I am nearing the end of my graduate degree at CTU online, having received my BA about 10 years ago from a "traditional" (and pricey) private college.

Overally, my experience with CTU has been largely positive and rewarding. As with any school where there is red tape, financing, schedules to adjust, etc., there can be headaches--I know this was certainly true while earning my BA at the private college. And, naturally I've experienced a few of those with CTU. The good news is that, in all of my experiences, if you are reasonable in your requests, expectations, and dedication, the staff will bend over backwards to get you the help you need. The student advisers, in particular, are extremely helpful and compassionate.

CLASSES So far I have few complaints.

First of all, let me state how much I love that grad students receive hard copies of all textbooks mailed right to their front door. It's also a small blessing that the cost of the textbooks is included with tuition, so there isn't additional out-of-pocket every semester. My text books have always arrived well in advance, in brand-new condition.

The classes themselves are challenging and fast-paced. In some classes, I lean heavily on the text books, and some I don't need them as much. The lectures are wonderful in that you can watch them at your convenience and are not required to attend as they're broadcast live. I feel like I'm learning a lot, and the vast majority of professors have been very helpful and accessible (some even providing home phone numbers). True, not every prof has been a winner, but, again, that is pretty much on par with every college I've ever heard of.

Overall in my classes, I've gotten consistently high grades, but I feel like I've had to work for them--they were not handed to me.

CLASSMATES I have to admit that I have been a little grateful to the online school format, in that it doesn't force me to be super interactive with others; I'd rather keep my head down and get my work done. But in spite of this, I've actually made quite a few friends with classmates. Being in the same programs, we recognize and greet each other. We shared contact information and help each other with assignments. It's been a real pleasure and has helped me to feel more connected with my program.

FINANCIAL AID Once again, I'll say that every school I've ever heard of has its fair share of complaints about paperwork misfires, miscommunications, and missed deadlines. I experienced this as an undergrad.

But at CTU? I've been lucky enough to have no problems whatsoever. I took all advice and suggestions, and actively followed up on financial aid information. By being proactive in my own paperwork and situation, with the consistent help from CTU staff, the whole process was a snap.

OVERALL PERCEPTION I'm really glad that I chose CTU as my graduate school. I looked around as prices, accreditation, etc., and found that CTU was a very reasonable price for a graduate program--especially among other online programs. So far, I think I'm getting a really good value, and a really good education that fits into my chaotic life with a small child. I would definitely recommend CTU online to anyone who wants a convenient, challenging education. If you're looking for shortcuts, or aren't willing to hold up your end of the bargain--meeting deadlines, doing hard work, and being proactive in your education plan--then this school isn't for you. But for serious students? It's amazing. I'm really proud to be a CTU online student.

I read the ratings on CTUO and felt my heart sink. Oh great! I've worked so hard to get where I am. It feels like I have just realized I bought a wedding gift at Wal-Mart for a high official after paying a Tiffany price, and the whole world will be watching the official open the gift with my name is signed on the card. Well that just sucks!

I researched my options a few years ago. This school looked credible enough from the organization that certifies top level professionals in the profession I am working in.

I read most of the reviews on this site after seeing the ratings. I feel something in common with "some" and I am confused with "others." "Others" make my heart sink, and "some" are in the same boat with me.

I have attended both types of schools and have done very well professionally. I am in the top 10% of women in this country in regard to yearly earnings. This, however, was not the case when I started with CTUO. I was well on my way; however I didn't get there by wining or expecting it to be handed to me. Success cannot be handed to us. I was unemployed, working through a divorce, a mother of a 16 yr old whom I could not support. I had no credit when I made that decision. I was also looking at a future where my ability to walk would diminish greatly over a short period of time and I was going to lose my only source of health insurance. It was a pitiful time and I refused to allow anyone to hold me back from climbing out of that hole.

I signed on after looking at all of the options available to me. One, I have a disability. Two, I have to travel away from my family if I want to earn enough to survive. Three, I hate sitting in a lecture. Four, I do not like to waste time on BS.

I am now in my third year with CTUO and my career has benefitted from the effort of attending chats (live or archived), reading text books, hours of research and writing assignments, and hours upon hours of trying to manage work, school, family and a social life.

Not once have I had an issue with financial aid, advisors, CTUO reps, or technical assistance. Each instructor has a personality and issues of their own. Some are great, some are not. I will not let the "less than great" determine my ability to succeed. Nor will the "great" wait for me to figure out how to set my fonts to 12 point type. All of the instructors have given me a chance to be successful, rude or considerate... it doesn't matter.

I have earned one degree from CTUO and am on the way to earning another as well as a professional certification in the field I work. This will provide me with three things. I will have a little more knowledge on the subjects I have taken, I will be able to say I attended and graduated from college, and I have the tools I need to do my job. The rest is up to me. If I fail, it's my fault. If I succeed, it's my fault; not the school, not the teachers, not the financial aid, not the website who said the school I graduated from was two lines up from the "waste" pile.

While I may have a degree that will never compare with Harvard or NC State or ISU or Stanford or the local community college, but I will have accomplished setting and achieving my goals not to fail academically, professionally, or personally at a time when children are learning that unemployment is their only hope, welfare is the paycheck, Medicaid is the health insurance, and mom and dad don't have enough hope left to do anything else but point a finger in fault at everyone else but themselves.

I sincerely recommend, follow your heart and don't let the whiners pull you into their sorry stories. The stories of those who have done well with CTUO are very similar to mine. I don't regret my decision to attend this school; it has served its purpose well. The rest of the work is up to me.

The Wal-Mart gift may have cost me a Tiffany price. Who’s to say the high level official didn't appreciate the gift. Perhaps that gift went farther than anyone anticipated. At least I had the ability to give the gift.

I read the ratings on CTUO and felt my heart sink. Oh great! I've worked so hard to get where I am. It feels like I have just realized I bought a wedding gift at Walmart for a high official after paying a Tiffany price, and the whole world will be watching the official open the gift with my name is signed on the card. Well that just sucks!

I researched my options a few years ago. This school looked credible enough from the organization that certifies top level professionals in the profession I am working in.

I read most of the reviews on this site after seeing the ratings. I feel something in common with "some" and I am confused with "others." "Others" make my heart sink, and "some" are in the same boat with me.

I have attended both types of schools and have done very well professionally. I am in the top 10% of women in this country in regard to yearly earnings. This, however was not the case when I started with CTUO. I was well on my way, however I didn't get there by wining or expecting it to be handed to me. Success cannot be handed to us. I was unemployed, working through a divorce, a mother of a 16 yr old whom I could not support. I had no credit when I made that decision. I was also looking at a future where my ability to walk would diminish greatly over a short period of time and I was going to lose my only source of health insurance. It was a pitiful time and I refused to allow anyone to hold me back from climbing out of that hole.

I signed on after looking at all of the options available to me. One, I have a disability. Two, I have to travel away from my family if I want to earn enough to survive. Three, I hate sitting in a lecture. Four, I do not like to waste time on BS.

I am now in my third year with CTUO and my career has benefitted from the effort of attending chats (live or archived), reading text books, hours of research and writing assignments, and hours upon hours of trying to manage work, school, family and a social life.

Not once have I had an issue with financial aid, advisors, CTUO reps, or technical assistance. Each instructor has a personality and issues of thier own. Some are great, some are not. I will not let the "less than great" determine my ability to succeed. Nor will the "great" wait for me to figure out how to set my fonts to 12 point type. Every one of the instructors have given me a chance to be successful, rude or considerate... it doesn't matter.

I have earned one degree from CTUO and am on the way to earning another as well as a professional certification in the field I work. This will provide me with three things. I will have a little more knowledge on the subjects I have taken, I will be able to say I attended and graduated from college, and I have the tools I need to do my job. The rest is up to me. If I fail, it's my fault. If I succeed, it's my fault; not the school, not the teachers, not the financial aid, not the website who said the school I graduated from was two lines up from the "waste" pile.

While I may have a degree that will never compare with Harvard or NC State or ISU or Stanford or the local community college, but I will have accomplished setting and achieving my goals not to fail accademically, professionally, or personally at a time when children are learning that unemployment is their only hope, welfare is the paycheck, medicaid is the health insurance, and mom and dad don't have enough hope left to do anything else but point a finger in fault at everyone else but themselves.

I sincerely recommend, follow your heart and don't let the whiners pull you into their sorry stories. The stories of those who have done well with CTUO are very similar to mine. I don't regret my decision to attend this school, it has served its purpose well. The rest of the work is up to me.

The Walmart gift may have cost me a Tiffany price. Whose to say the high level official didn't appreciate the gift. Perhaps that gift went farther than anyone anticipated. At least I had the ability to give the gift.

I have been a student at CTU off and on for a couple of years now. I have had to stop a couple of times due to deployments or work/family commitments so I have had the opportunity to work interact with both the support staff as well as multiple teachers. In my experience if you are semi-intelligent (which you should be if you are trying to go to college) you should have no problem with the document requests or enrollment process. I like that they have your entire schedule laid out so that you do not waste time or money taking classes you do not need.

Overall my experience with this school has been very positive. I have tried other online or distance learning classes in the past and found that the learning was not on par with a "traditional" environment. Not so with CTU. Some teachers are better than others but nearly all of my teachers have had years of experience actually working in the industy in which they teach. I would rather learn from someone who actually knows the work from inside the industry than someone who has only taught what is in the book for 25 years and has never actually done anything.

A lot of people knock CTU on here for making money and I don't know why. They have clearly invested in technology to give the students many different resources to learn the material they are studying. I received by AS degree a couple years ago and am working on my BS in Accounting and the myAccountingLab software is simply a fantastic resource.

My advice is simply this: If you are ready to work you butt off, and want a real degree CTU is a great option. If you expect it to be a college where you can pass without attending the chats, reading your assignments, etc you will be sorely mistaken. If you think you can get a good grade by submitting sloppy work, you are wrong. If you are not self motivating, look elsewhere.

And to the point of some of the reviews - if you don't attend the classes they will kick you out. If you get a bad grade - you still owe them money. If you drop the class late in the session - you still owe money. This is common sense. You are taking another students spot so of course you should still have to pay if you do not fulfill your obligation - although they do give you the first week of ever class to drop and not owe anything (that's about 20% of the way through each class).

Bottom line is they are a college for adults. If you want them to treat you like a community college and coddle you - you probably won't make it. If you have been in the military or worked at a real job with real expectations before and conduct yourself accordingly you will do just fine and get a great education!

Here is why... -Every month there is some error in my husband's VA paperwork for the GI Bill benefits. It takes about half way into the semester for any of his stuff to be properly filled. -Recently due to the way the nursing-class schedule looks on paper, we will not receive the living allowance from our GI Bill. The president in Colorado Springs has been notified and no action has been taken. This affects many students not just my husband, yet no one cares. -Class schedules are not given in much notice. This quarter the teacher called the night before classes started to change the next day's schedule, as well as other days in that week. Good luck holding a job! -Classes are simply Power Point presentations yet they all brag about their degrees. If you are so smart, teach! -The faculty provides students with useless and incorrect information and administer error filled tests. In addition, doors are locked when class begins on test days and late students are not permitted to test. However, my husband had a teacher over 45 mins late to a test once. Most teachers' mentality is 'do as I say, not as I do.' -Teachers are unprofessional and rude. My husband actually received an email from a teacher belittling all the students, because one student did not submit required information to the school. -Time is also spent reviewing the school's 'bullying policy.' Be prepared to be treated like a high schooler. So why not withdraw? The credits at this school don't transfer and we cannot throw away what we have invested. I also think I should add that my husband is not writing this, because he is an elected member of the student senate at his campus. If this is how they treat him, how do you think they will treat you? Also despite what they tell you their school may be accredited, but their nursing program is NOT! We were lied to before my husband enrolled.