The Art Institute Online, AIO, was dishonest with me from day one. They misrepresented their accreditation as well as the quality and cost of education that I would be receiving. Their business practices are unethical. The cost of a degree at AIO, which is not recognized by conventional intuitions, is much more that what is charged by most colleges and universities. They are running a business that preys on the hope and dreams of people that are trying to become productive members of society.
When I started at the Art Institute Online, I was assured that they were accredited, and that they had a fantastic financial aid department that would bend over backwards to make sure that I got the funding to pay for my education. I was told that the instructors at AIO were all at the top of their fields, and would be in close contact with me during each course. I would be assigned an advisor to guide me during my time at AIO and would always be there for me is I had any concerns or issues. He guaranteed me that I would receive the best education possible.
The first class I took at AIO required me to develop a 5 yr. Plan. The major part of my plan was to continue on after AIO to earn my masters degree. My instructor was very supportive of my goals as well as my advisor. I was never informed that the credits I earned at AIO would not transfer to any institutions offering a master degree, even though I made it very clear that was my intention.
For over a year I was content at AIO, and maintained a 3.65 GPA. Then things began to change. I was assigned a new advisor who only would call me at the beginning of a term to remind me that classes were starting, and at the end of classes to inform me that the term was ending. He rarely returned phone calls, and when he did it would be at 5 or 6 am because he could not keep straight what state I live in, and what the time difference is between the east and west coast. Most emails were ignored and the ones I received from him seemed automated.
I no longer got calls from my instructors and the interaction from them online became less and less.
I would try to log into class and I would have a blocked message, then I would go to another p.C. Here at home and I would be let in. I would call tech. Support about this problem and they would tell me to contact my advisor, when I contacted my advisor he would tell me to call tech. Support.
At one point I got a statement from AIO saying my balance was $450.00, a few days later I got a statement saying that I owed $3500.00, and the just days later I got a refund check for $900.00. How is a person to know what is owed or due? I found a $25,000.00 discrepancy between my finical aid report and what is on my AIO statement, and the amount is not noted on the AIO statement like any other transaction.
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