National UniversityReviews of nu.edu

1 star. I was accepted less than a week before my course started, and nearly a month into the term, my financial aid still isn't resolved. I've called, emailed, and escalated repeatedly, only to be told conflicting things: first that my aid couldn't be processed without clarifying my housing status (already correctly listed on my FAFSA), then that I supposedly had a graduate loan elsewhere — which turned out to be a completely different loan under my name, unrelated to my own enrollment. Basic data errors like this shouldn't happen, let alone go uncorrected after multiple calls. Staff have been inconsistent and, at times, dismissive of the real hardship this has caused. I've had to escalate this to the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman, the Department of Education, and the school's accreditor just to get any movement. If you're considering this school, know that financial aid processing here has been a serious, ongoing problem.

I am very disappointed with my enrollment experience with National University. I started the process excited about pursuing my doctoral degree and completed all of the requested paperwork with every intention of attending. Unfortunately, my experience changed once I reached the financial aid portion of the enrollment process and learned that I was not eligible for additional federal financial aid. After that, I felt that I was treated differently, almost as though not qualifying for federal financial aid meant that I could not afford to attend the university. What made this especially disappointing is that I was prepared to pay for my education through other means, including my employer's tuition reimbursement program. I expected someone to discuss alternative payment options with me and help me understand how I could continue my enrollment without federal financial aid. Instead, I was left feeling dismissed and as though I was no longer considered a serious prospective student. A doctoral degree is a major commitment, and I believe students should feel supported regardless of whether they are using federal financial aid, employer tuition assistance, or paying personally. I was genuinely interested in attending National University, but this experience has made me reconsider that decision and look at other universities. I hope National University reviews how prospective students are supported once federal financial aid is no longer an option. Sometimes a student not qualifying for financial aid does not mean they cannot pay for school it simply means they need to discuss a different way of paying for their education.

I've been with NU since November 2024. They have always had problems with the financial aid. The lack of transparency is the WORST IN HISTORY. Why would they switch to a USELESS system? Don't you TEST to make sure all tiles and features work? This is completely unacceptable. They will owe me a whole lot of money. I haven't received a disbursement since MAY 2026, 3 MONTHS. I don't want to switch colleges because I'm almost done with my program. My disbursement will be held up even longer. I rely on these funds; I HAVE MINOR CHILDREN. They are losing students and staff. The counselors have zero information. Lawyer up everyone

I have tried to switch my degree from computer science to program management for a couple months now and there is no headway. I’ve now been out of class for 6 months and need to attend to get my GI bill benefits to support my family. No information from my Academic advisor or anyone else from the school.

My experience with National University has been deeply disappointing and unnecessarily stressful. I enrolled with an open mind, choosing to overlook the school’s widely reported administrative issues because I believe institutions deserve the chance to prove themselves. Instead, the university has repeatedly failed to meet even basic standards of communication, follow‑through, and student support. A simple enrollment correction for a required course has dragged on far beyond any reasonable timeframe, despite multiple assurances that it was being handled. The lack of urgency, transparency, and accountability has directly disrupted my academic progress and created avoidable stress. What concerns me most is that these issues are not isolated. They reflect the very patterns of disorganization and neglect that many students have publicly warned about. When a university cannot execute fundamental administrative tasks or provide timely, accurate updates, it places students at risk academically and financially. I expected professionalism, responsiveness, and respect for students’ time and goals. Instead, I’ve been left waiting, documenting every communication, and questioning the institution’s ability to support its students. National University needs to address these systemic failures immediately, because no student should have to fight this hard just to remain enrolled in the classes they are paying for. Then after making me wait for 3 weeks the schools registrar's office denied the request, put in by the academic advisor, to have the class readded. Finally, after 3.5 weeks they took care of me and got me enrolled into classes. I'm back on track but it has taken lots of effort from me, and I have been blessed with a really good Instructor now. I am appreciative of the staff at the school who pushed to get things rolling for me. Thank you all.

Ran out of space to update so here it is: UPDATE, September 13, 2026 My third course starts tomorrow. It will be the third course I begin with no financial aid behind it. My 2025-2026 disbursement is still unreleased. I authorized it on August 6, nine minutes after I was asked to, in the exact language requested. I set my refund preference on August 12. That was more than five weeks ago. National University's own published policy releases a federal credit balance within fourteen calendar days. My federal loan record confirms the remaining funds are certified and undrawn, and interest accrues on them regardless. My 2026-2027 aid year is still unpackaged, roughly three months after I submitted my FAFSA with both required school codes. In the middle of that, an advance arrived against that same unpackaged year. No corresponding loan appears on my federal record. No one has explained what it covers. I have not touched it. My ledger still shows the full balance outstanding. A payment meant to fix something fixed nothing and made my account harder to read. I escalated to an associate director on August 27. He replied once, committed on September 1 to auditing my ledger with two other departments, and has not responded since. I followed up three times, most recently September 9, after my assigned advisor returned from leave. Not one of my questions has been answered. I have now used every internal channel this university offers. I submitted National University's own feedback form, the step required before a complaint can go to the accreditor, and received no response. My formal grievance of August 25 carried a ten business day response window. It closed September 9 with no response. My cases with the Department of Education and WSCUC remain open. UPDATE, September 1, 2026 Nothing is resolved, and the picture has gotten less clear rather than more. My 2025-2026 loan funds are still missing. My federal NSLDS record confirms the loan is originated and undisbursed. The money exists, National University has not drawn it, and it has been applied to nothing. I continue to accrue interest on it. Separately, a 2026-2027 institutional advance posted and was then refunded to me in full. I will not touch it, because both of my course charges remain unpaid and no one has told me what that money is meant to cover. Both courses were billed at the undiscounted rate with my VA discount left off, $682 more per course. I found each of these issues myself, by reconciling my own ledger. Not one was disclosed to me by the university. Whether staff were unaware of them or chose not to tell me, I still do not know, and that uncertainty is its own problem. I filed a formal grievance through the university’s internal grievance system on August 25 and have received no response. I have also filed with the FSA Feedback Center, the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman, and WSCUC, National University’s accreditor. I am three courses from finishing and currently have a 4.0 GPA. I should be doing coursework, not auditing my own student account line by line.

DO NOT enroll to this school. Especially for graduate studies. Here is an email I received from an advisor today...No answers or solutions, just blame on FA department. When they stated it was their "system update" originally that caused this issue: "At this time, National University is still experiencing delays related to the recent system transition and the processing of federal financial aid funding. Although your financial aid information may have already been reviewed or packaged, the University is still waiting to receive the applicable funds from the Department of Education. Unfortunately, we do not currently have a confirmed date for when those funds will be received by National University, and because of that, I am unable to provide an exact date for when your financial aid disbursement or stipend/refund will be processed. Once the funding is received and processed by the University, your eligible financial aid will first be applied toward any outstanding tuition and fees. Any remaining eligible credit balance will then be processed for disbursement to you as your stipend/refund. I understand how important these funds can be, and I know the continued uncertainty can be frustrating. Please know that the delay does not mean that your eligible funding has been lost. We are continuing to monitor the situation and will provide updates as additional information becomes available. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding during this transition"

Run away from this school. I've been at NU for a whole year and they still haven't processed any of my student loans. In recent months, it has become apparent that they are not processing any financial aid for most students. The entire institution is a mess right now, and they're making life miserable for thousands of students with their incompetent and shady behavior.