Ashford University is a private, for-profit university located in Clinton, Iowa. It is the largest educational holding of Bridgepoint Education (NYSE: BPI). Although the school is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the school has begun the process of seeking regional accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The school offers Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees in more than 50 degree programs on campus and online. About 99% of the student population is enrolled in online courses, with the remainder attending its Clinton campus. As for-profit colleges have come under increasing scrutiny, a U.S. Senate report in 2011 revealed that Ashford has one of the highest withdrawal rates of any publicly traded school in the industry. Ashford has also been faulted for its recruiting and finance practices in a U.S. Department of Education audit. Bridgepoint Education responded in March 2011 with a report asserting that the information used in the Senate hearing was either inaccurate or incomplete. Ashford University's campus was established in 1893 as the Mount St.