Douglas Olsen
Argosy University, which was acquired by the Education Management Corporation in 2001, had 26 locations across the United States and supported a large community of graduate students. The university was investigated several times for deceptive marketing practices and faced consumer complaints. In 2019, Argosy University campuses closed down, leaving thousands of students scrambling to transfer to other institutions. The university's accreditors and other educational institutions worked to develop transfer pathways and teach-out options for affected students.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of locations | 26 |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission, WASC Senior College and University Commission |
| Closure Date | March 8, 2019 |
| Number of Students Affected | 200,000+ |
| Student Loan Forgiveness | Over $100 million |
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What You'll Learn
- Argosy University had 26 locations and a large graduate student community
- Argosy University campuses closed in 2019, affecting students in Atlanta and online
- Argosy University's parent company agreed to forgive over $100 million in student loan debt
- Argosy University was investigated for deceptive marketing practices and settled for $3.3 million
- Argosy University students faced uncertainty and struggled to find new education options
Argosy University had 26 locations and a large graduate student community
Argosy University was a for-profit college that offered programs accredited by leading agencies in a diverse set of fields. The university had 26 locations across the United States and supported one of the largest communities of graduate students in the nation.
The history of Argosy University can be traced back to 2001 when the Argosy Education Group was acquired by the Education Management Corporation. The group then brought together the American School of Professional Psychology, the Medical Institute of Minnesota, and the University of Sarasota under the Argosy University name.
Over the years, Argosy University faced several controversies and legal issues. In 2009, students at the university's Dallas campus filed a lawsuit alleging that recruiters had inaccurately informed them that the school would soon receive accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA). Despite the allegations, Argosy University denied the claims and asserted that APA accreditation was not necessary for clinical psychology licensure in many jurisdictions, including Texas.
In 2011, the university was investigated by the Florida Attorney General following consumer complaints. This was followed by a settlement in 2013, where Argosy's parent company agreed to pay $3.3 million in restitution and fines for deceptive marketing practices.
In 2015, Argosy's parent company again found itself in legal trouble, forgiving over $100 million in student loan debt to settle claims of violating consumer protection laws. The university's campuses in Seattle and Silicon Valley stopped accepting new students around this time.
In 2017, the Education Management Corporation announced its intention to sell the Argosy schools to the Dream Center, a Los Angeles-based Pentecostal organization. This sale was met with scrutiny, and by 2019, Argosy University campuses were under receivership, with their accreditation at risk.
The closure of Argosy University campuses left graduate and doctoral students scrambling to find alternative paths to complete their education and obtain their degrees. Many students faced challenges transferring to other institutions, as universities often refused to accept graduate-level course credits earned elsewhere. The sudden closure of Argosy University disrupted the academic pursuits of its large graduate student community, highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by students enrolled in for-profit educational institutions.
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Argosy University campuses closed in 2019, affecting students in Atlanta and online
Argosy University, which had 26 locations, saw its campuses close in 2019, affecting students in Atlanta and online. The university had been struggling financially, and its parent company, Dream Center Education Holdings, was searching for a potential buyer. The situation was further exacerbated when the Trump administration cut off Title IV student aid to the colleges after Argosy failed to make financial aid payments to students.
The closure of Argosy University left thousands of students scrambling to find alternative education options. The university had hundreds of students in Atlanta and more than 17,000 in other cities across the country. The Atlanta campus, located in an office building on Hammond Drive, saw students converging to gather their transcripts and financial aid documentation, hoping to transfer to other universities. However, many students faced challenges as other schools were reluctant to accept all of their credits. The transfer process was particularly difficult for graduate and doctoral students, who found that many universities would not accept their graduate-level course credits.
Argosy University's closure also impacted its online students. The university had a significant number of online students, especially those enrolled in graduate and professional programs. These students were also left scrambling to find new education options, facing similar challenges with credit transfers and programme completion.
The closure of Argosy University's campuses in 2019 disrupted the education of thousands of students, both in Atlanta and online. The sudden closure highlighted the challenges faced by students when a university shuts down, particularly regarding credit transfers and programme completion at alternative institutions. Higher education institutions across the country stepped up to support Argosy University's displaced students, offering pathways to help them complete their degrees. Despite these efforts, the closure caused significant disruptions and uncertainties for those affected.
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Argosy University's parent company agreed to forgive over $100 million in student loan debt
Argosy University had 26 locations and supported one of the largest communities of graduate students in the nation. However, in 2019, the university's campuses were placed under receivership, and their accreditation was at risk. The university officially closed its doors on March 8, 2019, leaving many students with unfinished degree programs.
In the lead-up to its closure, Argosy University faced several lawsuits and investigations. In 2009, students at the Dallas campus filed a lawsuit alleging that recruiters inaccurately informed them that the school would soon receive accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA). In 2011, the university was investigated by the Florida Attorney General following consumer complaints, and in 2013, it settled charges with the Colorado Attorney General for deceptive marketing practices.
In 2015, Argosy's parent company, Dream Center Education Holdings, agreed to forgive more than $100 million in student loan debt to settle claims of violating consumer protection laws. The company had acquired Argosy University from Education Management Corporation in 2017. The sale faced scrutiny by regulators, and Argosy's finances suffered under the new ownership, with the organization facing financial issues just a year later.
Following the closure of Argosy University, many higher education institutions stepped in to support its displaced students. Schools such as Concordia University Texas, Ashford University, Indiana Wesleyan University, and DeVry University offered transfer pathways and teach-out options. Additionally, settlement agreements were reached to provide debt relief for students who had borrowed directly from Argosy University. This included the cancellation of nearly $2.1 million in "institutional debt" across 12 campuses and online programs, as well as specific relief for students in various states.
The attorneys general from multiple states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, and Illinois, played a crucial role in securing debt relief for Argosy University students. They alleged that Argosy and its owners made misrepresentations about its nonprofit status, degree completion, and accreditation. These misleading practices, coupled with financial mismanagement, led to the abrupt closure of the university and left students with debt and negative credit ratings without the degrees they were promised.
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Argosy University was investigated for deceptive marketing practices and settled for $3.3 million
In 2013, Argosy University, a for-profit university owned by Education Management Corporation (EDMC), was investigated by the Colorado Attorney General's Office for deceptive marketing practices. The investigation revealed that Argosy had recklessly launched doctoral degree programs without substantiating that they led to the advertised outcomes. Specifically, it was found that Argosy led students to believe that the university was seeking accreditation for a doctorate of education in counselling psychology when it was not true. As a result of the investigation, EDMC agreed to pay $3.3 million in fines and restitution to settle the charges.
The settlement, which did not require EDMC to admit liability, included $2.7 million to be returned to students to help them pay off their student loans. This case was not an isolated incident, as Argosy University has faced other allegations and investigations into deceptive marketing practices and consumer complaints. For example, 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).
In 2010, Argosy University was also featured in a PBS program called "College, Inc.," which focused on for-profit universities. Later that year, Argosy was named in a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which found that recruiters at the school made "deceptive or otherwise questionable statements" to undercover applicants. While the GAO report was later revised, the head of the GAO maintained that the overall message and findings remained unchanged. In 2011, Argosy University was again investigated, this time by the Florida Attorney General, following eight consumer complaints.
In addition to these investigations, Argosy University has faced financial troubles and scrutiny. In 2015, EDMC planned to close one of Argosy's branch campuses and, in 2017, EDMC reported its intention to sell the Argosy schools. In 2019, USA Today reported that Argosy University campuses were under receivership and their accreditation was at risk. By February 2019, Argosy University was facing financial difficulties, with concerns about the distribution of financial aid funds and requests for federal student aid funds to support students. In 2022, Argosy University was included in a list of institutions facing student loan cancellation due to alleged fraud, with a settlement approved in August of that year. Finally, in 2023, the Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the settlement, allowing the debt cancellation due to alleged fraud to proceed.
While the exact number of students enrolled at Argosy University is unclear, the university has 26 locations and supports one of the largest communities of graduate students in the nation. Despite this, in 2019, all Argosy University campuses officially closed their doors, with many higher education institutions stepping in to support Argosy's students and help them complete their degree programs.
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Argosy University students faced uncertainty and struggled to find new education options
Argosy University had 26 locations and supported one of the largest communities of graduate students in the nation. However, in March 2017, Education Management Corporation (EDMC) announced its intention to sell the Argosy schools to the Dream Center, a Los Angeles-based Pentecostal organization. The transaction was finalized in November 2017, and EDMC stated it would remain operational to wind down the approximately 50 schools that had stopped accepting new students.
In February 2019, the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) warned students of the potential abrupt closure of Argosy University in Hawaii before the completion of their programs. All campuses officially closed their doors on March 8, 2019, leaving students facing uncertainty and struggling to find alternative education options. Argosy University's accreditor, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), provided resources and transfer possibilities for students. The U.S. Department of Education also facilitated the transfer of nonimmigrant students to SEVP-certified schools to maintain their nonimmigrant status.
The closure of Argosy University campuses across the country left graduate and doctoral students scrambling to complete their education and obtain their degrees. Many universities were reluctant to accept graduate-level course credits from Argosy, and those that did may not have transferred all the credits, requiring students to retake courses. Argosy students also faced challenges due to vague information about their transfer options.
Aretha Barnes, a student pursuing a doctorate in counseling psychology at Argosy's Tampa, Florida campus, expressed the stress and uncertainty she experienced. She considered transferring to National Louis University in Chicago, but had concerns about the transfer of her credits and the need to redo residencies. Barnes had previously transferred from Argosy's Sarasota campus, demonstrating the challenges Argosy students faced in maintaining their educational progress.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear exactly how many students were enrolled at Argosy University before it closed its doors on March 8, 2019. However, it is known that Argosy University had 26 locations and supported one of the largest communities of graduate students in the nation.
After Argosy University closed, graduate and doctoral students struggled to find new education options and complete their degrees. Many universities would not accept graduate-level course credits earned at Argosy, and those that did may not have transferred all the credits, meaning some students had to retake courses.
In 2019, before Argosy University campuses closed, USA Today reported that Argosy University campuses were under receivership and their accreditation was at risk. Argosy University, Seattle also stopped taking new students in 2016.
