Strayer University is a private for-profit university headquartered in Washington, D.C., owned by the publicly traded Strategic Education, Inc. It teaches business, IT, criminal justice, education, health services and public administration to working adults, online and at campuses mainly in the eastern and southern United States. Its pros are long history, regional accreditation, admission with just a high school diploma and fully online degrees; its cons are for-profit ownership, low federal graduation figures and heavy reliance on part-time study.
Below are the pros and cons in detail, with cost and accreditation figures from the federal College Navigator database (Strayer University-Global Region, its online record), so you can judge whether Strayer is legit and a good school for you.
Strayer University at a Glance
- Type: private for-profit university, owned by Strategic Education, Inc., which also owns Capella University.
- Founded: 1892 in Baltimore as Strayer’s Business College; it gained university status in 1998.
- Locations: online, plus campuses mainly in the eastern and southern U.S.; as of 2020 it listed 35 campuses in 14 states and Washington, D.C.
- Enrollment (fall 2024, Global Region online record): 12,098 total, 9,386 undergraduate; 96% of those undergraduates study part-time and 89% are 25 or older.
- Admission: a high school diploma or equivalent for undergraduate programs.
Pros: What Strayer Does Well
- Designed for working adults. Entire bachelor’s and master’s programs can be completed online, and nearly all online undergraduates study part-time around jobs and families.
- Simple admission. Undergraduate programs require a high school diploma or its equivalent, and College Navigator lists an open admission policy.
- Regional accreditation. Strayer is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, one of the regional accreditors recognised by the Department of Education, with accreditation dating from 1981.
- Career-oriented programs. Degrees focus on accounting, business administration, IT, criminal justice, education, health services and public administration, and its RN-to-BSN program earned CCNE accreditation in 2017. The Jack Welch Management Institute, acquired in 2011, offers executive MBA programs.
- Stable tuition. Tuition and fees for the online record were $13,920 in both 2023-2024 and 2024-2025.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at Strayer
- For-profit ownership. Strayer is run by a publicly traded company, which some students and employers view differently from nonprofit and public universities.
- Weak federal completion figures. The overall graduation rate reported for the Global Region record was 14%, with 57% transferring out. Because only a small share of Strayer students start as full-time freshmen, these figures cover few students, but they do not show strong completion.
- A history of scrutiny. Wikipedia records that in 2013 USA Today listed Strayer’s Washington, D.C. campus as a “red flag” institution for a student loan default rate that exceeded its graduation rate.
- A higher net price than the sticker suggests. The average net price for full-time first-time students was $19,258 in 2023-2024, because net price includes living costs as well as tuition.
- Large classes relative to faculty. The online record’s student-to-faculty ratio is 47 to 1.
What Strayer Costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, 2024-2025 | $13,920 |
| Total estimated cost living off campus (not with family), 2024-2025 | $25,158 |
| Average net price, 2023-2024 | $19,258 |
Most Strayer students study part-time, so they pay by the course and spread costs over more years. Ask whether your employer offers tuition benefits, and compare the total cost of a degree with your state university’s online program.
Is Strayer University a Good School? What the Numbers Say
Strayer is a legitimate, regionally accredited university that suits working adults who want a career-focused business, IT or public-service degree online, especially with employer tuition support.
It is harder to recommend to recent high school graduates or students who would borrow heavily. The federal completion figures are low, and its for-profit status means you should compare it carefully with nonprofit and public online programs that offer the same degree.
Who Accredits Strayer University?
Strayer University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. College Navigator dates its accreditation from 1981 and lists an estimated next review in 2033. The RN-to-BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Who Strayer Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: working adults with employer tuition benefits, students finishing a business or IT degree part-time, and nurses seeking an RN-to-BSN.
Worth comparing alternatives if: you are a recent high school graduate, you would rely mostly on loans, or a nonprofit or public online program offers the same degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Strayer University accredited? Yes, by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
- Is Strayer a for-profit school? Yes. It is owned by Strategic Education, Inc.
- Is Strayer the same as Capella? No. They are separate universities owned by the same parent company.
- Can you complete a Strayer degree online? Yes. Entire bachelor’s and master’s programs can be completed online.