Menu
Kaplan University
Kaplan University Customer Service Phone, Email, Contacts

Kaplan University
reviews & complaints

www.kaplanuniversity.edu
www.kaplanuniversity.edu

Learn how the rating is calculated

3.1 140 Reviews

Kaplan University Complaints Summary

74 Resolved
66 Unresolved
Our verdict: While Kaplan University has an above-average resolution rate, there’s room for improvement. Investigate common issues reported by customers and understand how they were resolved. Be prepared to follow up on your queries if needed, and keep detailed records of all interactions.
Verified
The authenticity of the customer service contact information for Kaplan University has been meticulously verified by representatives from ComplaintsBoard using our proprietary verification system.
Get notifications about new complaints and reviews of Kaplan University. We promise not to send you any unrelated messages.
Share
Claim Your Business
Take control of your profile: address complaints and engage with reviews
Write a review File a complaint

Kaplan University reviews & complaints 140

Sort by:

Newest Kaplan University reviews & complaints

ComplaintsBoard
T
1:02 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Kaplan University fa loan money not being sent to me!

I was told my check would be mailed out on the 11th, then the 18, then the 20 and now the 27th! COME ON. I have had to sell my car to buy a new laptop so I could stay in school because someone broke into my room and took my laptop. I am living in a hotel however only for 2 more days because I will have to leave. They keep telling and telling me they are sending the money and nothing! I love the school over all just doubt FA and the way they work. I am condidering another school at this time.

Read full review of Kaplan University and 1 comment
Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
I
I
Idocare
Washington DC, US
Apr 19, 2012 6:05 am EDT

This is terrible. but obviously Kaplan isn't helping. You should condider another school. One that teaches the use of spell check

ComplaintsBoard
D
11:17 pm EST
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Kaplan University money they say I owe

Just received a phone call saying that after 2 years Kaplan University says I owe them 1850.00. I told the guy I have no idea what your talking about I had student loans so why would i owe you he said this is separate, uh no dont think so! I think he really thought i was going to pay him right now without checking into this. THis is ridiculous! Have never heard a word until now? Really

Read full review of Kaplan University and 1 comment
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
D
D
Debi Johnson
Birmingham, US
Jan 10, 2014 7:29 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I experienced the same problem with them. After I graduated, I received a call saying I owed over 2000.00. They made a financial aid mistake in my packaging. Then, they wanted to charge me with the balance. I contacted ombudsman who researched the situation. They wrote it off. I received a 4. 0 in 3 degrees I earned. The professors are great. The financial aid office and business offiuce is awful! I agree with you 100%

ComplaintsBoard
B
11:10 pm EST
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Kaplan University dropping me from a class

I really do not have the last part of information, however, I was enrolled with Kaplan University from Oct 2009 until June 2011 in an Associates Degree program online. In May, it started with saying documents were continuously missing, forms were not correct, etc. so I complied to what they (financial aid dept) asked, when I submitted all the documents and tried to get back into the class, the financial aid dept stated that I dropped the class which makes no sense because I had one class left to graduate. The student support stated I had finanical aid that was not used., however, financial aid again said I dropped the class and owed them $5 thousand dollars. I feel like I was not done right. I am the spouse of a retired veteran, and this is how we are treated? we as wives, we serve too because we are left behind to carry the load of mom and dad. Can you please help me?

Read full review of Kaplan University and 2 comments
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
2 comments
Add a comment
T
T
timbo97
Scottsville, US
Feb 16, 2012 3:20 pm EST

I to was a student at Kaplan University online they also told me that I had enough financial aid and I get a bill for $3500.00 just got off of the phone with their collection dept I quit after 1 year at there college . I am stiil poed about how they are conducting the financial aid for the students someone should start a class action suit against them.

A
A
AngryGAstudent
, US
Feb 04, 2012 10:30 pm EST

I graduated from Kaplan in 2011 and this week (2/1/12) they say I owe $5, 437. My balance was zero in July 2011. I am furious! I think Kaplan needs a class action lawsuit against them for financial mismanagement.

ComplaintsBoard
D
8:10 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Kaplan University they are holding my funds

Kaplan is continually screwing up my financial aid monies.
They over awarded me, then sent my monies back to the lender. Then decided I now own them. They won't release my current stipend funds, this excuse or that excuse...
They won't file a grievance on my behalf. I have filed a grievance twice and they don't ever seem to get it.
They offer continual WRONG information. They are a bunch of monkeys!
Whomever offered a law suit, count me in.../ Denise Moon

Read full review of Kaplan University
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
L
6:07 pm EDT

Kaplan University stay away

I went to check out this school in April 2009. I was working at a job that I didn't like & like so many others they made all these promises and told us that I would have a certification that would let me work in a Physicians office.. They told us upfront how much it was going to cost & my jaw dropped. $15, 000. My husband simply looked at me & said do you want to do this or not? I said yes and so I enrolled in The Medical Office Specialist program. I wanted to learn billing & coding. I had to postpone the date that I would start for personal reasons.
I started the classses in July 2009 at the campus. I had gotten a pell grant for $3, 500 and my husband took out a loan from his retirement for the rest. (I kept the reciept that said paid in full) I found out from other students that they had been roped into taking out up to 3 loans & that their interest rate was as high as 17%! I busted my hump for the 7 months to stay with a 4.0 GPA & I never missed a day.
It did not take long to figure out that TSB was just in it for the money as I saw students who had no business being there getting passed on to the next module even though they should have been flunked out. When I called my instructor on this she advised that she was just following policy. They just needed to get a passing grade & that she had to grade on a curve.
I had other issues with the school as far as how the students were treated and the fact that alot of the information in their books was outdated. My instructor was great she advised us that the school said that we had to learn one thing; but she also told us that in the real world things worked differently. I noticed that when students were sent to their externship sites the students with the worst possible grades, attitude & appearance went to the hiring sites more often than not & the ones who obeyed the rules didn't. They tried telling me that they did not know which sites were hiring or not.
I graduated in March with honors & I took what I thought was a certification test this month. SURPRISE! It is not a certification test it is a competency exam that the Docotrs don't care about anyway! Now I have to spend another $300 to get the real thing from AHIMA! I ahve warned everyone that I can to stay away from that school & others like it. They all say they are accredited and they may be but the certificate that you get you can get cheaper @ the community college & get it done right the 1st time.
STAY AWAY FROM SCHOOLS LIKE THIS! It might take longer to get your education at your local community college; but in the end you will have the degree you NEED & employers will not look at the school you went to & decide based on that that they WILL NOT hire you!

Read full review of Kaplan University and 1 comment
Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
N
N
NotHappyWithKaplan
Chesapeake, US
Feb 04, 2013 6:56 pm EST

ME: I am looking into other schools and leaving Kaplan. What is the proper procedure of leaving Kaplan?

THEM: You will need to contact your advisor to have your request escalated and also contact financial aid

THEM: What has made you decide to leave Kaplan?

ME: Just dealing with the whole process of FA and how noone seem to care how the funds are being disbursed.

THEM: Have you tried to have the issue escalated so a manager can follow up with you?

ME: Several times

THEM: From experience, I can honestly say that changing schools isn't going to guarantee you won't experience the same issue

THEM: Are you still receiving funding to cover your classes?

THEM : If you still receive funding that covers your classes that should be your main financial focus, which shouldn't be an issue to cause you to withdraw

ME: I will just have to take my chances. I go through this almost every term and I've never experienced this at other schoolsTHEM: But if you receive funding there shouldn't be an issue

THEM: It sounds like you are referring to issues regarding your stipend, which shouldn't be the main reason you are in school

THEM: If your classes are covered that should be the main focus

ME: It isn't. And if you look at my transcript that will show you that I am not

THEM : You should be focused on the education and not the check

THEM : So, if it's not for the check and you receive funding what's the issue?

ME: Why shouldn't it be an issue that you have federal funds that have been sent to the school and not being disbursed properly.

THEM: Because that's when it sounds like you only care about getting a check versus caring about being covered financially for classes

THEM: You are worried more about money that you will eventually have to pay back to the government

THEM : That isn't a good reason to withdraw from a school

THEM : Especially when your concerns aren't even academic related AND you have funding to cover your education

Me: Not just that alone...You personal that react and talk just as you are is helping with that decision

THEM: I'm sorry, but I'm confused at the statement you just made

THEM: I don't get what you are trying to say

THEM: I'm not sure if you are saying I'm helping with your decision to withdraw, but now it sounds as though you are looking for excuses to withdraw when I'm trying to get you to understand that withdrawing because of a stipend check shouldn't be the reason to leave

THEM: You're not getting paid to go to school. Your main objective is to attend school to get the education

THEM : You can always work with someone directly to help you with the stipend check as you continue to move forward

THEM: However, it sounds like you only care about the money and not the fact that you are financially covered for classes. So, since you would like to quit for that reason I encourage you to follow up with your primary advisor to complete your request

THEM : Is there anything else I can assist you with?

Chat session has been terminated by the site operator.

Is this how I am to be talked to when I am paying you thousands of dollars in tuition?

ComplaintsBoard
S
3:06 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Kaplan University financial aide department

I am a student at Kaplan University, I have had problenms with the finanial department since I started. I started in Sept. 2010, ever time I call in to find out what is going on with my expense check they have multiple reasons why I have not recieved it . I called yesterday and spoke with someone and he told my that my check has not been processed yet. The reason they told me is, that my income taxes states that he (my husband) paid child support for 2010, and I needed to show proof of this. He told me to hold on and let him see if I can hand write it. He came back on the line and told me that I can hand write a letter stating that he paid this certain amount and have my name somewhere in the letter and my husbands. I have never had to do this before. I was disturbed that I had to do this. He said that I stated it on my FASA. Which it still don't make sice to me. Today I recieve a email and a phone call about a missing document, so I login and it said that I needed to resubmit the same form that I have sent 5 times earlier. When you look at all the list of documents that have been approved or no longer needed it shows that it's no longer needed. I am royally frustrated with this school. I am ready to transfer out.

Read full review of Kaplan University
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
T
3:35 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Kaplan University rip-off

I owe Direct Loans $13, 000 for spending less than 1 year at this rip-off school. I thought on-line was the way to go, since I only had a semester left at my former school. I knew not all my classes would transfer, but Kaplan accepted 20% of my coursework. Then the loan went to the school, and I had to call for 2 weeks to get the refund, which they wanted to keep. The veterans discount was not applied until my third term, and was not retroactive. The webcam sent for one class was only compatible with Windows XP, so I could not finish the class. When I finally quit, they waited 2 months to send my Student Loan back to the lender and classified it as a payment, not a refund. This meant I was paying interest for money I never saw nor used. Also with the way their school year is set, when I went to my old University I was unable to get loans for my last semester since I reached the year monetary allotment. The school year for Kaplan is 18 months long. The "classes" were a joke. The counselors were terrible; the red tape was unreal, and I learned nothing. Now I get to pay the government close to $20, 000 because of this joke. 5 years at a real University $23, 000. less than 1 year at Kaplan $14k. The school in owned by the Washington Times. Maybe they should be sued.

Read full review of Kaplan University and 6 comments
Update by th3bt
Oct 29, 2011 12:41 am EDT

Your great advice and acumen into all things proves your moniker is well earned Mr. Knowitall. I bet you are the coolest person living in your parents basement. Your comments make no sense. Troll elsewhere little loser.

Update by th3bt
Oct 28, 2011 3:32 am EDT

B' sneeze- you are right, and that is why I left before being there a year. My complaint is that the tactics this institution of higher education uses to lure students is wrong. I was lied to. I was traded to different departments. I did research things like credentials, course of study, etc. I was told before I enrolled that most of my transfer credits would be accepted. It wasn't until after I enrolled that I discovered most of them were not. I appealed, which took 6 months. Did you read my complaint? I was told, as a veteran I would receive a discount for tuition. That did not happen until the 3rd term. They " lost" my paperwork. That is why I left the school. Is the onus on me to ensure that the money I did not use at the school go back to the loan company as a payment? No. I am taking the responsibility and paying off a debt which gave me nothing. Hindsight is 20/20. The reason I wrote this complaint is to warn others. The school is shady. They lied to me.

Update by th3bt
Oct 28, 2011 3:14 am EDT

Mrknowitall,

What? I am paying my debt, jackanapes. My complaint is that I was snowed into a debt that gave me nothing in return. I have no problem with paying for a service, my problem is paying for nothing, which I am currently doing. Maybe you should actually read the post before you make asinine comments.

Update by th3bt
Oct 28, 2011 3:10 am EDT

Sorry. The Washington Post owns the school

Hide full review
6 comments
Add a comment
J
J
Judith Hatch
, US
Dec 18, 2016 12:23 pm EST

I know that there have been numerous current and former students regarding the fraud and deception that occurred in regards to Kaplan. There is pending litigation that is establishing the fact that there were questionable activities going on in regards to the admissions process. the student loan process and the grades received by students. I am currently assisting an attorney in Florida to try and get as much verification from students as well as current and former faculty members to substantiate the deceptive and fraudulent that were used. Please send me your story and include any Kaplan faculty member that played a role in your story. You can either contact me through Facebook or at lablady412@sbcglobal.net. Please also feel free to include any documentation that you would be willing to share.For me this has been a 9 year struggle but I really do see a real possibility. Please feel free to contact me with any questions and/or concerns. Judith Hatch

M
M
moore9
Chillicothe, US
Aug 04, 2012 2:51 pm EDT

I agree mrknowitall, but the government allows scams to go on and should protect the people and that's what the dummies are there for. Maybe they are so caught up in the gay marriage garbage they for get about running the country .

M
M
Mrknowitall
Philadelphia, US
Nov 01, 2011 7:19 pm EDT

Someone is to stupid to realize how stupid they are. Its no ones fault but your own that you couldn't see that you were being scammed. Calling people trolls doesn't change the fact that you're the one that was scammed, and, still in debt. People with brains don't fall for that crap. Maybe writing a check every month will jar a few brain cells to work.

M
M
Mrknowitall
Philadelphia, US
Oct 28, 2011 4:56 pm EDT

Do you really believe that this shopping mall school is a real school? Come on. These places exist because there are people who don't have the intelligence to get into real universities fall for these scams. The same reason that some people go into the armed services because they can't find a job anywhere else. Anyone doing any bit of research should realize that this place is a scam. Just because you fall for it doesn't excuse you from paying off your debt. Ask your mommy before you have to make any further life decisions. Don't add being a deadbeat to your list of bad decisions. Pay your debt.

S
S
Streetlamps
, US
Oct 27, 2011 10:08 pm EDT

Sounds like a crazy scam! Good luck with school.

M
M
Mrknowitall
Philadelphia, US
Oct 27, 2011 3:37 pm EDT

Pay your debt

ComplaintsBoard
K
7:57 pm EDT

Kaplan University I'm completely embarrassed that I fell for the kaplan trap

I spent one, 10 week term (and 5 grand) at Kaplan and it was the largest waste of time and CASH ever. I entered already having a bachelors degree but wanting to work in health care. What a stupid mistake that was.

The instructors don't care, many of them aren't even adequately educated. Students spend "class time" yapping on their cell phones, having noisy conversations, sleeping, or talking about themselves. Instructors have absolutely zero classroom control, so the one or two people really trying to learn get overlooked. Instructors act irritated by those who want to make excellent grades.

Financial aid lies – don't believe me? Read reviews all over the internet about how people get ripped off by financial aid misleading them. This was evident by them magically having funds for me after I told them I couldn't afford the program as it stood. I'm positive that they would have let me end my time saying I had loans, then suddenly presented me at the end with a bill, holding my degree for ransom. Again, read reviews on the internet of people to which this very thing has happened. I reckon getting a root canal would be more fun than dealing with the business office nightmare.

Also, I've spoken to doctors around here and they won't hire students who go to Kaplan because the school has a crappy reputation due to its graduating people who are poorly educated and lack communication and workplace skills. It's a joke of an "institution". It's not a university, it's an institution of higher learning. Credits do NOT transfer because no respectable school will take credits from Kaplan. This is a for-profit business. They do not care about you succeeding, they care about overcharging people dumb enough to fall for their scam.

I'm completely embarrassed that I fell for the Kaplan trap, and I hope anyone considering attending Kaplan will RUN in a different direction. PLEASE do more research than I did. I'm now looking at a program at a reputable school and the cost of this program is 1/3 of what Kaplan charged. There are other options, you just have to seek them out. I did not do enough research and now I'm paying for that mistake.

Read full review of Kaplan University and 1 comment
Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
D
D
DJB67
Zephyrhills, US
Aug 01, 2015 9:27 am EDT

I agree 100%, and I'm embarrassed I also fell for the trap. "Earn a degree and pursue a career in that field". It has been five years since I graduated, and I can't get into that field.

ComplaintsBoard
L
5:42 pm EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Kaplan University forced loans with out contractual contract

What I'm about to tell you blows my mind and maybe yours too - this is what happen to me with Kaplan today..

Oh Please let me vent for a moment - So, my college sent me a bill for 6, 900 for payment to get me through school till March 2012, with a repayment of $880 a month. So I called them up to inquire. I explained this was never a pre-agreed arrangement. They know this - James at the finical aid office told me he know. So, you think you can send me a bill - when I'm working on getting my own funding - You (meaning the college Kaplan ) with no notice to me and decide "Hay, you now owe us, even though you do not want it - we (Kaplan University) decided you (that would be me) do want it" - So, I sweetly explained that what I was about to stay was not towards him (James), but the college institution of Kaplan University it's self.

I know they law before I started school 3 years ago and now I have more insight - I'm going to slap a law suite on you so big it will make your heads swim - I'm also not the person who makes threats and I typically do not give warnings, however I feel that the sheep need more direction. I'm also the person who gets her orgasms by correct the injustice. You (Kaplan University) can not send me to collections or put anything on my credit just because you feel like it and you can't make or tell me to pay you when it was not greed upon in a legal written contract before hand.

What the school institution is going is a seriously illegal practice and I'm going to make a example out of this school for doing such.
So James put me on hold to see if there was anything in writing. When really he was so freaked out and because he had not been trained to handle my type of phone call. He simple placed me on hold for over 35 minutes. When he returned I explained to him why he had to put me on hold, explained I was not faulting him just the institution (Kaplan University) that he works for. I told him (James) I would have a subpoena for all phone recordings (which they do) and take this to Federal court pro sa (meaning I'm the attorney, which I have a legal right to do) and anyone who has been on the other side of my stick can tell you - I am there worse night mare, I've won before and I will win again. money hunger institution. Where in the hell do they get off! They seethe in pool of greed -

James informed me that Kaplan University decided the following - I had 6 credits for the currant class and just enough fund from the government to cover this cost. But Kaplan decided that $6222.00 would be lent to me with a repayment of $800 a month. This would cover me thru March 13 2012 even though with the funds I had already covered this class in Latent Prints they decided to toss in there own money and spread it out of the next three classes and If I fail to pay and even if I make a payment below the $800. Kaplan could block me from my class I'm currently in and then kick me out of school. Remember I already had fund from the government to cover this class.
Plus, if I do not make the payment a $100.00 a month fee will be applied on top of interest..

REMEMBER THIS WAS NOT A contractual agreement: " In law, a contract is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties which, if it contains the elements of a valid legal agreement, is enforceable by law or by binding arbitration. A legally enforceable contract is an exchange of promises with specific legal remedies for breach"
EVEN IF I DO NOT SIGN IT I WAS TOLD, IT WAS STILL GOING TO HAPPEN AGAINST MY WILL

THIS IS RAPE ON A LEVEL THAT LEAVES ME SPEECHLESS!

I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN AND WANT ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE -

Read full review of Kaplan University and 5 comments
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
5 comments
Add a comment
N
N
Neve a Medical Asst
Houston, US
Aug 28, 2013 1:08 pm EDT

I totally agree with anyone complaining about Kaplan. These instructors and personnel are ALL so under qualified that I would not send my "enemy" to them for an education. I took the medical assisting and quite frankly thought it was a (1) on a scale of 1-10 education. I am very smart and learn quickly but these people are clueless. I just heard that the "government loans" that Kaplan used mostely does NOT get paid back. So, Kaplan is riding on $$ from the Federal Government. It's a shame they can stay in business. If yo have any questions...do not go to school at this university. There are others that are better, ., ..believe me. NOT good quality.

V
V
very mad at kaplan
Portland, US
Aug 23, 2012 10:24 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

i was scam by kalan university too becasue i had health issue and withdrew in the 8th week in jan `12 but was told that i owe a 1100 bill. They had sent back all my loans that is against the papers we sign. Then in Aug they shut me out of my kU campus for back payment. This college is a rip off and i am trying to find a lawyer. there is misconduct that happen in june too from the universtiy if we have to live by the conduct code so should they contact me by mcdougallcynthia@yahoo.com

C
C
christina0604
Willoughby, US
Jul 04, 2012 12:26 pm EDT

I am currently a Kaplan student, as I rephrase am to blocked. In December of 2011 I was told I has to sign this MPN or would not be allowed to start my next semester. I'm freaking out I have no one to talk to to get advice from so after I call financial aid and wonder how they came up with the payment amount I was told it was from my tax return. Mind you I am unemployed my soon to be husband is the only one working. So I signed the MPN and skipped my car payments to pay $351 a month. I recently have not been able to pay anything and so nicely have been blocked today, even though I spoke to someone last week because they constantly call me wanting money or more forms faxed I never was told from the woman I spoke to that I would be blocked from my next semester. I am 2 courses away from earning a BS and I do not know what to do. I have always questioned the grading in this school and if my degree would even get me anywhere. Now Kaplan did tell me that in order to receive their Eloan I must be denied by 2 other companys for a student loan and show the school proof. Well I already know I will not get a loan I'm unemployed and why do I want to have those negative marks on my credit? So I decided to look into another student loan, none of my banks do loans with Kaplan. Now what?

J
J
Jafujay34
Brooklyn, US
Mar 10, 2012 2:25 pm EST

I am in this situation now and want to know how did it turn out? I am so angry at the situation that I am placed. I have 24 credits left befor graduation and I am being pressed to get another student choice loan. I already had one and is being asked for a payment of 800 dollars a month until the loan is paid. My response was that I could not pay that amount and will not be signing a promissory agreement. I will be blocked from classes because I will not sign it. I do not know what else to do or where else to go. I am also unsure of the stipulations on this loan. No one has yet answered my questions on repayment options and stipulation. I am so angry and confused…

M
M
Mommy monster
Miami Dade, US
Feb 13, 2012 8:44 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Yes I agree and yet they have gone on to rape many more single mother, unsuspecting teens and people looking for growth we should sue them! It's just not having a army to do so is what stops many like me the fear of losing and making more debt with court cost.

ComplaintsBoard
D
5:39 pm EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Kaplan University balance due

While I was attending Kaplan I was informed that I no longer had any financial aid available so I was no longer able to attend. After contacting the University I was informed that here was an error with my financial papers and I would be able to attend the next class. I ended up graduating from the University in December 2009 and I received my Degree along with a copy of my transcripts. After graduating I received a letter from Fed Loan stating they received a refund check from Kaplan so I called the school but I never was able to speak to anyone. About a week or two later I received another letter showing more funds were returned. I finally spoke to someone at Kaplan who informed me that there was an error and they had to return the funds and I now owed them $6, 000. I asked them why I was not informed and how could this has happened? All I was told was well there was an error and I now owe them and if I don't pay it will go to collections. Now I always thought that schools didn't give you your degree or transcripts unless your account was zero but I guess I was wrong.

Read full review of Kaplan University and 1 comment
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
E
E
Enlightened89
, US
Oct 20, 2011 3:36 pm EDT

This happened to me! At first they told me that I was "overawarded" because I received more unsubsidized loans than was allowed for a dependent student in a single academic year. However, after I emphasized the fact that I was eligible for $7, 500/academic year in unsubsidized loans as a dependent student (something they should know) and that I had not yet received any loans for that academic year (as that term was in January), they then changed their tune. Now they were telling me that I was not receiving all of the money that they originally said I was receiving due to a mistake regarding documents. They stated that some of my loan money was being refunded because they did not have a certain document on file for me. They had NEVER asked me for this document or mentioned it in any capacity, so how is that my fault? That's the fault of their incompetent FA Department. Additionally, I was suspicious about their explanation because I had received all of my loans the previous academic year without ever being asked to turn in that document. Why was it now suddenly a requirement?

They then tried to tell me that I would have to pay more than $8000 out-of-pocket (this is one of just MANY different "past due balances" they tried to claim I owe, despite the fact that I never had a past due balance. One week they were saying I owed over $4k, the next they were saying I owed over $3k. It was ALWAYS a different amount each time). Considering the term was only $4552, where did they get this $8k+ balance from? I asked the them to explain this and to address why I should be held financially responsible for their mishandling of my financial aid. I am an unemployed dependent student (fortunately, at a legitimate brick and mortar university now). I cannot afford to pay for someone else's foolishness. They said they would get back to me, but never did. They instead sent my account to collections.

Fortunately, I've kept all of my documents and only communicated with them via email so that I could have everything in writing. I have proof of their repeated contradictory claims of a past due balance of wildly differing amounts (which shows that their records are either extremely inaccurate or they are purposely trying to take monies from students that they are not owed) as well as evidence that they mishandled my financial aid. I will attempt to solve this issue directly with Kaplan, although I predict that I will have to escalate this matter with the authorities, especially since they've already sent my account to collections. I HIGHLY advise anyone who plans to ignore the bad reports about this school and attend anyway to at least do this: Do not communicate financial matters with Kaplan over the phone! Have all correspondence in writing!

ComplaintsBoard
C
2:25 am EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Kaplan University student loan complaint

Kaplan university - I can see i'm not the only one. If you are being called regarding paying your student loan please report them to https://ombudsman.ed.gov/OmbudsmanWebApp/do?action=getRequest. I haven't attended kaplan since 2008 and am in my second year at another school (Not for profit). I started getting calls from kaplan to pay off my student loan. Mind you when your tuition is paid if your student loans go unpaid it's between you, the lender and the dept of education not the school, therefore the school should not be contacting you at all. I called sallie mae to report them. Apparently, if the school meets or over extends their student loan budget then it can hurt them from being able to offer financial aid to other students. Oh well. Maybe if their program was credible students would be able to get jobs using the education they offered and then be able to pay. But, if you have kaplan on your resume you get laughed at. Sallie mae advised me to report the school's conduct to the ombudsman office for fafsa. Fyi-actual colleges have distance learning now...

Read full review of Kaplan University and 1 comment
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
F
F
fedup1967
Charleston, US
Dec 02, 2011 7:48 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have contacted them and they work for kaplan and they wont do anything

ComplaintsBoard
M
12:53 am EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Kaplan University trying to collect money from me - I never attended a class!

It has been several years since I decided to enroll at Kaplan online. I signed up for upwards of 2 classes (and boy was the person on the phone pushy! She basically signed me up without me saying okay). But I dropped them promptly and really never gave it any more thought because I shouldn't owe anything for dropping that quickly.
But now - several years later - I'm being contacted about an outstanding $2000+ debt that I owe! And I'm on the phone now (for like 20 minutes) waiting to see if someone will answer the phone so I can look into these ancient records. This is a joke! I never took any classes - I never got a bill - and now apparently I've got debt collectors calling me! I don't know what to do or apparently how to get a hold of Kaplan online. I'm not just giving a debt collector money...I'd like to verify what in creation is going on! Its definitely some kind of scam if they think I owe that kind of whopping bill for..literally...nothing.

Read full review of Kaplan University and 1 comment
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
I
I
intellex58
, US
Jul 25, 2011 1:05 pm EDT

What caliber of gun did she have to your head when she forced you to sign up? Wait a second, she didn’t have a gun to your head, you are just a whiney spineless [censored], well in that case you getting screwed was bound to happen sometime in your life.

ComplaintsBoard
S
2:20 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Featured review
This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

Kaplan University - fraud

My name is Sharon Egleston. I have been a student with Kaplan since 2007. I think I have had problems in every area of this school. The most serious has been with the financial aid department and what I believe is the mishandling of my student loans. I will be finished in July with a BS in Legal Studies if they don't block me as they now, suddenly, say I...

Read full review of Kaplan University and 22 comments
ComplaintsBoard
S
10:22 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Kaplan University fraud, misrepresentation, unethical practices

My name is Sharon Egleston. I have been a student with Kaplan since 2007. I think I have had problems in every area of this school. The most serious has been with the financial aid department and what I believe is the mishandling of my student loans. I will be finished in July with a BS in Legal Studies if they don't block me as they now, suddenly, say I owe more money.

I have always been harrassed concerning money that I owed. When I would call my lender I was told that the money was paid to Kaplan, only to find out that Kaplan had the money but had not applied it to my account. In the meantime I would be receiving harrassing phone calls constantly. The situation was so bad that before every term I would call financial aid and check on the status of my account. I was ALWAYS told that everything was good and I had plenty of funds available to finish my education.

Then with 5 courses left to graduate they informed me that I had maxed out on my loans and needed to find other financing. I must question where all the money went. I eventually connected with the head of the financial aid department and was arranged a Kaplan Choice Loan for 5, 890.00 I went about my business and began finishing my classes. As with many that I have spoken with within two weeks of beginning my last term I received a bill for 2000.00. I was told that the funded amount was all that I would need to finish. Now 2000.00 more shows up.

The phone calls have begun and for everyone that calls me they each have their own story to tell about what is going on with my account. I am now waiting for the next step and that is to cut me off from my class and then I won't be able to finish. I refuse to pay the 2000 as this should have been included in the loan.

I started Kaplan wanting to be an attorney only to discover that schools of reputation would not transfer my credits as the core courses were not approved by the American Bar Association…….I began shopping the market and going on interviews. I have a great deal of experience in Admin., 2 years in law and a BS in Legal Studies. I am not being hired as I have no technical skills ie: e-filing, e-discover and even to be able to write a simple motion or pleading. Kaplan puts us out there minus the skills that we need to compete.

I have started to research Kaplan University and its unethical financial practices and their misrepresentation of your future. I would appreciate your contacting me by writing to my email set up for those that have serious issue with Kaplan. Kaplan.[protected]@gmail.com.

I am hoping to develop a class action suit and try to help as many as I can with the financial burden and educational handicap that Kaplan has caused so many. If I can receive personal responses showing interest in this issue. I have found an attorney that has begun this research on his own and has found many fraud and other issues that Kaplan is engaged. There are currently 10 attorney generals that are also investigating Kaplan. I need your help. It is important that you respond so I can develop further Kaplan's unethical business practices. I thank you for your cooperation and support of a worthwile cause.

Read full review of Kaplan University and 1 comment
Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
I
I
iamtjsmommy2009
Corvallis, US
Jan 13, 2013 11:40 pm EST

It is your responsibility to make sure that you know what funding you are getting and that it is being applied toward your tuition every term. I am on my 9th term with Kaplan and I check my account activity numerous times per term, I see what has been paid, what is coming due and what I qualify for as far as the Pell Grant and the Stafford Loans. They will not call you if something hasn't been paid. Currently my account is $1400 over what has been needed and I am planning on just leaving it there in the event that I need more funds later on as i progress. That way there is never a question about whether or not I can continue my classes.

ComplaintsBoard
P
3:53 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Kaplan University harassment

I was a student at Kaplan Unviersity for a very short time. For financial reasons I could not continue my education. I was only a student there for about 6-8 weeks. I was only working part-time and was hoping for PAL grants to help me out but that did not happen. I did not complete to course. I received a bill from Kaplan stating that I owed 2, 500.00 even tho I did not complete the course. I did set up a payment plan to pay them 100.00 a month until this debt to them is payed. I get at least 3 calls a day from them still asking for more cash then I can afford. I only work part-time still and 100.00 a month is all I can afford. They want 209.00 dollars a month but until I get a job working full-time I can't afford that.Even tho I pay 50 dollars every 2 weeks to them, I still get calls everyday. I have talked to so many people at Kaplan until I can't keep up anymore. This is sheer harrassment on their part. I figure unless you have all the cash to pay them, you should not get involved with Kaplan University.

Read full review of Kaplan University and 1 comment
Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
W
W
WTD 765
, US
May 02, 2012 10:03 am EDT

In 2007 my husband thought he was enrolling at Kaplan for ON-LINE classes. The classes were canceled by Kaplan and he was dropped as a student because he did not attend classes ON CAMPUS. Funny thing is Kaplan made the mistake and enrolled him in the on-campus class instead of the on-line course. Now 5 years later they are constantly calling us, his employment and family members saying he owes Kaplan money. I have tried numerous times discussing it with "Kaplans" collection agency and they have stated to me that HE is the one responsible even though Kaplan made the mistake. Kaplan enrolled him incorrectly, dropped him as a student, never was he able to take the online courses and they said he is still responsible for paying $3, 000.00 (+) .
Does this make sense to anyone?

ComplaintsBoard
K
7:24 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Kaplan University student loan from 2010

My name is Keylais Cross, and I am a 4.o student at Kaplan University. I am in the middle of my 5th term and I am scheduled to complete my associates degree in Education Paraprofessional In November 2011. However, that seems to be in jeopardy. Last month, I received a call from Student Services stating I had a past due bill. It is in the amount of $1779, the exact amount of my loans from Direct Loans. I inquired when did this occur and they said it was my third term of 2010, so the end of that summer. with no explanation, they demanded the money in full or my current classes would be blocked. I immediately called Financial Aid to investigate. The rep I talked to said it seemed to be a technical error, because there was a note on my account saying to re-instate my loan since for reasons unknown it got canceled, but no one re-instated it. He sent an email to the head of Financial Aid stating what happened and if it could get looked into. I requested that an email be sent to me updating me on the situation.
In the meantime, Student Services started to call every 30 minutes to inform me about my past due amount. Sometimes it was a voice recording, other times it was a live rep. In either case, it was borderline harassment. They are still doing it now, so they have been calling me at that rate for a month. I called Financial Aid back to get any sort of updates and there were none. I finally got an email back after about two weeks, and they concluded the bill was indeed due, but there was no explanation why. I called back again, and after getting transferred several times, I finally talked to Shawntavia Garnett. My husband got involved at this point, he was more irate about this than I was, but with the third party law set into place, he couldn't say a word to her. I asked why it got canceled and at first she said my US citizenship was in question. I was immediately appalled. The Department of Education has me as a citizen, and so does Direct Loans, so it sounded more and more like a technical glitch. I got put on hold again and this time she said it was because they never received "approval" from Direct Loans so the school canceled the request. I called Direct Loans prior to this to see if they knew about it and as far as they were concerned my loans are up to date. They mailed me a copy of my loans from March 23rd of 2010 to May 5th, 2011. The date in question is 9/16/10. According to Kaplan, they never received a thing, therefore there is a balance due. According to Direct loans, that amount was dispersed and my loan status was updated. If I remember the conversation correctly I had with the rep at Direct Loans, the Department of education releases the funds and it goes directly to the school, the school disperses them, and then Direct Loans updates accordingly after they have been dispersed. I am trying to figure out if Kaplan did not receive any funds for my 3rd term, how did Direct Loans manage to update my loan status?
I am currently waiting to see what Financial Aid has to say about my status now that I faxed them evidence that the loans were indeed dispersed. The last rep I talked to, Dana, told me they would have to find where the money could have gone when I called to verify they received my fax. As far as their system shows, nothing got received, and my US status was still in question around that time. Student Services, however, plans to block my current classes in two days because I haven't made any sort of payment. This goes to show the severe lack of communication between the faculties. My husband is threatening to take the university to court because they are obviously screwing us over and hoped we would not look so far into it like we did. I personally do not want it to come to this, but my degree is on the line. I am only months away from finishing, and this happens. If it ends badly, I will be forced to start from scratch, meaning the past year and a half having all A's was for nothing. Despite the outcome, I will immediately leave Kaplan university, transferring all of my credits, if possible, to another college I can physically go to. Online college is more convenient for me, but Kaplan has soured that experience. I will not refer anyone to this university, either. Although the curriculum is great, I do not think it is worth the headache and hell that the Financial Aid department puts students through. Stalking out the students and threatening to put the balance in collections and blocking classes, doesn't help much for the reputation either.

Read full review of Kaplan University and 3 comments
Hide full review
3 comments
Add a comment
Ben
Ben
Chicago, US
Jun 01, 2011 4:11 am EDT

The United States government, the Department of Justice, and federal judge Patricia Seitz in Miami Florida has an avalanche of evidence to back up the accusations against Kaplan University in its Qui Tam false claims lawsuit. Consider the whistleblower trial transcripts from Federal court listed below:
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
8 EXCERPT OF THE TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS
BEFORE THE HONORABLE BLANCHE M. MANNING

TAX FRAUD

18 Q. Mr. Hammerman asked you some questions about ghost
19 employees and tax fraud allegations. Can you explain for the
20 jury what -- can you explain to the jurors what that referred
21 to when you talked about ghost employees and tax fraud?
22 A. We called them Caspers. They were ghost students. What
23 would happen is a student would drop out of school. He'd go
24 some time, a semester or two, and drop out. Then the student
25 would go on with their life somewhere. What we would do is we
1 would keep recertifying their student loan application to the
2 Government each semester until graduation. We would just get
3 their student loan and keep it. The student even didn't know.
4 We took tens of millions of dollars from the Federal Government
5 this way. They were called Caspers. Sometimes the students
6 later would find out later that they had massive debt.
7 MR. HAMMERMAN: Your Honor, I'm going to object.
8 THE COURT: Just a moment. Just a moment.
9 MR. HAMMERMAN: Once again, there was a question, and
10 he's answered.
11 THE COURT: Yes, ask another question.
12 MR. BRINDLEY: I'll ask another question.
13 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
14 Q. Mr. Wilcox, you were explaining what would happen. You
15 said the students would drop out, and then you'd keep
16 recertifying the student loan forms. Did you participate in
17 that?
18 A. Yes, I did.
19 Q. And was this something that you were directed to do as part
20 of your work as dean?
21 A. Yes.
22 Q. Who was involved in giving you direction on this activity?
23 A. Chris Caywood, David Harpool, Andy Rosen.
24 Q. Okay. You say that the student loan forms would be
25 resubmitted. So then did you keep receiving student loan money
1 as if these students were still going to school?
2 A. Yes.
3 Q. Even when they were not.
4 A. That's correct.
5 Q. Did diplomas ultimately get printed out for these students?
6 A. Yes.
7 MR. HAMMERMAN: Objection, Your Honor. This is all
8 leading.
9 MR. BRINDLEY: It doesn't suggest an answer. This is
10 redirect, first of all, but it doesn't suggest an answer. He
11 can answer yes or no.
12 THE COURT: I'll overrule that objection.
13 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
14 Q. So did the students -- did ultimately diplomas and grades
15 get produced for these students who never even attended?
16 A. We just put the transcripts and the diplomas through the
17 shredder after graduation because they never showed up. They
18 didn't even know they were in school.
19 Q. And then what would happen after that to those students
20 that you were certifying as receiving student loan money when
21 they weren't even students? What would happen to them?
22 A. Ultimately, at some point they would find out they had a
23 big bills for a student loan. Many of them sued Kaplan, and
24 others probably still don't know to this day.
25 Q. And, Mr. Wilcox, all that loan money when you started
1 recertifying these forms, did Kaplan get all that money for
2 these students when they never attended?
3 A. It's my understanding they forwarded it to the Washington
4 Post.
5 Q. Mr. Hammerman asked you some questions about other people
6 in the False Claims Act lawsuit named Carlos, somebody named
7 Jude, and somebody named Victoria something. He was asking you
8 about whether they've been charged with crimes. I will ask you
9 this question, Mr. Wilcox. To your knowledge, do any of the
10 other relators, the other people involved in the false claims
11 action, do any of them have access to the inside documents from
12 Kaplan corporate that you do?
13 A. No. I took the documents. I'm the only one that has the
14 documents.
15 Q. And then who was the only person that you know of in that
16 suit that is capable of interpreting what was in those
17 high-executive Kaplan documents?
18 A. Me.
19 Q. Is there any other high executive of your level that has
20 ever come forward against Kaplan to your knowledge as part of
21 these lawsuits?
22 A. No.
23 Q. And if you are discredited, do you believe the lawsuit can
24 succeed?

90/10 Violations Testimony

10 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
11 Q. And, Mr. Wilcox, was it part of your job as dean to
12 maintain these records with respect to your department?
13 A. Oh, absolutely, yes.
14 Q. Okay. Now let's talk about Exhibit LL. What is LL?
15 A. LL is an actual Gift of Knowledge redemption form. This is
16 the scholarship. It's filled out and signed by Chris Caywood.
17 This was a student that was given the Gift of Knowledge.
18 Q. And was this one of the documents you assisted in
19 processing and preparing?
20 A. I did.
21 Q. And was this one of the documents that -- was this one made
22 in the normal course of Kaplan's business with respect to its
23 students and the Gift of Knowledge?
24 MR. HAMMERMAN: Objection, foundation.
25 THE COURT: Overruled.
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 BY THE WITNESS:
2 A. It's a standard form. This is what all the students got,
3 the Gift of Knowledge redemption form. It tells them what they
4 got, what it's good for, and Chris Caywood signed it.
5 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
6 Q. And were these made and maintained by your department at
7 Kaplan while you were dean?
8 A. Absolutely.
9 Q. And was it part of your job as dean to maintain these
10 documents?
11 A. Yes.
12 Q. Okay. I'm then going to draw your attention to Defendant's
13 Exhibit NN. Can you identify Defendant's Exhibit NN?
14 A. This is an IRS Form 1098-T. This is what we reported to
15 the IRS, that this particular student paid $17, 465 in tuition
16 for this semester.
17 Q. Okay. Now, Mr. Wilcox, this document that's prepared for
18 the IRS, is this one of the documents that was prepared at
19 Kaplan when you were dean?
20 A. Yes. It certified right here that we prepared it and sent
21 it to the IRS. The student didn't do this; we did this.
22 Q. Right, right. Mr. Wilcox, were you involved in the
23 preparation of these documents?
24 A. I was.
25 Q. Were these documents kept and maintained in the ordinary
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 course of Kaplan's business when you were dean?
2 A. They were.
3 MR. HAMMERMAN: Objection, foundation.
4 THE COURT: I think that's what --
5 MR. BRINDLEY: That was the question, foundation.
6 THE COURT: I think that's what counsel is attempting
7 to do, lay the foundation. Overruled.
8 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
9 Q. Were these documents and documents like them kept and
10 maintained by Kaplan when you were dean?
11 A. The 1098-T form, yes. We had to send this in by law to the
12 IRS.
13 Q. And was one of your duties as dean to maintain these forms
14 with respect to the gift of knowledge and see that they were
15 properly submitted to the IRS?
16 A. Yes, it was.
17 Q. Okay. Now, Mr. Wilcox, you said that the tax documents --
18 do they indicate -- when these documents like NN were sent in,
19 did they indicate that the student paid a bunch of tuition?
20 A. That one indicates 17, 000, but they were all different
21 amounts, 20, 000, 60, 000, 5, 000, whatever the student used on
22 their Gift of Knowledge.
23 Q. Okay.
24 A. We reported they paid for it.
25 Q. Okay. Was any of that true?
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 A. It was absolutely false. It was tax fraud, straight up.
2 Q. Then did students receive refunds for this?
3 A. Of course, they did.
4 MR. HAMMERMAN: Objection, leading.
5 THE COURT: Overruled.
6 BY THE WITNESS:
7 A. Under the Bush administration --
8 MR. BRINDLEY: No, I think he's answered the
9 question.
10 THE COURT: Okay.
11 BY THE WITNESS:
12 A. Yes, they received -- if you paid $17, 000 in college
13 tuition this year, you get it back.
14 THE COURT: All right. Just a moment, sir. There's
15 no question pending.
16 MR. BRINDLEY: Okay.
17 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
18 Q. So let's just be clear, Mr. Wilcox. If you can just answer
19 this question simply with a yes or no, did the students then
20 get a refund for this money that you said got paid?
21 A. Yes.
22 Q. So were they getting refunds for money that was never paid?
23 MR. HAMMERMAN: Objection, foundation. How does this
24 witness know that students were getting tax refunds for other
25 students?
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 THE COURT: The objection will be overruled, counsel.
2 He's laid a proper foundation.
3 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
4 Q. So, Mr. Wilcox --
5 THE COURT: As a matter of fact, let's have a sidebar
6 for a moment. We don't need you, Pat.
7 (Discussion at sidebar off the record.)
8 THE COURT: You may continue, counsel.
9 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
10 Q. So, Mr. Wilcox, at Kaplan, is what happened that students
11 received refunds from the IRS for money that was never paid?
12 Is that right?
13 A. Yes.
14 Q. And was this all part of the plan to avoid the 90/10 rule?
15 A. Yes, that's how we avoided or we beat the 90/10 rule.
16 Q. And, Mr. Wilcox, did you participate in the preparation of
17 all of these fraudulent documents?
18 A. I did.
19 Q. And who else participated in it?
20 A. Chris Caywood, David Harpool, and Andy Rosen.
21 Q. Okay. These documents we just looked at, these are a
22 representative sampling of a multitude of documents that you
23 have provided to the --
24 A. That's very small.
25 MR. HAMMERMAN: Objection, vague.
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 MR. BRINDLEY: Well, let me finish the question.
2 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
3 Q. Is that a small sampling or a representative sampling of
4 documents you provided as part of the lawsuit?
5 A. That's a small sampling, yes.
6 Q. Okay. Mr. Wilcox, based on your understanding as a dean
7 trying to meet this 90/10 rule, if Kaplan couldn't meet the
8 90/10 rule and this hadn't been done, this fraud that you
9 discussed, would they be able to get student loan money?
10 A. No.

Recruiting violations

11 Q. Did the HLC, the Higher Learning Commission, also have
12 rules on the recruitment of students?
13 A. Yes, very stringent ones.
14 Q. And when you were at Kaplan, did you participate in the
15 violation of these rules?
16 A. We made a mockery of them.
17 Q. And when you say "we, " who is the "we"?
18 A. Myself, Chris Caywood, David Harpool, Andy Rosen, and a
19 multitude of recruiters.
20 MR. HAMMERMAN: Your Honor, can we have a foundation
21 for this instead of just conclusions?
22 MR. BRINDLEY: Okay.
23 MR. HAMMERMAN: I'm objecting to this.
24 MR. BRINDLEY: We'll talk about the specific conduct.
25 That's where we're going, Your Honor. It was sort of
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 preliminary in nature.
2 THE COURT: If that's an objection, it will be
3 overruled.
4 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
5 Q. Mr. Wilcox, could you describe what the Higher Learning
6 Commission's rules for recruitment are as you understand them
7 when you were working in this field?
8 A. Well, all schools have recruiters. Recruiters are people
9 that respond when a student makes an initial inquiry into a
10 school: Hey, I hear you have a certain program at the
11 University of Michigan. I'd like to know more about it.
12 They tell them about it. They help try to match
13 students to what they're seeking educationally.
14 Q. I understand. My question for you, sir, maybe it wasn't
15 clear enough. What were the rules for the HLC? What is it
16 that you had to do to properly do recruiting?
17 A. Well, there's really only one rule, and that is that they
18 have to be paid employees, salaried employees. They can't be
19 salespeople. They can't be paid on a commission basis.
20 Q. You're talking about the recruiters.
21 A. Yeah, a recruiter can't be paid based on how many people he
22 does or doesn't bring in. He's just paid to advise them and
23 bring them in.
24 Q. At Kaplan when you were dean, did you direct the
25 recruitment of students in your department?
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 A. I did. That was one of my jobs.
2 Q. Did you do this along with any other people?
3 A. Well, yes. The recruiters when I was at Kaplan were put
4 into teams. In other words, you'd have recruiters that recruit
5 for medical programs, recruiters that recruit for business
6 programs, and I had a large group of recruiters that recruited
7 for law and legal studies programs.
8 Q. Okay. Did you direct your recruiters -- well, let me
9 phrase it in a different way. Were your recruiters paid on a
10 bonus system?
11 A. Oh, absolutely.
12 Q. Describe that system.
13 A. The system was very simple.
14 MR. HAMMERMAN: Your Honor, I'm going to object,
15 foundation. How does he know how they were paid?
16 MR. BRINDLEY: Okay. I will ask him that question.
17 THE COURT: Lay a better foundation.
18 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
19 Q. Mr. Wilcox, when you were working as dean at Kaplan, did
20 you oversee the facilitation of your recruiters' receipt of
21 bonuses?
22 A. Yes, I did.
23 Q. Okay. Were bonuses made to your recruiters at your
24 direction by way of you filling out forms?
25 A. Yes.
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 Q. And can you describe for the jurors what kind of bonuses
2 the recruiters received?
3 A. They received cash bonuses, literal, not checks, literal
4 cash bonuses in envelopes. They received expensive watches,
5 cruises, trips around the world, calling cards, gift cards to
6 high-end department stores. Those were just some of the kind
7 of things that was done for achieving well in recruiting
8 students.
9 Q. Okay. Was all of this in violation of the Higher Learning
10 Commission's rules?
11 A. Yes.
12 Q. And did any of your supervisors work with you on
13 facilitating this process in paying the recruiters bonuses for
14 bringing in more students?
15 A. It was already in place when I got there.
16 Q. And who else worked with you in this capacity with respect
17 to recruiters?
18 MR. HAMMERMAN: Objection, vague.
19 THE COURT: Pardon me?
20 MR. HAMMERMAN: Vague.
21 THE COURT: Vague?
22 MR. HAMMERMAN: Yes.
23 THE COURT: Who else worked with him in
24 participating?
25 MR. HAMMERMAN: Yes, with respect to not the "who"
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 part, but what they did. It's totally wide open.
2 THE COURT: Well, you'll have an opportunity to
3 cross-examine.
4 MR. BRINDLEY: I can rephrase it more specifically if
5 that's going to help.
6 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
7 Q. Mr. Wilcox, were there any other supervisors at Kaplan who
8 worked with you to provide these bonuses to these recruiters?
9 A. The lead recruiter. They were in teams, so they had a lead
10 recruiter which had usually worked his way up to be the lead
11 recruiter. Then myself, David Harpool, and Andy Rosen.
12 Q. Okay. Now, did you oversee the conduct of the recruiters?
13 A. Yes.
14 Q. Did you direct the recruiters to lie to students?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. What kind of lies did you direct the recruiters to tell?
17 A. Well, they weren't really good at remembering a lot of
18 them, so I laminated them and made them a notebook. It said
19 things like: If a student has this object in coming to school,
20 if they say this, you say that. If they say this, you say
21 that. If they say this, you say that.
22 I laminated it, made a book out of it, a manual, if
23 you will, and the lies were encompassed in that so that they
24 could remember them. Things like we're accredited the same way
25 Harvard or Yale is accredited, we would tell them that. If a
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 student says he can't afford the $95 application fee, we would
2 say: Well, is there a family member who can loan it to you?
3 Is there a friend you can borrow it from? Is there something
4 you can take to a pawn shop?
5 If none of those worked, we had an agreement with a
6 credit card lender, one of these credit card lenders where you
7 pay $100 and then you got a credit card that's got like $300
8 credit on it. We would secure that credit card. We'd secured
9 a credit card for them and give it to the student. Of course,
10 the first thing we did was take the $95 off the credit card and
11 say: Now you've paid your application. Congratulations.
12 You're student at Kaplan University.
13 Q. Okay. Mr. Wilcox, when you were doing this, when you were
14 giving out these credit cards and were lying to the students or
15 directing your recruiters to do so, did you direct them to
16 target any certain category of persons?
17 A. That was one bit of research we had spent an extensive
18 amount of time on.
19 Q. And when you say "we", who's the "we" that researched and
20 determined who Kaplan's recruiters should be targeting?
21 A. Myself, Chris Caywood, David Harpool, and various others.
22 Q. Okay. Who did you direct the recruiters to target?
23 A. We knew who our students were. Our student was typically a
24 female, divorced, widowed, single, recently separated, two
25 children, 2.1 children -- how that worked out I never totally
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 understood -- 2.1 children, typically working one or two
2 minimum-wage-paying jobs, a typical student that knew that they
3 needed education to better their life but had no way to take
4 time out from their life and providing for their children to go
5 to school. So they would be interested in going to school
6 online where you could go when you wanted to go.
7 Q. And is that who you targeted?
8 A. We targeted them relentlessly.
9 Q. All right. Are you talking about poor people?
10 A. Poor people.
11 Q. Are these the people who you said you directed the
12 recruiters to lie to?
13 A. Sure.
14 Q. And is this information about how these lies were told and
15 how the violation of these rules with respect to recruitment
16 occurred at Kaplan, is that part of the lawsuit that you have
17 agreed to be a witness in?
18 A. Yes. It's heavily documented.
19 Q. Okay. Besides you, Mr. Wilcox, based on your knowledge of
20 this lawsuit, is there any other witness who has come forward
21 as an administrator who can testify about the inner workings of
22 how these recruiters were handled?
23 A. I'm the only insider that's ever come out of Kaplan with
24 this information and provided it.

UNION Obstruction

22 Q. Now, you talked about -- Mr. Wilcox, you talked on cross
23 about your opinions about certain people at Kaplan being
24 involved in conspiring and in illegal conduct. Now, you talked
25 about some attorneys from Jones Day. Was the law firm of Jones
1 Day used by Kaplan, and did you participate with that law firm
2 in attempting to circumvent the rules for unions?
3 A. I met with two senior partners at Jones Day, Mr. Dan Carter
4 and Mr. Doug Towns, who specialize in union issues and labor.
5 They're the two top labor lawyers in the United States.
6 Q. And did they talk with you about getting around the legal
7 requirements for unions?
8 A. They counseled me on it and laid out a very specific plan
9 on how to thwart the Teamsters.
10 Q. Okay. Did you consider that to be conspiring with Kaplan
11 to participate in these anti-union activities?
12 A. They warned me that --
13 Q. Mr. Wilcox, I'm not asking you what they said. I just want
14 you to answer the question I'm asking.
15 A. Okay.
16 Q. Did you consider that to be them working with Kaplan to get
17 around following the law with respect to unions?
18 A. They were retained by Kaplan, yes. We were working with
19 them. They worked for us.
20 Q. Counsel asked you about some other attorney from Kaplan.
21 Do you believe that that attorney from Kaplan was involved in
22 making some false representations about you and what happened
23 to you in federal court?
24 A. She lied about me and was later proven to have been lying
25 about me.

HLC and Accreditation Fraud
2 Q. Mr. Wilcox, without talking about what the Government
3 wants, why is it important for a for-profit school like Kaplan
4 to be able to get student loan money from the Government?
5 A. Because they can't exist otherwise.
6 Q. Why do you say that?
7 A. Well, because their tuition, for instance, Kaplan runs from
8 $40, 000 to $60, 000 or more to complete a degree program.
9 That's a lot of money. Most people don't have that kind of
10 cash. Where do they get that kind of cash if they can't get it
11 from their family or they don't have it? They get a student
12 loan. Most every school is in that same boat.
13 Q. And when you were at Kaplan as dean of legal studies, were
14 you able to see where the bulk of the resources in the legal
15 studies department were coming from?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. Where did they come from?
18 A. They came from student loans, almost 100 percent.
19 Q. Now, you said part of your job was to make sure that Kaplan
20 was able to get student loans for its programs. Is there some
21 sort of a governmental body that polices whether or not schools
22 meet requirements for getting student loans from the
23 Government?
24 A. Primarily two.
25 Q. And what are these bodies?
1 A. The Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and the
2 Higher Learning Commission, what we call the HLC, which is the
3 accrediting body.
4 Q. And in order to be able to receive any of those student
5 loan dollars, does a company like Kaplan have to meet the
6 requirements of the Higher Learning Commission?
7 A. Yes. If they don't meet those requirements and they're not
8 certified as accredited by the HLC, the Department of
9 Education, they're specifically not allowed to receive student
10 loan money.
11 Q. So when you worked at Kaplan, did you have to become
12 familiar with the HLC's or Higher Learning Commission's
13 requirements?
14 A. I became somewhat of an expert at it.
15 Q. And was meeting those requirements what you did on a
16 regular basis?
17 A. It was the daily goal of mine.
18 Q. Let me ask you a general question first, Mr. Wilcox. When
19 you were at Kaplan working on meeting these requirements so
20 that they could get all this student loan money, while you were
21 there and working there, did Kaplan meet these rules on your
22 watch honestly?
23 A. Not even close.

Student Loan Fraud
13 Q. Now, why was it, Mr. Wilcox, that you left Kaplan?
14 A. Well, while I worked at Kaplan, I became aware that Kaplan
15 corporate was involved in multiple schemes to defraud the
16 Government and the taxpayers of the United States of
17 approximately $1 billion. That's why I left Kaplan.
18 Q. Did you engage --
19 A. I became aware of the fraud, most, if not all, of the
20 fraudulent schemes that they were involved with to steal money
21 from the Federal Government.
22 Q. Did you engage in a series of disagreements with your
23 supervisors over these fraud issues?
24 A. I did. I called it to the attention of my supervisors,
25 Chris Caywood and David Harpool, certainly, who was the
1 president of the university, and multiple times to Andrew
2 Rosen, who was the CEO. I pointed these legal problems out.
3 Q. Okay. Now, Mr. Wilcox, after you left Kaplan, did you ever
4 tell anyone about the fraud that you had observed?
5 A. Yes. When I left Kaplan, I turned over some thousands of
6 internal documents to the Department of Education, United
7 States Department of Education. I also turned over thousands
8 of documents and hundreds of e-mails to the Office of the
9 Inspector General, to the EEOC, to the Higher Learning
10 Commission, the HLC. Then I contacted a world-renowned false
11 claims qui tam law firm in Tampa, Florida, and provided the
12 documentation to them to file a false claims action on behalf
13 of the taxpayers of the United States for $1 billion in
14 fraudulently received funds, to retrieve them.
15 Q. And, Mr. Wilcox, did you agree to become a witness in that
16 lawsuit?
17 A. Yes. At that point, I had become a whistle blower, what
18 the court has since said and certified me as.
19 MR. FERRARA: Objection, Your Honor. It's hearsay as
20 to what the court said.
21 THE COURT: I'll sustain the objection as to what
22 they said. He can describe what happened.
23 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
24 Q. Mr. Wilcox, can you describe what happened? Without saying
25 what any court said, what have you done with respect to
1 becoming a witness in this lawsuit?
2 A. I'm the whistle blower and the original source of the
3 documentation to prove the fraud of Kaplan University for a
4 billion dollars worth of stolen money from the United States
5 Government and the taxpayers.

Grade inflation

20 Q. Okay. Now, Mr. Wilcox, you mentioned that on Exhibit WW
21 the faculty pay is listed. Is there a correlation between the
22 pay the faculty received and the grades that the faculty gave?
23 A. Clearly, yes.
24 Q. And what is that correlation?
25 A. If you gave good grades, you were rehired for the next
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 semester and you were given a higher rate of pay. If you gave
2 bad grades, you possibly weren't asked to teach the next
3 semester and you certainly weren't given a raise.
4 Q. And is that information illustrated by these documents that
5 you've discussed?
6 A. That's what it tracks.
7 Q. Okay. Mr. Wilcox, are these a representative sample of
8 some of the documents that you provided of part of the lawsuit?
9 A. That's four documents of about 2, 000.
10 Q. And, Mr. Wilcox, these kinds of documents that we've just
11 looked at, is there anyone else in the lawsuit that's come
12 forward that's capable of -- as you know, that was an
13 administrator who could interpret the meaning of these
14 documents and the correlation with the grading inflation
15 besides you?
16 MR. HAMMERMAN: Objection, foundation.
17 MR. BRINDLEY: I asked if there was anybody he knew
18 about in the lawsuit. He said he's participating in it.
19 THE COURT: The objection will be overruled. He may
20 answer if he can.
21 BY THE WITNESS:
22 A. I'm the only insider that's ever gotten out of Kaplan with
23 those kinds of documents.
24 MR. BRINDLEY: One minute, Your Honor.
25 (Discussion off the record.)
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 MR. BRINDLEY: Your Honor, could we take a brief
2 recess? Could we take a break? Is that possible?
3 THE COURT: How much longer?
4 MR. BRINDLEY: Your Honor, I have a lot. There's a
5 lot more to go here, Your Honor. We have a lot more topic
6 areas to cover.
7 THE COURT: Let's have a brief sidebar without the
8 court reporter.
9 (Discussion at sidebar off the record.)
10 THE COURT: We're going to take about a ten-minute
11 break, ladies and gentlemen. We'll call you back momentarily.
12 (Jury out.)
13 THE COURT: Court stands in recess.
14 (Recess.)
15 THE COURT: Ready to proceed?
16 MR. BRINDLEY: I am, Your Honor.
17 THE COURT: Okay. Schedule-wise, why don't we step
18 over here for a second.
19 MR. BRINDLEY: Sure.
20 (Discussion at sidebar off the record.)
21 THE COURT: Okay. You can bring them in.
22 (Jury in.)
23 THE COURT: You may be seated.
24 You may continue, Mr. Brindley.
25 MR. BRINDLEY: Thank you, Your Honor.
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
2 Q. Mr. Wilcox, you indicated that the policy of Kaplan as
3 indicated by some of the charts that you discussed was that
4 professors were to inflate the grades, is that correct?
5 A. That's correct.
6 Q. As a result of that, I mean, what value do the degrees have
7 if the grades are inflated?
8 A. Well, the purpose of inflating the grades were to keep the
9 students enrolled and thus retaining student loan funds coming
10 into the school.
11 Q. Okay. As a result of doing that, what value do the degrees
12 end of up having?
13 A. The degrees at Kaplan have very little value.
14 Q. Okay. Now, Mr. Wilcox, when an instructor -- was there
15 ever an instructor who refused to inflate grades? Did that
16 happen?
17 A. Yes.
18 Q. And when that happened, were steps taken to change that
19 instructor's grades?
20 A. Yes.
21 Q. Okay. Did you participate and observe the actual changing
22 of instructors' grades when they refused to inflate them?
23 A. Yes, I did.
24 Q. And can you tell me who actually physically changed the
25 grades?
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 A. That I witnessed, Chris Caywood did.
2 Q. And did this happen on more than one occasion?
3 A. Yes.
4 Q. And did you observe that?
5 A. I did.
6 Q. And some of these changed grade reports, have you included
7 those in the materials that have been provided with the
8 lawsuit?
9 A. Yes, I have.
10 Q. Now, Mr. Wilcox, you've looked at some documents today.
11 Regarding this fraud, is it fair to say that these are a
12 representative sample?
13 A. Yes, it's a representative sample.
14 Q. Okay. The great majority of the documents that you've
15 turned over, where are they now?
16 A. They're in the possession of the Department of Education,
17 the Department of Justice, and the Andrews Law Group that's
18 overseeing the qui tam action.
19 Q. So the documents that we talked about in specific, are
20 those the ones to which you have personal access now?
21 A. Yes, these are the ones I still have now.
22 Q. Okay. Now, the inflation of grades and the documents
23 underlying that, is that another part of the lawsuit that
24 you're a witness on and the documents that you've provided? Is
25 that part of that same thing?
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 A. Yes.
2 Q. Now, Mr. Wilcox, we've discussed a multitude of different
3 kinds of fraud that you participated in at Kaplan, and it seems
4 like you were involved in unrelenting fraud when you went to
5 work there. If you can tell the jury, why did you do it?
6 A. I was making a lot of money. I mean, I wish I had some
7 better explanation. I wanted to keep my job. Coming out of
8 state schools not making much money, I made a lot of money. I
9 wanted to keep my job.
10 Q. Now, Mr. Wilcox, you mentioned that you had problems with
11 this unionizing -- this leader of the union effort, Carlos
12 Diaz. Did you have other problems with Mr. Diaz related to the
13 inflation of grades?
14 A. Yes, he refused to do it.
15 Q. Did you personally put pressure on Mr. Diaz to inflate
16 grades?
17 A. In every way I possibly could.
18 Q. Did you direct his supervisors to put pressure on him to
19 inflate grades?
20 A. Yes, I did.
21 Q. And did Mr. Diaz refuse?
22 A. He absolutely refused.
23 Q. Did Mr. Diaz threaten to turn you and Kaplan in for the
24 pressure being put on him?
25 A. He threatened and filed complaints.
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 Q. Okay. This is the same guy that was trying to organize the
2 union.
3 A. Yes, he was.
4 Q. So when Mr. Diaz was trying to unionize and filing
5 complaints, at that time did you have any actual justification
6 that could have justified terminating Carlos Diaz?
7 A. At that time, no.
8 Q. Okay. Was Carlos Diaz a good instructor?
9 A. Carlos was a very good instructor.
10 Q. Did he receive positive reviews? The real reviews, were
11 they positive?
12 A. His immediate supervisors gave him very good reviews.
13 Q. Okay. So, Mr. Wilcox, when there was no grounds to
14 terminate him and you had been directed to terminate him, what
15 actions were taken? Well, let me rephrase that. Were actions
16 taken to try to manufacture a reason to terminate Mr. Diaz?
17 A. Yes, that's what we began to focus on.
18 Q. And do you remember a specific incident in which any false
19 communications were produced for the purpose of manufacturing a
20 reason to terminate Carlos Diaz?
21 A. Yes, I do.
22 Q. All right. Now, Mr. Wilcox, could you describe for the
23 jury what happened in this incident?
24 A. We referred to it as the Jodi Dufrane incident. Jodi
25 Dufrane was the student involved. Ms. Dufrane was a student of
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 Carlos in one of his courses. Kaplan is an online university.
2 Everything is done online. So tests were given online.
3 Ms. Dufrane had filed a complaint against Carlos, and it had
4 come up through his supervisor to me as the dean. So I
5 investigated the complaint. Along with the vice-president of
6 academics, Chris Caywood, we investigated the claim.
7 Q. And did your investigation indicate that Mr. Diaz had done
8 anything wrong?
9 A. No. Ms. Dufrane, she had taken a test in his class. It
10 was a 100-point test. She had scored a zero. She had somehow
11 managed to take a test and not get any answers right. She was
12 very upset about this because it failed her. She had filed a
13 complaint that had come up to me, and her complaint was that
14 the professor had posted a test one evening, he had posted the
15 test, she took the test, and then he took that test down and
16 put up another test. All the other students took that test and
17 got their respective grades but, of course, she had taken the
18 wrong test, and thus her answers were bad and she had failed.
19 She thought this had been done maliciously, and Mr. Diaz was
20 unrelenting in failing her. So she complained to me, and I
21 investigated the complaint with Chris Caywood.
22 Q. Okay. Based on your investigation, what did you determine?
23 A. What I determined is that Ms. Dufrane had hacked back into
24 an old class and secured an old test back from the semester
25 before. Oftentimes professors will give the same test over and
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 over and over and over again, and at some point they change it.
2 She had secured a copy of the old test and a copy of the old
3 answers.
4 What I learned from my investigation was that if you
5 laid the old answers over the old test, Ms. Dufrane would have
6 scored a 100. She would have aced the test. But when you laid
7 her answers over the new test, because it had been completely
8 changed, she scored a zero. What I ascertained wasn't that the
9 instructor had done anything wrong. He had only posted one
10 test. What I had ascertained was that the student had cheated.
11 Q. Okay. After ascertaining the student cheated, did you and
12 Mr. Caywood support Mr. Diaz's allegations that he hadn't done
13 anything wrong, or did you do something else?
14 A. No, we saw this as an excellent opportunity, a windfall to
15 us. We supported the student fully. We said that her claims
16 were correct, that the professor had, in fact, probably
17 switched the test maliciously for various reasons, and then we
18 went and set about to discredit Mr. Diaz, the instructor.
19 Q. And who was it that took these steps to try to discredit
20 Mr. Diaz in relation to this incident?
21 A. That was Chris Caywood, vice-president of academics.
22 Q. Okay. In fact, this incident with Ms. Dufrane, was it
23 documented in a memorandum at Kaplan?
24 A. It was.
25 MR. BRINDLEY: May I approach the witness?
B. Wilcox - direct by Brindley
1 THE COURT: You may.
2 (Discussion off the record.)
3 BY MR. BRINDLEY:
4 Q. Mr. Wilcox, I'm showing
STATES D

View 0 more photos
M
M
MAP2
Baltimore, US
May 07, 2011 8:31 pm EDT

All of the online universities are a scam. They make money by selling you "education" at very little cost to them. There's a reason most of their classes are in business, management, psychology, sociology, criminal justice, etc.

Why? Because they're easy and you only need one "professor" who can "teach" several classes at once online to "returning adults already in careers".

I suggest getting into a hard science or a hands-on technical field at a real college, university or technical school. Sorry you got suckered.

Avoid Capella and Phoenix as well. Really just avoid anything that does not have physical classrooms, or very few of them. I'm a returning adult myself but even though I go to work full time I still go to a real school and sit in class.

People think that online is easy, and that's because it is. Too bad it's not real and even if it's accredited most employers don't give a crap.

S
S
snarling white teeth
Tustin, US
May 07, 2011 7:56 pm EDT

Put a freeze / hold on your credit card acct. If that is not possible, have them cancel that number and give your existing acct. a new number. I was able to freeze my acct. for 3 months, and wouldn't you know... 3 days after reopening they tried to 'hit' it, even using a different name! Visa called me and received a new number that should not affect your credit rating. I, too, canceled within a week without even getting product yet. They are hard to get ahold of and I had to be quite the a**hole to get things MY way! They even asked for me to send the "free" trial back or pay $60. A lot of nerve! After a few e-mails still asking for payment, I gave them my lawyer's phone number (fake, of course) and said I will only go thru him.Have heard nothing since! I even hear Collection Co's are taking these assignments! Rats to them as well...

ComplaintsBoard
B
7:25 am EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Kaplan University business practices

I was a student at Kaplan University. I enrolled in two programs there at the end of 2008. I started off in an Associate's program for a Business degree and since my credits from other schools were accepted I was told it would take me about a year. This was accurate. I also enrolled in a year long medical billing course at the same time with Kaplan and complete both in 2009, with honors. I was shuffled through the returning student office to return the next week for my advanced start bachelor's program. Up to this point my expereince with the school was great, long hold times when I called but overall great. I was scheduled to complete the B.A. in Business Nov 2 2010 because I was getting a scholoarship which was really just a discout for taking three classes at a time instead of two. I got a stipend check over the summer from the student loans that I had taken out and thought no more of it, I usually got a stipend of some sort every term. Then, 2 weeks before I was scheduled to graduate I got a bill for several hundred dollars saying they would hold my degree until it was paid. After hours on the phone with financial aid and student accounts it turned out I was not entitled to the check they sent, they made a mistake and if I did not come up with the money they would hold my transcript and degree. I had planned to attend there for an MBA right after graduation but could not because of this. I was unemployed at the time and it took me finding an MBA program that would accept me with the transcript to follow and take out MORE student loans to pay Kaplan back for their mistake. Now, I paid in January 2011, but it is almost May and I still don't have my diploma! When I called the first time, it was in processing, now when I called this week, no one informed the right department that I had paid the bill four months ago. Very frustrating since I can't FIND A JOB if I can't prove I have a degree.

Read full review of Kaplan University and 2 comments
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
2 comments
Add a comment
B
B
believe-in-yourself
Abeville, US
May 02, 2011 8:15 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I seriously recommend you do an MBA from American Military/Public University before going to Kaplan. They cost only $325 per graduate credit and admit anyone with a Bachelors degree. Finish your relationship with Kaplan FOR GOOD. If you must take a non-AACSB accredited MBA degree (Kaplan's business school is non-AACSB accredited), AMU/APU is the way to go. Oh yes, AMU/APU is regionally accredited.

B
B
believe-in-yourself
Abeville, US
May 02, 2011 6:55 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Haven't been to Kaplan. But I know there are cheaper options out there. You can complete an entire Bachelors or Associates degree online at American Public/Military University, at only $250 per semester credit including TEXTBOOKS. Did I forget to mention, they admit anyone with a GED or high school diploma, so they are as easy to get into as Kaplan (easier, as I think Kaplan has an interview required too). Compare the cost of a 3 semester class of $750 at American Public/Military University to an equivalent 5 quarter credit class of $2725 at Kaplan University.

You can also choose to do a lot of credit through Excelsior College examinations, or CLEP and DSST examinations, and save lots of time and money by transferring these credits to a 2 or 4-year program in Excelsior College or Charter Oak State College, that also accept everybody with a high school diploma or GED. You can also do a 2-year community college associates degree, online courses as a non-degree student at a 4 or 2 year institute, or credit through extension certificate courses offered by places like Berkeley and UCLA, and transfer in all the credit to Excelsior College or Charter Oak State College. All options mentioned need minimal paperwork (a community college only needs a GED or high school diploma for you to be enrolled in a 2 year or 4 year program with them - you can probably take courses with them online as a NON-DEGREE STUDENT just by paying with your credit card online and never going through an admissions process - in other words, you could take classes with them without having graduated high school. You can register for CLEP, DSST or Excelsior exams even before you graduate high school and take them anywhere in the country. Likewise, many extension and distance learning certificate programs and classes, since they do not grant degrees, also have no admissions process - just pay with a credit card and you are ready to go! UCLA extension and Berkeley extension are GREAT examples and the undergraduate credit you gain can be readily transferred to actual degree granting institutions.

If you do a Bachelors degree from Excelsior College or Charter Oak State College, be aware you do need to take 3-6 online credits from them (everything else can be TRANSFERRED IN), and the cost is not so cheap or online courses at these institutions, however, it is still peanuts compared to Kaplan. $335 per semester credit for Excelsior College ($1005 for a course that would cost $2725 at Kaplan), less than $300 per semester credit for Charter Oak State College. However, at instate tuition (Connecticut residents qualify), Charter Oak State College is quite cheap. Obviously though, many interested in Charter Oak State College will not be Connecticut residents.

You can take online courses at Excelsior College or Charter Oak State College, as a non-degree seeking student, no admissions requirement - just pay for any class you like with a credit card. You can take Excelsior college exams and not be a degree-seeker from Excelsior College, so just order an exam with your credit card! However, to be admitted for a degree in Excelsior College or Charter Oak State College, you DO need a GED or high school diploma (guaranteed admission for anyone who meets the requirement). Again though, the only real value in online courses at these institutions is if you happen to be a Connecticut resident and enroll for online courses at Charter Oak State College. I would argue that if 3 credits were not required to be taken online at Excelsior for a Bachelors degree, no one would take it. Unlike Charter Oak State College, Excelsior College has no special low instate rates.

None of these options need SAT or ACT scores of any sort! See how easy getting into college and completing it while saving a ton of time and money, can be!

Oh by the way, online classes, extension classes, and CLEP, DSST and Excelsior exams, can also be transferred to other online universities, and on-campus universities, so no matter where you go, you can save money! Also, remember try to hit for a regionally accredited Bachelors degree (and regionally accredited associates degree, if that is the only degree you want to take. However, a non-regionally accredited associates degree that is ACE-reviewed, like Penn Foster, can be transferred to a 4-year regionally accredited program like Excelsior College, and so you can get a regionally accredited Bachelors degree even with a non-regionally accredited associates degree THAT IS ACE-REVIEWED. Just don't make the mistake of taking a non-regionally accredited associates degree if an associates degree is the only degree you take, and if you take a bachelors, definitely make sure it is regionally accredited.)

All options mentioned here can help you get a regionally accredited degree and save you so much money!

Again, why would you spend money on Kaplan when you have all these options? Take all the liberal arts, business and technology classes, certificates and degrees you like and save so much money and time!

ComplaintsBoard
M
3:15 pm EDT

Kaplan University greedy

I have recently inquired a few well known Universities in regards to transferring my credits from Kaplan University over to their school. To my surprise, these credits are not transferable to them. I am thankful that I have only been with Kaplan for two terms before finding out this information. However, it still does not make things right. I have gotten student loans out for this university and if I had finished my education and wanted to further it I would not have been able to do so. Some of the Universities I had called were; Penn State, Rutgers and Notre Dame. Just to name a few. I don't know how the diploma holds up from Kaplan however, I don't intend on finishing my education here long enough to find that out. I would hate to complete all 4 years just to be told that the degree is not accepted. I feel that I was completely mislead.

Read full review of Kaplan University and 1 comment
Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
B
B
believe-in-yourself
Abeville, US
May 03, 2011 2:13 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Credit transfer is determined by the receiving institute, and policies vary widely. For instance, some universities don't accept CLEP or AP credit, but many others do. Some colleges don't accept credit that has been obtained online, even from a state university (but many do).

Some colleges are finicky about course content and structure and only accept courses towards their requirements that are a near match, rejecting even courses with the same title taken elsewhere. For instance, you could do Calculus 1 at a community college and not be able to transfer it to a big state school if they felt the community college course did not have any labs or enough tests. While I don't think Kaplan is the most cost effective option for getting a degree done, remember transfer is a hard thing to do in this country, but it can be done. You can start by examining a program like Excelsior College, which accepts all regionally accredited and/or ACE-evaluated credit towards a Bachelors degree., and admits everyone with a high school diploma or GED. Oh, and you can do 117 credits, for a 120 credit Bachelors degree from Excelsior, elsewhere.

ComplaintsBoard
A
11:13 pm EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Kaplan University official transcripts not sent to school

I have requested official transcripts be sent to my school (Columbia college) in which I sent the request via fax with a credit card number attached. After several weeks, the college has still not received the transcripts. Attempted to call several times and get put on hold and never does an actual person answer. I have waited as long as 45 minutes with no answer. Seriously, what is the issue? Students spend tens of thousands of dollars and can't receive their transcript or talk to an actual person? Please send my transcripts!

Read full review of Kaplan University and 2 comments
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
2 comments
Add a comment
A
A
Ashken1020
Edgewood, US
Mar 30, 2011 8:38 pm EDT

Try to call their direct line at the Registrar, I was transferred through the 1-800 number and they never answered. Their direct line is [protected]. worked for me today!

A
A
Ashken1020
Edgewood, US
Mar 30, 2011 8:37 pm EDT

Try calling their direct line at [protected]. Worked for me today.

ComplaintsBoard
C
8:08 pm EST
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Kaplan University no formal transcripts sent to school

After finishing up my Associate degree at Kaplan University, I decided to take my education a bit further and try to get my Bachelor in Business at a real college ie, Colorado State University global campus. After attending a few weeks I was ask to get a hold of Kapland and have them transfer my transcipts to CSU so they could give me credit for my degree. Needless to say after paying them for them TWICE, I still have not gotten them, and now am NOT getting credit for a degree I paid $20, 000 ! You cannot imagine how upset and hurt I am over this! I am starting over because of them. Now for a bacheor degree I will have paid 40, 000 dollars when I should have only paid 15, 000! DO NOT GO TO THIS SCHOOL! They will not send your transcipts if you decide to go further in your education!

Read full review of Kaplan University and 1 comment
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
Kaplan.University
Kaplan.University
Fort Lauderdale, US
Mar 11, 2011 4:19 pm EST

We regret the issues you are having regarding your transcripts from Kaplan; however, it appears the issue is with your new college. According to our records, we have sent the transcripts to them twice in December, per each of your requests. We will be sending them a third time, at no charge, and via overnight service so we have a tracking number. We will also send a copy to your home address so you have them and can deliver them to your college if they continue to be unable to find those we have sent. We wish you the best of luck in your continuing education!

Trust badge
Collect Your Trust Badge
Be recognized for outstanding customer service

Contact Kaplan University customer service

Phone numbers

1 866 527 5268 +1 (954) 515-4015 More phone numbers

Website

www.kaplanuniversity.edu

Your Voice Matters: Our Commitment to Genuine Reviews

Empowering Real Experiences

At ComplaintsBoard, we believe in the power of true customer stories. Our platform is a space for authentic voices, where experiences, both good and bad, are shared openly and honestly.

Dedicated to Authenticity

ComplaintsBoard is vigilant in our fight against false reviews. Our team employs robust verification methods to ensure every review reflects a real customer experience, upholding the integrity of our platform.

Encouraging Detailed Feedback

ComplaintsBoard values reviews that come with real evidence. Whether it's a photo, a detailed account, or additional documentation, such substantiation adds credibility to your story, helping others make better-informed decisions.

Balanced and Constructive Conversations

We're more than just a complaints board; we're a community for balanced dialogue. ComplaintsBoard encourages reviews that not only highlight issues but also acknowledge positive aspects, fostering a fair and comprehensive understanding.

Free and Fair Platform

ComplaintsBoard's commitment to maintaining a free and unbiased platform is unwavering. Every review is treated equally, ensuring that your voice is heard and respected, regardless of the nature of your experience.

Is ComplaintsBoard.com associated with Kaplan University?

ComplaintsBoard.com is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Kaplan University Customer Service. Initial Kaplan University complaints should be directed to their team directly. You can find contact details for Kaplan University above.

ComplaintsBoard.com is an independent complaint resolution platform that has been successfully voicing consumer concerns since 2004. We are doing work that matters - connecting customers with businesses around the world and help them resolve issues and be heard.

Use this comments board to leave complaints and reviews about Kaplan University. Discuss the issues you have had with Kaplan University and work with their customer service team to find a resolution.