Strayer University has expanded greatly in the 120 years since it was first founded as a business school in Baltimore. Today, the private, for-profit university has nearly 100 campuses in 24 states and the District of Columbia, in addition to its online programs.
Strayer is accredited by the the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The university offers 25 different associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees – many of them focused on accounting, business, criminal justice, administration and information technology. Strayer also offers an online executive MBA through its Jack Welch Management Institute. Read More
Strayer’s online courses are offered through iCampus. The service is available 24/7 and features virtual classrooms, discussion boards and digital assignment tools. Students can also choose to complete their coursework through a combination of online and on-campus work, depending on the program and physical location.
Strayer Education, Inc., which owns Strayer University, is a publicly traded corporation; it reported 2012 profits totaling more than $562 million. Total enrollment across Strayer campuses totaled around 47,926 students in 2012 with a growing number of online students and decreasing number of new and brick-and-mortar students.
Current chief executive Robert S. Silberman was noted in a for-profit university investigative report by the U.S. Senate Committee, for his vast earnings, which totaled more than $41 million in 2009, according to the New York Times. Silberman will be replaced by current President and Chief Operating Officer, Karl McDonnell in May, 2013.
According to the Senate report, about 32 percent of Strayer students who enrolled in 2008 had dropped out two years later, which is one of the lowest dropout rates among the 30 for-profit institutions listed in the report. Strayer is making strides to reverse several years of lower enrollment, and the recent announcement of a new scholarship is one such effort to do so. Students are eligible for scholarships, federal financial aid, military benefits and private loans to cover the costs of tuition and fees.
Though for-profit universities have earned a less than glowing reputation in the past, students who are active in their education and dedicated to completing their studies at a fast and rigorous pace can earn a high-quality education at a university such as Strayer. The programs are reputable, and students can complete their education with the flexibility necessary for their lifestyle and career.