National UniversityReviews of nu.edu

This has been, without question, one of the worst academic experiences I have ever encountered. The program is plagued by systemic issues—chronic delays in feedback, unclear and constantly shifting expectations, and a complete lack of accountability from faculty. I submitted fully completed work and was repeatedly left in limbo, waiting with no guidance on how to move forward. The process feels intentionally inefficient, trapping students in an endless cycle of revisions and resubmissions without clear direction. What is even more concerning is the culture. When I attempted to ask for clarification or advocate for myself, I was met with responses that were dismissive, unhelpful, and at times belittling. Instead of mentorship, you’re met with resistance. Instead of support, you’re met with silence or deflection. This is not how a doctoral program—or any institution of higher education—should operate. The lack of communication, professionalism, and respect for students’ time and investment is unacceptable. For those balancing careers, deployments, or real-world responsibilities, this system is not just frustrating—it is completely unworkable. At this point, it feels less like an institution focused on student success and more like a process that benefits from keeping students stuck. If you value your time, money, and professional growth, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere. There are far better institutions that actually support their students instead of working against them.

Great experience. I am an NCU original, and the transfer to NU was smooth and great. I am proud to say I am an NU graduate.

National University is not for those who want to be babysat. It’s for the go getters. You have to be a self starter and proactive about your studies. Graduate school is not High school, where the teacher are pretty much your baby sitter. I’ll give NU a 10 Star if I had the opportunity. Best school for working adults.

I completed my masters in counseling psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy and had a great experience navigating such a complex program due to the state of California having so many requirements that are needed before and after graduation. Nonetheless, my instructors were able to answer all my questions and once I graduated, they made sure to provide my conferred degree with instructions on how to apply with the state for pre-licensure. I am now licensed and have applied everything I have learned into my current career as a mental health clinician.

My experience with National University’s financial aid office has been extremely frustrating and concerning. For over 2 months, I have been trying to get my financial aid processed so I can start my program, and instead of moving forward, they have created constant delays and unnecessary obstacles. I was told that because I am enrolled at multiple institutions, I can only receive funding for direct costs (tuition/fees) and cannot receive additional loan funds or refunds. This directly conflicts with the Federal Student Aid Handbook (Volume 3, Chapter 5), which clearly states that schools cannot impose blanket limits on Direct Loan borrowing and that students can receive loans at multiple schools with proper coordination. Instead of following federal guidance, they applied an internal policy that restricts borrowing and blocks access to funds I am eligible for. They also went as far as contacting other institutions, including the University of Phoenix, attempting to gather financial aid information without properly resolving my aid at their own school first. On top of that, they required me to provide full financial aid breakdowns from multiple schools before even processing my aid. They even told me they could not set up my financial aid and needed to delay my enrollment due to “overlapping loans,” which is not supported by federal regulations. The result has been over two months of delays, confusion, and unnecessary stress—all because the financial aid office is not applying federal rules correctly. Students should not have to fight their own school just to access federal financial aid. If you are relying on financial aid, be extremely cautious and verify everything yourself. Avangelina Cazares

Had awesome professors, it is what you make it

I came very close to completing my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) at National University, but unfortunately, I had to withdraw due to significant communication and support shortcomings from the MFT team. This experience turned out to be the most frustrating and disappointing aspect of my journey with an online university. Over the course of five years, I dedicated countless hours to my studies, striving to meet all requirements and gain the knowledge necessary to succeed in this field. As I approached the final stages, specifically focusing on my Capstone course, I encountered a major obstacle. The MFT team rejected my clinical hours and proposed that I undertake a 12-week extension course instead. This suggestion felt like a complete waste of my time and effort, as I had already invested so much into my training and was eager to move forward. Despite these challenges, I am grateful to have been accepted into a Ph.D. program. I am hopeful that this new academic path will provide a more supportive environment where I can flourish without the setbacks that I faced at National University. I look forward to a fresh start and the opportunity to engage in a constructive and enriching educational experience at another successful University.

If I could give less than 1 star I would. I just wanted to know how many credits from my previous college would transfer over to their school. I was required to enroll and sign up for a million emails and newsletters and text messages before I could even speak to anyone about the transcripts. It took 3 weeks and mass emails with the all the advisors, teachers, and Director of the School before my transcripts were recognized. I spoke to one advisor on the phone stating I needed financial aide options before enrollment now and he said he would get back to me. That night, at 5pm, I got a voicemail stating "congratulations youre enrolled, your classes start tonight". I never agreed to this! I immediately called back the next day, dis-enrolled and told them to NEVER call me again. Im still getting emails from the school!!