NorthCentral University
NorthCentral University Overview
The generated data is based on reviews and questionnaires provided by PissedConsumer.com users.
NorthCentral University has a 1.4 star rating from 31 customer reviews. Consumers are mostly dissatisfied, reporting high price level, 90% unfavorable distribution, frequent requests for refund, and recurring complaints about the dissertation process and customer service.
Key Takeaways for Future Customers
- Expect persistent issues with dissertation support and mentorship.
- Prepare for billing and refund disputes and slow responses from customer service.
- Online flexibility and coursework can be positives but may not offset administrative risk.
Negative Feedback / Risk Areas
- Many customer complaints about dishonest billing, wrongful charges, and collections.
- Poor financial aid handling and sudden tuition or hold tactics.
- Frequent advisor/chair changes and lack of support in the dissertation process.
Positive Feedback
Some students note online flexibility, useful coursework, and helpful mentors in earlier phases.
The generated data is based on reviews and questionnaires provided by PissedConsumer.com users.
NorthCentral University has a 1.4 star rating from 31 customer reviews. Consumers are mostly dissatisfied, reporting high price level, 90% unfavorable distribution, frequent requests for refund, and recurring complaints about the dissertation process and customer service.
Key Takeaways for Future Customers
- Expect persistent issues with dissertation support and mentorship.
- Prepare for billing and refund disputes and slow responses from customer service.
- Online flexibility and coursework can be positives but may not offset administrative risk.
Negative Feedback / Risk Areas
- Many customer complaints about dishonest billing, wrongful charges, and collections.
- Poor financial aid handling and sudden tuition or hold tactics.
- Frequent advisor/chair changes and lack of support in the dissertation process.
Positive Feedback
Some students note online flexibility, useful coursework, and helpful mentors in earlier phases.
Media from reviews
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified Reviewer |This school sucks
- Dismissed from the MFT program after 80 unapproved hours.
- Hours were approved late, but I was still dismissed.
I’d consider other options first.
Due to my supervisor, an NCU PhD student refusing to approve my hours, I was unable to submit them to the MFT TEAM for graduation. In January, the MFT Team let me know that there were unapproved hours. In October the hours were still unapproved. Not only did she mess with my hours, but she also threw me under the bus saying I provided therapy for a family member, illegally advertised on psychology today except that psychology today literally requests the supervisor to confirm official supervision status, plus other blatant lies.
They did nothing to her for that, but I was dismissed from the program. Her refusal sparked a series of back-and-forth emails with the MFT team about her refusal plus I had 2 CDC (clinical development committee) meetings that were about my internship terminations- (site 1 had no clients and I had to find my own, site 2 was because I provided in person therapy- I was required to do 50 in person hours). The results of the CDC meetings were they allowed me to 'continue' the program since they investigated my termination finding I did nothing wrong and that she lied about me. With hours unapproved, I informed them I cant make her do anything.
They told me she is the only one who can approve them, when I rebutted strongly, they dismissed me from the program preventing me from graduating about a month out.
Now, I am unable to do anything clinical even though it's what I'd been going to school for 8 years for, it's hundreds of clinical hours wasted toward a degree and field I am not allowed to complete at NCU, moving schools at this point is not an option. My only option is their re-entry program which confers to a masters degree in applied psychology meaning they took away the clinical component of my degree (all my clinical hours are mine, but I cant do anything without a clinical degree). There is not much work for a non-clinical grad psychology degree. I reached out to my advisor who was nice, but not able to help.
I reached out to every department I could plus the deans office to no response. Id tried contacting the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Student Conduct, the Ombudsman, anyone who might care. Their reception for these calls was dismal and the phone numbers are not actually working numbers. I have yet to graduate since the re-entry added 3 academic classes.
*I can't see my own responses to comments so I'm putting it here too.
To the comment of it being 16+months, why would it change?
It wouldn't change, how it went down sucks and I'd want better for anyone considering this school.
It was an unnecessary power trip.
Those hours were eventually approved but I was still prevented from getting a clinical degree and from continuing toward full licensure, a 2500 hour difference that one works toward post grad. Only after all the hours were finally approved was I dismissed.
I am on my schools timeline so I was doing what they asked me to by reaching out to her about it, she is a student at the same school.
I thought it would change because of how long it took to approve later hours where she was the both site and direct supervisor. It took months for her to approve hundreds of hours even at her site. I let her know that summer when I first heard of some outstanding ones several times and thought she was busy and forgot.
In January- Feb 2024 I was at site 1, since she wasnt the site supervisor, there are meetings between all supervisors, student and MFT team to stay on the same page.
In May I joined her LLC so her role was site supervisor and direct supervisor. *To note, there were 2 full months here that she was my supervisor where she was not working on her own things, could have fit into her timeline easily.
Summer 2024 the school told me theyd been watching the hours be unapproved and could I please do something about it. There were 13 in person hours plus some group therapy, family, and couples therapy hours.
She said she didnt feel comfortable approving them which is where she *failed to do her part to find out more from the supervisor and other therapists at site 1. Instead of calling a meeting for evidence(?) to dispute the hours, she neglected when requested and when repeatedly approached, didnt = refused.
Since Id been in communication and working toward their communication amongst each other for months in between, she purposefully was not approving them this became a matter of her refusal for which I was *finally* given the punishment.
She had 10+ months to approve ~50 hours.
..the dismissal wasnt about the hours in the end, they didnt like how I stood up for myself in email. They didnt like me. Which sucks/ish for me..
They re-cited all the things from the CDC meetings earlier approved that were incorrect, including saying I never paid for her supervision (have receipts smh) adding sexual harassment since my email contained a slight profanity. Oops.
Ouch. It got petty real quick, which is where I left it.
I have back up plans that will probably be as good if not better, but the school could have been more understanding and not be so power hungry and ruin someones work. I also apologized immediately to the school following my frustrated email that wasnt acknowledged.
The way I was forced to part with clients unexpectedly and demanded to write a letter of termination for clients that she failed to give them for months was unprofessional. It was a hard loss all around, clients reaching out, me unable to respond or inform them on whats going on, having to go through the school to let them know she never gave them the letter making me look worse.
There were new people reaching out on my profile, so it saddens me that I wont ever be able to connect with people in that way anymore.
She took the 15 or so clientele base Id grown through referrals and my psychology today profile that I pay for.
Id been taught at other jobs how to professionally obtain referrals, I felt poached.
Thank goodness for life and growth thats also got me, leading me in more positive directions!!
It gives me a lot to think about where I might continue my education, but sometimes choices are limited so .. doing the right thing is always the best
- Online
- Uncaring for students
- Non responsive
- Thieves
Preferred solution: Apology
User's recommendation: Find a better school
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerPoor communication
- I've been trying to reach the school or someone at NCU for almost a month.
- I withdrew in 2021 and need my transcript or withdrawal docs.
I have been trying to reach out to the school or someone who works for NCU or National University for almost a month now. I withdrew myself back in 2021, and now I need my transcript or documentation stating my withdrawal. I have reached out to several different people and have not heard back from anyone.
Preferred solution: Deliver product or service ordered
MBA, DBA, PhD, BBA
- NCU online offers MBA, DBA, and PhD programs.
- BBA is noted as an important addition.
- The reviewer studies online at Northcentral University.
Notherncentarl university NCU.edu online, James Noi monydeng appreciate northcentral university NCU.edu communication completely support master of business Administration MBA, also Doctor of business Administration DBA, successful online business Administration in PHD, requires additional, Bachelors of Business Administration BBA all very important excellent quality education I doing online Northcentral university NCU.edu online always, by James Noi monydeng.
User's recommendation: Certificate successful congratulation
This review is written by an individual who has purchased the reviewed product/service and/or confirms being a paying customer of this company. Check our FAQ
Verified Buyer |This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerFA office sucks!
- FAO told me late I can't continue due to a 9,150 shortfall.
- They set students up to fail and don't assist with grants or scholarships.
The FAO waiting until I got to my dissertation phase to tell me I no longer to continue school because of my shortfall of 9150.00. They set their students up to fail and create a big debt with no degree.
They are worthless and do not assist student with grants and scholarships to finish school. I did my research and still allowed them ti sucker me into this school.
User's recommendation: Stay away!
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerExpensive and not fair practice
- I was a doctoral student for years.
- Mother fell ill; I asked for extension.
- They won't accept earned classes and they took my money.
I was a student there for years working towards my doctoral degree .
Mother took Ill begged for extension - no one cared - finally able to continue after fighting with them - had to take a leave and after all that $$ and time they wont take my already earned classes and let me finish ! Poor service -bad practice - took my money and wont let me finish !
Oh and last time I called said they would call back - still waiting !! Very upset
- Advisor was kind
- Will not let me finish
Preferred solution: Full refund
User's recommendation: Stay away !
Let People KNow how Shady this Company is
- President Pat Pendelton tells jokes about his time in Mexico, while HR fires those who speak up and a female employee's misconduct is mentioned.
used to work for this company and what a *** show. All the way from the top with the President Pat Pendelton telling jokes about his time in mexico and a lady screwing a donkey to Angie Walker and all the other HR ppl that protect the comany by firing those who speak up or dont follow thier rules.
User's recommendation: dont go to school here it is a very shady company and they lie to you
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerDissertation Chair
- An A student was told the chair they did not know how to write.
- Topic changed after being deemed unworthy; misregistration on a third attempt.
I was an A student and when I got to the dissertation and my chair stated that I did not know the first thing about writing. If all of my previous professors gave me A's the dissertation prospectus should have been the collection of all the papers I had submitted as final assignments together.
However, I took the class three times and after being told I was not worthy by the chair of my degree program.
I changed my topic and was ignored by the chair teaching the class, then took it a third time and was not registered into the correct class. Don't was
- Flexible hours
- Flexibility of being online
- Failure to deliver services as promised
- Fraudulent practices
- No stability and accountability for the mentors and chairs
Preferred solution: I would like a degree ABD for the fortune that I paid and the way the Chair treated me and set me up for failure twice.
User's recommendation: Don't go here find a real university
Bad Professors and no advisor
- Two professors teach at seven other universities.
- QN and QL are hard graders; feedback has typos; material dated.
- There were nine advisors in 20 months.
I have had two professors who teach at seven other Universities in the School of Business. My QN and QL professors were pretty hard graders with unrealistic expectations.
Their feedback was full of misspelled words and grammar errors. Also, usually, the material is outdated and over five years old.
In the QL class, the assignments are so hard to understand, disorganized, and you are expected to complete task that are not listed. Oh, and in 20 months, I had nine student advisors.
User's recommendation: Look closely, the one on one professor marketing crap is a scam.
Can't get touch with anybody for a resolution
- Adviser quit during my sports management doctorate.
- I was on track to graduate; financial aid ran out and I owe $2,600.
I'm in the same boat with everybody here!!! I was in the doctorate program for sports and athletic management.
Everything was going smoothly until all my adviser was quitting. I was passing all my classes with b average or above and was on schedule to graduate on time. That was until it was time to redo my financial aid. I was told that I wasn't eligibe for anymore money.
I only had 4 classes left and on top of that fhe class I was currently in wasn't paid for. It didn't get an email or an call from my adviser that my class wasn't paid, so now I'm stuck with a bill for $2600 that I don't have.
I asked about a scholarship to cover my remaining classes but was told that I must pay for the class that is $ 2600. Please don't apply to this school
- Dc lack of focused realistic feedback and mentoring as promised
- No stability and accountability for the mentors and chairs
- Lack of support for the dissertation process
Preferred solution: Take this collection off my report and give me a resolution because all my classes should've been paid for and if I was running out of financial aid money, somebody should've call me and I'd drop the class so i wouldn't owe any money
User's recommendation: Please pick another school
For Profit - not education
- Promised 15% educator discount wasn't honored; discount not on the form or applied later; tuition remains high and a class action lawsuit was filed.
I was promised a 15% deduction in tuition because I am a certified educator with an Ayurvedic Medical Association. After reading all the terrible reviews online, I began to question signing the financial agreement NCU emailed to me.
Then I noticed that the discount was not included on the form. When I asked about it I was instructed by Paul to sign the form and the discount would be given to me later. Now, I am told that I will not receive the discount I was promised. I also see that the school has a class action lawsuit filed against them for dishonest behavior.
Seriously, all I wanted to do was get through the Master's program and go on to my PhD.
I was willing to pay the tuition, minus 15%, which was still more expensive than many online programs. Geez!
- Sounds good
- Dishonesty about degree cost
Preferred solution: Price reduction
Comprehensive Exam (subjective grading) UNFAIR
- Recruited by an NCU advisor for an Industrial Psychology Doctoral program; promised support but a 2011 exam with two attempts led to termination.
In 2007 I retired from the U.S. Army after 30 years of active duty service.
I was recruited by your (NCU) military advisor to review your Industrial Psychology Doctorial program. Your advisor assured me (before I agreed to start a lengthy program) that your team would be supportive from start to graduation. I completed all academic requirements and selected with approval of my dissertation committee. In 2011, after over four years of studies, I learned of a COMPREHENSIVE EXAM requirement to proceed to dissertation data collection.
Grading was based on one instructor's subjective interpretation of written response.
Only two attempts allowed before termination (which I was) from years of study. My only option was to start under the new program that no credits earned could be used for the Industrial. Psych. program.
I unsuccessfully appealed the decision to no avail.
Essentially rending all my 911 G.I.
Bill Education funds used void. All this occurred once my G.I.
Bill funds were exhausted.
My complaint is, I was not supported as assured at the beginning of my studies with your school. Please advise regarding fairness and options available to me at this time.
Jackie
- Prolonging dissertation to increase their profits
- Faculty
- Financial and academic advisors
Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution
Northcentral University is a high priced SCAM!!!!!!!!
- They say the MAMFT program cannot guarantee practicum placement.
- Credits don't transfer if you change programs; you must re-enroll with new fees.
Northcentral university is a scam. I was in the Marriage and Family Therapy program to obtain a masters.
I asked my advisor and many other staff members if it will be hard for me to find a practicum or internship in my state and the reassured me for three years that I would be able to find placement and they also stated that they would help me locate placement. Now that I am unable to find placement they told me I would have to take a program that I am not interested in to transfer my credits or that I would have to withdraw and come back, when I can find placement. So I asked about changing my program to a Masters in social work and they are telling me I can, but I have to be treated as a new student and start all over. None of my credits are going to transfer and I have to pay new student fees.
They do not care due to that is more money they will receive. I would not advise anyone to take their MAMFT program online because they are not going to ensure that you can complete the program, but they are going to rake in the dollars.
I feel that I should have been advise to leave the school in the beginning, when I brought my concerns to them about finding placement instead of being told that I will get placement. Well all I can say if you wanna rack up thousands of dollars in loans and not be able to complete your program Northcentral is the school for you, but if you want quality education and actually complete your degree please go somewhere else.
- Failure to deliver services as promised
Preferred solution: Justice
No recommendation
- Applying for the You Have What It Takes scholarship.
- Ruhango District, Rwanda zip code is being refused.
- User seeks help with the application.
I trying to apply for scholarship and asked to indicate "zip code", my zip code of Ruhango District in Rwanda is being refused by the system. I need the help how I can apply for " You have what it takes scholarship". My email address is: athanasekanamugire@***.com.
Universities, Colleges and Schools Expert Talks
Terribly Disappointed
- PhD in General Psychology from NCU.
- Applied for adjunct professor; told I lacked experience despite 20 years at University of Baltimore.
After finishing my PhD at NCU in General Psychology I applied for an opening as an adjunct professor. I spent a lot of time filling out the application and writing a narrative of my experience and submitting y vitae.
I never heard yes or no.
I inquired and after several attempts was told I did not have enough experience. I have been teaching at the University of Baltimore for 20 years and have a distinguished teaching record.
Preferred solution: apology
HORRIBLE/PISSED!
- The program is poor quality and unstable with recurring issues.
- Scholarship marketing is pushy; winners not announced; not recommended.
I enrolled in Northcentral University's Master Program. Once enrolled in my first class I encountered the poor quality of the program.
Upon further research, I see many of the problems I have encountered are regular problems at the university. The program promises one-on-one with faculty, though the faculty frequently has issues connecting with students due to internet and phone issues (the professor's phone line at the university is frequently down and they are unavailable, even during office hours). Students are given reading and writing assignments, but no further engaging activities are provided. The program does not seem stable.
Speaking with other students who are currently in the program or have dropped out, these are all regular occurrences. They were unable to get assistance for clinical placement while in the program, which is a requirement to graduate from the program. The university does not provide information on the number of students who have graduated from the program, and from what I have found in my research, it is not a reputable university. The university has not done anything to address these issues.
Upon my withdrawal from the program, no one has contacted me to follow up on my issues with the program. The only follow up I received was pushy sales/marketing trying to get me to re-enroll in the program with the chance to win a scholarship. The university's scholarship program is a scam, requiring students to enroll in the program before they can apply. Scholarship winners are not announced.
Overall, I do not recommend this program to others. It is not a quality educational institution.
NorthCentral University- Prescott Arizona- Unprofessional/ Unethical
This was my last chance to get the IRB appllcation approved before being dismissed from the PHD program at Northcentral University- Prescott Arizonia. When the class started in October 2018 I submitted my assignments on the portal for two consecutive weeks, and didn’t hear any feed back from my mentor (Dr.
James Jones). When I emailed and asked him did he provide feedback he claimed he didn't see my submissions. I sent him screen shots of the assignments submitted that he claimed he didn’t receive. When he saw the screen shots of the assigments and repleid back he was oh I will have you feed back tomorrow.
Another week passed, didn't hear anything from him. I talked to my academic advisor (Matthew Cormack) and expressed my cocnern to him that I havent heard form Dr. James Jones and this was my last chance and time is running out. (Between the revisions and feedback to get approval before the semester ends.) I sent an email to Dr.
Jones and academic advisor, which were forwarded to Dr. Scheg (Assistant Dean School Of Business). After a telephone converstion with Dr. Scheg, magically Dr.
James Jones sends feedback back on my work. (imagine that!!!!) (The course is halfway throuhg the semester now). When I called him and he answers with an attitude (because I making him do his job, and got called out for sitting on my paper work, and sitting around collecting a payckeck at my expesne $ 3,000 plus dollars) . Finally, the IRB Application gets submitted to the chair.
On December 24 2018, Dr. Jones asked me (via email and text messages) to fill out a incomplete grade form so we it gives us an extension to give us time to receive feedback form the chair and submit the necessary changes). (I have text messages, email). Fast forward the chair claims that feedback was sent back.
(to it was sent back who I don’t know) , but I never received any feedback from them or Dr. James Jones since the incomplete grade form was emailed to Dr. James Jones on 24 December 2018 . I checked the message board and email and no feedback was sent back to me.
I sent the docuemntion sent the supporting documentation to my academic advisor (Matthew Cormack and his Team Lead. (Lori Demiski) Lori mentioned she would bring this up to the Dean but would not guarantee any outcomes. In the mean time I have been kicked out of the Phd program at Northcentral University. In my email to Matthew and Lori I, asked could them to get from the chair/ Dr.
James Jones docuemntation to show that the feedabk was emailed back to me or posted on the NCU Portal. Yesterday, I talked to my academic advisor (Matthew Macormack) and he metioend that I was officially being kicked out of the prorgram, and even he could email the feedback was supposeldy sent to me and even if I received it, that there wound not be enough time for me to fix the dicsrepancies from the chair during the period that the incomplete grade foem coeverd. That statement Matthew Cormack from him proved that THEY LIED. They should have at least told me they would act like this so, we would not waste each other’s time.
How is some going to tell me that I wouldn’t have enough time to make the corrections etc? Being a Military Veteran who honorably served and defended this country, this is a slap in the face and total disrespect on how unethical this situation was handled.
- Flexibility of being online
- Fraudulent practices
- Faculty
- Failure to deliver services as promised
Preferred solution: I want a refund/ Given the chance to make changes on feedback I never received.
About
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NorthCentral University was founded by Dr. Donald Hecht in 1996. The University offers to its students such programs as Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral, School of Business and Technology Management, School of Education, School of Behavioral and Health Sciences, Degree Finder and Course Catalog. NorthCentral University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. It is a pioneer of 100% online learning and also offers different kinds of online degree programs. University's library offers searchable databases including full-text articles and abstracts of leading publications in fields concerning all the degree programs. NorthCentral University offers scholarships for employees of federal, state, county and municipal agencies in the U.S.
NorthCentral University is ranked 73 out of 1258 in Universities, Colleges and Schools category
USA
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You say in January...still in October the hours were unapproved. What made you think in January 2024 that status would change and why not try to get approved hours at your supervisor’s choosing? It’s been 16+ months.