| DeVry University has its roots from way back | | | | ability for them, as students, to learn at a |
| in 1931 as a film and radio repair teaching | | | | higher level. |
| establishment. Today it is amongst the | | | | |
| largest schools run for profit in the United | | | | The overall quality of education is |
| States. The University as a company also | | | | considered to be quite good by both current |
| finds mention in the '100 best Corporate | | | | students and federal regulators. However, |
| Citizen' list ranked at number 11. Through | | | | unlike less rigorous competitors, the quality |
| the years, over a quarter of a million | | | | of the education comes at a price. The |
| students have graduated from the University. | | | | school is quick to place students on |
| Its total number of enrolments according some | | | | probation, should the student's grades fall |
| estimates is around 50,000, which is a tad | | | | even a little. Such a strict discipline is |
| lower than that of Phoenix University. | | | | perhaps good when you look at the future |
| | | | employability of the student. Tie this with |
| DeVry University boasts of 70 odd locations | | | | the figure of 90 % of the university |
| from where students can take classes. | | | | graduates (who actively pursued employment or |
| Students can also take online classes. The | | | | were already employed when they graduated) |
| most important attribute of the University is | | | | finding jobs in their referred field within 6 |
| the range of programs offered. There is | | | | months. While certainly there is some room |
| something for every body - full time, part | | | | for the University to have fiddled with the |
| time, night study or weekend classes or pure | | | | figures, this number is nonetheless quite |
| online classes. By offering both online and | | | | impressive. It is important to note, however, |
| brick and mortar classes at a variety of | | | | that in light of this statistic the |
| locations, students find they are able to | | | | University qualifies their 90% claim by |
| find the combination that best suits their | | | | omitting some students who were never |
| needs. | | | | employed before or during their education at |
| | | | the university, and are finding it a |
| The university is fully accredited and offers | | | | difficult job to get employed. Some students |
| various courses in areas of Electrical | | | | argue that this is because, despite the |
| Engineering, Telecommunications and Business | | | | quality of education, the reputation of the |
| Administration at both undergraduate as well | | | | school remains sub-par amongst employers. |
| as graduate levels. This differentiates the | | | | |
| school from some of the other online | | | | The universities price tag and associated |
| universities, like Capella, that have | | | | fees are on par with its other online |
| repeatedly failed to receive accreditation | | | | competitors, but it is important to note that |
| for its programs. Of particular note, is the | | | | this does not always mean a bargain compared |
| business school, which has a strong focus on | | | | to other public brick-and-mortar |
| business management. Management education is | | | | universities. |
| imparted via, the Keller Graduate School of | | | | |
| Management and as such is quite focused and | | | | One of the major deficiencies of DeVry |
| current in its curriculum. | | | | University appears to be its administrative |
| | | | department. Students frequently claim to have |
| Another good thing about the university is | | | | difficulty in dealing with the financial aid |
| the 'part-time job services', which offers to | | | | department as well as with the other student |
| find part time jobs for students wanting to | | | | services departments. |
| earn while they learn. Students can earn from | | | | |
| $6.5 to $10 per hour at entry level. But | | | | Many students express some serious |
| students have often been seen to be | | | | displeasure with the marketability of their |
| complaining about the frequency with which | | | | Devry degree. They are finding that despite |
| the job postings are updated. Even the | | | | the quality of education and rigor of the |
| limitations of the job board, however, are a | | | | university, that some employers do not yet |
| stark improvement over some of its online | | | | regard the school as equivalent to a more |
| competitors which do not even offer the | | | | traditional four year brick-and-mortar |
| service at all. | | | | school. Another cadre of students report, |
| | | | however, that they have found the benefits of |
| Online education is imparted in collaboration | | | | having the degree a very tangible benefit. |
| with CertifyOnline, which provides DeVry with | | | | Other than this deficiency, however, it |
| the reference materials, tests and online | | | | appears that in the actual business of |
| labs. This enables availability of courses | | | | teaching and learning, DeVry surpasses its |
| and reference materials in synchronous format | | | | online competitors. The question facing |
| with live instructions as well as in archived | | | | incoming students, is however, what is the |
| video media. The class sizes are small and | | | | ultimate purpose of that college degree. |
| offer personalized attention. That said, | | | | |
| many students find that the formulated | | | | Jean-Paul Chortillion enjoys writing about |
| testing and teaching limits not only the | | | | online education. For more information, see |
| creativity of their professors, but also the | | | | this review of DeVry University. |