National University Reviews of Doctoral in Educational Leadership

I've attended classes in an online format before but have never had so little support. This school only wants money. For the past 3 months I've been waiting for the survey for my dissertation to hit the target number and have had to stay "enrolled" in a supplemental course every 8 weeks only to tell my professor how many surveys I'm up to and have him say thanks for the update. This IS NOT worth nearly 3k every 8 weeks. I should not have to enroll in a course while my survey is collecting. Some professors... Read More have truly cared and offered useful feedback, though a majority do not. Advisors do not care to listen and do not help solve issues. The new online advisor support is worthless as they only say you need to speak with your advisor. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement!

I started Northcentral University the tuition was 30,000. I expected to finish and graduate in 2014. I finished all courses in 2013 with a 3.5 GPA. Instead I was strung along in the dissertation phase with little to know support for three years, running up my student loans to 140,000. I was not allowed to take a break or a leave. It was the most horrible, mentally draining experience I have ever had. I was dismissed from the program even after hiring an assistant that had previously been recommended... Read More by the chair for other students, and dismissed from the program. The appeal was denied automatically by both the chair and their administrator with two hours. Northcental Univiversity is a for profit school that will make decisions that will maximize their profit to the detriment of their students and the quality of their program.

I could have pursued my Ph.D. anywhere. I attended elite schools for my undergraduate and graduate degrees, and my GPAs were always high. Cost and future employment prospects are not major concerns for me. Convenience and ease to complete courses on my schedule were paramount. The reputation of the institution was not as important because of my current profession and employment stability. If I were younger, looking to launch a career change, or switching to a new employer, reputation would be a bigger... Read More concern. NCU is appropriate for the self-motivated, self-directed, self-learner. It is not for the student dependent on regular, face-to-face instruction, academic advising, or tutoring. NCU is for students who know what they want to study; know how to manage time, workload, and personal life; and have strong study skills, writing proficiency, and critical thinking. A Ph.D. is not for everyone, and if a student needs a traditional, brick & mortar institution, NCU is not a good fit. NCU was a good fit for me, and I am very pleased with my experience. I worked with very competent, knowledgeable academic and financial advisors. All but one instructor were first-class. Some instructors were very personable, and I would consider them my mentors, equals, and friends. NCU is accredited, and that is very important to anyone looking to transfer credits and receive federal financial assistance. NCU is fully online and is one of a growing list of online undergraduate and graduate programs. Some have more name recognition, but NCU has a similar approach to online instruction. NCU has a valuable library and research resources. Tutoring services work well if the student plans ahead, schedules sessions in advance, and is prepared to use tutors as intended - not to have tutors do the work for the student. After reading some NCU dissertations, a prospective doctoral student will discover there is rigor and the research contributes to the Academy.

I am proud of my accomplishment but I did not like my experience at the school. The tuition constantly goes up, recently as much as 75% in some areas. This is constant. You teach yourself, mainly in the dark, hoping you will hit the bullseye. Faculty turnover is also great especially in leadership positions. Policies keep changing and are not grandfathered in. The school is private profit making, run by venture capitalists out of Michigan. I would never recommend NCU to anyone. Most problem areas... Read More continue to surface and when students have issues, they have no who is a real problem solver. When students have really serious issues, they resort to retreat in order to graduate or leave the school. The most significant answer the school gives for problems is " most people who start doctoral programs drop out so NCU is no different." There are also many ethical issues that go on year after year. Thank goodness I am finished.

I just completed my doctorate and I am proud of my accomplishment, however, this university is not for everyone. I read some of the critiques and typically these come from those who were really not suited for the approach employed by NCU. To succeed in this university you need to be highly motivated, self-disciplined and a real independent learner. You are expected to do the work largely on your own. You get good feedback and the mentors are generally rigorous and demanding. There is no easy pass... Read More here and for those expecting something that requires little effort, stay away. Like most universities you get out of it, what you put in. If you just want the letters after you name, go somewhere else.