Ashford University is a liberal arts college that was founded in 1893 in Clinton, IA by the Sisters of St. Francis.. It is a for profit, private university that has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the Northern Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1950. It also has recently applied for regional accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Ashford University, initially named Mount St. Clare College later changed its name to The Franciscan University in 2002. In 2005, through its acquisition by Bridgeport Education, Inc., the school again changed designation as Asford University, as it is know to this day.

Ashford University operates both a campus location as well as its online school, and offers several bachelor arts programs including accounting, psychology, business, graphic design, health care administration, elementary education and public relations and marketing. In addition to their bachelor of arts offerings, since 2005, a student has also been able to attain a masters degree education through Ashford Universities Organizational Management Program. All in all, Ashford University offers over 50 degree programs from the associates through masters levels.

Though the school has gone through many changes over the last century, it has maintained its commitment to providing a solid liberal arts program and helping its students prepare for the future through the nurturing of its core values of service, social awareness and integrity.

While many of its students attend virtually, campus attendance has been rising in recent years, and the school boasts a wide variety of amenities available to all students, including a full fledged athletics program and several clubs and organizations, such as outlets for the fine arts, music, and even an honor society.

In the past, while known as St. Clare College, Ashford provided Clinton county with over 60% of its teachers for both rural and township schools. Teacher education lasted from 1932 until 1942, and remains a stable of the Clinton county educational community, now serving around 1000 students on campus and a much larger number through its virtual school worldwide.

In the area of athletics, Ashford University is host to 17 teams in various sports for both men and women. In 2010, Ashford erected a new athletic facility complete with an outdoor soccer field and track. The new athletic center was not without its detractors. The Huffington Post described the land purchase for the facility as unneeded and even concluded that there was no need for a 500 seat football stadium, as the school had no football team (alluding to its new soccer field).

Never leaving its commitment to academic standards, Ashford University Athletics was awarded the Midwest Collegiate Conference President’s Cup for achieving high academic proficiency among its athletes. A total of 96 students were chosen for the Academic All-MCC team and 21 students were awarded certification as Daktronics-NAIA Scolar Athletes, carrying grade point averages above 3.5. Ashford is know as a school that turns out student athlete scholars not only on an individual basis but also as a whole. The Saints men’s tennis, soccer and basketball teams and the women’s soccer, volleyball and basketball teams were also named as NAIA Scholar teams, with all individual players maintaining a 3.5 GPA or higher.

For those looking to attend on line, the school maintains an aggressive learning environment with a strong history of dedication to proper liberal arts training in Ia for over 100 years. For those looking to attend locally, Ashford University has everything an aspiring collegiate would look for, including excellent teaching facilities and instructors, a great athletic club, and even newly acquired dormitory option for students wishing to live on campus.

400 North Bluff Blvd.
Clinton, IA 52732

Toll-free number:
1.866.711.1700

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