Grand Canyon University Online Reviews
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All they want is the money
School not recommended by
Frank Warren
on
March 11, 2010
1/1 person found this review helpful
Once the very friendly counselor got me to post a bio that was it. If you post it during his explanation and demonstration you are in the class. You must withdraw within a week (they may not tell you that!) or else you get to pay for it. It cost me over $1500 for a class that I never took.
BTW, you can go nuts listening to the elevator music while you grow old on hold trying to get in touch with their "financial counselors". That is one department that is not in their phone directory.
GCU is out for your money. Bunch of thieves.
Learn More about Grand Canyon University OnlineWorst Experience Ever!!
School not recommended by
Anonymous
on
March 08, 2010
2/2 people found this review helpful
I agree with all the other negative reviews. All GCU wants is your $$$$ !! Once they get you in, you're dropped like a rock in a river; good luck swimming to shore to get your degree. My last EDU practicum was a LIVING NIGHTMARE!! The instructor, my advisor, the practicum specialist and even the dept chair refused to help me. It truly is a SELF-SERVICE education.
The instructors are hit or miss; one can be great, and another can be the worst ever. It's true that the advisors don't stay in touch with you. My enrollment "counselor" claimed to be knowledgeable about my state's requirements, but obviously that was a LIE just to get me in. GCU knows nothing about other states. As soon as I was enrolled, she stopped taking my calls or answering my emails.
Another thing: what's up with its obsession with clcs???? I dread every one of them! They're a complete waste of time and effort. I hate them. I dread them. Frankly, I hate that some one else who has no clue what they're doing can screw up my gpa, which I've worked hard for. Does GCU care??? Fat chance. Now they've just taken off the clc portion of the end-of-course surveys. Clearly, GCU doesn't want to hear any more negative about its beloved clcs. That's just wrong.
For GCU to claim that it's a Christian school is almost blasphemy! Its horrid mis-treatment of its students is absolutely SHAMEFUL. I spent a whole summer researching online schools, and chose GCU, and I don't make decisions lightly. I'm in the process of yet another research project: finding another school.
PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE heed my warning! If you're considering GCU, don't do it!!!! Run the other way!
Practicum Nightmare
School not recommended by
Kathleen Short
on
February 27, 2010
7/7 people found this review helpful
I have just completed 48 hours of graduate work in Addictions Counseling, I have a 3.9 GPA. I have just learned after 5 months of looking for a practicum site that I will not be able to complete my masters. GCU has failed to develop a presence in my state and the interships here are filled with grad students from the in-state schools. I even offered to quit my job and take an out-of-state intership if they could help me locate one. They told me I can not have a confirmed degree without the practicum, and their suggestion to me was take a leave of absence until I could find praticum. I received a great classroom experience, the professors were great, my advisor was wonderful.
My advice is if your program involves a need for a practicum to complete your Masters make sure you have a site that will accept you before you start. I take full responsibility for not asking enough questions and asking GCU to tell me where their students had successfully secured an intership in my state.
I am now beginning a second Masters without a praticum requirement hoping to transfer some of those classes to a General Masters in Psychology. If I transfer schools I can only take 3 of my classes. Ask questions and proceed with caution. I hope my experience will help someone else.
GCU So far so good-
School recommended by
Marissa Barile
on
February 16, 2010
9/9 people found this review helpful
I just wanted to write a review because I have been reading so many of them over the past week about GCU. I just enrolled in GCU Education Degree and I start in 2 weeks. Most of the reviews I have read had to do with Academic, Financial etc advisors not returning calls. Well I have to say when I enrolled last week I called my Academic advisor 5 times and to no avail could not reach him. Feeling a little nervous since I did not start yet and I could not reach him I called and spoke with another advisor who happened to be Extremly helpful. I explained to her my disatisfaction with my present advisor and she informed me that you can switch by just sending in a request. Well my new advisor is a teacher which fits perfect with meself. She also looked at my transcripts with me and told me what would transfer over from my previous school and I am extremly happy with results as all of my core classes transferred over leaving only my Education classes left to take with the possiblitly of one or two core classes. She then stood on the phone with me and walked me thru the GCU's website for 2 hours showing me where everything was where the tutorials were and how to submit papers all the details. She also set up a follow up appointment with me 3 days before school starts since that is when the system lets you into your classes. Also I did tell her about the reviews that I had read and they all (mostly) were based on Advisors not being in touch. She did say that just the past January they hired a lot more Advisors and lessened the ratio of students to advisors as it was a major complaint and unfair to both parties. So it seems that it is being taken care of. Also another aspect I see about Education Certification. You have to check with your state (tedious and time consuming but worth it) 39 states have Reciprosity which means the certificates will transfer. Which means GCU will have to wirte a letter of recomendation to your SED and then you will have to take your state's exams to become certified. Everyone should check this list bc if you are in a state that is not on this list then obviously it may be an issue. Also during the course of your schooling since SED's always change things and new elections etc they do change course requirments some times. Now alot of times the Universities can have that course available for the students but if it happens right before or after you graduate there is a chance that you will have to take the class (at a local Community College for a few weeks ) and then become certified. But hey that is much better than being told you have to take ALL your eudcation classes over. Also another requirement for NYSED is that the school is on their ACCEPTABLE SCHOOLS LIST and that they have a Education Degree Program which LEADS THEIR STUDENTS TO CERTIFICATION IN THAT STATE. I actually got to speak with a person at NYSED certification dept and explained to him my plans of attending GCU and he told me that it was acceptable.
I hope this helped anyone.
Bachelors ineElementart Ed
School recommended by
Marissa
on
February 15, 2010
2/2 people found this review helpful
Ok I just enrolled start classed in 2 weeks but I can say something about out of state (online) students studying Education, I went crazy researching and calling State Education Dept and finally found out that there Education Degree will be acceptable. As long as the school is on the NYSED Acceptable College List and that they lead their students to get their Initial Certificate so what will happen is you you graudate and you can obviously teach in AZ and GCU will write the letter of Recomendation for you for NY but then you just apply for the intial Certificate for your NYSED and then all you have to do is take NY's tests for the Initial and that is it. This is what I was told when I spoke with the Certification Dept for NYSED so it should not be an issue as to anything else I can not comment as I said I did not start yet but at least you can be confident that you can get your Initial Cert in NY. MY enorllment advior actaully called NYSED for me and found out the information but then I called on my own just to be sure. Hope this is helpful
Quite pleased with GCU
School recommended by
Margaret Gilmore
on
February 15, 2010
2/2 people found this review helpful
I am almost finished with my 4th class at GCU and I have been quite pleased. All 4 of my Professors have been great. Each with their own set of expectations and grading policies which were explained in the course syllabus. My current instructor even posts examples of what he expects from an "A" paper! Group projects leave much to be desired if your partner(s) do not pull their share of the work. I feel I am getting a quality education, I spend close to 20 hours per week for 1 class between reading, researching, writing my essays, and the discussion postings. There is a great APA software program that saves time and your references! APA Perrla...my University Success Professor recommended it to me and I am forever grateful. My Financial Aid counselor is awesome, she checks in with me prior to each new term, updates me as changes are made and has always returned my calls and emails the same afternoon. My academic adviser is helpful, he too returns my calls right away. I did suffer through an advisor and financial aid counselor change last June, the suffering came from my not being notified, but once I found out who I had been re-assigned to all has been well. As with any program, the quality of education one gets is directly related to how much one puts in to it. You can read through the text as assigned or shortcut by searching the internet, up to the individual how much they really want to be educated. I put in a lot of time because my desire is to be knowledgeable in my course of study.
I am currently trying to convince my husband to enroll at GCU too.
OMG
School not recommended by
Cheryl Bass
on
February 12, 2010
4/4 people found this review helpful
This school has been a living nightmare since day 1 literally. They lose things, do NOT keep you informed of what paperwork is needed, mess up your financial aid and have no concept about communication with themselves or the students regarding what you're taking, how many hours you're taking, what classes will transfer, or even what program you're in. It's true. What a headache time and time again. Once they get you to commit, they drop you like a hot potato and good luck.......you're on your own so you had better know that you will have to spend MANY hours on the phone with following up on virtually EVERYTHING related to FAFSA, transcripts, etc. because they are more than confused in every department. I wish I would have never gone to this incompetent place.
GCU is the worst!
School not recommended by
Sarah
on
January 27, 2010
7/9 people found this review helpful
I am a current online student at GCU and I am considering withdrawing. The academic counselors are awful and they never ever answer their phones! The finance counselor has no idea what is going on with my account and I have had 4 different academic and finance counselors since I enrolled just over one year ago. PLEASE do not go to GCU! They will not notify of you changes, they will not help you with your classes and they are never available!
Works for me
School recommended by
D.J.
on
January 25, 2010
6/6 people found this review helpful
I will admit, I have had some problems with GCU and I feel like I am constantly calling to get everything fixed, but my classes are challenging, I am learning a lot. I have 2 friends who have received their degrees from GCU and neither of them had a hard time obtaining the proper licensure in our state. I have recommended this program to friends but I caution them to keep in touch with an advisor and don't be afraid to keep calling. The actual education is great, probably superior to the brick and mortar school I attended before but the "paperwork" side of things could use a little work. Overall, I am satisfied and would not change my decision to attend GCU.
Great University!
School recommended by
Melinda
on
January 14, 2010
11/11 people found this review helpful
I am now currently in my second semester at GCU. Even though I had researched many online colleges before deciding on GCU, I was still very skeptical because there are so many scams online. I was surprised to find that the faculty was helpful and supportive, and the curriculum was very informative (ex: I am an education major and the foundations of education course gave me so much detailed info about becoming a teacher). I have recommended GCU to my family and friends because I think it is a great college. I have read some of the previous reviews and I can agree with the finance counselor comments; this is my second semester and I have yet to speak with my finance counselor. This could be because my enrollment counselor has done all of the work. My enrollment counselor is amazing though and I can call him and leave a message and he calls me back within 10 minutes. He also researches any questions that he cannot answer then calls me right back (but he usually knows everything because he has been a student of education at GCU for years and is now working as a counselor while pursuing a higher degree). The only thing that I really have not liked about GCU is the requirement to take the Arizona Federal Government class. I think it is stupid for students that live outside of Arizona to have to take a class about Arizona, but on a positive note my writing skills have improved since taking the class because the teachers are really anal about APA format and it is really HARD especially if you have no interest in taking the class. Also, GCU has continued to make improvements, raise their standards, and (you have no idea how excited I am about this) raised their credits from 3 credits for most classes to 4 credits for a lot of classes. They have made numerous changes since I have started my classes a few months ago. I think that maybe when they first started out doing online classes that they may not have known what they were doing, but they definitely have since I have started there in the fall of 2009. I hope this review helps anyone who is deciding whether or not to take their online classes :)
MSN FNP
School not recommended by
Anynomous
on
January 07, 2010
2/5 people found this review helpful
I would not recommend this university to anyone. it is subjective instead of objective. In fact this past semester one of our classes had to beg for a syllabus. The professor kept blaming it on someone else that was to write it prior to class.
The financial department is inexperienced and often gets bills mixed up.
Academic counselor for the Master of Science Program was difficult to reach and often not helpful.
If you plan on attending GCU you should sign your lawyer up with you.
MS Progrram and Faculty Experience
School not recommended by
Norberto T A
on
December 31, 2009
8/8 people found this review helpful
I cannot make the decision for any one but all I can firmly say is that GCU is all about MONEY. My firm statement to the GCU faculty was that since I pay your salary do the work, because I had to drive them to get answers or to even get my registration right. They -admissions/registration/financial aid office/ academic counselors, never have a clue what is going on. I wonder reading all the other reviews if those are from paid sales-broker-students who do as if they really were GCU students. Straight to the point: I should have NEVER EVER waisted my time with this GCU whatever it is.
Challenging Classes
School recommended by
Charles Young
on
December 22, 2009
6/8 people found this review helpful
I'm in my senior year and a History major.I have taken 4 classes so far at GCU. All of my classes have been challenging. It takes me at least 2 hours per day for the interactive area in each class. I have two written assignments on some classes. These take about 20 hours. I average almost 30 hours of reading and writing each week.
I find the professors available and helpful. The courses are challenging and the professors are always pointing out ways to improve. My latest History professor pointed out small errors each week. At the end of his course my writing skills had increased appreciably. I received a good History course and great pointers on writing History.
After a 31-year gap between my junior and senior year I thought I would just try out school again to see if I was really up to the work load. Well, the work load at GCU is more than I thought it would be, but I find it challenging and rewarding. I would highly recommend this school to those not having time or a campus to attend.
My Experience
School recommended by
Punk
on
December 14, 2009
9/10 people found this review helpful
I received my M.Ed in Special Education with GCU. The staff were superb to me. They always took the time to find out information and pass it along in a timely manner. The professors were challenging, yet forgiving. I had to have major surgery during my tenure and they were most gracious in accepting my assignments later while I was healing.
I am starting my doctoral program with this college. Thus far, this department has been amazing.
I have had the opportunity to fly down and visit the campus. I was introduced all over the place and welcomed into the college like a dignitary, and here I was just an online student. I look forward to flying down to Phx to walk for my degree. It was well worth every cent I paid, and I can't imagine not walking for my graduation!
As for the people who reviewed GCU poorly about their state requirements. They tell you up front contact your state education department and find out what you need for your certification process. I have been the 4th person from my undergraduate college to graduate from here, get credentials, and start teaching.
THANK YOU GCU!!!
GCU
School not recommended by
DEE
on
November 16, 2009
13/16 people found this review helpful
I can only speak for GCU's online program as I have witnessed first hand the atrocities of such. Although the enrollment counselors always stay in touch, the entire time you are on the phone with them, you get the feeling they are only listening to half of what you say. You can even hear them typing in the background. Next the school is very impersonal from an online perspective. I have a difficult time getting anyone to answer their phones. The finance counselor is absolutely the worst. They do not answer their phone or emails. Instead you have to leave about 3 or 4 messages before they will call you back. I do not trust or feel that my finance counselor has my best interest at heart or even knows what is going on with my aid. For instance, after discussing an issue, he says I will look into that and get back with you. After week without a call, I begin my series of calls,(takes about a week of leaving messages, before he gets back with me). He finally calls, and has absolutely no idea what he was suppose to look into for me. I have to re-explain, and he tells me the same thing.."I will look into it, and get back with you". This has happened several times. Even worse, the coursework is not rigorous like I would expect at a graduate level. That I would be happy for. However, it is just opposite. I found it much less rigorous than my undergrad. In addition, the professor's don't grade the assignment. Bascially if you turn it in , you get an A. The feedback is ridiculous, as if the professor, cut and paste a bunch of words to make a sentence. Their comments just doesn't make sense, and feels routine, not personalized. There is no professor challenging you to do your best, or quality standards to attempt to attain. Turn it in , and you get an A. Whippee! Personally, I want more!
Master's in Nursing Education
School recommended by
Michele
on
November 12, 2009
7/10 people found this review helpful
I find GCU to be a very professional and engaging school. I enjoy the MSN program very much. It is both challenging and provides alot of information. The only downside to the school is that they switch advisors to often. I've been in the school almost one year and I've had 4 already. The cost is excellent and the education is worth it
GCU unprofessional/incompetent
School not recommended by
John Zimmerman
on
August 17, 2009
30/35 people found this review helpful
Looking at the big picture, GCU is unprofessional and incompetent for out of state education students. Grand Canyon University expanded too quickly after getting listed on the stock exchange. The staff doesn't have a clue half the time when you ask them questions pertaining to states other than Arizona. Unlike established rival University of Phoenix, GCU is new to interstate education, unfamiliar with specific state laws and requirements. If you want to get an degree in education and teaching credentials, do NOT go through GCU. I wish I had gone somewhere else to avoid this nightmare with student placement. You would be better served with a well respected interstate competitor or a state college instead. Academic advisors are often ignorant concerning state specific questions, and the student aid department will not automatically apply for federal teaching grants on your behalf even if you enroll in a teaching program. I hate to say this, but your "enrollment counselor" is nothing more than a sales rep. trying to fill quotas and make bonus. Same goes with University of Phoenix. Once you sign up, they really don't care about you. GCU is a "self serve" college in that you have to do most of the work, like bagging your own groceries. There is little guidance and the ball gets dropped often. Don't be surprised if you miss an important deadline because no one at GCU told you about it! GCU should have recruited an executive from U of P before expanding nationally since they lacked the expertise to pull it off smoothly. Better yet, they should have chosen a handful of states at a time and become familiar with their laws and requirements before adding states that they were ill-equipped to handle. Academically speaking, GCU is average to challenging. You will write a ton of essays while there. The professors are generally good. The bottom line? GCU is fine if you live in Arizona: If not, STAY AWAY!
Be Very Careful of GCU
School not recommended by
David
on
July 24, 2009
44/50 people found this review helpful
Please strongly consider another University for your education before enrolling in GCU. In my case, published policies were not followed by GCU resulting in a major disagreement to which I completely withdrew from the school. Profit motive and non-industry standard practices by GCU combined to cost me $1,260 for a class I requested to be dropped from and did not take. Letters threatening my account to be turned over to collections came to my house without the school contacting me first concerning my account and subsequent conversations were not at all student centered. Receipt of my tution was their over riding concern.
Once again, please consider another University for your education but if you want to enroll be sure to read every word of every piece of information they send you and ask a ton questions about everything - no question is stupid when it comes to your hard earned money.
M.Ed.
School recommended by
Ken McCormick
on
June 09, 2009
29/35 people found this review helpful
The M.Ed program was difficult, requiriing a host of different assignments each week. This was not an easy set of classes. If you finish, you can be proud of yourself. It requires total commitmnet and a lot of self-control
M.Ed
School recommended by
Kenneth McCormick
on
April 05, 2009
32/39 people found this review helpful
I have to say GCU has been extremely supportive and I adored most of my Prof.s. Don't think for a minute that because it is an online degree that it's going to be easy. Lost a lot of sleep, time and other things because of it, but I have it now and I feel great.
Grand Canyon Review
School recommended by
James L. Snead
on
January 19, 2009
66/69 people found this review helpful
I received a masters in instructional technology at Grand Canyon University and I am presently receiving my masters in administration. The school is well organized and since I began school, they are continually trying to upgrade their systems. I started out on Blackboard which kept getting overloaded. Now they use Angel as their computerized management system. The system allows you to learn whenever you want.
Purchasing of books is easy. You can either buy them through the online bookstore or through Amazon.com. Sometimes you save money, sometimes you don't. They allow you plenty of financial aid. I think it is a good program for a working professional. It is highly accredited and allows you to get state certification because of this. There may be a few courses that Grand Canyon may not have that states like Rhode Island may require you to have, but you can get the one or two courses at your local college.
I think the best thing about GCU is that most of the instructors are flexible and are willing to work with you on projects and assignments. You can contact most by email or by office hours on the phone. I have already been accepted into their doctoral program, and I expect to get my doctorate in Educational Leadership.
Another great thing about GCU is that you can fly out there and attend your graduation on campus. They have a beautiful diploma and ceremony.
Masters in Education
School recommended by
Kenny
on
January 15, 2009
32/36 people found this review helpful
I have found the program very good and challenging. I found that at least 15 hours per week were needed during the program. If you want an excellent masters in education, I would highly recommend GCU. Barron's Profiles of American Colleges (2009) categorizes GCU as "Very Competitive". Believe me, it is.
B.A. in Christian Studies
School recommended by
Kirk Henderson
on
December 21, 2008
44/48 people found this review helpful
I have enjoyed studying at Grand Canyon and would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to further their education via online. I am an adult learner who went back to college after 20 years, and I have found the experience at GCU challenging and quite helpful and relevant to ministry. The instructors have all been helpful, and the advisors have also been equally helpful.
The greatest aspect for me is that there are rarely tests given. Most of the work is writing papers and posting on the discussion boards. Occasionally you will work with a group of students on a project.
Classes are only 8 weeks long, so you can get your degree quickly. I take two courses at a time and I spend about 10-12 hrs. per week total for both classes.I do know that graduate work is probably a bit more rigorous, but for undergrad, I have found it very doable.
I would highly recommend GCU to anyone.Contact me at khenderson *at* churchoftheking.com with any questions, I'll be glad to help.
GCU Masters in Education
School recommended by
Casey S.
on
October 28, 2008
41/44 people found this review helpful
I researched my program for a year before deciding on GCU. I found the average tuition cost to be $20,500 for my particular area of interest. When I finished the program at GCU, the final tuition came to about $14,000. I believe it to have been well worth the money. GCU is an excellent educational value
MEd at GCU
School recommended by
KS Carl
on
October 18, 2008
25/30 people found this review helpful
I was very impressed with the MEd in TESOL program at GCU. The program requires a great deal of work and time. There are weekly journals (3 pages) and research papers (typically 10-20 pages) per week along with 80-100 pages in nthe text and other articles as well. Professors were for the most part excellent as well as the level of assistance from the administration and technical support. The program required about 22 months. If you want a high quality program in education that fits a busy teacher's schedule, I can recommend this one.
