After a period of financial difficulty, the university was purchased by Bridgepoint Education in March 2005. After the sale, the institution's name was changed to Ashford University. In 2010, Ashford University was highlighted in College, Inc. a PBS Frontline exposé about for-profit colleges. In June 2012, WASC denied initial accreditation to Ashford University. Following WASC's denial of accreditation for being, according to "Insider Higher Ed", "lacking in several areas, including low numbers of full-time faculty, high student dropout rates and questions about academic rigor," WASC demanded additional information from Ashford prior to an October site visit. Its second application was accepted in 2013. In approving accreditation, the WASC Commission Action Letter stated "The Commission found that the University has responded to Commission concerns and judges that it is now in substantial compliance with Commission standards." The WASC visiting team noted in its final report that "the team found an institution that has been fundamentally transformed and whose culture has been changed in significant ways, including a shift from a market driven approach to an institution committed to student retention and success". At its meeting June 26-28, 2019, the WASC Senior College and University Commission acted to reaffirm Ashford’s accreditation through Spring 2025.