Aspen University Reviews of Doctorates in Nursing

"Don't bother. The DNP degree is a joke. We do a "project" as though we are third grade science fair entrants (which is not the fault of Aspen, rather, that is the idiocy of the AACN). However, the IRB requires hack "projects." Anything with any type of originality is shot down immediately. Also, unless you are affiliated with a corporation, you don't have a chance to obtain your degree. The DNP through Aspen is solely unpaid quality improvement (and weak, at that!) for your employer. Go the PhD route, not the DNP route. The DNP degree is useless, actual education or learning is discouraged."

"The main reason I would not recommend this school to someone pursuing a DNP degree is because after your final defense, you have to pass a written comprehensive exam. Also, whoever is grading the exam expects that every doctoral project should meet every DNP essential and this is not always true. Also, the instructions for the exam should be clearer e.g. put the main questions in a bold font. I think the written comprehensive exam requirement should be achieved in another manner. I have heard that some DNP schools allow their students to write the exam based upon the courses that have been taken in the program. This sounds more reasonable to me."

"Aspen’s DNP was challenging and very relevant to the issues in the field of healthcare at the management level. My DNP project was well-supported and the faculty were very responsive to questions for feedback. I am very pleased with Aspen. I have several job opportunities with this new degree. I am very pleased with Asoen for keeping the DNP affordable yet relevant and achievable with its organized online format. ."

"I was just reading the very poor reviews of Aspen. I am currently almost ready to graduate with my DNP and I can honestly say that this program has be wonderful. I have had some really good instructors and although there could be minor improvements, I feel as though I worked hard and earned this degree. It was not easy. It took a lot of dedication. For those just saying it was a degree or piece of paper I feel that they are missing the point. As a doctorate prepared nurse, you must be ready to do a lot of independent thinking and processing problems. I am a professor myself at another institution, and without one hesitation, I feel as though the faculty at Aspen are doing their best. In general, for those that are not faculty, there simply are not enough of us to fill the educational demand. As far as affiliation agreements, moving locations etc., unless you have have been through the state requirements and accreditation standards, please understand that it is a beast of a process; one that I would not wish on anyone. What you put into your degree is what you get out of it. The mentorship, tools, and feedback will push you to be an excellent leader. Online learning is not for everyone, but for those that want to do online learning, I do recommend Aspen."

"Aspen's DNP program is a joke. There are not enough instructors to keep up with the course work. The proctored exam you are charged for and then is not even proctored. You are in 6 core DNP courses A and B that are duplicates of each other. You do the same work in each A and B course. You work on the same chapters over and over. If you are lucky enough for your professor to read it that week, you may get some feedback. Otherwise you get participation points for turning it in. DNP852B had the exact same discussion questions as DNP852A. No different at all. Why waste the student's money and time as well as the instructor's time? Graduation is also across the country once a year. If you cannot make graduation, you get nothing other than your diploma. No honors cords, nursing pins, nothing. Every other university I have gone to took pride in ensuring you received their nursing pin. And if you offer to buy this as well, it is still a no. Way to end a relationship. The entire time with Aspen, I just felt as though I was a number. I worked hard on my papers, projects, and PPs. For a DNP program, I would have thought there would be more feedback. I felt as though no one even looked at my weekly work. I guess in the end, oh well, I have the degree, just wish I would have gone elsewhere as I took this more seriously than they did."

"I was informed by registration that the University dropped the ball and did not obtain the state agreement after abruptly closing the Colorado campus. After completing 2 years worth of coursework and part of my DNP project, my education is on “hold.” The courses are not transferrable. Unfortunately, my life and my project site/ preceptor doesn’t allow for extra “hold” time while the university corrects their problems. Words can not describe the feeling I have right now. Those who have been through the DNP program will understand the dedication and sacrifices given to complete this program. Now to sit with the “unknown” feeling…. Will I ever get my degree after all that I did and sacrificed?"

"Aspen is a great school if you know what you're looking for. I wanted a DNP for the leadership and teaching opportunities it provides. I have finished all the coursework and am now in the DNP courses. The classes are tough and the content is very relevant. The instructors are responsive and you feel like you are important. You must meet deadlines and be self-motivated to be successful. There are many students who aren't ready to be online graduate students and then criticize the university for not meeting their needs. You see it everywhere in education. I have found in some online, open-access programs that allow weaker students in, and then when those students can't perform the students blame the university. I have been in 3 different online universities and have experienced this in all three. You don't get what you pay for, you get what you PUT INTO IT. Low-cost tuition doesn't mean low quality. Aspen does a great job and I am lucky to be halfway through. My employer respects them and it will definitely help my career goals."