National University

My experience at National University (formerly Northcentral) has been very positive. I know there are a lot of negative reviews and I was hesitant when I enrolled, but I want to add my experience to the conversation. I am in the MFT Master's program, have done very well (3.98 GPA), and have had only positive experiences with all of my professors and advisors. I've never had any difficulty with the financial aid or student advisors; everyone replies within a few days via email. I completed my undergraduate... Read More education at UNC Chapel Hill and the transition to National University was very smooth, with comparable education standards. While tuition is high, this program has allowed me to study full-time and work full-time to support myself. That is very VERY rare! I believe where some people might struggle with this school is the online format and lack of one-on-one support. If you're used to people guiding you through the enrollment, financial aid, and classwork, this probably isn't the school for you. You need to make sure you complete everything required on time and advocate for yourself if you need something. The coursework is rigorous (multiple chapter readings and an assignment each week), but if you are self-motivated and decent at time management, it's really not bad. I feel very prepared to start my career as a therapist, thanks to NU!

Do not attend to National University. The amount of calls and texts I received when I was considering enrolling was insane and when I did enrolled and tried to call/email my advisor or financial aid or any type of department in the university they wouldn’t answer. They would mess up your account and financial aid that you would receive a letter without a notification from the school via email or call that apparently you are owning them money and that your FASFA is cancelled/didn’t go through. Then... Read More they will send a your debt to a third party collector to affect your credit without having the decency to notify you via email or call.

I am currently enrolled as an online student pursuing a master's degree in criminal justice leadership. I am pleased with the quality of instruction provided by my professors, as they consistently respond to my emails within 48 hours, often even sooner. While I have not had the need to contact them via phone, their responsiveness through email has been commendable. In terms of administrative matters, I have encountered some challenges when dealing with the financial aid and academic office. However,... Read More I must acknowledge that they are not without their flaws. Nevertheless, I have found that the chancellor/president ensures prompt responses from them. Overall, I have not encountered any significant issues that would hinder my pursuit of a doctorate degree with National. In fact, I am highly satisfied with my educational experience thus far, to the extent that I intend to pursue a Doctorate in Criminal Justice in Public Administration with National. While I cannot speak for others who may have had in-person experiences, I can confidently say that my online experience has been highly satisfactory. The program has presented me with valuable challenges and has facilitated continuous learning.

WARNING DO NOT GO HERE: Sanford School of Education. All except one professor were helpful and supportive to a point. "credential support" will not support you.They throw up roadblock after roadblock (they say they're nonprofit) setting candidates up for failure by making it impossible for interns to take and pass TPAs in the time allotted. They wait until the last 4 months of the program to start TPA seminar. You are then expected to submit (to the state) and pass them both by the end of the 4 months... Read More while still submitting hours and additional work. If both TPAs are not passed and graded they will put you in a 3rd class lasting another 4 months for another 2 grand. When this class began, I had passed TPA1 and just submitted TPA 2. I got enrolled into the class, ok I get it. But Then had to pass and qualify for a credential I had to: log more ISV hours, write, teach, film, annotate and submit another. video. I finished early (April), but had to wait for the end of the course (June 26). Grades roll around, and I am ghosted until August 11 when I get recommended. Here's the thing: I checked the CTC website but all I could find was they had to provide support in finishing the program, not load on some more work as a punitive (or financial) measure. All I needed was my TPA. These assessments are frustratingly difficult and time consuming. and if you don't pass, they keep the 150 dollar fee. (CTC's doing). I can't afford this. Lost out on the opportunity to keep my job, because NU would not share my status with employer with my permission (actually, they were ghosted too). I received my credential Aug 18. I hope there is a posting since I lost my insurance too.

If you want to waste your money and time, then NORTHCENTRAL is the place. I was a student there for over 3 years pursuing my education in PhD in business administration management. I've successfully completed the first 16 courses with a GPA of 3.57. However, for the dissertation which is 5 chapters I have been stuck in Chapter 1 for 24 weeks, every week I submit Chapter 1 my chair denied it then they dismissed me from school. I sought opinions from esteemed professors at various universities, all... Read More of whom concurred that my research deserved approval. their validation only amplified the frustration caused by the perpetual roadblocks I encountered. In pursuit of justice, I hold deep respect for my university and all its staff and I embarked on a grade appeal—a route I hoped would rectify the situation. Unfortunately, the Dean's office denied it and dismissed me after costing me approximately 80k.

Do not be fooled by this college’s incessant calls prior to registration. Once they have you, it will be nearly impossible to make contact with anyone who can do anything for you. Pros: The classes are organized well. Classes are relatively easy which is great when you are a single parent working full time. Not a lot of textbook fees. Cons: You can never get in touch with anyone ever. My advisor never enrolled me in my second class and when I realized this, I sent her multiple emails and calls and... Read More it wasn’t until weeks later that I was added to the class a week in (25% of the way through). I had emailed her several times about my financial aid and never got a response for months. It wasn’t until I made contact with a person who used to be a part of the fin aid Dept (who gave me a direct #- bless her!) that I got any answers and she verified that my advisor hadn’t even looked at the email I had sent weeks prior. One person to rule them all… there are no departments like a normal school. Your financial aid and your enrollment are managed by the SAME PERSON. So if you have someone who is terrible at responding to messages, good luck with getting any answers to questions. Financial aid- I completed everything I needed to complete before I was even enrolled. It wasn’t until halfway through my second class that any of my financial aid paperwork was processed. I never received an award letter telling me how much I was set to receive or how it was going to be distributed. I also never received anything in regards to how much of what I was eligible for in loans I wanted. So I was eligible for X amount, but didn’t receive the full amount because someone, somewhere, indicated that I only wanted enough FA to cover my class. So the FA lady I spoke with before adjusted everything and said it should take a week before the funds dispersed. Almost 3 weeks later I still have no answers. I spoke with her at week 2 and she said that she doesn’t know why it didn’t get processed but she was going to flag it so it would. I am still waiting. I was randomly dropped from my class for no apparent reason. I had been actively participating and had an A in the class, but without and warning it was going to happen and no email with an explanation, I have been dropped from the course. If there was some kind of glitch that could be easily reversed, I would still be anxious because of how long it takes for anyone to respond. They also just changed the recording on the phone line that if no one answers you must have the party’s extension in order to leave them a voicemail… where is the ext? It doesn’t exist. Bottom line: If you have another option, TAKE IT! I will likely be filing a formal complaint with the state about this school and if you’ve had a bad experience that hasn’t reached a resolution, I would recommend you do as well as none of these issues will ever be corrected unless they are held accountable. Every single low review has valuable insight for you!

Use this as a warning. Plan on the career taking an extra year and a few thousand dollars more. Went in after being told it would be 80k and 4 years. Here I am at 94k with Lord only knows how much longer. See the thing is after you are done with academics you will need an extra 4 courses at 3k each. Or maybe 8 because if they need the money they will put you on a "supplemental" course. These are created to help you with the dissertation but who needs 12 weeks to get through 1 chapter? Or 20 weeks,... Read More because they will say everything looks good until it's time to pass you on to the next chapter. Then they will come up with a reason for needing the extra 8 weeks. Save yourself the trouble go somewhere else!

National University's Incompetence Destroyed My Financial Future! I cannot begin to express my disappointment and frustration with the abysmal handling of my student loan by National University. What was supposed to be a straightforward process of placing my loan in forbearance turned into a nightmarish ordeal that has left me reeling from the consequences for the past 6 years. Firstly, it is essential to note that I followed all the necessary protocols and submitted the required documentation to... Read More request forbearance. However, National University failed miserably in executing their responsibilities. Despite acknowledging my request, they inexplicably sent my account to collections, which had disastrous implications on my credit history. As a result of their negligent actions, my credit score was severely impacted. I faced constant harassment from debt collectors and struggled to secure loans or credit cards due to the tarnished reputation caused by National University's mistakes. I was left with no choice but to endure years of financial hardship and limited opportunities, all due to their incompetence. What truly infuriates me is the complete lack of accountability displayed by National University. Despite numerous attempts to rectify the situation, they consistently passed the blame onto others, refusing to take responsibility for their actions. Their disregard for the significant consequences of their errors is appalling and unprofessional. Furthermore, the sheer length of time it took to try and resolve the matter was utterly unacceptable. For an institution that claims to prioritize student welfare and success, National University's negligence has cost me precious years of my life, not to mention the countless hours spent navigating bureaucracy, making phone calls, and writing letters in a desperate attempt to repair the damage they caused. In conclusion, National University's mishandling of my student loan and subsequent degradation of my credit history has had far-reaching consequences that will haunt me for years to come. Their incompetence, lack of accountability, and disregard for my financial well-being are unforgivable. I strongly advise anyone considering enrolling at National University to think twice before entrusting them with their education and future financial stability.

I see many negative reviews on National University, some positive. Speaking for myself, I loved the time I spend earning my Masters Degree in Computer science. The fast pace (one course a month) keeps you on your toes, and very much involved. Most (but admittedly not all) professors were highly knowledgeable and great instructors. It was not always easy, but I did learn a lot (this from someone who thought he knew it all) met some interesting people, and definitely received a boost in my career as... Read More a result. I will certainly recommend NU to working adults, as the style may not be suitable for everyone. As for the negative reviews, I did not experience any of that, the concierge is always ready to answer questions, there is a 24 hour technical support line, the professors (at least in my experience) went out of their way to be helpful. At the end of the day, your education is what you make it, rare is the teacher who does not answer good questions, rare is the one who has gone to school and learned anything without at least a little bit of suffering (late night studying, etc)

RUN AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL. DO NOT IGNORE THE REVEIWS. I have been here for a month and can't get any calls returned. The school advertises false promises. You get a lot of calls and motivated returned calls from enrollment specialist in the beginning. I think they like are on commision. Once you enroll and attend (gotcha) it is a whole new ball game. I am trying to stay positive and hope this nightmare turns around. I am not one to write reviews nor am I a complainer. This school is worth warning... Read More about. I am hoping to get a refund as my first class bill was for almost 2,000 and I cant even get a phone call returned or an email responded too. Well one lady was caring. I suppose you gotta find your way and be strong as this school is all about them Benjamins. I pray to God that this experience ends better than it started as I am trying to hang in there. The Instructor has a one size fit all motto and talk to you crazy like "look at the instructions" then gives you a low grade without explanation. Gosh, I work and go to school. During the one hour class there isn't any teaching just going over the assignment. Please God help me manuever this thing so it turns for the good. This school has a lot of staff that does absolutely nothing to support your goals other than point you in a direction.

This school is an absolute nightmare. I honestly do not know how they made it this far. I strongly urge anyone searching for a school to look anywhere and I mean anywhere but here. The staff here are the worst staff I have ever dealt with at any establishment anywhere. Nobody answers the phone and your voicemails are never addressed. You might have an email returned several days later but by the time anything is addressed it will be far too late to make any difference. I urge you to find any other... Read More school out there where you will have a support system that will actually care about its students. The worst school I have ever attended. The most unprofessional people I’ve ever encountered. This school will add to your stress level in every way imaginable. Nothing about this school was helpful. I literally wish I never attempted this school. This school causes me so much grief and gave me nothing but hassle. Horrible horrible horrible school.

Prior to enrolling in the MS in Educational Counseling program, I was not told that I would have to find my own internship and practicum hours placement. Miscommunication/lack of communication from the very start. The MS in Educational Counseling program lacked a lot in terms of communication and despite being an asynchronous program, teachers still required us to attend classes despite informing them that I would be at work during those class sessions. Out of all the instructors that I had, I feel... Read More like only two really had their heart in it and were easily accessible outside of our zoom classrooms. I am now trying to transfer programs within the university, however my academic advisor was unaware of the program so I had to link them the NU webpage stating it was there only to receive a phone number to the school they are merging with and a general e-mail address to ask about the transferring process. The executive enrollment advisor contacted me asking for transcripts that the school already has, has poor professional courtesy, and calls with no warning while not leaving a voicemail to explain the nature of the call or a time to call back. Please look elsewhere for your education. If the admissions and academic advisors have such poor communication skills and interest in seeing students succeed, you can only imagine how the program instructors may feel.