As the value of online education continues to improve the lives of students, community colleges across the country have joined forces with Ashford University to offer graduates an opportunity to pursue a four-year degree. In alignment with Ashford, an academic institution owned by Bridgepoint Education Inc. (NYSE: BPI), these community colleges can offer a direct transition for their two-year students to a four-year program.

A number of accredited regional colleges established articulation agreements with Ashford University in the first quarter of 2011. Among them are Eastern Wyoming College; Georgia Military College; Imperial Valley College in California's Imperial County; Texas's Lone Star College System; Luna Community College in New Mexico; Mt. San Jacinto College in Riverside County, California; North Iowa Area Community College; and San Bernardino Valley College in Southern California.

"Ashford University strives to increase educational opportunities for nontraditional learners," stated Dr. Elizabeth Tice, president of Ashford University. "It's a great compliment to our program that local and community educators are working with us to build articulation agreements that make four-year Ashford degrees an easy progression for their students."

The articulation agreements between Ashford University and Eastern Wyoming College, Georgia Military College, Imperial Valley College, the Lone Star College System, Luna Community College, Mt. San Jacinto College, North Iowa Area Community College and San Bernardino Valley College will make it possible for their graduates to transfer up to 90 credits to a four-year Ashford degree.

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, associate vice president 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, associate vice president of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.