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With more than 70,000 students – over 99% of them online – Strayer University is one of the largest online colleges and most recognizable institutions in online education. It’s so well-known that students may take it for granted. But Strayer offers a lot to working adults and nontraditional students.

Since reaching university status in 1998, the for-profit Strayer (owned by Strategic Education, Inc) has merged with Capella University, built more than 60 campuses, and weathered the controversies of the 2010s that brought down many other for-profit institutions. It may be for-profit, but Strayer has a renewed commitment to giving its students opportunities other schools do not.

Is Strayer a good school?

Finding a good school can be difficult. Nevertheless, by taking the time to research online, you can find out how one school compares to another. In the case of Strayer University, it is a regionally accredited school. However, it is also a for-profit school with most of its courses online. This makes many people question whether it is actually a diploma mill, which is a school that essentially gives out diplomas to the vast majority of people who enroll in their programs and pay their bills. 

Is Strayer University for profit?

Yes, Strayer University is a for-profit school. This means it has the following traits:

  • First, it is owned by a private business or company.
  • It is managed by investors and/or stakeholders; these people help make the decisions in terms of how funds will be distributed. 
  • Money and profits are made via fees and tuition. 
  • It received little to no federal or state aid. 
  • It offers primarily career-based occupational programs.

Is Strayer University accredited?

If you are wondering about accreditation, yes, Strayer is a certified or accredited college. It is certified by four organizations. These organizations help by providing evidence that Strayer University meets the standards in terms of the quality of the curriculum, faculty, learner services, as well as fiscal security. Therefore, attending Strayer University can provide you with a degree that is well-respected by other institutions and potential employers. 

Strayer’s nursing courses are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Is Strayer University legit?

Given that many people question universities that exist primarily online, it’s only natural that people would question whether or not Strayer University is legit. This is especially true in an age in which the market is saturated with online institutions and many people have been scammed out of their time and money by attending such institutions.

Yes, overall, Stray University is largely considered legit and can provide students with the following benefits:

  • Well-Respected Degrees: Earning a degree from Strayer University means that your degree is more likely to be respected by employers. Moreover, other institutions and professional associations are also more likely to accept and respect your degree. 
  • Better Schooling Opportunities: Depending on what your educational goals are, attending Strayer University can be a huge first step in your collegiate journey. Therefore, if you make the choice to transfer to another college, attending Strayer University can help put you on the right track. This is because each institution gets to decide whether they want to accept your credits or not. Moreover, the vast majority of institutions only consider transfer credits from accredited institutions.
  • High Standards: Also, they go above and beyond to ensure that the institution meets a specific set of standards that are created by student support, faculty, etc. This is said to apply to everything from curriculums and to customer service, and more. 

Is Strayer University a diploma mill?

A diploma mill is essentially any institution that gives students diplomas freely in exchange for payment. In other words, the school may not necessarily provide students with all of the training and education needed, but they will allow them to pay for the degree in order to pursue employment without receiving the training required to do so. Strayer University is not a diploma mill. It actually expects its students to learn and develop new skills while enrolled. Therefore, students who attend Strayer University are actually expected to work hard in order to receive their degrees. 

Strayer University Reviews

As with most online institutions, the reviews for Strayer University are mixed. Depending on where you look, you will find those who rate the school everything from one to five stars. On the one hand, some students complained about things such as being pre-registered for classes and the lack of guidance in terms of financial aid. On the other hand, some former students were impressed by the staff, individual/group tutoring options, and more. In the end, it averaged around 3 stars out of 5. Therefore, it is not considered the best online college, but it’s certainly not the worst. 

Strayer has an exceptional proportion of women of color in its student body – more than two-thirds of students are women, and more than two-thirds are people of color. With its focus on minority women, Strayer puts its commitment to convenience and accessibility front and center. While this has often led to charges that Stayer is exploitative, professional-focused programs like business, criminal justice, health services, and others have been recognized for their quality. For students who are working to earn credentials to improve their current careers – such as nurses, social workers, and human resources officers – Strayer has proven to be effective.

Is Strayer University expensive?

Strayer University is considered reasonably priced. Courses cost around $1490 for undergraduate classes. Therefore, the cost for a full-time student seeking a bachelor’s degree would be around  $13,600. Moreover, students need to pay around $145-150 per text book and may need to pay a $60-65 charge in technology fees for certain courses. This makes Strayer a very cost-effective institution for those pursuing associates and bachelors degrees. 

Related:

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Ultimate Guide to Transferring

Ready to start your journey?

Ready to start your journey?