Ashworth College

Ashford University is a liberal arts college that was founded in 1891. It was actually founded by nuns named the Sisters of St. Francis who were invited by Father James A. Murray to teach in Clinton, Iowa. Two years later, the nuns were able to purchase their first building for the school and named it the Mount St. Clare Academy. In 1910, they moved Mount St. Clare Academy to a larger building that is still in use in the Ashford University to this day.

From these humble beginnings, the school continued to expand throughout the 20th century, transforming into a very prestigious liberal arts college. The school first received its accreditation in 1950 from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools is an accreditation agency that has accredited over 10,000 schools in the Midwestern United States and is recognized by the US Board of Education.

Due to this accreditation, the school continued to expand exponentially. In 2005, it was renamed Ashford University after the institution was acquired by Bridgepoint Education, Inc. After the sale, the Sisters of St. Francis ceased their sponsorship of the school. However, the school survives as a vibrant and prestigious liberal arts university with over 25,000 students.

The school offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in a number of diverse fields. Popular Bachelor’s degrees offered include degrees in accounting, Biology, elementary education, history, social and criminal justice, Social Sciences, and nuclear medicine technology. Popular Master’s degrees offered include degrees in business administration, education, healthcare administration, organizational management, and public administration.

However, you don’t have to complete your academic program in Clinton, Iowa. In 2002, the school expanded to include a distance learning program using the internet. You can in fact obtain many of the same degrees online that you can obtain at the physical campus in Iowa.

If you are looking for an opportunity to obtain a great college education, one school you should certainly consider is Ashford University.