Florida Metropolitan University - FMU Online lied to me about my funds and accredidation, ripoff! Tampa Bay Florida

I posted my rip off report on this school today. I am currently pursuing this issue with the school. I don't have the time or energy to explain everything they did wrong but I will say that I was scammed in a big way & I have proof from saved emails. I had never attempted college before signing up for FMU online so I was the perfect victim. I was 23 at the time & had stayed home with my son for the past 2 years. With me, and I am sure others, it wasn't about being dumb it was about entrusted these individuals to give you accurate information.

(FMU is now also known as Everest College A.K.A. Everest University.)

Here is my sole opinion(s):

1. Do your research!- Question EVERYTHING, Stand for SOMETHING Settle for NOTHING. find out all you can about the colleges or schools in your area before you enroll. Ask Millions of questions 'til you are satisfied. You have the right to know, for you are investing your efforts, Time and money in them. I.E.: Are you a trade school, college or etc.? Are you Nationally Accredited?

2. FIY:You can file you own FASA application- Would you trust someone you barely known with your house or car keys? Same goes for your Financial information and Social Security Number. It is not hard. Visit www.fafsa.ed.gov, there should be more information.

3. Be-careful with School Scams, some obvious signs and sometimes not obvious are:

- The school Website looks cheesy, you have to input your information (like zip code, phone number and what not) before you can get any information on the courses or school and usually have a .com, .net, etc.. Some of these Scam Schools are now using .edu at the end of their web address so beware. Compare a Real College in your area to one of the scam schools.

-They Advertise on T.V. Way too much. I seen the commercial of the "student" on the coach boasting about their flexibility,pay rate, and how easy it is.(great actors aren't they) Now, I seen some community Colleges Advertise now and then, but not as frequent as these Scam Schools. At least they are more creative about it too!

- The Advertise in the Classifieds! What real College would stoop that low? A good school does not need not place an ad cause their reputation stand for itself.

- They change their names alot. I remember one school (that shall remain nameless) had institute, University, College change several times in 3 years!

- The Majors looks like Trades! Why would you get B.A. in being a receptionist, that goes for Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Patient Care Tech, Office Administration, etc.. and spend outrageous Ivy League Money. If that is the case go to a trade school, and don't spend so much. If you are in Orlando, Check out the Tech Schools, Orlando Tech, Winter-Park Tech and many more locations www.reinventme.org this site is a TRADE School Site not a College nor a University. Sometimes Depending on what you are interested in some courses/credits are transferable to local community colleges.

- Online courses are acceptable! not ONLINE UNIVERSITIES.--Some Community Colleges Offers Online Courses for Psychology, English, Etc.. Unlike the rest of scam schools they offer you false college degrees that when you look for a position in the Real World they don't accept these "schools". I.E.: _________ Online University Need NOT Apply. ( I am serious)

-If they disclose,make it difficult or refuse to let you know how much a course is or even the cost of attending there for a year, don't even bother with them.

4. Talk to people currently/formerly enrolled, ask them the pros and cons in their own situations..Where are they now? Are they in place where they are happy to be? Is it because of the school? and what not.

5. IF IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE....it usually is. (use commonsense.)


I am student at Valencia Community College and in hopes of transferring to UCF (University of Central Florida) soon, with a Degree in Political Science and Minor in Psychology. I am also a Mother and understand the desire of flexibility in one's schedule. I can absolutely relate.

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I started attending FMU in the summer of 2006. I thought I was going to get a to spend a little there, maybe a year while I looked for work and found something that would allow me the time to go to a full size university or community college. I made it very clear to the rep that signed me that I wanted to go to a bigger school and that I was only there to build up credits. He assured me that it would be a problem. Skip to summer of 2007. I started hearing rumors that Florida Community College Jacksonville wouldn't accept credits at all from FMU nor would UNF. I went to these school and found out myself that this was the case. Pissed to say the least the left FMU that same day. I had no clue how much student loan debt I had. December 2007 just days before Christmas I got a call from Sallie Mae telling me I owed $18,000 in student loans and my payments each month would be as much as my car payment! I was devastated. I contacted Sallie Mae and after crying on the phone with them for over an hour one nice lady finally gave me a number to the Department of Education in Florida. I spoke with a woman there that told me of an Ability to Benefit Discharge Form. She told me to call Sallie Mae and request this form. Needless to say I got the run around from Sallie Mae and spent a month trying to get this form. I finally got a hold of someone in their service department and they are mailing me the form. Hopefully (knock on wood), and from what they explained to me. All I have to do is fill out this form, send it back and then I will not have to ever pay them for the loans. Again KNOCK ON WOOD!!!! If you used Sallie Mae and wasn't able to get a job using your degree or wasn't able to transfer you're credits I would recommend calling their service department. The number is 1-888-272-5543. Make sure to ask for an Ability to Benefit Discharge Form. Please don't take this as a guarantee from me. I'm only telling what I've done personally. I'm not even sure if this will work for me. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and praying really hard. Also if you used a different loan company, they should offer the same form. Good luck to all. I hope things work out for all of you.

I use to work there. Admission reps tell students whatever they want to hear to get them in because they have a quota. If they dont get a certain amount in they loose their job. So they lie to get you in. While I worked in financial aid I always explained to them the truth. I never lied. No FAO lies but Admissions does. They will even tell you lies about the financial aid process I know because I had several people tell me and I have had to inform students with correct information. We were told to bring this to the attention to the managers but no one cared. They were out for the money. Managers stick together. They are evil overthere. I recommend no one go to their school. GO to your local community college. They are the cheapest and your credits will transfer. They also offer other grants you wouldnt be able to get if you went to FMU. THEY ARE A RIP OFF. DONT TRUST THEM.

Gee and I thought this had only happened to me. Back in 2004, I decided to attend FMU Online out of Tampa FL, to finish my bachelors degree. What proceeded was lies, I had FULL financial aid, and only wound up attending 3 classes. This the online school only. almost immediately , they started sending me nasty emails about my student loans, claiming "THEY" would cancel my Pell grant. I got fed up with them and quit. I continued to get threatening emails and letters all re: my student loans. I had student loans before no problem, I had even given them access to my federal tax returns which they claim they didnt get! (They finally did).


This went on for a long time. I filed numerous complaints with the BBB, Sallie Mae, their corporate office in CA. They continued to threaten me claiming I owed for the entire semester! I contacted Sallie Mae again and was told the student loans were there they NEVER touched them, just took The Pell grant. 3 months later, I received in the regular mail, a full financial aid letter from FMU in Orlando!! I called the admissions counslor and was told that was fine, I was online so it didnt matter. I cancelled the student loans.

I told them numerous times I was no longer attending yet they sent me to collection, even though the student loans were available to them at the time. I had to threaten to sue them numerous times and fight for over 2 years to take this OFF my credit report, I never owed it in the first place. I was ignored by their corporate office; after leaving several messages. All I ever wanted to do was finish my bachelors degree, its sad to see they have treated others the same way.

Hundreds of regionally accredited schools have officially signed onto the HETA transfer alliance. Thus, while credit transfer from FMU is more difficult, Stetson is not the only major school that accepts ACICS credits.

Kevin simply does not have the facts. He apparently has a lawsuit pending and is clearly biased. In addition, since he has posted numerous inaccuracies and multiple unsupported allegations in other reports (e.g. CHEA being owned by Corinthian), he is just not very credible.

I did attend FMU for nearly 3 years, I was a student at the Tampa and Brandon Campus's. I went to FMU for Commerical Art, which I never got and currently work for far less then I should be making thanks to thier lies.

I would like to make a comment about the gentlemen replying in defense of FMU's accredidation.

FMU never has been accredited with SACS which they claimed to be a member of. SACS is the major accredidation panel that contols USF, U of Miami, U of Florida, FSU, Georgia, amoungst other major universities.

I have been trying to transfer my credits to either the University of Miami or South Florida since 2003 with no success what so ever. Infact no real University in the Sunshine state will accept FMU credits. The only places that will take them are other low level crap holes like FMU.
I refuse to attend any university on the same level as FMU, I was burn't once, and don't plan on getting burn't again.
Also FMU told me to my face that 100% of thier credits would transfer to either USF or Miami.

However recently FMU did work out a deal with Stetson University, whom will now take FMU credits. Only certain credits will be accepted though. Reportedly FMU had to really bribe Stetson to take thier credits and in doing so shelled out a ton of cash in sum of a couple million.

In closing the guy that is defending FMU must work for them in some manor, and I would not trust his word. Anyone that can defend these a-holes has to be equally under handed.
FMU is accredited, but are not on the same level as a major university, especially for the price they charge. Still FMU credits outside of the Stetson case only transfer to other FMU campus's or other FMU style institutions.

I did attend FMU for nearly 3 years, I was a student at the Tampa and Brandon Campus's. I went to FMU for Commerical Art, which I never got and currently work for far less then I should be making thanks to thier lies.

I would like to make a comment about the gentlemen replying in defense of FMU's accredidation.

FMU never has been accredited with SACS which they claimed to be a member of. SACS is the major accredidation panel that contols USF, U of Miami, U of Florida, FSU, Georgia, amoungst other major universities.

I have been trying to transfer my credits to either the University of Miami or South Florida since 2003 with no success what so ever. Infact no real University in the Sunshine state will accept FMU credits. The only places that will take them are other low level crap holes like FMU.
I refuse to attend any university on the same level as FMU, I was burn't once, and don't plan on getting burn't again.
Also FMU told me to my face that 100% of thier credits would transfer to either USF or Miami.

However recently FMU did work out a deal with Stetson University, whom will now take FMU credits. Only certain credits will be accepted though. Reportedly FMU had to really bribe Stetson to take thier credits and in doing so shelled out a ton of cash in sum of a couple million.

In closing the guy that is defending FMU must work for them in some manor, and I would not trust his word. Anyone that can defend these a-holes has to be equally under handed.
FMU is accredited, but are not on the same level as a major university, especially for the price they charge. Still FMU credits outside of the Stetson case only transfer to other FMU campus's or other FMU style institutions.

I did attend FMU for nearly 3 years, I was a student at the Tampa and Brandon Campus's. I went to FMU for Commerical Art, which I never got and currently work for far less then I should be making thanks to thier lies.

I would like to make a comment about the gentlemen replying in defense of FMU's accredidation.

FMU never has been accredited with SACS which they claimed to be a member of. SACS is the major accredidation panel that contols USF, U of Miami, U of Florida, FSU, Georgia, amoungst other major universities.

I have been trying to transfer my credits to either the University of Miami or South Florida since 2003 with no success what so ever. Infact no real University in the Sunshine state will accept FMU credits. The only places that will take them are other low level crap holes like FMU.
I refuse to attend any university on the same level as FMU, I was burn't once, and don't plan on getting burn't again.
Also FMU told me to my face that 100% of thier credits would transfer to either USF or Miami.

However recently FMU did work out a deal with Stetson University, whom will now take FMU credits. Only certain credits will be accepted though. Reportedly FMU had to really bribe Stetson to take thier credits and in doing so shelled out a ton of cash in sum of a couple million.

In closing the guy that is defending FMU must work for them in some manor, and I would not trust his word. Anyone that can defend these a-holes has to be equally under handed.
FMU is accredited, but are not on the same level as a major university, especially for the price they charge. Still FMU credits outside of the Stetson case only transfer to other FMU campus's or other FMU style institutions.

Accreditation:
FMU is an extremely overpriced institution. However, they are fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Independent Colleges and Schools (www.ACICS.org). ACICS is fully recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

To verify FMU's accredited status, visit the official institutional databases of accredited institutions at the USDE and CHEA websites.

USDE: www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
CHEA: www.chea.org/search/

Credit transfer:
Transfer from nationally accredited schools to more traditional regionally accredited schools can sometimes be tricky. But, it is by no means impossible.

Visit the CHEA Higher Education Transfer Alliance (HETA) website at www.chea.org/default.asp?link=8 for an official' database of accredited institutions that will likely accept for FMU credits.

An unofficial list of schools that may accept your credits can be found at: forums.degreeboard.com/showthread.php?t=975

Also, FMU's accreditor recently created their own transfer alliance that may be helpful. See www.acics.org/accredited/transfer.asp

Finally, if you have trouble transferring, don't take no for an answer. Appeal the denial, and refer the school that rejected you to the CHEA and ACE transfer statements. See the links below.

CHEA Transfer and Public Interest: http://www.chea.org/Research/index.asp

ACE Joint Statement: www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=10082

If you still have difficulty, contact FMU and ACICS and ask them to help you. ACICS may negotiate on your behalf. Other national accreditors seem willing to intervene for transfer applicants when necessary.

Good luck!!