Understanding Ashford University Tuition Fees and Costs
Ashford University, a private for-profit institution headquartered in San Diego, California, and the largest educational holding of Bridgepoint Education, presents a unique landscape when it comes to tuition fees and the overall cost of attendance. This article delves into the various aspects of these costs, providing a comprehensive overview for prospective students and their families.
Key Facts About Ashford University
Before diving into the specifics of tuition and fees, let's establish some key facts about Ashford University:
- School Type: Private for-profit institution.
- Location: San Diego, CA.
- Enrollment Size: Not Available.
- Acceptance Rate: Not Available.
- Yield: Not Available.
- Graduation Rate: Very Low (15%).
- Retention Rate: Low (24%).
- Website: www.ashford.edu
Undergraduate Tuition and Associated Costs
In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Ashford University was \$12,240. This is notably less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities, which stands at \$24,575.
Breakdown of Undergraduate Program Costs
The Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) budgets provide students with an estimate of the total costs that a student might incur while attending UAGC per academic year. These budgets are used to determine the amount of financial aid students may receive and assume a full academic workload with no breaks in attendance.
Here’s a breakdown of the components of the COA for all undergraduate programs:
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| Component | Housing - With Parent | Housing - Off Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | \$11,040 | \$11,040 |
| Technology Fee | \$920 | \$920 |
| Books | \$1,000 | \$1,000 |
| Supplies | \$150 | \$150 |
| Food & Housing | \$4,936 | \$14,653 |
| Transportation | \$500 | \$500 |
| Personal Expenses | \$6,648 | \$9,497 |
| Loan Fees* | \$150 | \$150 |
| TOTAL BUDGET PER ACADEMIC YEAR | \$24,804 | \$37,910 |
*Loan fees will vary by amounts borrowed by the student.
Direct Costs
These are items directly charged to the student:
- Tuition: The cost of academic instruction.
- Technology Fee: Access to university systems such as the online classroom, the Student Portal, and other academic resources.
- Books and Supplies: Average cost of books, supplies, and technology-related expenses.
- In-Residence Fees: Covers administrative support for In-Residence workshops (Doctoral students only).
- Dissertation/Applied Doctoral Project Support: Covers support of the Dissertation/Applied Doctoral Project process (Doctoral students only).
Indirect Costs
These are other expenses that may be incurred by the student while in attendance:
- Food & Housing: Living expenses such as meals, rent, mortgage, etc.
- Transportation: Costs for transportation expenses related to educational activity.
- Personal Expenses: Miscellaneous expenses not mentioned above.
- Loan Fees: Fees charged by a lender or deducted from a disbursement if a student chooses to borrow student loans.
Additional Expenses
The average yearly cost of room and board at Ashford University was \$9,111 in 2023, marking a 4.44% increase from the previous year. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was \$1,150, a decrease of 6.88%.
Average Net Price After Financial Aid
In 2023, Ashford University had an average net price-the price paid after factoring in grants and loans-of \$25,771. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price grew by 2.66%. This net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state, or local governments, or the institution.
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Financial Aid Availability
In 2023, a significant 94% of undergraduate students attending Ashford University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 36% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.
Financial Aid by Income Level
The amount a student actually pays depends, at least in part, on their family's household income. For the 25-26 school year projections:
- Students with incomes less than \$30K are projected to pay around \$32,902.
- Students with incomes between \$30K and \$48K are projected to pay around \$32,317.
- Students with incomes between \$48K and \$75K are projected to pay around \$34,448.
- Students with incomes between \$75K and \$110K are projected to pay around \$37,628.
- Students with incomes greater than \$110K are projected to pay around \$35,389.
Student Loan Default Rate
In 2022, the default rate for borrowers at Ashford University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 7,513 total borrowers. A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.
Costs for Master’s and Doctoral Programs
Ashford University also offers Master’s and Doctoral programs, each with its own cost structure.
Master’s Programs
The COA for Master’s programs varies based on whether the program is offered at \$740/credit or \$600/credit. Here's a breakdown:
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| Component | Housing - With Parent (\$740/credit) | Housing - Off Campus (\$740/credit) | Housing - With Parent (\$600/credit) | Housing - Off Campus (\$600/credit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | \$13,320 | \$13,320 | \$10,800 | \$10,800 |
| Technology Fee | \$870 | \$870 | \$870 | \$870 |
| Books | \$930 | \$930 | \$930 | \$930 |
| Supplies | \$150 | \$150 | \$150 | \$150 |
| Food & Housing | \$3,907 | \$13,205 | \$3,907 | \$13,205 |
| Transportation | \$500 | \$500 | \$500 | \$500 |
| Personal Expenses | \$5,909 | \$8,442 | \$5,909 | \$8,442 |
| Loan Fees* | \$350 | \$350 | \$350 | \$350 |
| TOTAL BUDGET PER ACADEMIC YEAR | \$25,937 | \$37,587 | \$23,417 | \$35,067 |
*Loan fees will vary by amounts borrowed by the student.
Doctoral Programs (Dissertation/Applied Doctoral Project Phase)
| Component | With Parent | Off Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | \$3,248 | \$3,248 |
| Technology Fee | \$580 | \$580 |
| Books | \$620 | \$620 |
| Supplies | \$150 | \$150 |
| Food & Housing | \$3,907 | \$13,025 |
| Transportation | \$500 | \$500 |
| Personal Expenses | \$5,909 | \$8,442 |
| Loan Fees* | \$350 | \$350 |
| Dissertation/Applied Doctoral Project Support | \$2,000 | \$2,000 |
| TOTAL BUDGET PER ACADEMIC YEAR | \$17,265 | \$28,915 |
*Loan fees will vary by amounts borrowed by the student.
Enrollment and Student Demographics
Ashford University had a total enrollment of 32,604 students in 2023, with 100% enrolled full-time. The student population is diverse:
- 40% White
- 28.2% Black or African American
- 20.5% Hispanic or Latino
- 4.32% Two or More Races
- 3.41% Asian
- 0.935% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders
- 0.751% American Indian or Alaska Native
Graduation and Retention Rates
Ashford University's graduation rate is 8.44%. Specifically, in 2023, only 1% of students completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e., 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 9% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 10% within 200%.
The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Ashford University was 31%, which is lower than the average for similar Masters Colleges and Universities (74%).
Outcomes and Career Paths
In 2023, Ashford University awarded 8,499 degrees across all undergraduate and graduate programs. A majority, 65%, of these degrees were awarded to women, and 35% to men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,659 degrees), followed by black or African American (2,332 degrees).
Common Majors and Career Paths
The most specialized majors at Ashford University are Business (4,102 degrees awarded), Education (1,323 degrees), and Library Science (28 degrees). Graduates often find employment in the following roles:
- Elementary & middle school teachers
- Accountants & auditors
- Other managers
- Secondary school teachers
- Financial managers
They are commonly employed in industries such as:
- Elementary & secondary schools
- Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges
- Computer Systems Design
- General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty hospitals
Salary and Expenditure
In 2023, Ashford University paid a median of \$108M in salaries, a 96.8% increase from the previous year.
Navigating College Savings and Debt
Saving for college early can significantly reduce the amount a student needs to borrow. A good rule of thumb is to keep total debt less than the child's expected annual income to ensure affordable loan repayment within 10 years or less.
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