Bridgepoint Education's Ashford University Forms Articulation Agreements with Wyoming Colleges

SAN DIEGO, June 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE: BPI), a provider of post-secondary education services focused on providing higher access to higher education, announced today that Ashford University has signed new articulation agreements with colleges in the state of Wyoming. The agreements are with the Central Wyoming College (CWC) and the Northern Wyoming Community College District (NWCCD), which includes colleges in Sheridan and Gillette, Wyoming.

CWC is a two-year community college based in Riverton, Wyoming with outreach centers located in Jackson Hole, Dubois, Lander and Thermopolis. The college offers credentials and associate degrees in career-technical programs specifically for students looking to enter the job market immediately after graduation and numerous academic transfer programs for students planning to continue on for bachelor's and advanced degrees.

NWCCD is northern Wyoming's educational epicenter. Encompassing Sheridan College, Gillette College and outreach centers in Buffalo and Kaycee, NWCCD offers associate degrees, certificate programs and program tracks that prepare students to transfer to a four-year college or university. NWCCD also gives students an opportunity to enroll in career training, professional development courses and vocational/technical programs.

"Those of us at the Northern Wyoming Community College District are very excited about our newest partnership with Ashford University," said Beth Walker, NWCCD director of higher education services and academic advising coordinator. "A large number of our students are site-bound and a partnership such as this enables our students to obtain advanced degrees while remaining in our communities. We look forward to a lengthy and mutually beneficial partnership."

"The agreement with Ashford University will make it easier for CWC students to complete their studies due to Ashford's extensive online degree program offerings," said CWC interim vice president for academic services John Wood. "We at CWC are pleased to add Ashford University to the institutions with which we have an academic articulation agreement. This gives our students additional options to continue their higher education studies and complete their four-year degrees."

Through the partnerships, participating students will be able to transfer up to 90 of their credits earned at the partner colleges into one of Ashford's online or campus bachelor's degree programs.

"These partnerships enable students who complete courses at these Wyoming colleges to embark upon one of Ashford's four-year undergraduate programs while putting their hard-earned credits to use," said David Vande Pol, senior director of academic partnerships for Ashford University. "Ashford is thrilled to work with colleges that are student-centered and have such a strong outreach to much of the state of Wyoming."

To date, Ashford University has 43 articulation agreements representing 144 colleges.

About Bridgepoint Education

Bridgepoint Education's postsecondary education services focus on offering associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in such disciplines as business, education, psychology, social sciences and health sciences. Bridgepoint Education's regionally accredited academic institutions – Ashford University and University of the Rockies – deliver their programs online as well as at traditional campuses located in Clinton, Iowa, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more information about Bridgepoint Education, visit www.bridgepointeducation.com or call Shari Rodriguez, director of Public Relations at 858.668.2580.

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahlc.org). The University offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs online and at its Clinton, Iowa, campus. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable online and on-campus programs. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, director of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.

About Central Wyoming College

Central Wyoming College is a two-year community college based in Riverton, Wyoming with outreach centers located in Lander, Dubois, Thermopolis and Jackson Hole. The college offers a wide variety of programs and services to students, businesses and community members of all ages. Currently, Central Wyoming College is providing education to 1,500 students throughout Wyoming. For more information, visit www.cwc.edu or call 800.735.8418.

About Northern Wyoming Community College District

With more than 4,000 students in three counties, the Northern Wyoming Community College District is providing the educational framework for Wyoming's current and future workforce. The main campuses are Sheridan College and Gillette College with outreach centers in Buffalo and Kaycee. NWCCD is dedicated to serving the needs of its students through engaging lectures, hands-on learning using state-of-the-art technology and by employing an enthusiastic staff whose number one goal is student success. To learn more, visit www.sheridan.edu or call 800.913.9139.

SOURCE Bridgepoint Education, Inc.