Benedictine University

First off, I just have to say if you are thinking about attending this school to get a masters degree please save yourself the frustration and look elsewhere. The management at this school is the worst it can possibly be. They are so disorganized! Do not count on ever speaking to someone on the phone. I have called the advising office numerous times without any call back and have had the same experience with the financial aid office. Apparently, they must prefer all communication over your school... Read More e-mail. When I first applied to the university back in 2020 I told them I would only transfer to their program if they accepted my courses I have already taken at a different university. They accepted two of the courses and gave me written confirmation of that. Over a year and a half later as I am getting ready to graduate I am not receiving a notice that they have no record of the transfer courses and they will no longer accept any waivers even though I have provided them with the documentation I was given that they were accepted. Next I need to make sure to mention they changed the whole program for students midway through the program from 8 week courses to semester courses making it very difficult to get into the classes that you need to take. It is sad the school is so disorganized because there are some good professors that teach the courses but the frustration with the academic management team hinders that fact by a long shot. Overall, do not attend this school. Worst decision I have ever made academically!

I took only 7 online classes, but I should have left after the 1st semester. This is the most disorganized school, I have ever attended. Financial Aid and Business Offices are always so difficult to get a hold of. Your student services coordinator constantly makes mistakes and has no plan for you. You take one class at a time aimlessly without having a clue what your path is at that school. Teachers are ok for the most part; but if you are an organized person, everything about this school would drive... Read More you crazy. I felt no support from anyone that I was told were my people to reach out to.

No terminal degree program can be successful unless the student has the ability to go it alone, especially in a school where the terminal degree professors are not committed to serving on a student's doctoral committee. While the program director was carrying the program on his back, the staff instructors (presumably all adjuncts) all offered excuses about their non-availability. The next most senior staff member, when asked to join my committee, offered an exasperated sigh and,"send me what you've... Read More got and I'll see." If you are looking for a terminal degree, remember the course work is important, but the dissertation is the key.

I chose Benedictine for their history of academic excellence, and what I thought was their flexible online program. I am an American living abroad and travel extensively with my job and require professors that can accept an occasionally late assignment when my real job gets in the way of my schoolwork. If I had the free time, I would have attended a traditional school.

Beyond a few professors that are rigid in their grading habits, the worst part about the program is that their concentration courses... Read More to specialize your MBA (in Finance, International Business, etc...) are offered every other session when you are trying to finish the degree. This means that although you have only one or two classes left to degree completion, you must delay your graduation date until they offer your required class again. The absurd policy of adding or dropping a class within 3 days of the class start date also is not flexible. The motivation for me to write this review is based upon the fact I just moved back to the US, tried to register for a class that started last week and was told I will have to wait until March 2012 to take the class because it is not offered next session, either.

Other competing schools are MUCH more flexible. The flexibility is the key to an online degree program, and it does not exist with Benedictine. It is a shame because Benedictine has a good reputation as a University, and some of the support staff that you will work with from the school are fantastic, but the policies are written against the non-traditional student.