosy University was a private, for-profit university with campuses across the United States. It was owned by Dream Center Education Holdings (DCEH), LLC and Education Management Corporation.
The university was first accredited by the Higher Learning Commission in 1981 and then by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in 2011. In 2018, Argosy University was placed on \"show cause\" status by the WSCUC, and in 2019, its accreditation was deemed at risk.
On February 27, 2019, the US Department of Education cut off federal funding to Argosy University, and all campuses were officially closed shortly after. On March 17, 2019, WSCUC officially withdrew accreditation from Argosy University. However, Argosy's accreditation continued through May 12, 2019, for the exclusive purposes of issuing degrees to final-term students and providing academic transcripts and services to facilitate transfers to other institutions.
Argosy University faced several controversies during its operation. In 2009, students at the Argosy University in Dallas filed a lawsuit alleging that recruiters inaccurately informed them that the school would soon receive accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA). While Argosy denied these charges and noted that the pursuit of APA accreditation was still underway, the school had not completed the accreditation process by the time the students graduated.
Additionally, in 2013, Argosy University faced allegations of deceptive marketing practices, leading to a settlement of $3.3 million in restitution and fines. The university was also accused of failing to distribute financial aid funds to its students, amounting to more than $9 million.
The closure of Argosy University campuses has caused significant disruptions for graduate and doctoral students, who face challenges in transferring to new universities and completing their degrees. Many universities do not accept graduate-level course credits from other institutions, and those that do may not transfer all the credits earned, resulting in students having to retake courses. Argosy University had agreements with some institutions to accept transfers and maintained a list of universities that would accept Argosy transfer students. The APA also provided resources and support to assist Argosy students in transitioning to doctoral programs at other institutions.
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Frequently asked questions
Argosy University was first accredited by the Higher Learning Commission in 1981 and then the WASC Senior College and University Commission in 2011. However, in 2019, Argosy University campuses closed, with the university facing scrutiny for deceptive marketing practices and failing to make financial aid payments to students. The parent company of Argosy University, Dream Center Education Holdings, was searching for a potential buyer, but many students were left struggling to complete their education and get their degrees. While Argosy University degrees were valid at the time of the university's accreditation, it is unclear whether they are still considered valid following the closure.
Argosy University campuses closed in 2019, with the university facing scrutiny for deceptive marketing practices and failing to make financial aid payments to students. The parent company of Argosy University, Dream Center Education Holdings, was searching for a potential buyer, but many students were left scrambling to complete their education and get their degrees.
Former Argosy University students have faced challenges in transferring to new universities and completing their degrees. Some universities have accepted Argosy transfer students, but they may not transfer all the credits earned, requiring students to retake courses. Additionally, Argosy students have complained about receiving vague details and limited information about their options. However, some institutions, like Century College, have offered teach-out options and scholarships to help displaced Argosy students complete their degrees.
