The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division Reviews

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So I too applied to the Division. But I should have research it more thoroughly. Does anyone know how to withdraw other than trying to deal with them directly????
Thanks, I hope everyone has better luck else where.

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Wow I really wish I would have read all of this before joining that dreadful school. I have a financial advisor who gets smart mouthed with me consistently and when I called and complained on her NOT EVEN THE BOSS got back to me. But I did notice that she sent me an email and cc'd her boss for the first time so that tell's me that they are all in it together and there is no hope to get anything done at this dreadful school. I'm currently studying graphic design and I don't see the point of doing all this extra work that has NOTHING to do with graphic design WITH NO PROGRAMS taught at all unless you do those small courses that you get no credit for to teach you basic design. I have taught myself EVERYTHING myself and only at this ridiculous yet high priced school for the degree. Put it this way... when I do got for digital art TRUST ME when I say I will not be returning to this hell hole ever again. Screw this school and the system..

signed a very frustrated student

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I withdrew from AIOP recently due to changes in my employers school tuition program.

After that, they started e-mailing/calling/billing me for the classes I had been assured were already paid for.

Seems that they spontaneously lost the payment voucher I had scanned and e-mailed to several departments, several times. They're telling me that the "outstanding" bill (that they told me had already been paid before I withdrew) is accruing interest and that I will be responsible for that interest.

They are also charging me for books and software that I paid for with my own money...not sure how that works.

Not happy with these folks, not at all.

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Awful school to deal with as they are ONLY interested in money. They hounded me non stop and when I told them I am considering another school, they started ignoring my calls and emails. Very rude.

As far as education, there are much better alternatives and programs for far cheaper. AI boasts so much but when you talk to people in the industry, they will tell you other wise. You can do much better things with your time and money.

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Write a brief review of your experience with The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division (200 words or less)...I also recently was enrolled at AIOP (for 5 days) actually only 3 days since the first 2 days they kept screwing up my classes! When I told them I no longer wanted to continue my education there, they would transfer me to someone else, then I was told to just try it and if by Friday of the first week I didn't like it I could withdraw and that I wouldn't lose anything, like tuition and my precious time. Completely untrue, in fact, when I called on Friday to withdraw, they told me I would still have to pay for the class so I might as well just keep taking it. After declining that option I was told they had to review my file and would contact me later that day to process the withdrawl. Again a lie, I had to call them on Monday (the beginning of week 2 where 50%of the class must be paid for if you withdraw) I am completely disappointed with the quality and level of service. Like those who posted prior to me, I felt from the start all they cared about was getting you in and getting your money! DO NOT ATTEND ANY of THE ART INSTITUTIONS! The knowledge you receive from other schools will be the same and the amount of money you save will be enough to buy a new car!!!!

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I made it through 2 of the 4 years in the BS Media Arts and Animation program at Art Institute Online. My GPA thus far is 3.82. I am a good and dedicated student.
I am also an alumni with an Associates Degree in Visual Communications from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh (1989-91)

I am now withdrawing from the college to seek my education elsewhere.

Art Institute of Pittsburgh back in 1989 was fantastic. Now that they are owned by Education Management Corporation, all that they care about is the $$$.

While some of the instructors were absolutely great, most were not... I found myself actually learning more about the software I was using (3DS MAX, Adobe CS4, etc.) from tutorials I found all by myself online (like at YouTube) than what the school/my instructors were providing... Basically I was paying AIO, but teaching things to myself.

In the two years I have been with AIO, I have had my student advisor changed on me 5 times. Most of them could never even remember my name.
Last year my mother passed away at the very beginning of the session (2 days into class). I was told that I could take the bereavement leave, BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY FOR THE CLASSES I would be missing, and then pay for them again when I returned to retake them. Ridiculous & insensitive. That should have been my first clue.

Actually, my first clue should have been all the credits that they would not accept from my previous degree towards this one, EVEN THOUGH THEY CAME FROM THE SAME SCHOOL!
I was an Art Institute Alumni, and thet were basically telling me that the degree that they gave me then was worthless to transfer credits from towards courses in a related field. (Graphic Designer degree to digital design).

AIO's tuition rates are also 3-4 times above the national average for similar "on-ground" courses at other colleges. In fact, almost all of the "Education Management Corporation" schools tend to be a much higher cost for tuition on avaerage. Plus EDMC has been accused of a lot of unsavory recruiting and business practices... My advice is to do some extensive research about AIO (and EDMC) before making any desicion about going there. There are plenty of other colleges out there that are a lot more trustworthy and a lot more considerate of their students.... and will cost you a lot less as well...

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I have found that to receive a rapid and/or personal response to serious concerns such as financial matters, you have to escalate your requests to a supervisor, e.g. VP level. My advisor has changed two or three times but all have been responsive to emails and have even served as a central POC (point of contact) routing my requests to the appropriate department(s). I am a senior about to graduate. I believe the level of support is not as effective because of the tier one level structure of CSRs (client service representatives). The support design is much like that of a credit card call center (at least the reps are not in another country). I've also attended land-based institutions and they have similar personalization and response issues. I am pursuing a Masters degree immediately upon graduation, I'll see how the undergraduate value and quality of coursese carries over to the advanced degree institution with a follow up success story hopefully.

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When I first started at the Art Institute Online it was a very positive experience; I had a great advisor who kept in touch with me and got to know me, every term my most of my teachers would call before class started to introduce themselves, I basically felt like I was getting an outstanding education. About half way though my degree things began to change; the personal interaction began to decline. I was assigned a new advisor who only contacts me at the beginning of each term to inform me that the term is starting, and then at the end of the term to inform me that it is ending. This advisor can not remember my name or what state I live in. When ever I speak to my advisor I am talked down to and treated like I am a bother. The calls from my instructors stopped. The instructor interaction online became slower. I have looked in to changing to another school but many of my credits would not transfer over. AIO sucks you in, treats you great until you reach the point of no return, then you are just a pay check to them.

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