Student & Graduate Reviews
Studentforlife - 2/11/2020
Degree: Education
Graduation Year: 2020
"I have a doctorate degree in education from Concordia. I really love Concordia actually! I am sad to hear people with bad experiences. I am also sad to hear that the school is closing after 115 years in existence. It sure does put Toys R Us at ease a bit. The only bad experiences I've had were with Blackboard at times. The system didn’t always submit my assignments on time. I have attended several other brick and mortor and Ivy League schools, and have found Concordia University Portland to be very user friendly. That said, you have to use what they offered. You also have to do the work of finding your own path with during and post graduation. I am so proud of my education and very thankful for the diverse faculty! Great school."
Why? Are you going to make changes! - 8/28/2019
Degree: Education
Graduation Year: 2019
"I am willing to place a wager that eventually someone will shut this online program down for good. I attended USC for my Masters and it was an online class that ran smooth. The professors were on time when responding and provided valuable feedback. This university if you can call it that is nothing more than a sham. I received more messages from my lame faculty advisor telling me that he was unavailable than available. He was inconsistent, arrogant and most of all incompetent. There is no real leadership. The advisors are spineless and lack answers; I am not sure what their job involves. What a clown show a waste of time and money!"
David - 8/12/2019
Degree: Education
Graduation Year: 2019
"Please, please do NOT consider CU for online doctoral programs. They will tell you anything to get you enrolled. I have never experienced a more significant waste of time and money as I have with this school. I am all alone in this endeavor and have received ZERO support throughout the program and was left to figure out everything on my own including how to write and defend a dissertation. Written guidelines provided were my only lifeline which I had to analyze and then figure out how to implement what I THOUGHT the university was looking for only for committee to tell me multiple other ways they expected me to write it, conflicting with the university's own standards! I was bounced around between faculty members and am convinced no one really has a clue about what their responsibilities are within their own roles at the school. The library has been the most helpful aspect of the school and I have always had outstanding support the few times I needed them. Student services are an absolute joke and you will find an obscene lack of professionalism and lip service only. I am so very disappointed in myself for not choosing another university. I am embarrassed to be connected with this institution. Do your homework and really make sure the school you pick is the right one and steer way clear of Concordia University Portland Online."
Ben - 6/20/2019
Degree: Education
Graduation Year: 2017
"People an Concordia University Portland lied to me. Teachers don't respond to emails. They just don't reply if they don't want to. I got the feeling that they thought they were better than everyone else. I also wondered if some of them were doing things they shouldn't be. They seemed so secretive...."
thedocstudent2020 - 2/12/2019
Degree: Education
Graduation Year: 2018
"I am a current student trying to graduate by 2020. This is an accelerated online doctorate program. You do not realize that and it does not really "hit" you until you enter your dissertation phase. The program is advertised and designed for people who have full-time jobs, have a family life, etc and are too busy to attend a traditional school classroom. However, once you enter your dissertation phase on the 2-3 year of the program, you are expected to deliver large amounts of research and information on "tentative" deadlines. This research you will not get done in 8 weeks if you have a family and a full-time job. You also dont know what you will be writing about or where your research will "drive" you, so you will spend more than 8 weeks putting this information together and brainstorming on how you will deliver. You will get extremely frustrated because life happens and your family and your job come first, but not really, you will find that the way they designed this program makes you question that, and your priorities. Its a tremendous amount of pressure and money because what they dont tell you is that if you dont pass a class after the second time, when you actually dont deliver crazy amount of information, then you have to retake the class and pay for it again. So much money that everything quickly adds up to 10, 20, and even 30k. Easily. I would really consider doing an accelerated program, and even more if its an online program for the sake of calling yourself a doctor."
Taneisha S. - 6/4/2018
Degree: Education
Graduation Year: 2022
"I began the Ed.D. program January 2018. Prior to beginning the process and being accepted, I received nothing but the utmost support and attention. The work is challenging yet manageable. Expectations of the program and from the professors has been explicit and known since the beginning. Anytime that I need to contact the school regarding financial aid, changing of specialization, dropping a course, etc. I have been met with prompt assistance and support. I look forward to continuing in the program and have referred several colleagues and friends."
Doctoral Student- Ed.D. - 11/8/2016
Degree: Education
Graduation Year: 2015
"The EdD program is horrible. I feel embarrassed to say that I went to this school-- yes, it is that bad! I too was subjected to numerous degree plan changes, changes in degree specialization, vacillation in what is required during different stages of the dissertation, change of dissertation chairs for inadequacy, retaking courses because proper guidance was not specified by instructors or within the syllabi, erroneous accusations by faculty, cancelation of significant defense dates, key leaders demonstrate that they do not clearly understand doctoral program guidelines that THEY established. Horrible program, please do not do it! The entire group that I started with has quit the program and went elsewhere. Don't waste your time or money. This program will cause nothing more than an emotional rollercoaster."
Michelle Liu - 10/10/2018
Hello, Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding the Ed.D. program. When the Ed.D. program first started in May of 2013, it consisted of two specializations, Teacher Leadership and Educational Administration. In order to provide options for students in diverse fields, the specializations Higher Education and Transformational Leadership were rolled out soon thereafter so some candidates did transition to a specialization that better suited their profession and goals. Initial Degree Completion Plans that were sent to students in the first few cohorts did have an error with the EDDR 698 dissertation courses in Phase IV (the courses were listed as semester long courses but the corresponding dates only refected 8 week sessions). Once the error was uncovered, candidates were informed of the error and were provided with a corrected Degree Completion Plan. There have been many changes to the program to address the inconsistencies that you mention to ensure that candidates feel supported and guided throughout their doctoral journey. Please feel free to contact Student Services at studentservices@education.cu-portland.edu or 888-628-2752 and ask to speak with a manager.
EdD student - 9/15/2016
Degree: Education
Graduation Year: 2019
"I am a current student in the EdD program and am so disheartened by the lack on student concern at this faith based organization. The teachers are good, but I believe they are all adjunct, so the job is second priority to their full time job. The full time staff (advisors, financial aid, even student services) are unfriendly and not helpful. I have sent emails asking for help and when I do receive responses they are curt and abrasive. It is so discouraging with all of the personal obstacles I have had to overcome while pursuing a doctorate degree and have received no care or compassion from the staff. Now I'm stuck with the decision... finish the impossible grueling and disconnected course of study for the next 2 plus years, or start paying my $30,000 bill I've accumulated after just 1 year. :("
Michelle Liu - 10/10/2018
Hello,
We are so sorry you are experiencing difficulties. To confirm, each credit hour in the Ed.D. program is $880. The first year of the program consists of 21 credits which comes out to $18,480. Please feel free to contact Student Services at studentservices@education.cu-portland.edu or 888-628-2752 and ask to speak with a manager.
Doctoral students may experience a difficult transition when they enter the dissertation phase of the program as this is when you are independently working on your research and are not held to the typical structured curriculum of the core and specialization courses. Your Faculty Chair and the rest of your dissertation committee are available for support and guidance. If you are experiencing any difficult and need assistance, please dont hesitate to contact your Student Services Advisor at eddstudentservices@education.cu-portland.edu or 888-628-2752. We want to ensure that you are progressing with your dissertation so that you can graduate with your EdD.