Think Twice Before Enrolling at This College in Indiana
Not too long ago if you wanted a college degree, you spent several years studying at a brick-and-mortar institution.
Maybe you opted for a college close to home. Perhaps you selected a university on the other side of the state, or maybe even in another state.
Today, many students are choosing to seek their degrees online.
It's important to note that not all colleges and universities are created equal. Some are just better than others. And some are downright sketchy.
More than 50 of America's worst colleges and universities were recently called out by Avocadoposts.com - including an online university based in Indiana that may be taking advantage of its sister university's prestigious name.
Purdue University vs. Purdue University Global
It's important to draw a distinction between Purdue University and Purdue University Global.
Purdue University is a public land-grant university based in West Lafayette, Indiana. It's widely respected for its science, technology and agriculture programs.
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Back in 2018, Purdue acquired the online for-profit Kaplan University and renamed it Purdue University Global.
For years, Kaplan had been mired with accusations of predatory practices. Not everyone is convinced that the change has been positive. In fact, at least one critic calls Purdue University Global a for-profit college masquerading as a public university.
Why Do Some People Think Purdue University Global is Sketchy?
There are a few different reasons Purdue University Global has raised the eyebrows of some prospective students.
According to the avocadoposts.com article - which ranked Purdue Global at #30 on its list of America's worst universities,
...the school’s requirement that students sign a waiver relinquishing their right to sue if problems arise has drawn criticism and suggests a prioritization of profit over students’ well-being and educational quality.
Further, members of the online school's faculty were reportedly required to sign non-disclosure agreements aimed at preventing them from discussing the school's method of operations, a move called "unprecedented for a public, non-profit university" and "breathtakingly inappropriate in higher education” by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).
It should also be noted that the Better Business Bureau gives Purdue University Global an "F" rating.
Other U.S. colleges and universities that made the "worst" list can be viewed here.