Virginia College
Reviews and Complaints

Thank God, this school is closed. I worked for VCO for nearly 10 years as an online instructor and I enjoyed it until the latter part of my experience when things abruptly changed. I sensed that the new leadership in my department was going down very slowly but what it stemmed from I do not know. I can tell you that towards the end my PD was made a VP (VP of ?) when she did not have the requisite robust experience of a VP. Our paychecks would either be delayed by an issue or error. Then, she quickly left for another VP position elsewhere. I believe she knew something was up. But, she didn't tell anyone. after her the new PD (let's call her the 2nd PD) was a good one. But, then they replaced the PD with another PD, since the second PD went to a different department (I believed she was demoted or forced out of the position into another one). This is where things went weird very quickly.

For about a year, I was receiving emails from my PD and others and even my paychecks. However, apparently, I came across an email about a departmental meeting. There were changes going on in my department, which I was unaware of. Surprisingly, I uncovered I was the only one of the instructors left out of the emails and meetings. The new PD (the 3rd one) said he received an email list from the previous PD and it did not have my email. But, the 2nd PD said that was not true. So, I was effectively isolated from my peers and not updated on the changes in the department that was required of the instructors. This is when I received an email from one of the staff reminding me to make everyone a student of the week regardless of grades or performance.

Next, this is when I was threatened by a student, as the student posted the threats in the course itself. Students emailed me to express concern. My PD did nothing other than a verbal warning, though policy states otherwise. The student said it was his girlfriend who accessed his computer, but this was a lie since it was posted shortly after he posted a message and several minutes after that (the site closes the page after a few short minutes). So, this meant the student had to log into the site with his credentials. The student continued in the class mocking me discretely where I could only know what he was referencing. I still had to make him student of the week, despite his threats to me just days prior. I saw the writings on the wall. I contacted my previous PDs, one of which (the now VP at another institution). The one that was the VP elsewhere stated to me very sarcastically that 'maybe it's time for me to move on." What? I hope this person loses their job, your retirement and never is allowed to work anywhere again. I curse you and anyone who has harassed me.

The reviews and comments by students and staff regarding the unprofessional nature are real. I later learned I was a targeted individual (TI) so the acts of harassment and isolation were probably not coincidental. If I am TI, I am very sure that this PD now a VP knew something about my targeting and the school's fraud. When you are a TI, it is a very coordinated effort against you. It is made to look real and convincing and people pretend to be cops and government agents and have special knowledge and information. But, mainly, this comes from stalking and harassing and invading the TI's privacy. I am glad they closed this school. Now they need to follow those VPs and other execs to those other institutions to see where the fraud leads, since some of these people may be continuing this fraud elsewhere.

The online classes that I took was great but very expensive. I study for two years to receive an Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Not knowing that the school doesn't transfer credit nor are they acceptable by most colleges. I just wasted two years of my life cramming for nothing, This was not an easy course but thank God I succeeded. But for what? It's no good for nothing, but a reminder of how stupid I was to even trust them anymore, anywhere. My student loans continue to skyrocket and my grants I never received or knew how much they were. Virginia College in both Huntsville and Birmingham Alabama is a ripoff. Sorry to say, but true.

I attended Virginia Colleges/ Birmingham/ Huntsville, AL and both on ground and online classes. The on ground experience in Huntsville, AL. was really terrible. The instructors wasn't professional nor had any idea as to what they were suppose to be teaching. My Medical Office Administation instructor; which was a recent graduatecof the college, didn't do anything but talk about her family. I went to the Dean of the school because I refuse to listen to this, when I enrolled as a student to learn my program of study. He talked to her, but the next day she was taking the same class as i. Her let her went at the end of semester but by then, I had lost all respect for this school. But all my student loans and grants was eaten up and taken by them. So here I am, years later, stuck with student loans that has to be forgiven or paid back. Thanks for listening..

I agree I will be contacting a lawyer also because I have been giving the run around with my aid as well and tp no avail nobody knows anything when you ask financial aid people in their pass the buck and blame student accounts for the hold up and say they will email them i would like to its been more than 6months i would like to know who is getting these funds that the students should be getting

So I just applied to go to another college just to find out the my credits from Virginia college are not acceptable. i don't think it's right and if I can't use my credits, I don't want the debit! This makes no sense and nobody can even give me one name of a college that would accept the credit. I have been looking for schools for all must two years. Then the school tells i'm good for my credits to be transfer, only to be in the middle of the term and now they tell me they can't accept my credits. Like i'm confused at this point! This is heartbreaking because it's like I did two years of college for nothing!

This has been an interesting and difficult read. I guess I did not have the same experience as a lot of you. I graduated with a DMS degree 7 years ago from VC at Austin. I was really lost, just getting out of the Army and not knowing what I wanted to do. I signed up...worked my hiney off, studied hard and passed with honors. I had to move for my first job ($49, 000) down south. I was not happy to move but you got to do what needs to be done... paid my dues for a year and then moved to San Antonio making almost 60, 000 a year. I am very grateful to VC for helping me learn a trade. I might have just been lucky with VC but I can't hate an organization that helped change my life.. Yeah, I might have a 29, 000 left of debt but that's peanuts compared to a lot of others with 4 year degrees making less than I do. Anywho, I am sorry for those that feel shafted or those that did not get jobs. I
-SL

I have found a Law firm who is researching the possibility of a class action suit against Virginia College. Current or past Virginia College students who have questions about refunds or compensation for tuition and time they invested in course credits that they cannot transfer as needed can contact the lawyers of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz at 888-255-AWKO (2956).

if you think that spending $30, 000+ on a degree from this place will get you a job... now some do get jobs... mostly the one that learn a trade, but you have to massage a lot of people to pay that loan back...

Go to a community college, credits will transfer and your degree will not get thrown in the can...

Here is the deal... you spend $21K or more for a worthless degree, that will be laughed at over and over again... if all of your stars line up and you are lucky enough to find someone stupid enough to hire you... it will takes years to payoff a $21K loan making $25K per year... I think actually you will be able to get it forgiven before you pay it off... it takes 25 years of carrying a school loan before you can get it forgiven... but you have to live 25 years with it on your credit report... that is a bummer...

Go to a community college... Alabama and all other states are full of them... they are cheaper and the degree will mean something...

I had the same thing happen i want to get my bachelors but cant bc there credits don't transfer any legal path i can take please let me know...

Well, all you would be students, don't say you were not warned. The US government has made the for profit "schools" put new disclosures on their websites. It has the total cost for their programs and they are high. You could go to ANY SEC major university and of douse ANY junior college for what VC is charging. $21, 000 to be a medical assistant that earns $25, 000 per year. RUN don't want away from this place. Every program I looked at had huge expenses to them. Look here to see
http://www.vc.edu/consumerinfo/index.cfm?PRGID=126

No, the media is not picking on for-profits for a reason, everything negative that has been written about them is true. Being a former employee, I saw students tricked into enrolling into degree programs that couldn't even read or write. Many employees were threatened, harassed, and bullied by campus and corporate administrators for not making their quotas or retaining students. Those who stay in this type of environment and prey on these students are only motivated by GREED! These top level executives and campus presidents are getting rich with Title IV funds (U.S. gov't financial aid). When employers see that a student graduates from this college, their resumes go in the "*** no" pile. Students be aware!

The following editorial first appeared in the San Jose Mercury News:

Though leaders in the House of Representatives insist their No. 1 priority is cutting government spending, it’s clear they have other goals. Among them is protecting the for-profit college industry, even though some of its practices waste untold millions in tax dollars and hurt poor and minority students.

For months, the Department of Education has been working to develop the so-called “gainful employment” rule, which would help ensure that students attending for-profit colleges will be able to earn enough after they graduate to repay their federal loans. While the for-profit education sector — which includes colleges such as the University of Phoenix — enrolls just 12 percent of students, it takes in a quarter of student aid and accounts for 43 percent of loan defaults. Reform is clearly needed.

So it was astonishing last month to see GOP lawmakers in the House, along with about 50 Democrats, pass legislation that blocked funding to implement the gainful employment rule. These lawmakers claim they’re concerned the rule will limit access to college. The truth is that it will limit the profits of their campaign contributors.

Republicans in the Senate are trying to pass a similar measure. We hope California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer will help lead the effort to block it.

The rule will affect only the 5 percent of programs that do an egregiously bad job, leaving students with no career prospects and with debt they can’t repay. It will require a two-part test to measure program graduates’ ability to pay back the loans. Failing both tests knocks a program out of the federal student aid program, which is funded by taxpayers and makes up a majority of these companies’ revenue.

Republican leaders beholden to the for-profit institutions are undercutting their proclaimed commitment to reduced and responsible spending.

Even if the deficit were not more than $1 trillion a year, taxpayers should not be subsidizing for-profit colleges that don’t educate their students.

Where is the tea party when we need it?

I went to Virginia College Online program for Associates in Business Management from [protected], I was informed by the admin Travis who signed me up over the phone that this program has preselected classes so the program will cost $8, 000.00 including the books. The 'professor's' there were mostly ridiculous because there was minimal interaction from them and the tests and finals were so incorrect that I had to question by question through their own books they issued to show them I had the correct answer and their automated test system was marking things 'wrong' improperly. By the end of the schooling, I received a bill in the amount of roughly $40, 000.00 ... Not $8, 000.00 as they had originally said, they never provided me any receipt or invoice showing the total amount at the end of the schooling. When I called them out on this, they said oh... the 'rep' Travis' must have been mistaken, he must have meant $8, 000.00 a year (2.5 yr program) I point out this would equal roughly $20, 000.00 ... which is not even close to $40, 000.00... the admin kept back tracking... and finally said, well its not their (VCO) problem any more as the loan has been handed over to the US Government student loans now... I have been fighting this since 2012, the school loan has now increased to roughly $67, 000.00 even after paying where I can ... This Virginia College is CRIMINAL! I don't know where else to seek help... I may die before my issue is taken care of.

HELP! HELP! HELP! I started going too Virginia College Online in 2008 in 2013 I was told that unless I came out of pocket I had no more money too finish my degree. I was broken, 5 classes away from a bachelors degree; and I am told I am at my limit financially. When asked why, the answer was you rec'd $5000 twice in one month. What school will give you $5000 twice in one month? Yes, VCO took me for a ride. 162 official credits, $98000 educational debit and no degree. I could go on an on, but I need too know my right. Why have it taken me so long too get too this point? Kicking myself for not paying attention, when I was getting a new financial advisory every 3rd quarter or so; I should have start questioning the situation than. Comments can be sent too veronica.vco@att.net

I can say for the past month, I have been in contact with VCO for my official transcript, to find out after completing 124 credit hours with 68 remaining for the BS degree MIS program, is no longer available and no other program to apply my credit hours to finalize a degree. Thus said, my withdrawn status do to funding issues, the finance and academic departments say basically that I was non compliant to responses and emails about refunds ect., such that I was withdrawn with a fee that is now in collections. However, the only way the enrollments advisors suggest I can clear this debt with loan forgiveness program is by reenrolling with totally different major, no transfer credits applied and will have remaining 100 plus credits to finish or graduate. Insane, another 65k tuition assistance and consolidated loans to this school to date is so upsetting. I have contacted the collections and advised it is up to the school to clear the debt or offer arrangements, only to be mislead to say there is nothing they can do. Again, I was previously advised from someone in academics when my transcript purchase originally rejected and told this was a system error and would be fixed. Days later, this nightmare. I am so livid right now, trying to pursue and use my credits and move forward with a Masters Degree to only find my time, money and character has been antagonized from the comments and poor customer service. On the presidents list with 3.7 GPA no off days, fulltime, ect. during [protected] is something I cannot surpass. I have contacted other schools that have cheaper programs for MIS only 120 credits to complete and willing to accept up to 90 transfer credits maximum but need official transcripts to proceed. Thus I am stuck again. University of Phoenix, National University and other schools I have attended had the same withdrawal fee, but offered a settlement for 60 dollars. Yet VCO says no, balance must be paid, there is nothing we can do, took my money, others school says none of my classes will transfer due to the accreditation policies if I wanted to return there. So to date I am calling to try and see what I can do, if they would least have some kind spirit to release my transcript with arrangement, yet enrollments want me to start in Jan for more money or promise to call if anything changes with the programs. No way, I am done, so I am reading all the reviews and complaints to forward mines. First the MIS program should not be 192 credit hours compared to other schools. My fault for not researching, though all was well when attending until this sudden nightmare. Think twice before enrolling, read reviews and everything. My suggestion, cause its very strange to be transferred all around and told the same thing., not only to be intimidated about overall issues. This school not a very great resource. Have a blessed day!

VCO is truly a joke, a scam, nothing more than a money maker for Education Corporation of America. Avy Stein, one of the big dogs at ECA, is nothing more than a crook.
In order for a college to be shut down, I think it has to have a 25% default rate. Surely VCO is nearing that. I hope it is!
I've done a tremendous amount of research on Avy Stein. He's the 34th richest person in the world, which is fine with me. But, what's unsettling is his greed. His corrupt actions are repulsive and congress is scared shatless of this man.
VCO has ruined me.

I am also a victim to this schools fraud and I believe we all need to make a formal complaint against Virginia College due to the many false claims they make to unsuspecting students who were promised job assistance, the use of predatory FAFSA, and unsubstantiated statistics they claim students benefit while attending and graduating from their school. I attended the schools Masters program and I believe they committed fraud of the highest nature and believe we all need to make request a formal inquiry into the school as it is a for-profit institution with many campuses marketing false claims throughout the US. Contact https://oighotline.ed.gov/Hotline/Default.aspx?aFlag=a2GSpnDbruI%3d&lang=8oFi9czUG94%3d

Virginia college baton rouge, LA is a joke the teachers are crack heads 90percent of the students are convicted felons the dean of students Justin dedden a her I on user sleeps with the students the security guard is a bully and she harasses students only the cosmetology students graduate from there 9501 cortana place baton rouge, LA Virginia college sucks by deveon brown

EVERY negative comment made on this page with regards to Virginia College is 100% true! Stay away from this unaccredited diploma mill.

I too had enrolled in Virginia College online. I went there for four and a half years and shy of four classes to earn my bachelors degree in health reimbursement. This college and ride for the last four years has been a nightmare. They are not regionally credited school and I had spoke to them several times concerning this issue. All they could tell me is they are nationally accredited which is not worth nothing. I have contacted several schools and universities in my area and all theses schools does not consider Virginia College being a well respected school. So this leaves me 56, 000 in debt and wasted four years of my life on a degree I could never use. I contacted the BBB in Alabama and filed a complaint. The school refused to make thing right. I am currently seeking legal advice for a possible lawsuit against Virginia College. I feel that all student who have been ripped off this so called college should file a action suit against the college and closed the door to this school for good. I had recently received a letter from a attorney in South Carolina saying that I owed the school $1540 dollars . Evidently that is a charge aside from the $1178 dollars they claim I owe. Sense they charge 1540 dollars per class, they must of charge me for a class I did not even take. This is fraud! Please!, Anyone looking to further there education please do not enroll in Virginia College. Like many of us as well as the seven nursing student form Mississippi who had to sue the school for non accreditation in the state of Mississippi. The student were suing for 14 million dollars and I sure hope they were awarded every penny and more.

4 years of complaints here, that's pretty bad and the business is still making money. Of course there is not a lot of complaints compared to the amount of students that attend the school but most probably don't think of complaining because what good would it do. My daughter went here in Mobile, AL.. and found it to be almost totally black, which I have read plenty of complaints of them targeting blacks because so many can qualify for grants, but the biggest problem seems to be racism. She was accused of saying things to other teachers and students when confronted about, the story changed and everything disappeared. Teachers regularly don't show up for classes. White students will get accused of things to get them out. My daughter got kicked out of her internship with no accuser confronting her or any witnesses coming before her. Just out and now she owes the money and would have to sign up for another term to get back in to finish. Well, this one is going all the way to court. We are contacting a lawyer that I know very well and are taking this into court because it also involves a local Hospital here in Mobile which will be named in the law suite also. They may have picked on the wrong white girl this time.

Well I too have a similar complaint. When I first inquired about going back to school I checked on VC here in Biloxi and right away I had a lot of trouble with financial aid bc no one knew what was ever going on bc there were so many hands in my acct that no one knew what was going on. Instead of the lady walking me though the process she told me to go home and make the corrections myself. Ive never went to college and I had no idea what I was doing. I had to drive there to make changes that only took 2 mins to do and put miles and miles on my vehicle. I dropped out and ive inquired elsewhere bc they don't know what the hell they are doing.