George Fox University Reviews

"My rating was based on four metrics: academic quality, career preparedness, disability support, and community-building. As disclosure, I am diagnosed with several mental health conditions that severely worsen my quality of life, so my experience here was impacted by that. If you (prospective student) are neurotypical and/or mentally well, you will probably have a much better time here.Academic Quality:George Fox has put most of their academic resources behind the engineering and nursing/pre-medical schools. These programs receive the most promotional attention, largest budgets (as far as I could tell from the quality of equipment, lab budgets, sponsored trips, etc.), and have very comprehensive course planning. Both programs are also notoriously difficult. Engineering majors are stereotyped as never sleeping/showering/socializing, and my engineering-major friends were, in fact, overworked. I TA'd for one class in the nursing program and took another. The material is presented in digestible ways, but it is Dense. There's a lot of memorizing. Investing in the paid version of Quizlet to facilitate early-and-often-reviewing is probably a good idea. The honors program is a Great Books sort of thing, with more assigned reading than is actually possible. I'm not exaggerating. It might be worth it if that's something that interests you, but my advice would be to take Selected Topics courses in the English and History departments instead. You will have fun, learn things you otherwise wouldn't, develop very useful research skills, and there usually isn't too much homework.My major was biology. The classes I did take were extremely enjoyable, but I'm autistic and biology is a special interest. The pre-med-adjacent classes are a lot scarier than the zoology/field biology classes (harder tests, denser material, much faster pace). I really wish there had been more zoology-adjacent classes than there were. It felt like I had to fit puzzle pieces together in order to find a course load that would actually teach me the things I wanted to learn. That brings me to the next point.Career Preparedness:George Fox has a center for Career and Academic Planning, and you'll also be paired up with a faculty advisor who will tell you what credits you'll need to graduate. The CAP center is very helpful for setting up your future classes at the end of every semester. If you're focused on engineering, social work, or a medical track, you'll also have opportunities to connect with potential employers at various career fairs. As someone planning to be a marine zoologist (particularly interested in research), none of the connection opportunities were very helpful. This could be because the job market for my field is a sad disaster, it could be because Fox doesn't put very much focus on their non-medical biology program, or a combination of the two.I also didn't utilize the CAP center unless I had to. I have very bad executive dysfunction. If you don't, your career-connectedness will probably be better.Disability Support:There is a Disability and Accessibility office on campus, and free access to the university counselors (only on weekdays though, which presents more of a scheduling challenge than you'd initially expect). The main accommodation I utilized was the ability to test-take in a monitored low-distraction location. This wound up stressing me out more than taking my tests inside the classroom did, so I stopped requesting it after my sophomore year. Some other accommodations that were available were having a computer for in-class writing, the freedom to stand up in a lecture, and flexible deadlines/attendance (I did not know about this one until it was too late). You have to request accommodations for each individual class, and each professor has to approve them. Professors can deny you a requested accommodation. You can also take a semester-long leave of absence if you need to. I also did not know about this until it was too late, and heavily suffered for it. I wish that incoming students would be given a full list of available accommodations (including the option of taking a leave of absence) at the start of each year and/or semester. I did not get help that I desperately needed, because I was not aware it was available in the first place.There are lots of student tutors and class-specific help sessions available, especially for the STEM majors. These are very helpful, and I've only had good experiences with the tutors/TAs themselves. Community-Building: George Fox has a lot of clubs available, as well as the Intercultural Center (which hosts really fun events). There's a formal and semiformal dance every semester, and the Student Life team tries to host activities every weekend (advertised mainly on their Instagram page). There's overall a very small student:professor ratio, so you'll be able to actually talk to your professors during office hours and befriend them in a way. Several of the Biology and History department faculty became dear to me. With that said, Fox is a christian university and has a significant christian bias. There are a lot of faith-related events, required chapel attendance, and you have to sign a form promising you will "live by christian standards" while you are enrolled. That includes not drinking or engaging in any sexual activity (unless you're in a heterosexual marriage). That agreement felt stifling, and there's also institutional queerphobia to deal with. I was lucky to find a group of wonderful, weird nerd friends who I consider to be my chosen family, but I had to look for them, and I met a lot of people who I did not feel safe around. Tl;dr: If you're a christian who wants to go into engineering, nursing, kinesiology, and/or social work, you will fit right in and be supported by the structure of the school. If you are interested in anything else, you'll have a reasonably good time. If you're queer, you're better off looking for an institutionally affirming school.Read Less"

"There is a significant overlap between these graduate-level courses and the psychology courses I completed during my undergraduate studies, and it's really disheartening to compare the two. While I genuinely appreciate the kindness and field experience of the professors at George Fox, I find that many of the courses lack academic rigor. Courses that are meant to cover theory often omit relevant research, and instead resemble group therapy sessions more than structured educational experiences. A considerable amount of time is spent on activities that feel unproductive, such as extended moments of silence ("Let’s just sit with that for a moment..."), vague reflective exercises ("What feelings does that word bring up for you?" or "Write your own definition—how does that show up in the world?"), and lengthy journaling or breakout sessions that focus on overly simplistic prompts. For example, in one class, we were shown an image of a girl on a swing and given ten minutes to interpret her emotions and share responses in small groups—an exercise that felt more appropriate for a basic introductory course than a graduate-level program. Additionally, we’ve spent time discussing concepts that have long been debunked—such as left/right brain myths and learning styles—without addressing the APA’s stance on their inaccuracy and potential harm. There has even been contradictory guidance on APA 7 formatting (e.g., being penalized for not capitalizing theories, contrary to official APA guidelines). By contrast, my undergraduate coursework was filled with substantial content, supported by empirical data and critical analysis of psychological theories and methods. It’s deeply disappointing to pay graduate-level tuition for courses that often lack depth and rigor. While there are a few professors who provide a more enriching academic experience, unfortunately, the majority of the classes I’ve taken—roughly three out of four—do not reflect the level of quality one would expect from a graduate program.Read Less"

"I’d say that there are a select few professors who are passionate and great about teaching their students and really challenging them with the material and there’s others who show up late, cancel classes last minute, teach for ten minutes in class and then expect everyone to teach themselves the rest of the material, cut class short because the weather is nice and they want to go outside, and during office hours try to make it seem like it’s your fault you and ten of the smartest students in class don’t understand, but they act like it’s just you. I’m all for being challenged like the oscillating air engine or the robotics project but when you don’t teach at all and expect us to know the material for the exams and then turn around and grade harshly, I have a problem with that. And I especially have a problem with it when it’s the head of those departments. I think the president should audit the students class evaluations to see who isn’t doing their job. Although I’m not sure if every student actually fill these out 100% honest because even though they’re supposed to be anonymous, some of them might retaliation.Read Less"

"I received my Doctorate in 2011. All in. all, the program was alright, not as difficult as I was hoping. The problems came after I graduated. I was unable to walk because of out of state employment concerns. So I called for my cap/gown/hood/medal - and received them one at a time over a few months, and me taking the lead to call and ask. They kept telling me it was because I moved, but I did not move - I always lived out of state. When I called for my medal, I was told they needed to send a 'blank' one because they lost the one that was engraved. But that is not the biggest issue - Here is the Kicker. I had a friend who asked for a copy of my dissertation, and I was going to go to the Commons to get a copy emailed to him, and guess what? They LOST my dissertation. I graduated, I defended my dissertation, I received copies of my Dissertation Acceptance Certificate, I even have a nicely framed diploma [that came several months after graduation] - they have no idea where my dissertation is located. With all this, the best part is - they are very willing to ask me for money :DRead Less"

"This has been a terrible let down. I earned by Bachelors degree from GFU and expected the Master's program to be equally as rewarding, relevant, and educational; I'm afraid I was incorrect. The assignments are all over the place, the lectures have been incredibly disappointing, and I am very worried that none of this is going to prepare me for the next step in my career. I am afraid my MBA will open doors that I am simply unprepared to enter. It feels as if they are trying to cram as much as they can in each class, resulting in students being over inundated with content and walking away with very little learned. Students are mainly figuring out how to pass the quiz, ace the test, or get a high mark on their papers, rather than learning any course content. Very disappointed- I've heard many students talk about finding another program and I am considering the same.Read Less"

"While at George Fox University, many years ago now, I was challenged and grown in ways that were both exhilarating and scary at the time! Many professors and faculty showed up to support me as I questioned new things and grew more into who I want to be in this world. These people, some with whom I am still in touch, influenced me greatly and I consider the social network from these years in Newberg to be one of the most valuable things that I gained from this college experience. Furthermore, I was introduced to Quaker spirituality which hugely impacted the direction that my life took in my post-college years.Read Less"

"George Fox University lives up to its "Be Known" promise. Each faculty member cares deeply about each student. The small class sizes allow students to receive a better education due to more one-on-one time with professors. The environment on campus is always warm and welcoming- You feel at home anywhere you go! George Fox University not only holds academics in high regard, but it also your well-being and personal growth. It is a university unlike any other!"

"George Fox has the saying of "Be Known" that lives true if you put in the effort and confidence to put yourself out there. Visit your professors during office hours and they will want to learn things about you. Meet other staff members and students and the school starts to feel like a family to you if you put yourself out there. I was a student athlete and an engineering major, and I felt that my professor supported me as athlete by asking how the year has been going and what were some goals that I had set for myself each year. We even had an event where the engineering faculty recognized all the engineering majors who were also student athletes to recognize the time work it takes to do two daunting tasks in college.Read Less"

"My educational journey at George Fox University has positively impacted my life. I found my love and passion again through my education here. I was able to excel in my academic work and raising my GPA. I had a strong educational background that set me up for my career. I was able to write research papers and grant, which again prepared me for my working career."

"Excellent school to prepare for a career in Marriage & Family Therapy/Counseling. After a lot of research prior to attending, I found this school to have the best program. It did not disappoint, I can highly recommend this University. Great school."

"George Fox University provides a great education! The professors teach with integrity. The university provides a place of academic vigor.."

"Very hands-on and high quality school psych program. Faculty for core counseling classes are top-notch, usually still doing private practice, and very invested in my growth as a person and a mental health professional. There's still work to be done on increasing diversity, but faculty seem very committed to welcoming diverse students and creating and environment where all students feel respected and valued. They include a lot of assignments to help students learn to serve culturally and linguistically diverse students. There are also courses to help us understand spiritual integration (as recommended by APA and ACA). Most of the core school psychology classes are taught by adjuncts who are experienced (and still practicing) school psychologists, so we benefit from their recent experience with assessment, consultation, etc.Read Less"

"The faculty and staff are amazing and are always willing to help students and alumni with opportunities that align with professional and personal interests. Faculty are available for students and the program allows for many students to get to know their professors very closely. The curriculum itself prepares students very well for the rigor of graduate school as well as for the workforce."

"George Fox University is a safe space to grow and learn, balancing a rigorous curriculum with a beautiful community life. Faculty genuinely care about their students, Residence Life invests itself so that each person is known, and the coaches mentor life as well as sport. The campus itself is set in the rolling hills of wine country, and a creek runs through the center of campus offering trails to those who want forested seclusion, though it is only about an hour each from the coastal dunes, from the slopes of Mt. Hood, and from the famous Voodoo donuts of Portland. Overall, an excellent university that truly delivers on the promise: "Be Known."Read Less"

"George Fox University was a wonderful university for me to attend. Not only did I receive an amazing education in my major but the university strives for students to receive a well rounded Christian liberal arts education, which I know I did. The academics are rigorous and taught by individuals who are very well versed in their fields. The on campus community is small enough to help students feel loved and at home. There was something always going on, whether it was a lecture or chapel, concert or play, sporting event or student led activity. The classes are small which provides the opportunity for students to get to know professors. Even five years later my professors remember me fondly and are still helpful.Read Less"

"This is a newly accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy program, but it already has the reputation for creating and developing innovative and excellent clinicians! The professors are excellent at delivering pertinent and evidence based information and able to take complex concepts and put them into ideas we can fully understand."

"The strengths of the programs I have interacted with are the diversity of the Theology programs and the willingness to work with designing a more personal program. I have a passion to serve in First Peoples communities and nations; I am designing a program to combine a spiritual aspect to counseling and advocacy. The emphasis is the much-needed respect of the spiritual aspect of healing and wholeness in indigenous people. As you see this is an unusual program and G Fox staff and programs have been great to craft and support me in my endeavor. There is a lack of financial Aid and ethnic diversity but this can be due to the size and the location of the school. There is a lack of career development in terms of fellowships/internships and job placement.Read Less"

"GFU is a great, Christian university that focuses on helping students grow in their faith as well as the classroom!"

"George Fox has an excellent & beautiful campus. I really appreciated the size of the university when I attended, but it has grown considerably since then & I am not sure I would feel the same way now. The Computer Science program was excellent: the professors are fantastic."

"Pros: Faith integration into clinical practice Cohort model Low student to professor ratio Small class size Con's: No graduate student housing"