Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Ashford University is a for-profit national university located in San Diego, California. Ashford University has an open admissions policy.
Return on educational investment at Ashford University is in the bottom 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $37,270 10 years after enrolling, 100th in California, and in the bottom 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Ashford University bachelor students earn 9% less than the national average.
Ashford University’s median net annual cost of $20,987 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Ashford University sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Education, Health Administrative Services, Psychology, Criminal Justice, HR Management - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$20,987
Average years to graduate
4.7
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Finance
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 4.37
Information Systems Mgmt.
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 4.41
Accounting
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 7.38
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 7.8
Sociology
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 13
Marketing
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 13.84
Behavioral Sciences
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 22.5
Human Development & Family
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 28.49
Mental & Social Health Services
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 29.66
Education
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 176.47
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Ashford University - Business Administration, Psychology, Health Administrative Services, Education, Criminal Justice, Special Education - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Public Administration
Rank: #176
Economic score: 1.15
Accounting
Rank: #292
Economic score: 1.4
Education
Rank: #341
Economic score: 1.44
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 21% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Ashford University is 46% lower than the state average, and 47% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Ashford University, Pell Grant recipients represent 35% of the measured graduating class, equal to the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Ashford University graduates within 4.6 years.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Ashford University’s economic mobility score of 0.65 is calculated by adjusting the 26.7 economic score of lower-income students by the 35% pell grant recipients within the student body. Ashford University’s EMS of 0.65 ranks in the bottom 5% nationally. Please note that the economic mobility score considers only students that have graduated.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 5%
The average Title IV recipient at Ashford University pays $20,987 a year, $-5,474 less than the $15,513 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $20,987
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Ashford University, 93% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $20,987 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 62% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,400. This is 8% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$6,400
Pell grants
$3,951
Institutional grants
$2,242
Ashford University offers 58 online bachelor programs, all of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Ashford University offers 26 programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
84
Percentage of programs online
99%
Full time
100%
83%
Female
78%
59%
First time
11%
59%
In-state
8%
68%
1st generation
54%
35%
White
43%
52%
Black
29%
14%
Hispanic
18%
15%
Asian
2%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
1%
0.3%
Other
6%
12%