The University of Denver

I've literally had about a 50% success rate with classes. One class will be great (clear objectives, strong syllabus, challenging activities, responsive teacher, lots of supplemental multi-media materials, live class options), the next terrible. I've even spoken to the dean of the school and wish there was such a thing as educational malpractice to get my money back. The only reason to continue (I'm about 12/16 courses) is because I've sunk too much money towards my master's to quit now and at least I'll have the piece of paper.

Technology has been spotty with the online courses, and in one course we just didn't get the last three weeks of information because no one could get a hold of the presiding professor. I was offered a chance to audit the course with a different professor for free by the dean, but I don't want to commit another 10 weeks of my life to a terrible class.

Though several professors are responsive within 24 hours, there's no real help available, and the classes themselves are too easy. I've passed everything with flying colors, but have no real understanding of any of the computer languages I've studied. I'm fairly autodidactic, but I've had to spend extra money to hire a private tutor local to me who can walk me through lessons because this program is so poor. Might as well spend $250 and get a year's subscription to Lynda.com, because that's basically what I've done in lieu of the education promised by DU.
Before I signed up, I looked for 2 years for a program that offered this sort of degree that I wanted and DU consistently ranked top. I even asked an advisor there to let me "sit in" on an online class for a day to see if it was a good fit and was denied. Should've known then. If you're interested in DU's University College degrees, I advise against doing it online. I with I could get my 20K back.

However it barely makes up for how much the people suck. The faculty isn't too bad, although they can be arrogant and condescending. But I found it very hard to make friends and get to the know the students. They are snooty, unfriendly, and uninteresting. The best you can hope for a social life is grabbing a beer at The Crimson and Gold and attending student galas held every quarter. I also need to highlight a growing problem at Daniels: A great number of students are international students (i.e. from China) and there is palpable tension between the international student and American students. The international students are largely ignored and they tell me it's hard to meet get to know the American students as they don't seem very open, interested or friendly. They are isolated and resort to helping out each other (some even say they cheat as a result). This level of isolation is completely inappropriate IMO compared to how I've seen international students being treated at, say, CU Boulder.