South University Online Reviews

"The only good thing I could say is that I have had one good instructor, who made sure you understood what was missed and knew what you needed before the class ended and my first financial advisor, who resigned. It has been an ongoing horrible experience. No communication about clinical. Instructors are not resourceful. We teach ourselves. We don’t get feedback. We have to set up our own clinical rotation. I just have nothing good to say. I only have 4 practicums left, but I mentally cannot handle this stress, so trying to transfer after a few weeks off."

"Absolute worst decision of my life. Degree was useless. They suckered you in only to charge you so much that I’ll never be able to pay it back. Do NOT attend this school! Run! Horrible! I could not believe how much it ended up costing. Shut this school down!"

"Please, run from this school. Especially if you are one of the students - like me - who already got screwed over by Independence University. South University will only ruin your life more and please learn this lesson from me and the many others who have had to live this nightmare. They are so excited to get you in school and when you first start and/or are doing well, they are always around and available to talk. As soon as you are having problems, they are nowhere to be found. This is entirely self taught, there is no instruction from the "instructors". I am suspicious that some of the instructors are incentivized to fail their students just to make more money off having to retake the class, but that's just my own conspiracy theory. "Instructors" are rude and unhelpful, advisors want nothing to do with you. Assignment expectations are fun little surprises not laid out in the prompt that you later find from a terrible grade on an assignment that your "instructor" won't let you resubmit. Absolutely no sympathy or human compassion from these people. You could be dying or have a close family member dying - again, from my own experience - and you will not receive an ounce of cooperation to make it work with whatever is going on. My favorite was when I asked to unenroll for a term and was granted that access, failed a class, and then ended up in the hospital because of how that affected me mentally, and then got out to find that I had in fact not been unenrolled from that class and failed it too. I am supposed to be done in two months from now, but we will see how many times I have to keep failing classes that I try to teach myself before that is the case. Had 19 year old my known what a living disaster my life would turn into because of my higher education experience, I would have gone with my first instinct to not pursue higher education and a career in the corporate world."

"I wish I had listened when I read the “ RUN DON’T WALK” away from South University Online, reviews. The professors and college have made assignments increasingly more difficult, weekly discussions blocked to you viewing, before your first post, computerized grading on your discussion participation-period, no exceptions(Professors have NO say, supposedly), discussions are as lengthy as a 3-5 page paper, Professors appear to take pride in making their classes far more difficult, complicated and with FAR more “busy work.” Charged text and exam fees, when most classes have no textbook and no quizzes or tests anyways A lot not viewable links to outdated materials and videos that l, many of your 20-30 page papers and discussions will need to be referenced on. we would learn far more from the textbook that you CHARGE us for, and then we don’t use. Almost ALL assignments are VERY lengthy including discussions (3-5 sources cite and reference, in your discussion and replies). Teachers? Professors are very judgemental, bully, demeaning,. Do not expect to be taught. Expect to be over charged, often, while being treated like a child This is NOT the school for any working person, or otherwise, to attend. You will be too financially indebted to them, while they back track you. Trust and believe, “A” students? This school will still bring you down!! Ever since being bought out again?? This school seems to try and dump WAY more on students now, treat them disrespectfully, and bleed you of all of your financial aid. I wish you all the best, and honestly, RUN."

"I have been going to South University for a year after having to start here when Independence University closed. My experience started from subpar and has gradually just become horrible. There is nothing personal about any of the classes and the instructors seem to only be there to post copy and pasted responses and not help with anything if you’re struggling. There are no lectures, only readings, and if you ask for additional explaining after reading the material, they will just refer you back to the reading. There is little to no flexibility with personal life. In the past three months I have had a lot of personal issues and when trying to get help so I can still retain the material and pass the class, I was ignored and have so far failed two classes. I asked to withdraw for a term and was confirmed by my advisor that I would be able to. Turns out that wasn’t the case and now I have a third F on the way. Overall, this school seems like they are just here for the paycheck. Trying to get any kind of help is like pulling teeth, and if anyone knows any colleges with a great than 4% graduation rate that will take their credits, let me know."

"The criminal justice curriculum was thorough, and complemented by the impeccable real-world instruction of the professors. I would highly recommend that others attend South University, especially working adults. South University offered many valuble resources that assisted me in successfully completing my program and graduating with honors."

"I am surprised by some of these reviews, and yet I am not. Communication has been challenging for a lot of schools during this pandemic. So, I urge anyone considering South to go to the campus, and ask questions for yourself. Reviews are based on our experience and opinions. What happens with you might be different. I am both a South University Alumni (Bachelors in Psychology and Counseling program), as well as a current student in the Masters in clinical mental health counseling program. I have attended both online, and on campus with SU Virginia Beach, and they are excellent. The professors are excellent educators, realistic, transparent, and well educated. However, above all they have not forgotten that they are still counselors. There have been small issues with communication due to the pandemic (financial aid), but that was an easy fix, I simply emailed the dean. Overall, I think that the Virginia Beach campus is great. Best to you all pursuing higher learning."

"Graduated in 2017 and still cannot get a job as nurse practitioner because of no experience. I don’t feel the classes prepared me at all and certainly did not help me with the certification. The only thing that helped me was my amazing preceptors. A huge waste of time and money. I continue to work as an RN."

"The online environment with South University was great. The only issue that I have is the finance department is terrible. They set up payment plans with an outsourced vendor and upon graduation send them to collections when an arrangement is in place. You also have trouble assessing anyone in the finance department, as well as your academic counselors are constantly changed without you being informed. The instruction and education was very helpful in my career and the starting my own company in the field of my degree."

"Do not waste your time with this school. Online is the WORST. The instructors do not email you back if you need help, they are easy to offer criticism but will not help you when you have questions about the work. The advisors are even worse. You can never get anyone to answer your calls and rarely answer your emails. Please, take my advise... Find a different school."

"I am really shocked at all of the negative reviews I am reading regarding the education and services offered at South University. I am enrolled at the Austin, Texas campus but take all of my classes online. I have had a great experience while attending this school and have had tremendous support from all aspects of the school staff. This includes my program director, financial aid, admissions, and academic counseling. Transferring credits from my previous school 30 years ago was effortless, and this staff has always worked hard to accommodate any questions or concerns I have had. Of course, some instructors are better than others, and as with some of the comments, I have experienced a few instructors that were completely hands off and were not responsive at all to the students' needs. However, this was the exception, not the rule. I think this school is quite expensive, but I was willing to pay the extra money for the convenience and support I was provided. I finished my four-year degree in 2.5 years and will continue to complete my MBA at South University after graduating in 12/2021. I would highly recommend this school, especially for adult, professional students who have full-time jobs and families and need flexible schedules to complete their education."

"I had an absolutely amazing Admission's Advisor, Benjamin. He walked me through every step. He even walked me through my first day of school. The proffessers and advisors are always available. You have a huge support team if you just reach out. I think the only thing I had a small issue with was my financial advisor, she's no longer there. I definitely give them ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"

"This is in reference to the Columbia, SC Campus for South University. The program director/ care instructor takes pride in low test score and high first time failure rates, there is no real effort or desire to provide a quality learing experience. Low percentages of students complete the course on first attempt and the program director boast about this fact openly. Students are held to a high standard while the test are poorly written ( odd syntax, missing information, ambiguous statements) and the challenge process is a joke, you have 24 - 48 hours to provide challenges based on your own recollection of questions. There is a systematic problem with padding university success at the expense of proper student instruction and eviroment focused on achievement ( low progression leads to higher percieved success stories). Another issue is that while students are all charged for specific editions of textbooks, these books are rarely used in the making of the tests, many tests source materials from editions that are significantly older than the books required if used at all. This leads to tests with old terminolgies and even no longer used procedures, acronyms, practices and EBP sourcing. To sum it all up, the primary goal of the program director appears to not be one that prioritizes actual instruction, instead it champions toxicity, mediocre teaching and mentoring. If you want to go to university for a quality enviroment that prioritizes and facilitates the learning process look elsewhere. I would like to add that there are some quality instructors at this institution but when the program director champions toxicity most students dont stand a chance at achiveing success."

"From the beginning (enrollment) to graduation and beyond South University has been nothing more than a frustrating JOKE. Communication was horrendous, that’s if you got a response. That was professors, financial, student services and etc. I graduated and to get transcript to pursue my doctorate has been the worst"

"I must say, I can not believe the reviews I am reading. My experience with SU was amazing. My enrollment counselor and financial counselor were amazing. Anytime I had any questions they responded immediately. My professors except one, were great. I had no problems with the online classes. Even when I became sick, my professors were understanding and gave me an extentions on my assignments. I have 2 degrees from SU. My BA and MHA in Healthcare Administrative. I have no regrets attending this university. I am actually debating now if I am going back for my 2nd Masters. I just graduated with my MHA with a 3.8 GPA.Magna cum lada."

"I am an international student.I felt very comfortable with the school. Everybody supported me and all the staffs ar very friendly.Especially my professors moulded me in correct shape. South university made me a successful person. I surely recommend this school."

"South University prepared me for success. The classes were challenging and relevant to my career. The policies are strict and they prepare you for the policies within the field. The instructors were people who had practical experience as well as degrees so they knew what they were talking about. My degree allowed me to move up significantly in my profession and the investment was well worth it. I see some negative reviews here and many of them are written so poorly that it should come as no surprise they had difficulties with academics. Like everything in life, you get out of it what you put into it. If you want to excel and succeed, everything you need is at South University."

"Worst school to attend. They are claiming I have to have 180 credits to graduate with my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Degree. After doing research, all other schools are showing you only have to have 120 credit for Bachelors and another 60 credits for masters, but not this school. I was just informed my financial aid has supposedly run out as well, but according to FAFSA, if I am enrolled in a 4 year course, I am eligible for FAFSA for up to 6 years. Now I am left with a balance with the school, student loans and NO DEGREE. Professors don't care if you have family problems and need extension to complete work. I have been through at least 6 financial advisers as they change roles like people change underwear. This school needs to be investigated."

"Please do not attend this school. Take your money and hard work elsewhere. The faculty is a bunch of unethical individuals who appear to be somewhat of a clan and try to brainwash students that they have done things that are not true. They will lie to the end. Veterans especially, please do not go here, take your money and benefits elsewhere. They are bloodthirsty vultures who thrive on ripping people off at any expense. They have no moral compass and not sure how they can be educators. Whatever they see works in the moment to get them by or cover up some corruption, this is exactly what they will do. DO NOT GO HERE!! DO NOT GO HERE!!! They are fraudulent and will pull some scheme to have you retake a class so they can make more money. BE CAREFUL PEOPLE AND LOOKOUT FOR YOUR OWN WELFARE!! Steer clear of this for profit organization looking to line their pockets."

"I dropped out from this college my first year, why? Because I am a first generation college student and didn't know a thing about how college works, I expressed this greatly to my financial counselor "Beth" and she would always ignore it. They would have me apply for loan after loan with no explanation as to why I needed to apply for so many. I was told "you don't need to pay until you graduate" grate right? Boy was I lied to, about 4 months in I got a letter, I had 30 days to pay 2,000 or I would be kicked out of college, i was horrified, I wasn't making enough to cover that bill and my rent,water, gass ect. So naturally I called Beth in tears, she tried to tell me she told me this, now mind you most our conversation would happen threw email, (this way I had a record of everything said) so I had pulled up the exact email who she expressed that I didn't have to pay until I graduated, she then tired to explain that because I was taking more than once class a term, (at the time I was taking 5) that policy had changed, without me knowing. Now you're probably thinking, what about the classes? They were horrible, it felt like a cheap YouTube video, the "reading material" was laughable, I learned more from crash course than I ever did in one of the classes held by south university, if I ever emailed a question to my teachers for help I was told to use the "resources" which were websites leading to OTHER college pages and once again cheap YouTube lectures, you take 1 class (if you don't ask for more) for 4 weeks and in all honesty the class is a joke, not challenging at all."