National University Reviews of Doctoral in Business Administration

If you want to waste your money and time, then NORTHCENTRAL is the place. I was a student there for over 3 years pursuing my education in PhD in business administration management. I've successfully completed the first 16 courses with a GPA of 3.57. However, for the dissertation which is 5 chapters I have been stuck in Chapter 1 for 24 weeks, every week I submit Chapter 1 my chair denied it then they dismissed me from school. I sought opinions from esteemed professors at various universities, all... Read More of whom concurred that my research deserved approval. their validation only amplified the frustration caused by the perpetual roadblocks I encountered. In pursuit of justice, I hold deep respect for my university and all its staff and I embarked on a grade appeal—a route I hoped would rectify the situation. Unfortunately, the Dean's office denied it and dismissed me after costing me approximately 80k.

I have always been an honor student, with a GPA of 3.84 or above at any school I have attended, including CSU, UC Denver, and SMC: three traditional brick-and-mortar schools. I attended NCU for the convenience of being able to study at my own pace while working 2 jobs as a single mother. I found my instructors to be intelligent, knowledgeable, and helpful. The requirements to teach there are higher than for many other universities I have seen. Yes, you are required to study on your own, without an... Read More instructor holding your hand. Most online programs are like that. If you need to be spoon-fed the information, then online classes are probably not for you. However, if I had any questions, my instructors were there to assist me, and it is a requirement that your chair speak with you by phone at the commencement of each course. The program is set up so that you tackle each portion/chapter of the dissertation individually, adding to your previous work until it is complete. It is an iterative process, and for me, there was much back and forth communication between the members of my committee and me. It was a rigorous program, as required in order for them to obtain accreditation. The Comps were the most difficult exams I have ever written. This is not a "diploma mill". If you do not pass your comps, you do not get to move on with the Ph.D. program. Just like at any other university. I don't know about the bachelor's and master's programs but I was satisfied with the Ph.D.program. My only complaint would be that the price of the courses increases with each course.

I am currently in the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program. I already have two graduate degrees and wanted to pursue the DBA for personal reasons. This program has been a huge disappointment for the following reasons: (1) It may be true that the professors have PHDs, but they lack robust assessment experience. The professors really know little to nothing about how to assess students based on the assignment and course objectives. (2) The program and professors do not use rubrics. This is... Read More a huge mistake. Most of the professors use the "wet finger in the air" method to grade papers and assignments. They do not know what they are doing. Using rubrics would help both the professors and the students have a clear pathway to how assessment works and understanding expectations. (3) The course objectives do not align with the assignments. The course objectives state one thing, but the assignments reflect other subjects and topics that are not delineated in the course objectives. (4) Most of the assignments within a course are also contradictory. For example, there are "personal narratives" mixed in with peer-reviewed research requirements. Again, it is evident that neither the program managers nor the professors understand anything about assessment, continuity, or closing the loop. (5) The professors are unreasonable and inflexible. The professors have a "my way or the highway" mentality. (6) The professors' grading methods do not align with best practices. One professor stated to me that she does not "give 100% to any student on assignments." Obviously, this professor is misguided and knows nothing about assessment as previously mentioned. (7) The department is unresponsive to student concerns. Administrators ignore any feedback provided from students. It is not clear who is really in charge or making decisions in the DBA program. I submitted some very valid concerns to the School of Business over 30 days ago. I have not received a response of any kind. (8) This program is far too expensive for students to pay for ill-prepared faculty, for faculty who have no detailed assessment experience, and for administrators who ignore student concerns and feedback. I will be voting with my feet.

I am a little surprised at the negative comments regarding some students experiences at NCU. I graduated in 4 years with a Doctorate in Business Administration with a concentration in Organizational Leadership. This was a rigorous and tough program and If you do not dedicate sufficient time required to conduct the research and put forth tremendous effort of writing along with chair recommended re-write and/or restructure you will not be successful in your academic pursuit. Two percent of the population... Read More have a doctoral degree, the reason more people do not pursue these advanced degrees are because they are hard to obtain. The program is challenging, the demands are rigorous, and you have to work at becoming a scholastic writer. Overall my experience was good, exactly what I expected even though I had a challenging setback regarding my relationship with my first dissertation chair. He was very subjective, contemptuous, and I could not learn, or he was unwilling to teach, anything else from his instruction. Professor and student relationships sometime deteriorate and they often do not see eye to eye. To alleviate the situation before it worsens, I got my academic advisor involved and requested a chair change. This was the turning point of my dissertation and the remaining experience was wonderful. Remember this is your research and your dissertation, you potentially publish your work. Seventy-three percent (73%) of NCUs students are doctoral candidates, so the university is graduating a great number of students. Each have their own personal stories revolving their unique experiences, but if you put forth the effort and do the work required, you will be successful in your academic journey. I would recommend that before you pursue a Doctoral degree, be committed and flexible and have an idea of what you are pursuing. Know what you want to research before you start your first class.

The web site was very helpful for the first five years. The new web site is a complete mystery. You can no longer find anything, which was common access in the first years of the program. Everything on the web site now is defer, deflect, and left to the student. My pre-dissertation course work was wonderful. The Competency Exam was well presented. The dissertation effort kept changing directions due to changes in the dissertation committee. The most difficult part is finding a research site. The... Read More mentors were very helpful and together we got the dissertation finished. However, the IT department has a lot of work to go before the web site begins to approach the full functionality it once had. Their one step forward was the equivalent of five steps backward and no apparent plans to fix it. Financial aid needs to brief students about running out of financial aid before the degree is completed.

NCU is an excellent school for persons who can learn on their own and do not expect to be babied. The courses are tough and they must be submitted every week without fail. You can see the quality of work from NCU by reviewing some of the dissertations. In my opinion, NCU's dissertation can stand next to the dissertations from any B&M school. NCU was an innovation when it started offering 100% online degrees to persons like myself who wanted a graduate degree but did not have the time to attend a... Read More full time university. As the digital world continues to expand, I believe that all of the complaints about NCU will stop. I received my MBA from Manchester Business School in the UK and it was very tough. I support NCU 100% and would gladly recommend it to persons like myself who wants a degree but cannot attend a traditional university for 3-4 years.

I have been attending this University for a year now and is not impressed. I don't understand what makes them so special or unique in that they don't have to follow standard procedures that are common with Universities. I have had four advisors in one year. I have experienced professors taking my concerns about the instructions and feedback received personally, yet they tell students to take criticism. I have experience a professor lying on me where I had to provide proof. This University allows... Read More professors to go beyond the scope of the curriculum written by the appropriate committee and push their values and expertise onto the student that is trying to go in a different direction and penalize them for not incorporating materials in assignments they have yet to learn or take the course to receive that knowledge. They allow professors not to have weekend office hours to assist students with last-minute clarification of assignments. There are professors who questions their own feedback they provide to students that impact their grade. Something needs to change.

DO NOT ATTEND THIS PLACE! This place is nothing but a SCAM and it sets you up to FAIL! They will send you to Dean's office and the Dean will make you REPEAT the coursework............This place is only interested in YOUR MONEY and that is it! I went to another school and I don't regret it at all....I wish I had left earlier but experience is life's best teacher so I am grateful for the experience...Also, check out the fact that they are being SUED...OMG, this place is HORRIBLE....DO NOT WASTE your... Read More time or $$$$$$....Check out their graduation rate as well and they lie and tell you that you can receive your degree within 3-4 years and that is sooooo far from the truth it is unreal!

I started with NCU when it was privately owned by the founder (I actually met him once over several days promoting the program) and completed my degree after it was purchased by the private equity fund. When I started there were few options as I was working overseas and changed countries a few times. Completing the dissertation was a challenge, but I am satisfied with the product and topic, as it is legit and has received some citations. My issue is gaining full utility with the acceptance of the... Read More online degree in UAE. While my employer has accepted the NCU PhD, I have yet to obtain official equivalency from the MOE. Apparently NCU has struggled with Mentor quality, from other peoples reports, but I had one of their better advisors as my Chair, and was generally satisfied with the coursework teachers. I was a Veteran from years ago, and was happy when the NCU rep sought me out and I was able to gain reduced rate on some of the classes. The DMD, including an award from that program, Golden Key, and publicity granted by NCU were nice touches.

I learned more at NCU than the last top ten ranked universities that I attended. Here is the key to success; the degree is yours so be ready to put in the work and direct the trajectory of your studies. However, NCU is not adult care center; those who need to be spoonfed or free ride seekers should not bother applying or attending. For-profit is not the same as a free pass to a degree or guaranteed graduation. Paying tuition allows you the opportunity to study, excellent performance and compliance... Read More with very simple rules guarantees graduation. If you slack up and you don't follow the simple rules you will be on the outside looking in before you know it. A high GPA does not correlate with the ability to pass the comprehensive exams, neither does it suggest the ability to successfully complete an original dissertation. Enough said, I am thankful to my mentors, professors, and research committee.

I recently completed my Ph.D. in Business Administration with specialization in Healthcare Administration. NCU offered exactly what I wanted in a school: a completely online program that did not force me into a residency requirement (because my job would not allow an opportunity to stay in one location long enough to complete a doctoral degree); a regionally accredited school with a regionally accredited business program; and a relevant degree track. Over the years, I have read the comments about... Read More NCU on here and intentionally decided to wait until graduating to provide my own opinion as someone who successfully completed a doctoral degree. NCU is good school. You will not be successful in the Ph.D. program if you are not a competent self-starter who actively participates in your own completion of all academic requirements during the courses. The comprehensive exam at the end of your academic courses is not a joke. You must articulate your ability to think and communicate at a doctoral level in order to pass the exam (as is expected in any worthwhile school). The dissertation process is equally as arduous--but for a good reason. You are providing new knowledge to the area of research you chose to conduct your dissertation on. The academic rigor and scientific method are upheld by your committee members, the Institutional Review Board (IRB), and the academic reviewer who all provide input and direction into your research/dissertation. In the end, I would not want to compromise the quality of my dissertation simply for the sake of obtaining a degree. Likewise, the reputations of the instructors and dissertation committee members are reflected in the quality of a Ph.D. candidate's dissertation efforts. They are all professors at other universities and/or leaders in their respective professional areas of expertise. The teachers (or mentors as they are called) are all doctorate-level instructors--unlike some of the brick and mortar schools that only require Masters-level degrees. Some mentors are excellent and others are not that effective (just like any other school regardless of prestige). The biggest misconception that many new doctoral students tend to make is that they assume everything should be directed and specified in the smallest detail to them-- that is not the point of post-graduate degrees (especially a Ph.D.). You are expected to begin performing as an independent, self-motivated researcher who has the potential to be considered an expert in a particular field of study by the time you graduate. As such, NCU's Ph.D. program provides that opportunity for professional and personal self-development for serious students who also possess the requisite skills to begin and complete such a demanding degree program. NCU is not a "degree mill" whatsoever. The faculty expect a student to perform to the standards that are established in writing. Also, Ph.D. students are only as successful as the effort they make to read, read, read... and read some more on their area of study. This takes practice and it takes dedication over the years you will sacrifice to complete your doctoral degree. My Ph.D. program took me 5 years to complete. It was not easy. It was often very frustrating and I was exhausted weeks and months at a time from the relentless school work; revising of papers, demands of working through every single holiday and weekend without a break, and sacrificing personal time that I could be enjoying with family and friends in order to achieve this goal. But a Ph.D. is never supposed to be easy. You can never fully prepare yourself for the challenges of a doctoral degree. However, I am very proud to say that NCU offered a viable, relevant Ph.D. program that met my expectation as a legitimate degree-producing university. The future is in online classes-- those who make short-sighted comments about the perceived worthiness of a virtual university need to consider the significant shift in how academic programs are being redesigned for those who grew up in a world of quickly-changing technology. I highly recommend NCU for those who are capable and willing to fulfill all the obligations necessary of a doctoral degree. You will not be disappointed (regardless of the numerous frustrations you might face along the way) as you successfully defend your dissertation and your committee members say, Congratulations, Doctor...

*Please note that I did not graduate in 2017. I am currently attending NCU* I began to pursue a DBA at Northcentral University in 2015. I wasn't sure what to expect from a purely "online school." All I knew was the reputation online schools have (as being inferior diploma mills) compared to your traditional brick and mortar schools. Being a full time employee, however, gave me no time to travel to and from classes every day of the week. So, an online program fit my schedule perfectly. At NCU, I can... Read More complete my assignments whenever, wherever. This has taken some of the pressure off when it comes to pursuing such a high degree. The professors, I see, are 100% Doctoral faculty, which means a great deal to me personally. I know many institutions which require a Master's Degree and a few years of teaching experience. However, NCU requires all Doctoral faculty. The professors have been very informative, knowledgeable, and supportive. My e-mails to them are generally answered in 24 hours. Their feedback on assignments has been lengthy. The assignments themselves have been very painfully challenging. If a professor doesn't feel you are working to your potential, he/she will ask you to do the assignment over and resubmit it. To me, this showed good instruction by a caring faculty. It has also taught me a great deal of discipline. I've read positive and negative reviews of NCU. So far, 9 classes down, my experience has been great. I've learned a great deal in regards to both, content and writing. I hope I never have a bad experience here. I hope to finish within the next few years. If I have that diploma in my hands, it will have all been worth it. Good luck to you all.

I completed my Ph.D. at NCU. I previously attended a brick and mortar university for an undergraduate and Master's degrees. I found NCU to be an excellent choice for persons who work full time, want an advanced degree; however, they need to be willing to make the sacrifice and commitment. Every degree requires the student to adhere to a process for completion. If you follow the process, you will graduate, then you can criticize. Some of the criticism of NCU comes from students who did not finish... Read More (although a few did). I greatly improved my writing skills and my ability to use the Internet to carry out research. The requirement to submit an assignment every weekend, regardless if the assignment is due on Christmas or another holiday, actually increased my character and discipline. I know now that I can meet deadlines for my clients because of the NCU training. As an online university, my computer literacy improved as a by-product. I highly recommend anyone from any part of the world seeking a fully accredited US degree to enroll in NCU. Also, the quality of the NCU dissertations can compare with any Ivy League university. My dissertation Chair was very strict and had very high standards, In fact, I found NCU's dissertation better than most of the schools during my research for my dissertation. NCU is a great institution. Its not an easy school because the work is hard and plentiful. But its worth it. The school requires payment like any other school. But to maintain an all Ph.D. staff requires funding, so I had no problem paying. Most schools in the USA put up prices every year, as do NCU. So the best strategy is to get in and quickly get out of the educational process to minimize the amount of funds expended.

It looks like for every negative review NCU is posting a positive one. The school tends to keep students away from the higher ups. Financial aid is joke. I can say that the curriculum is rigorous; however, it is designed as a for profit school. Always be careful of the Last Date of Attendance (LDA) if you log in, they will consider that as attendance for the school. In reality, you could be logging in to see if actions were taken on your account. To resolve your issues try contacting the president... Read More at ncu . com Every accrediting agency should be warned about this school and their unfair practices. If you decide that you know longer want to attend ncu, they will butcher your financial aid account to make it appears as though you owe more monies.

My experience with NCU was positive. The DBA program is a great and it is very rigorous. There were challenges along the way, however, I stayed diligent and worked very hard to complete the program. I had excellent faculty members. Additionally, many of the NCU students and graduates that I have encountered had impressive professional backgrounds (military; major corporations; large nonprofit organizations; government agencies; business owners; etc.) and many came from good B&M schools. I received... Read More great support from my peers at NCU. I completed my undergraduate and graduate programs at traditional B&M schools and found NCU to be just as rigorous (if not more). Working on a PhD /Doctorate is a very hard thing to do and doing independently makes it ten times more difficult. To complete a PhD/Doctorate at NCU you will need to have to be willing to put the time and effort into the program; be self-motivated; and do well as an independent researcher. Many that start PhD/Doctorate programs do not finish regardless of the school. NCU is not easy and you will get back what you put in.

I started this program on Sept 1, 2007 and finally graduated with a DBA last month. I had obstacle after obstacle and challenge after challenge. I started as a PhD and shifted to DBA. I started with a qualitative study and shifted to quantitative. I had 4 dissertation chairs. My problem and purpose statements got reconstructed too many times to mention. I had tremendous difficulty in finding a validated survey instrument for my data collection phase. I had tremendous difficulty in finding a firm... Read More willing to participate in my study. The program requires that you finish in 8 years - I had to file for a one year extension. At least a half dozen times I thought that I would not finish...that NCU would be sending me a "certificate" instead. I took nearly a year off at one point. I served 6 years active duty in the Marine Corps and I can honestly say that this was more painful on a number of levels. To all prospective students, good luck!! lol