Northcentral University Don't Believe the Shills, This PhD Program Sucks Prescott Arizona

NCU sucks for certain, the worst college I ever attended.  Don't waste your money on this Rot Gut P F ing joke of a university.

None of the employees treat students as customers; everything is at the convenience of the employees.  NCU treats students like dirt; the teachers are the worst in the business.

I spent years at this college getting jerked around by incompetent morons, mostly the instructors of course.  My favorite is Dr. Rigor, you know, the idiot that can’t remember from one day to the next and forgets to grade assignments, takes vacations every other day and does everything when he feels like it.

When I get time, I will type up my story for this website, and I hope to God that NCU gets sued for millions of dollars and loses.  I will do everything (legally) in my power to see this college go down for the count.

So, bring on the lawsuits, and let’s see these idiots pensions take a dive and let students attend a real college.

NCU maintains very high educational standardsand as an educationist and Dean of Information Technology for the past 10years, I found NCU to have the highest standard so far. I attended Nova Southeastern University in the early part of my Ph.D. but found NCU to be challenging and very unique. No lectures, no long useless discussion groups, and boring residencies. It is all about the student's ability to act scholarly and be able to research for himself or herself and produce a scholastic paper worthy of the student's knowledge and skills gained and meet peer review standards in academia.

The Ph.D. is not for this guy. I believe he had the same problems with his high school diploma, first degree, and he begged to get his Masters in one of the near-by schools. Therefore, his aim of trying to use a reputable online school like NCU to earn his Ph.D. were not met and surprising enough, his tricks failed him. You are supposed to be angry because NCU did not allow you to get a free Ph.D. If it is easy to get a Ph.D. then you will have millions with it.

Honestly, you will still find it difficult in the school that you are now. May be you have been kicked out of that school. Please continue to use your nomadic tendency and attribute to get a free Ph.D. Try buying a Ph.D. in a country that can sell one to you or just print yourself a Ph.D. diploma and call yourself a Doctor.

Good luck. I wish all the luck in the world.

I have read many of the complaints about NCU and some of them have some merit. Online schools in general are hard, but if you focus you can do well. getting in contact with my mentors have been fairly easily and all of my needs have been met, I don't like the rate increase, however all the other accredited online school prices are similar. I have four classes before I start preparing for my comps however I believe that my statics class will be the challenge and I will need help in this area. This will be the test for this school in my mind. Also I am a bit concerned if I can work as a psychologist in Washington State and teach at the University level when I received my PHD. I am in the process of checking all this out, I already have my license as a clinical social worker from my master degree at UNLV School of Social Work. Hopefully this PHD will allow me to be considered a doctor and get promoted at my job in the hospital title of Psychologist. So I will just keep investigating and calling agencies who are responsible for licenses in several states. I will keep everyone inform of my outcome.

Blake Johnson

I am a current student of NCU and I can assure you that at NCU, like every school I have been to or taught for, you only get out of the program what you put into it.  If you are the type of person that has to have a baby sitter for a teacher to ensure that you do the reading and get your work done, then NCU is not for you.  However, if you are a committed and driven individual who believes in working hard, then you should take a serious look at NCU!

I am a current doctoral student at Northcentral University and this ripoff report is incorrect.  Northcentral is not for the faint of heart, the undisciplined, nor passive learners.  To successfully complete any class requires that the student research the subject matter as thoroughly as possible.  There is no one to open the mind and pour in the knowledge, it must be first gained by the student and then clarified and expanded by the assigned mentor.  Anyone who needs to be walked through step by step will not benefit from the the constructivist learning environment at Northcentral University.  This is not a diploma mill; it is a hard work mill.  Learners who prefer a "sage on the stage" rather than "a guide on the side" should not attempt the doctoral program at Northcentral; they will truly fail, but not through any fault of the University. Research has shown that 50% retention occurs through discussion group, 75% from practice by doing, 90% retention occurs through teaching others and immediately using that new knowledge; that is what Northcentral provides.  There is only 5% retention from lecture, 10% from reading.  In the constructivist environment learners construct new knowledge by incorporating new experiences into old ones which results in developing new outlooks and perceptions and to rethink or in some instances learn to think critically.  This does not happen as rapidly and as thoroughly when information is just poured in and learners are told what to think, not how to think.  I am sorry that the author of this report had an unpleasant and unrewarding experience; I have not and recommend this university to those who want to truly experience learning, not just being taught.

As a current doctoral student at Northcentral in 2010 I can tell you my experience at Northcentral University has been fantastic. I hold degrees and credentials from a variety of institutions of higher learning including Stanford University, Villanova University, University of Phoenix and Arizona State University so I think I have a relatively significant point of reference on this topic. Online education relies heavily on the self motivation of the student. It's the student's responsibility to take advantage of all that the university has to offer with regards to the quality and rigor that a program offers. In the business school, I can tell that Northcentral now holds accreditation not only on a regional basis, but also on a national basis with the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). There is no higher accreditation for business schools. This accreditation is the same one held by schools suchs as Harvard, Stanford, Tufts and other top business schools. Maybe the school as made vast progress since the original compliant was filed in 2007. I hope others find this information helpful.

Northcentrals Accrediting Agencies

Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

The HLC of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools oversees the accreditation of Northcentral, the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, University of Colorado, and other degree-granting traditional and online distance learning colleges and universities in its region. The Commission's mission is to serve "the common good by assuring and advancing the quality of higher learning" through its core values: quality, integrity, innovation, diversity, inclusiveness, service, collaboration and learning. HLC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

ACBSP supervises the accreditation of Northcentral's School of Business & Technology Management. This leading accreditation association for business education "develops, promotes, and recognizes best practices that contribute to continuous improvement of business education." The Association emphasized the importance of "learning how to learn," by balancing teaching and research activities to enhance the quality of classroom instruction and contribute to student learning.

reverenddick shows up wherever NCU is being attacked to post inaccurate information.

AACSB and ABCSP are both business school accreditation programs. Unfortunately, the snobs at the B&M schools ride close herd on AACSB to ensure the accreditation is not 'tarnished' in their opinion by being awarded to a distance learning online program. That is sad as NCU continues to produce quality graduates. I am Ok with the fact that the ABCSP is smarter than AACSB, because they can read the tea leaves and see that distance learning is the real deal, and soon enough it will be the only deal.

Were you aware that some of the vaunted B&M schools that revernenddick is touting are now opening their own distance and online programs. They want to get their share of that market. After all when you are having a hard time finding students to enter you day residence program, you can make the difference with those hated distance learning people. (ha ha ha )

Don't be annoyed, however, with the revernenddick, he should be the object of our pity ... he cannot make it in either program it appears.

Another thing ... NCU just announced they have now received candidate status in the IACBE association for eventual accreditation. That, Revernenddick, is the International association of business school programs. Reckon NCU is really failing fast. Considering that this year they were bought by an investment holding company who did a real due diligence and realized the value of having an ownership share in this fine program.

Revernenddick, you should just move on with your life and try to get a degree somewhere ... but, pal, choose a B&M program where someone can work with you through the day and help you figure it all out.

With all due respect Trent,

Obviously you had a bad experience at NCU, but the school has been a rewarding experience for me. Soon, I will graduate from Northcentral University with a PhD in Business Administration and I will be proud of my accomplishment. I am a fifty-year old man and veteran of the USAF that has extensive academic experience both online and in the conventional classroom setting. Every school that I ever attended, and there have been several, had good and bad professors. NCU is certainly not the substandard institution as you describe. It sounds like you just had some bad luck. Hang in there and don't give up on your dream of obtaining your PhD.

Best Wishes

Jim

I've read a lot of posts from current students and university shills crowing about Northcentral University's ACBSP business school accreditation. Let's put all the bravado aside and talk about the facts.

There are two major business school accreditation options here in the US - AACSB and ACBSP.

AACSB (http://www.aacsb.edu/) - the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business has been around since 1916. The schools associated with this accreditation are mostly research-based institutions. Harvard University is one example.

ACBSP (http://www.acbsp.org/) - the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs was created in 1988 by a group of schools that could not be accredited by AACSB. The focus of those schools is not business research. They are in the business of teaching business.

If you look through the list of schools accredited by each agency, you'll quickly see that AACSB has the A-List of business schools. ACBSP, in contrast, doesn't. ACBSP accreditation is appropriate for undergraduate and some master's programs.

Northcentral University's business school holds only ACBSP accreditation, yet issues research doctorates.

What is the value of an NCU business research doctorate when NCU doesn't have business research accreditation?

It's easy to see how the two sets of accrediting agency acronyms can be confusing. AACSB vs ACBSP. ACBSP vs AACSB.

And it's even easier to see how schools like NCU would want to take advantage of the acronym confusion to make you think that you're getting something of far more value than it actually is.

I will say that if it is regionally accredited(hopefully the US government's department of Education and Higher learning commission are not sleeping or plain dumb idiots) and has a business school accreditation from ACBSP, they must be doing something right.

It is a plain fact that some people are not cut out for research based, doctoral level graduate degrees and maybe should focus their efforts on fulfilling their educational requirements at a place which is less demanding.

Just my two cents!

I am a Learner at NCU who has continued to progress forward in this PhD program and in one more course I will start the final leg to the Dissertation and defense. This is a personal statement, and I know some Learners struggle with the NCU program as they need their hands held throughout the program. I do not, and I have found the core, specialization, and now research/dissertation courses to be challenging and rigorous. I am offended buy this post.

Some Learners in this style of program don't have what it takes, and that is just the way it is, NCU cannot lay the groundwork and foundation that was missing from high school, undergraduate years, and even the master's program that some folks have passed through. The PhD is not for everyone, and NCU cannot make a prospect into a candidate for a PhD if they haven't the fiber it takes to successfully negotiate this course of study.

This individual probably needs to pay more money, attend a program at his local B&M University, and maybe the Advisor and Professors there can carry him through the program. However, it may be a much more structured program with class hours, advising appointments, and group assignments. These are not part of the NCU program. We study when we wish (manage our own clock), call our Learner Advisors when we feel the need, and all our work is the one Learner to one Mentor format (nothing done in group). Our Provost called this one to one format the European model. Whatever it is, it works for me. And the cost is not low, but better than most all the other online programs I looked at, as well as the fact this is indeed a regionally accredited University. And, the preliminary finding of the HLC team on the recent visit is reaffirmation is going to happen.

There are some changes needed as suggested by the HLC site team, but the new administration is on top of it, and making great progress. We have recently had a teleconference with our Provost, and he has also produced a video outlining the forward looking program he and our new President are implementing. Things are looking great for the NCU Learners.