Northcentral University Reviews
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Outstanding Doctoral Business Program
School recommended by
H. Mark McGibbon
on
June 18, 2010
13/13 people found this review helpful
I am a 2009 Ph.D. NCU graduate. I am also a traditional "brick and mortar" graduate school professor and online professor. I've taught undergraduate and graduate school since 1996 after earning my first doctoral degree from CSU. Thus, I am qualified to express an unbiased and qualified fact and experienced based review.
NCU is a highly demanding school. The business doctoral program allows students to complete their degrees within 7 years. The faculty are top-notch and have owned businesses or are currently executives in corporations, plus hold a Ph.D. in business. Thus, the faculty present academic and real-world experiences.
After teaching at 5 universities and 1 college (CSU, UWF, Troy State, National Defense University, U of Maryland, and Pensacola Junior College) the NCU offers a model that is flexible, yet demanding.
I received a quality education, and was able to incorporate the knowledge acquired within my part-time small business and full-time graduate school professor jobs.
Nevertheless, NCU is not for everyone. Traditional students who need to meet with a professor a few times per week to "stay on track," will not do well at NCU. NCU requires mature, organized, and self-motivated students.
For graduate students who may have attended the Naval Postgraduate School (NPGS) in Monterey, CA, which was ranked as the #1 MIS graduate school in 1994, NCU was just as demanding as NPGS. And those who did not attend NPGS, the NPGS curriculum required students to work 7 days per week (as I did when I attended NCU).
Here are 3 top issues to consider no matter what school you plan on attending:
The # 1 issue for anybody contemplating going back to school is whether to take courses in a traditional classroom or online.
The # 2 issue is how much time and effort the student intends to invest in their education. NCU takes time and much effort... students must invest about 30 to 40 hours per week for years to achieve a Ph.D.
The # 3 issue is if the student is self-motivated, writes well, can interpret information from assigned academic readings, and has the support of their family.
Unlike University of Phoenix where a colleague of mine attended, NCU does not assign students to teams. Each student is an individual and must earn every grade by themselves. As any professor and student will contest, team learning is great; however, there are a few students who may do all of the work, or no work, within the team, which is a major drawback.
I could write forever about the outstanding support I received from the NCU professors, staff, and fellow doctoral candidates. I built close relationships with many people affiliated with NCU- perhaps this was because the culture at NCU is focused on the providing a rich academic online environment.
I cannot emphasize enough, NCU provides a quality education for those who are self-motivated and can work independently.
If you are looking for an easy school, NCU is not for you. If you want a high-quality online education, select NCU.
Learn More about Northcentral UniversitySchool not recommended by
RC
on
June 14, 2010
3/4 people found this review helpful
As others have said beware. This school is run by investors--the board of trustees includes those who have a interest in the LLC that owns a huge chunk of the school. The regional accreditation is true, but beyond that it isn't worth the power to blow a bugger out of a mouse's left nostril.
No psychological organization, such as an honors society will have anything to do with this place. Take a few fill in courses if you will then haul thyself to a real school.
No NY State Licensure
School not recommended by
Lillian Burney
on
May 27, 2010
1/2 people found this review helpful
Though I have not taken any courses at NCU, I encourage anyone thinking about attending this institution to investigate their state regulations regarding licesure requirements. Though NCU meets the courses required for licensure in NY state as well as the practicum and internship there is one huge problem if you want to get a be a licensed psychologist in NY state.
After graduation with PhD in hand one must send Form 2 Certification of Professional Education to the NY State Dept of Education. Things will be fine until you get to question number 4c. This question asks "Does this program prepare students for the practice of psychology?"
Any institution that you send this form to must answer yes in order for NY State Dept of Education to review your course. The Psychology Department at NCU will answer this question NO! Therefore you will not be able to obtain a license to be a psychologist in the state of NY.
Also, if you live in the state of NY and are considering an MA or PhD in MFT (Marriage and Family Therapy) you CAN NOT do your practicum in the state of NY. You have to do your practicum in either NJ or CT. The NY State Department also has this requirement for any Mental Health degree that is obtained online.
Do your homework it will save you valuable time and money!! Hope this helped folks in NY.
I find it funny...
School recommended by
Darrin T.
on
May 27, 2010
10/12 people found this review helpful
I find it funny that someone made their way to this site to rate a university based upon entrance requirements alone, then made an accusation that others who actually WENT TO NCU are nothing but NCU shills.
If you actually know something of the school, rate it, but if you've never been there, worry about rating your own school as you've nothing of value to offer to prospective NCU students other than your biased opinions regarding the lack of a GRE requirement.
Though I can attest that I've seen some people make it into NCU that probably shouldn't be there, I've not seen one make it through a program. They usually end up getting kicked; making their way to sites like this to complain about lack of guidance, bias on the part of a school dean or a professor that had it out for them.
In short; whiners who require coddling and hand-holding. As with any online university, NCU requires independent work and thought. If you want hand-holding, go to a brick-and-mortar U., where you can take a GRE, get your diaper and rate online institutions (that you've no experience with) via websites like this.
You will simply join the chorus of B&M snobs who think an online school is lower on the pecking order because you define yourselves as potential doctors by your perceived superiority, not your actual contributions.
Doctoral programs meets requirements
School recommended by
NCUGrad
on
December 16, 2009
27/29 people found this review helpful
NCU is a regionally accredited school that also holds ACBSP accreditation for its business program. The doctoral programs at NCU are no less rigorous than other doctoral programs elsewhere and they rightfully should be.
HOWEVER, the online/distance learning format is NOT for everybody. By definition, the distance format does result in reduced interaction compared with brick and mortar offerings. Note that this is an ATTRIBUTE of distance learning, NOT necessarily a weakness; especially since some students just do not have the option to attend classes on-campus. Hence, online learning does requires a HIGH degree of independence and self-study.
So far, I can share my personal experience that GRADUATES of NCU programs are mostly competitive and easily hold their own versus graduates from other programs / formats. I am aware that misperceptions about NCU and other such schools exist but I think one major factor is because their ENTRY requirements appear lower. HOWEVER, caveat emptor: entry does not lead to certainty of graduation. The REALITY is: the graduation requirements are as per regional accreditation and ACBSP standards (ACSBP for the biz programs). This does upset some students who may not make the cut, hence prospective students must first ensure that they are cut out for doctoral studies. Be warned: NCU does NOT hand out its degrees, so there are NO easy rides here. Good luck!
NCU DO YOUR HOMEWORK
School not recommended by
sam
on
November 27, 2009
10/22 people found this review helpful
Don't you find it strange that on nov 01 there is a view point not recommending NCU then on Nov 08 and 07 there are two recommending it, I guess the NCU marketing team is on the look out. I started going through the enrollment process and was surprised with the process itself. I wanted to do the PHD in management program, then I had to stop and think, hey anything that comes so easy is it really worth it, the admission process is so easy it does not make any sense. Yeah I ended up taking the GRE(which i hated) to get into a regular university and they needed 3 letters of recommendation and I have to say that I felt better because I know that there is a standard and not just giving away degrees.
I do not have anything negative to say about NCU as far as the courses are concerned because I have not taken any. However from a business major there is an extremely high probability that most of the recommendations are from NCU marketing team. please do your homework first and if u see that this is your only option, then go ahead, but if u have other options, look closer into those because in the end you do not want to waste money and time, especially if u are like me with few of both.
Rigorous School---Professional Experience
School recommended by
Cade
on
November 08, 2009
16/19 people found this review helpful
I highly recommend NCU. As many others have listed on this site, it is not a program for students who are not highly self-motivated and capable of independent work. I am just finishing a PhD in the Education program. I have found the entire process to be extremely challenging, rigorous, and rewarding. I have had the kind of experience that I anticipated having in a doctoral level program. NCU pushed my talents and abilities to the max while offering the support that I needed. The NCU faculty and staff always listened to my legitimate concerns and offered their encouragement and support. I anticipated a difficult and frustrating experience, I would assume the same from ANY or ALL universities... after all, this was doctoral level work.
The online factor does create some unique challenges for an already difficult process, but I feel that in my case there were many more positives than challenges. I found NCU to be respectable, professional, firm, fair, and consistent. I found that any problem that I encountered could be resolved and that the root of the frustration was generally a step that NCU was taking to improve and/or strengthen itself as an institution. NCU provided me with the kind of experience I wanted in a PhD program. The best things in life aren't easy.
Work Hard, Manage Time Wisely, and you'll have a great experience
School recommended by
Jim
on
November 07, 2009
9/9 people found this review helpful
As a previous post said, school is what you make it, and everyone has their own fit with specific schools. Except for the very few individuals who do not know how (or do not want) to manage time or work, it is all about the fit of the school.
I loved NCU. It has cceptably difficult course work, reachable instructors (in most cases), and the infrastructure of the site, though curiously amateurish at first, evolved positively into a simple-to-use, professional interface. Compared to the other B&M schools I attended (Purdue and Embry-Riddle), the course work load and difficulty was comparable.
To those interested in applying to NCU, it is consistently ranked in the top 30-40 (out of well over 100) of regionally-accredited online-universities (accreditation programs that are DOE recognized). Also, it was the first online-university to have an accredited business program, which I find particularly esteeming since that is the masters program I pursued and achieved.
Finally, employers are finding online programs more and more acceptable, and just because the school says "non-profit," that does not make it a diploma-mill. Remember, every school has to make money to stay in business, and schools like NCU do not receive the government subsidies that even many B&M private universities receive. Besides, to those people who have an understanding of free-market capitalism, what better way to lower education costs by making the market competitive? No, you can't completely deregulate education -- you need standardization. But alas, how can you contribute as a citizen to a capitalistic society when you have $100,000+ loans to pay off?
JimJoin NCU at Your Own Risk
School not recommended by
Michael D
on
November 01, 2009
18/27 people found this review helpful
As a current Doctoral Student at NCU, I would like to advise prospecting students to be careful. Take your time and do your homework well before choosing NCU. You will be dissapointed by the end of the day. Please dont waste your tuition money...look for another school. I have all negative experiences with NCU. I wish you well in your selection. Thanks
PhD Experience
School recommended by
Kenneth Flick
on
April 27, 2009
18/21 people found this review helpful
To persons interested in attending NCU. Any online school is only as good as you make it. If you are not willing to take responsibility for your own learning online is not for you.
I can attest to the fact that you will have to work hard to get your PhD at NCU. The coursework is at least as rigorous as any of the brick and mortar schools that I have attended. The mentors that I had were excellent. They will not spoon feed you information, but will guide you thru the learning experience.
My MBA is from a well known brick and mortar school and I know from experience that it was much easier to obtain than the PhD from NCU. For example my concept paper went thru over 20 revisions before it was accepted. I have learned more from NCU than any of my other institutions.
NCU is also the only online school that I know of that has ACBSP accreditation for their business programs. For those not familiar with ACBSP accreditation it emphasizes excellence in teaching. To obtain this accreditation is a plus for NCU. I know personally from having the site visit and reaffirmation report for our brick and mortar school. While the AACSB may be the gold standard for research oriented schools, ACBSP is for schools that focus on student learning.
NCU Quality
School recommended by
Joodah
on
February 04, 2009
19/21 people found this review helpful
NCU's PhD program is adequately difficult.I believe that the staff takes their work seriously and most Mentors I had took their jobs seriously too. The problems I have encountered are no different than any other accredited school I attended. It is difficult to complete the program without direct interaction with your Mentors but it is doable. You have to work that much harder to communicate effectively and do what you are told.
Disappointment
School not recommended by
Megan
on
January 22, 2009
17/24 people found this review helpful
NCU was not what I thought it was going to be. There is no flexibility at all – which was the purpose of what I needed. Sure you can start a new class every month, but with the overwhelming curriculum, you are not able to. The instructors are not available when you are told, and the classes are lacking. I previously had a 4.0 and the things they expect you to complete within the 12 weeks with NO help from the instructors – a joke. I did not complete my CJ degree, I transferred elsewhere to complete in a real program. I believe in working for your degree, I have no problem with that, but when there is no professor guidance, it makes it difficult. No help, no flexibility, lacking performance from instructors and lacking relevant classes.
PhD in Business Administration-CJ
School recommended by
Dale T
on
December 28, 2008
17/18 people found this review helpful
Having attended NCU for 4.5 years and graduated 9/08, I attest to the quality of this school. I assure you this is a no "give me" school. You will be required to apply your skills and knowledge and will be challenged like never before. Do not apply to this school unless you are ready to earn your degree through hard work. The negative comments I have read are probably from those who could not handle the rigor and were intimidated by the prospect of really having to earn your way through the classes, and ultimately to a degree after applying. Having a PhD handed to you is not going to happen at NCU. Finally, if you do not like NCU, don't attend and go somewhere else.
NCU Excellent Choice !!!
School recommended by
Brian B.
on
November 20, 2008
13/15 people found this review helpful
I graduated in 2000 - PhD in Business Administration from NCU. This was my 5th degree having obtained the prior 4 from traditional brick and mortar. The rigor of the curriculum and the quality of the mentors was impressive! I am in NY with one of the Fortune 50 Companies holding a very strategic position. I have recommended my boss (SEVP) to undertake his PhD at NCU. By the way, his MBA is from an ivy league: Columbia University.
Great Experience
School recommended by
Jerry
on
November 10, 2008
13/14 people found this review helpful
I'm in my 15th course and one away from completing my PhD in I/O psychology. My experience has been great. I've had great mentors that are easy to call and/or contact. The rigor of the classes are up-to-par with the b&m school I attended for my masters. The school is improving daily, and will continue to weed mentors that provide little value. I would recommend the school to others.
NCU Disappointing
School not recommended by
Keith
on
October 30, 2008
25/27 people found this review helpful
I completed 4 classes at NCU towards my PhD with a 4.0 GPA, but overall this work was accomplished with little to no guidance or communications from mentors, at best they occasionally "existed" within the academic setting. I have been an online instructor myself for the past 15 years and was shocked and dismayed, not only at how the mentors lacked a sense of commitment to the institution, but also the poor management throughout the school, in particular at the chair and dean's level in the School of Business Administration. I too expressed concerns regarding mentors only to have my concerns fall upon deaf ears. In the end I decided to pursue my academics elsewhere at a more honorable and respectable institution and I am very pleased with my decision to do so, my only regret is that I wasted time at NCU that could have been better served at nearly any other institution. My advice is to think twice before attending NCU.
I recommend NCU
School recommended by
Virginia
on
October 16, 2008
13/13 people found this review helpful
Personally, I find you get out of it what you put into it. I am in my next to last course at NCU, and am therefore currently writing my dissertation. I have learned more as a part of my doctoral program than through ANY other program...including my Masters' degree at the University of South Carolina (brick-and-mortar) and undergraduate degree at Wake Forest University (brick-and-mortar.)
Now, I am not saying those aren't great schools...they ARE! But, at NCU you are forced to apply yourself and learn the material yourself. At the more traditional universities I attended you sit through class, listening to the professor, and then spit back what you heard. When you are doing it online, you have to take responsibility for SEARCHING OUT the resources you need in order to complete the assignments. So the work is therefore more meaningful because you had such an active role in learning it.
Online learning is ACTIVE rather than PASSIVE learning. If you need a professor to hold your hand, then it is NOT for you. If you can only learn by hearing someone teach you, then it is NOT for you. But if you are an ACTIVE learner who can take responsibility for your own learning, you will get a lot out of NCU.
Basically, you get out of it what you put into it. Yes, I have had some instructors (mentors) who were better than others. And all they are doing is providing feedback to the work you submit...they aren't really teaching you anything. But they DO guide you in the right direction with YOUR work. And isn't that what a doctoral or other higher level degree is about?
The NCU Business PhD program was great for me!
School recommended by
Jon
on
August 07, 2008
14/14 people found this review helpful
My experience with NCU has been great. I have been in the Doctoral program there since April 2005, and I achieved my Doctoral Candidacy status in July. I am in the business school and I can’t speak for the other programs, but in the NCU user groups there is very little, if anything, bad or negative said about the school (though some Mentors are singled out.) I can say that in my 14 classes, so far, I only had 1 bad mentor; he was “unqualified at best", but he also taught at my daughter’s brick and mortar school in her MBA program at another college. In any distance-learning class setting, the student takes on responsibility for motivation and identifying their potential issues early. I have had no issues at all in the workload or the expectations. I have recommended to the school to many others including my daughter.
NCU Sucks, Avoid Northcentral Like the Plague!
School not recommended by
Jerome Horwitz
on
July 25, 2008
27/37 people found this review helpful
My miserable experience at NCU was very similar to that described by Jonathan below. I also had a complete idiot for a professor the first doctoral dissertation course. Uncommunicative, disinterested, cursory, didn't even bother to read my stuff, said it was okay then changed his mind after it was too late to fix it. Total bull****. And likewise, instead of acknowledging and correcting the instructor issues, the administration contrived to dismiss me instead. This despite my 4.0 GPA and prepayment of the complete program. If you are thinking about attending this rotten, disgusting excuse for a school, think again. If you are enrolled already, take your credits and transfer to another school ASAP. Your academic future is in peril. This school is in trouble with its accreditors (only a three year renewal) and may be out of business before you graduate. Don't waste your time and money on an inferior school that screws over its students.
Northcentral Univeristy / Arizona / MBA
School not recommended by
Andy Kay
on
July 22, 2008
14/20 people found this review helpful
I had a terrible experience at NCU. they have a very non-interactive, non-committal method of communication & teaching. I lost $1600 and did not learn a thing. My mentor (professor) did not allow me to call him. He required that all my questions be sent to him in a Word document (versus email) and that they be sent to him using the very antiquated person to person messaging system that is available through the student portal. Mind you, this is NOT an email system. it is a message system. It takes one back 15 years in terms of messaging. Additionally, the reponses back from my prof were 1 word answers .. try better .. try the (limited/unhelpful) online library .. redo your phrasing here .. etc. other than a couple grammatical errors, I did not learn anything from my course and after trying to fight for a refund, simply just cancelled. I would really like to help anyone out that is thinking/planning to goto this course. I strongly recommend UC Irvine and other such univeristy's online courses. best,
Business
School not recommended by
Jonathan
on
July 14, 2008
37/43 people found this review helpful
I had the unfortunate experience of having a couple of professors at Northcentral University (NCU) who didn't even minimally meet their minimum responsibilities as instructors. In a nutshell, they barely participated at all. The class in question, RSH890A-B, is the first research class that leads up to the doctoral dissertation. This is a critical class that sets the foundation for the final dissertation. The student attrition rate at this point in any doctoral program is high because of the difficulty. Active mentorship is absolutely critical to the success of the NCU student at this point. I suggest that a lack of active mentorship would result in a higher than normal student attrition rate. When my instructor's conduct was brought to the attention of the Dean of the school via the appeals process, she chose not to acknowledge and correct the instructor issues. Dean Turner's decision was to academically dismiss me instead. I started the RSH890A-B classes as a student in good academic and financial standing. I had a respectable GPA of 3.58. I had also prepaid the complete program.
MBA (Business)
School recommended by
Maggie
on
July 14, 2008
11/13 people found this review helpful
Going to an online university definitely has its perks. And since Northcentral is an 100% online, I took a lot of classes in my pjs! I liked being able to take classes in my home and having to worry about commuting, leaving my kids, etc. Classes also start once a month, so you don't have to wait for the semester or quarter to begin, and you can take months off too if you get too busy to keep up. However, not ever personally interacting my professors is kind of a weird experience. Northcentral does attempt to do rectify this problem with one on one mentoring and faculty, which does make the experience slightly more intimate, which is what I feel the experience is lacking. I am not sure if I would do it again, if I would make it an online experience because you don't feel accountable to anyone. That being said, Northcentral was a good experience. Northcentral is disgustingly expensive tuition itself is close to $15,000... there are some actually university programs that are cheaper!!
