Gonzaga University Reviews

"Like many have said here, the courses (again >1K credit...) are self directed and have little instruction. The instruction it does have is often poorly written, unclear and in a fixed format (watch video A then B). What this lacks is any sense of dynamic learning. The method the school uses is often discussion boards and comments. This is the bare minimum to an online course format, ineffective for learning, and often feels like a waste of time. A cycle of little instructor feedback promotes you to put less and less effort into the discussion boards, yet your grade doesn't change... My frustration and feelings of isolation were significant. Grad school should be difficult and rigorous, but there is a difference between working hard and believing you've earned an honor and competency versus jumping through hoops to earn your golden ticket for the licensing exam. I was discussing with a colleague their grad school experience for NP (Georgetown). They described a virtual classroom, with a real teacher and the rest of your class connected via video conferencing. This really struck me. Sadly Gonzaga has not integrated such a model and seems unlikely to adopt it completely. This foundational difference makes a profound impact on class room experience, dynamic discussions, and general engagement with the material. Gonzaga did not have this. The "self directed" approach was compounded by a difficulty to sustain engagement (and then motivation). Are there good things about the program? Well, yes. But I wanted to provide the most constructive criticism here on elements that make foundational problems. My suspicions, when I'm most cynical, is that the program is making a great deal of money, but that money is not translating to further investment in the quality of the program (yet tuition continues to go up...every year I've been here). It may be that the program is propping up other portions of the school (insert wild theories of where else the money goes). I could go on but I think the elements that I've laid out are the fundamental problems with the program. 1) very expensive 2) complete lack of virtual classroom, relying on the never effective discussion board 3) no clear indication of further program development = poor investment of one's student loan or personal money and time. My hope is that someone from Gonzaga sees this and attempts to address these concerns. I'm about to graduate in 2020 and I am really hoping for an "exit interview" of sorts. We need competent providers out there to fill the gaps in care!Read Less"

"This school is amazing. There are ample clubs, intramural sports, and groups for students to participate in. The student to teacher ratio is very low, therefore the professors know all the student on a first name basis and are genuinely interested in the well-being of the students. The only downside of the school is the town. Spokane, WA is very dry and very dirty. Campus is beautiful and safe, however I would highly recommend taking a weekend trip to Spokane to ensure the best fit. 99% of the classes offered are in-person and never taught by a TA.Read Less"

"Overall, I felt that Gonzaga's nursing program prepared me well to work as a nurse in a hospital setting. I felt that I received a strong education in pathophysiology and pharmacology. I also felt that I received adequate exposure to the different health conditions you may come across during my clinical rotations. However, at times, the program also felt very unorganized and it was difficult to get questions answered."

"Gonzaga University is an excellent school with a large variety of quality programs that will allow students to select a major that works best with their passions and be ideally situated for success after graduation. The campus is small with about 4,000 undergraduate students, but it allows for the students to develop close friendships. The basketball program is great too and will lead to a lot of fun."

"There isn't much in the way of actual instruction, especially in the Advanced Pathophysiology course. No videos, no verbal instruction from the professor, just a bunch of reading to do on your own. At $1k a credit, I would hope that I'd get a little instruction. The tech course had a questionnaire from 1995 asking if you think that computers have a use in the workplace and then the class goes on to teach you how to use a mouse. Again...$1k per credit. The immersions were ok but poorly put together and chaotic. I wish I had gone somewhere else, but I learned a lot from my preceptors in clinicals, so it all ends well.Read Less"

"Some adjunct instructors not familiar with readings or assignments. There is little teaching involved with the program, mostly self directed study. Poor feedback from faculty. Immersion weekends sometimes appear chaotic. Online programs does not provide much student interaction: the blackboard notes written by students are often superficial, repeat what is printed in readings. Online MSN program must be very profitable for university. Cost is about $1000 per credit, plus fees."

"The Gonzaga graduate philosophy program is meant for one type of person. Those with a bachelors degree in philosophy who want to do a full-time masters program and go on to a PhD so they can become a professor of philosophy. If you have any aspirations other than that, dont waste your time. If youre not a full-time student, few of the professors will care about your success or even care who you are. If you didnt get an undergraduate degree in philosophy, youll struggle without support or even clarity on what is needed to pass the comprehensive exams (those with undergraduate degrees in philosophy struggle too to be fair). If you dont want to get a PhD and become a professor, the program has no idea what to do with you. They dont know any alternatives to that route and seem to look down on you for not picking that career path. Unlike many other terminal masters programs, Gonzaga requires comprehensive exams, a logic exam, a thesis, and a thesis presentation to graduate. Most places will let you do either the exams or the thesis. This seem excessive by comparison but makes sense if your goal is a PhD. Thats really all they are prepared for. And even for that, you dont get much feedback on your writing which puts Gonzaga grads at a huge disadvantage in PhD programs. Not to mention theres a huge lack of diversity. I didnt have a female professor during my entire time in the program.Read Less"

"I was disappointed with my time at Gonzaga. The financial aid package was $3,000 less dollars than anticipated. I had to sit in on undergraduate classes, one of which consisted entirely of undergraduate presentations. The director of the grad program is vindictive, and you do not want to be on her bad side, but it is quite easy to unknowingly do so. The comprehensive exam favors white Christian males, and the program itself has no diversity. Most students are white males. I will say, however, that there were two or three faculty that made a concerted effort to support me in the process. The faculty at Gonzaga is incredibly knowledgeable, but the MA program itself is a nightmare. I would not recommend it to prospective students.Read Less"

"Gonzaga: this was a wonderful school and the people there are the absolute best. The faculty is extremely supportive and I have made lifelong friends through my time at Gonzaga and I would not have changed it for any other college experience. Public Relations: you get a very standard public relations education and you learn the ins and outs of the industry. One thing I would like to have happened would be if the job placement was a little more hands on and extensive."

"I completed the Communication and Leadership Studies graduate program at Gonzaga University in 2011. The majority of the program was online with the exception of a mandatory 3-day intensive seminar course that had to be completed at some time during the program. I absolutely LOVED this program, the school, the faculty, and my classmates. Even though the courses were completed online, the faculty and staff went above and beyond to create a welcoming and personal learning environment. The quality of the material and instruction was excellent, and I felt thoroughly prepared to enter my career as an adjunct professor of Communication. I highly recommend Gonzaga University and this graduate program!Read Less"

"Gonzaga is a great school. Faculty member cares about students"

"Great school with knowledgeable professors (avoid "visiting professors" though)."

"Option of online or campus classes. Set in beautiful Spokane Wa. Four seasons to enjoy. Stunning campus near downtown and the Spokane river. Many classes/majors to choose from. Qualified and caring professors. And of course, an amazing basketball team."

"My experience with Gonzaga University was positive from start to finish. I chose this program because of the ability to study abroad. The Communication and Leadership Studies program offers a 3 week study abroad experience in Italy (Florence, Cagli and Rome) that is amazing. I would recommend anyone looking at this program to try to be apart of the study abroad experience. The remainder of my classes were online. There was a great deal of reading, as one should expect, and a lot of papers to right. The professors where helpful and knowledgeable. Grading was fair. This program definitely made me better in my field of Corporate Communication and I have been able to more than double (almost triple) my income in the five years since I graduated.Read Less"

"I am currently in Gonzaga University's Psychiatric and Mental health Nurse Practitioner program. I was able to transfer most of my foundation courses from my master's degree in Nursing Education at Valparaiso University, IN in 2011. I have taken Psychopharmacology and currently taking Advanced Health Assessment. I can't stress enough how great the quality of instruction is. Especially Dr. Deborah Smith in Advanced health Assessment. I am blessed to be part of Gonzaga's Nursing Program. Both curriculums covered a wide base of topics and I feel like I am prepared very well and on my way to becoming a pretty good Psychiatric and Mental Health NP.Read Less"

"The professors at Gonzaga are some of the most interesting and caring people I have met. They are very helpful and understanding and will work with you if you are struggling. The coursework is rigorous but rewarding and intriguing. There is always something to do and somewhere to be!"

"Gonzaga University has created a solid foundation for me as I head onto a career in Physical Therapy. I believe my education at Gonzaga has helped create many successes in the classroom and in life, and has helped me stand out in my community and amongst my peers. I have been accepted into a top ten physical therapy program and I am excited to see what path my education continues to pave out for me."

"I would highly recommend Gonzaga University because of its small class sizes, diverse student population, and rigorous curriculum. I was able to form close friendships with other students and professional relationships with my professors. Most importantly, the curriculum prepared me for the rigors of medical school. The top rated basketball team is just a great extra, go Zags!"

"Great program. Excellent professors. Not only did I received an education for my career, attending this program enhanced my life as a person. I would highly recommend this school/program. There are several different programs to attend at Gonzaga, including an family nurse practitioner program. Was recently informed of my acceptance into this program to obtain my second master's degree."

"If you want to continue with a graduate degree and don't know where to go, Gonzaga University is a great place. The staff and faculty are outstanding plus the Organizational Leadership ORGL program is a top notch program not just for the Pacific Northwest but throughout the United States. The program was challenging but doable if you have a very busy lifestyle."