University of Arizona looks to jump-start online enrollment with purchase of for-profit college – azcentral
The University of Arizona is making a big play into the online college market by acquiring a for-profit college and creating a nonprofit online university called University of Arizona Global Campus.
UA announced Monday that it intends to acquire the assets of Ashford University, a for-profit college with about 35,000 students across the country and create the new private nonprofit Global Campus.
The move likely will make UA more of a player in the market for online students, particularly those who aren’t traditional college freshmen. Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University already are strong brands in the online-only student sphere.
“We see this as an important step in expanding the reach of the University of Arizona,” said Brent White, UA’s vice provost for global affairs.
He noted that Ashford University’s students largely are adult learners, and many come from regions outside of UA’s typical sphere. UA said the Global Campus will focus on students who are typically underrepresented in higher education, like older adults, parents and veterans.