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 formed an articulation agreement with San Diego Community College District's San Diego Miramar College. Through the agreement, students will now be able to transfer up to 99 credits into one of Ashford's online and campus bachelor's degree programs.

"This partnership enables students at San Diego Miramar College to embark on one of Ashford's four year undergraduate programs, while utilizing the credits they have worked hard for while at Miramar," said David Vande Pol, senior director of academic partnerships for Bridgepoint's Ashford University. "We are honored to work with such a fine academic institution and allow its students to transition into one of our four-year undergraduate programs."

"Our mission at Miramar is to prepare our students to succeed in a changing world within an environment that values excellence in learning, teaching, innovation and diversity," said Dr. Duane Short, the articulation officer at San Diego Miramar College. "Ashford University shares those same values and we are pleased to offer our students access to their four year programs," he added.

To date, Ashford University has 32 articulation agreements representing 120 colleges.

About Bridgepoint Education

Bridgepoint Education's postsecondary education services focus on offering associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in the disciplines of 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. 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 San Diego Miramar College

Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), San Diego Miramar College is one of three colleges in the San Diego Community College District. More than 13,000 students each semester enroll in over 120 certificates, associate degrees and comprehensive transfer programs. Partnerships with local industry and the City and County of San Diego prepare Miramar students for high demand and well-paying careers in the highly competitive labor market, including biotechnology, paralegal (ABA approved), aviation (FAA-certified), automotive, diesel and alternative fuels technologies. Since 1969, the college has provided training for nearly all San Diego law enforcement officers and firefighters