I have been a PhD student at Capella for almost a year. I have had some great professors and have learned a great deal that I can apply in the workplace. As a matter of fact, when I was preparing for the Texas Administrator's test, I was able to use the knowledge I gained while attending Capella. Although the classes are informative, and the learning is good, there are some downfalls. One of the biggest ones is the amount you have to pay. In order to receive your PhD, you have to attend three residencies. These are not part of your $4485 tuition every ten weeks. Therefore, you have to pay your $1485 for each residency, $500 (approximately) for the hotel, $500 (approximately) for flight fee. I am a single mother who is trying to get ahead by earning a PhD, so I can give my children a better life. However, it is hard to make ends meet when you are worried about how you are going to cover the bills while knowing that you have to attend another residency. Besides the residencies, I have also had to pay additional money for a computer program which I need for one of the research classes. Shouldn't they tell you that while you are ordering books and figuring out your budget? No! They don't. Like other comments I have read, I have not had the best experience with the financial aid office. I have waited for many weeks to receive my reimbursement funds, so I can purchase books and make plans to attend residencies. Each representative tells a different story; thus, you are left not knowing what to do or who to believe.

I am considering transferring to another online university because I like the flexibility aspect of distance leanring. I don't know how many of the 30 hours I have accumulated with transfer, but I am looking right now. If I had to do it all over again, I would do a much better search of online universities before choosing Capella. They work very hard to get you in, and then they leave you hanging.

Here is my two cents worth. I am deciding on whether going to a brick and mortar or online school makes much difference. In my line of work where I live I do not think it does. I have worked in a clinical mental health agency for five years(10 years of experience in mental health all together) and here is the breakdown of all the workers

Regional director(highest degree in our company)-Liberty University online master's degree(licensed)

Clinical director-satellite courses through Radford-just needs test to attain a license in social work
counselors-all master's level

University of Va(plus 25 years of experience)-no chance of advancement with this one-no licenser

Radford University-for her there is only a chance for advancement because she is getting her licenser(just needs the test)-she got treated awful before this

Director for TDT- a brick and mortar school-only got position due to licenser readiness

So in my company get licensed. It does not matter what school you go to here. Licenser is the big factor.
Corporate does not care about PHD's at all. We have one interning. As a matter of fact the only person they would go out of their way to hire is a psychiatrist which they would kill for. The dirty truth is where you are educated does not mean a whole lot(in this company). By the way this is a company who has corporations all over the United States and jobs are very competitive here as well. By the way I have done both traditional and online education.

Sounds like a recent reviewer (mabby) needs to do some anger management work. FYI I have helped a half dozen "Capella" students finish their thesis and graduate, so I DO know something about Capella, although not from the vantage point of a student. You might also note that 50% of PhD students fail to finish the thesis because the process is so overwhelming. I am willing to wage that the non-completion rate is higher for Capella (or any distance education)students. But I am sure you know that since you are a self-proclaimed genius and ... oh yeah, the 1986 Scripps National Spelling Bee winner ... LOL

I am nearing the end of what has truely been on of the most rewarding and challenging journeys of my life - getting a PhD in Information Technology from Capella University. Two and a half years ago, after about six months of performing due diligence to select the right on-line PhD program, I selected Capella from a VERY short list of accredited on-line programs. My choices were Capella, Nova Southeastern, Phoenix, and Walden. Without going into the reasons why I did not select the other programs, let me say that I have been pleased with everything about the university. The quality of the program is excellent, the amount of work is challenging but appropriate for the doctoral level, the professors have been just as good or better than the ones I had in my more traditional programs, the on-line library and database access has been superior, and both the comprehensive examination and the dissertation have been very challenging capstones to the program.

Many people still have the perception that an on-line education is not worth much - especially at the Phd level. Fortunately, as more univerities enter the on-line arena (a recent report from the Chronicle of Higher Education shows that about 20 percent of all US universities are now offering on-line programs), this perception will fade. More importantly, their is a ever-increasing cadre of senior managers who are impressed that people would be able to juggle careers, family, and full time university work at the PhD level.

The only complaint I have at all is the time it took for some professors to turn around feedback. It was more annoying than anything else, but it sure was hard waiting almost 3 weeks to learn that I passed my comprehensive exam. I have heard that the University has a high failure rate on the exam, but that is only heresay, as I passed it and Capella will not release offical numbers.

The negative reviews on Capella seem to center around financial aid problems (which I have been fortunate enough to avoid) and the fact that the program is way too hard. I personally like the fact that the program is so challenging, it adds to the reputation of the program. Capella understands that their niche in the for-profit educational scene is having the highest caliber educational standards for all their programs; it is a reputation that they jealously guard. I will be proud to have a PhD from Capella as my capstone educational degree.

I am a first year undergraduate at Capella University. I am currently taking my first class and so far I'm very pleased with how quickly, efficiently, and easy the whole process was for me to get enrolled and started.

After researching for most of the summer, I was pleasantly surprised with all of the positive reviews for this school. It does seem students studying for their MA or phd seem to dislike Capella, but undergrads are pleased with the school.

So far the expectations of Capella students have a healthy balance of challenging and achievable. If you dedicate yourself to reading everything that the professor writes, and if you follow directions well, you shouldn't have a problem.

Out of almost 30 students in my class, only a fraction of them have done what was required. Either the other students haven't reviewed the syllabus or they are still waiting for someone to knock on their door with a lecture hall packed in their briefcase. It's amazing to me how many students have gone through the trouble to enroll and pay for the class but yet, we haven't heard a peep out of them and it's already Week 2 of 10 weeks.

Compared to the majority of fellow students, I should do well on my journey for a valuable and valid education.

I'm assuming some of the nay-sayers for Capella are these students who expect everything to fall into their hands and refuse to follow directions. Yes, if you choose to overlook important notes from the professor you might miss your assignment topic and deadline. It's not the professor's job to personally call you and remind you to study and complete your paper on time. High School teachers don't even offer that level of personal service, so why should college professors?

Now, being that I'm only in my second week of classes at Capella, my review of the school may very well be premature. Only time will tell. If my rating and opinions change over time, I'll be sure to come back and update this post. Until then, my high rating and glowing review will stand.

I attended Capella from 2003 until 2007 when I graduated with my Masters in Information Technology. I work full time as a network consultant and with my Masters I was able to start teaching online.



After a little more then a year off I decided to go back to Capella and get my PhD in General Information Technology. I only did this after a lot of soul searching and assuring myself that it was the right thing to do.



Capella gave me 48 credits for my previous course work which is max. I'm filling out the application for their $5000.00 grant and I've gotten the federal loan to pay for the first three quarters or until the end of the school year.



OK, somethings to know about Capella. They have a great online classroom and I can't recall ever having a bad course. Some instructors were better then others but all were pretty top notch.



Capella will put a bounty on you if you owe them money. They love their money but they have some of the best accreditations I have seen for any college and that is where you need to do your homework. Accreditation is everything when choosing your college.



One way to save money with Capella is not to purchase any books. My courses were all technology related and pretty simple and using the Internet to find what you need is just part of doing research. I got wise to that real quick.



There administration is top notch and the academic advisor's are excellent. I never had a communication problem with any of them. I call and they answer the phone.



I did check out other online PhD programs but none offered the selection in Technology that Capella did. I guarantee you that if I had a bad experience with Capella I would not have gone back to do a PhD. I teach for the University of Phoenix and they give you a huge break in tuition if you work for and take your PhD program with them but they have only one PhD in Technology and it was nothing I was interested in.



Any PhD program is going to cost you plenty and I'm convinced that the bang for the buck is in the accreditation of the institution and the acceptance of the degree. I still feel that Capella has both going for it and if it didn't, I would have gone else where.



Cliff in Tucson



***********Update! Summer 2009!********

This is follow up to my last post on entering the PhD program at Capella. It was a mistake and I now wish I hadn't done it. everything was going along pretty smooth until the Summer semester of 2009 when I had the great misfortune of having Dr. Lawrence (Lonny) Ness as one of my instructors. Here is living proof that not everyone is cut out to be an online instructor. It is my belief that Dr. Ness has a personal agenda for being an instructor online and it has more to to with feeding his ego and reading his resume to a captive audience then anything else. To say I had a terrible experience with his class would be an understatement.

After I had attended the first track of the residency and I began to question my judgment about my enrollment at that time. I meet many of the instructors at the colloquium and soon realized that most had found the one place that would hire them based on nothing but their credentials.

I should have stopped with my Masters and been happy but after a year in Capella's PhD program, I can tell you the only thing I got from it was more college loans to repay.

My advise, if your looking for an online PhD program, do yourself a favor and find one somewhere else but not at Capella.

Cliff in Tucson

Hi

I have a few questions that maybe someone who has graduated from Capella U can answer.

1. I know Capella U is Accredited with the state of Minnesota but how does that translate to other states if you get a degree from them?
2. Are their degrees accepted everywhere?
3. What is the placement rate in jobs for graduates of their programs?

Thanks,

I’m a senior engineer at NASA with over 20 years of experience working on high tech stuff including Space Shuttle and satellites. I’ve got a B.S. in Electronics Engineering and a M.S. in System Engineering from Johns Hopkins University – a prestigious brick and mortar school. I have also completed PhD courses at Johns Hopkins, George Washington University, and the University of Maryland. My M.S. degree took me 3 painful years to complete that involved driving 100 miles round trip 2 – 3 nights per week. The worst part was dealing with all the stupid group projects with a bunch of strangers that I will never ever see again. I work in groups and teams every day in my job, and I don’t need any of that hassle while trying to earn a degree. Don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled with my M.S. degree, I just did not enjoy the logistics involved. I have taken several courses at Capella University towards the PhD in Organization and Management. Let me put it this way, at all the brick and mortar schools I went to I earned a 4.0 average (i.e., straight A’s). At Capella, I got my first “B” in a graduate course, which was due to my lack of good writing skills. I was shocked, as the pillar of my personal academic expectations that I have placed on myself has been shaken! So, suffice it to say, I am challenged at Capella. What I love about Capella is that it is all about me, my ideas, and what I want to research and write about and I find this very refreshing. The professors have always been very responsive to my questions and when I seek advice on a topic. It is funny to have an instructor mention that he is sitting in a ski chalet teaching the course and responding to your emails – so you have to accept that you are in an entirely different learning environment. At the same time, I am sitting at my computer at midnight in my PJs or logging on from my hotel room in the middle of the night – very different from traditional learning environments.

I’m married to a very supportive wife and also have a five-year old daughter that keeps me quite busy, and I travel frequently for my job. At age 44, it is a challenge going to classes and balancing work and family. With Capella, I can log in whenever I want, do all my research online or at my library at work or the public library, and get all my work done during off hours. You definitely have to rely on your own self-motivation to complete a course – very different from a traditional classroom setting, but I must say, I find that I learn a lot more about the subject matter in terms of breadth and depth than I have found in traditional schools. Now, my other degrees are engineering, with heavy doses of Calculus and Physics, etc., and I would find it difficult to take those kinds of courses exclusively online. However, for the qualitative nature of many of the course at Capella, the learning environment suits me just fine. I am pursuing the PhD for the personal credential to help support my goal of writing books and technical papers – this is my post-retirement plan in nine years. Also, my employer (NASA) loves the fact that I am pursuing a degree (no, they really didn’t care that it is an online school – that is, after all, the technological trend these days, and it helps the employer balance their work demands on the employee while at the same time demanding continuing education). If you are pursuing a PhD as a teaching credential to be applied at a brick and mortar school, you probably should think twice. This is not due to an inferior education at Capella, but due to the perception it invokes as an online school. The tides are shifting in this perception, albeit very slowly. In a professional setting, however, one that involves consulting, perhaps, this is a great way to get a credential. In my 20 years of work experience I have never had anyone ask me where I got my BS and MS degrees from – it just does not matter. I obviously work with a lot of folks that have PhDs from traditional schools and I have never heard anyone ask where their degrees came from – they are just referred to as Dr. So-and-so, and where they got their degree from just does not typically come up. Education is what you make of it and what you strive to get out of it. Find what works for you and be sure it fits with your goals before you commit the time and money. If getting a PhD as a book writing or consulting or professional credential is what you are after, and you need flexibility to balance your family and professional commitments while getting the degree, then this is the degree program for you. If your end goal is to teach at the graduate level for a traditional school, you should put your reality filter on and accept the fact that traditional schools will not likely recognize a degree from an online school (there are exceptions, but don’t count on it – fact is, there is too much competition for teaching jobs from folks that have traditional degrees). I inquired about teaching at Capella, and even Capella will not accept a PhD from Capella as a credential (generally, there are always exceptions) for being on their faculty – interesting, eh? Good luck in your academic pursuits!

I am a current Capella student (M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology program). I've got three courses left to finish the programs.

I already have my M.A. from a very prestigious school, but chose the Capella program due to the flexibility of online learning. There were not very any options out there for an online master's in IO psych, but my experience with Capella has been great.

Yes I miss the engagement, interaction and dialogue of my peers in an in-person setting, but my main objective was to learn. And learn, I have. My academic writing and research capabilities have evolved due to the prolific writing expectations of this program. My ability to apply every learning objective to my job has helped me develop professionally. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

For those of you who are going to Capella for the doctorate programs or are in the planning stage - beware!
Capella is a rip-off! I completed my phd program while I lived in Florida and then relocated here in Kansas.
When I attempted to apply for licensure here in Kansas, imagine my surprise when I was informed that Kansas
does not recognize Capella University due to their residency requirement (no face to face with your
professor)!

I then contacted Florida's Board and they informed me of the same thing! As a matter of fact they went so far
as to tell me that no state recognizes their program except Minnesota!

I then contacted Capella and spoke with my advisor (whom I had for four years) and she told me "yes that's
true." Why didn't you tell me this prior to my loss of $107,000?

Of course if you want to do nothing but write books, then Capella is the place for you. But if your like me
and want to counsel, then you're SOL!!! I can't believe this! Now in order for me to counsel here in Kansas
where I plan to live for quite a while, I need to obtain another masters degree, but one in social work at which
time I can obtain a license and practice!

One last thing, when I spoke with the Kansas Board, they were shocked that no-one had told me of this problem,
and suggested that I find a really good lawyer. Ya Think???!!!

A little background - I have an associate's degree, two bachelor's degrees and a Master's - all from face-to-face (F2F) institutions and all summa cum laude. In the past, I have been enrolled in a face-to-face PhD program, which I left because of philosophical differences with the Graduate Department Chair. I am a straight-A student and scored over 700 on all components of my GRE and an 88 on the MAT. I started in the MBA program at Capella, then moved to the PhD because I could complete the PhD in nearly the same time (except the dissertation). I will finish the MBA after completing the doctorate.

I chose Capella for its completely online format, flexibility, and reputation (from colleagues). I have found the online instruction to be more challenging than F2F settings because there is no "lurking" in the back of the room (so to speak) during class. Each student must participate by creating structured and well documented posts and responding to the same from other students. At times, the writing load is very, very high - particularly if you take more than one course at a time. For example: there are 2-3 discussion posts per week. For each, one must construct a 300-400 word response (900 words minimum so far). Then, one must respond with a substantial post to at least 2 other learners (600 words) and then engage in dialogue with others who are responding to you (let's say 600 more words). At this point, the average learner has written 2100 words (remember - these are also fully cited from the literature) and has not yet completed an assignment for the week. Taking 3 courses each quarter (a very heavy load) has led me to write about 10,000 words a week. I can assure you that in all my previous academic preparation, I never had to prepare or participate at this level - ever.

All the writing aside, the grading scales are extremely soft - allowing learners who may have little potential to pass Comp Exams or pursue dissertation to progress through the program with passing grades. In this area, Capella is weak - essentially accepting tuition dollars from students until Comps - rather than allowing them to fail during the course work phase of the program. Capella pulls back the soft grading strategies during the Comps and a significant number (no one will give hard figures - but rumors are that it is from 50-80%) do not progress to dissertation. Will they try to help you? Yes. Will they create a remediation plan? Yes. Will they do it for you? Nope. Nor should they.

Core faculty are excellent and well versed in online instruction. Some adjuncts are as well, but others (as in F2F environments) are there for the extra money that facilitating a course will bring. Some students are profoundly academically well prepared and discussions with those folks allow learners to truly see the potential of a social constructivist learning environment.

Capella has resolved most of the troubles it had with WebCT and the current LMS (Bb) runs well most of the time. That said, it is Blackboard and offers few opportunities for interactivity beyond discussion boards. Faculty are using more Macromedia Breeze objects and incorporating more video/audio into the course materials - again, a real plus. All this said, however, this is independent learning. If you want this degree, you are going to have to work for it and earn it. You are going to need to be highly self-directed and motivated and you are going to make some sacrifices in order to do all the reading, thinking and writing that will be required of you. If you need interaction, you are going to have to seek it out yourself. Tools will be there to facilitate it, but you will need to organize those interactions.

On a final note, the library and writing services offered by Capella are unparalleled. I can get ANYTHING from any source I require either directly from Capella or within a couple of days from MITS. I can (and have) checked out up to 25 books at a time from the library - all are delivered free of charge to my doorstep (and return postage is paid by my tuition as well). There are real librarians that you can speak with and who are there for the sole purpose of facilitating your study. This is a far better system than anything I've seen in a F2F environment as I can do this all from my office.

Would I do it again? Absolutely.

I am student at Capella. I have attended several other online acredited colleges (four) and have taken indepth looks at many ohters, and my experiance at Capella has by far exceeded that of the other online schools. I have also went to school on a college campus as well too. Capella offers a great quaility education. The staff has been amazingly helpful, and I am learning a lot. There have been no mix ups or mess ups with my financial aid etc... either. I am VERY impressed with the education I am getting at Capella. It by far exceeds the other online schools available. I myself have not had to look for a job yet, since I am not finished with my online degree, however, i know of several people in my community who went online to the University of Phoenix, and they had not trouble whatsoever getting jobs with their degrees.

DON”T WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY! Horrible experience with the MBA program! The learner support team representatives were rude, unresponsive and told half-truths on more than one occasion. Each quarter I would contact then to make sure my financial aid package was progressing properly. I was told that everything was in order. However, there was always some unexplained delay to my financial aid processing. I also discovered that the representative failed to even document my calls. Moreover, they kept cutting my financial aid award.
One quarter I didn’t do well because I couldn’t afford the course textbook. They refused to give me a book advance. By the tie I was able to buy the book, half the course was over and I was late for several assignments. I received a C for the course due to the delays from the financial aid department.

Well, I am on the back-end of an EdS degree and I have to say, overall, it has been a decent experience. I want to warn anyone who is NOT directly related to the educational field, this is NOT the place to attend. I am a curriculum developer for the military and I enrolled in the Curriculum and Instruction program. Well, my friends, apples and oranges. I have spent a great deal of time trying to determine what the heck was expected of me. In the military arena, we don’t have state mandates, we don’t use the same types of lesson planning and mapping processes and I don’t have the flexibility to “interview my principal” for an assignment. It’s not a BAD program, just a BAD fit for me. Also, if you choose the EdS path, expect to feel like an unwanted puppy. The majority of the courses focus on the PhD learners and many of the classes I took were just a waste of time; especially the last few that focused on “preparing for the dissertation” (of which there isn’t one for the EdS program). Finally, the unimaginably expensive residencies (which are NOT covered by student loans) are, well, useless. Seriously, the majority of the time was spent in ‘Moto’ seminars (motivational stuff) whereas someone from the university was always trying to get me ready to be all I can be! (You can do it, Yes you can), please, after twenty years in the military and now a civilian working in the military, I don’t need Moto. The residencies do have some good aspects, they have seminars on writing a dissertation, choosing a dissertation topic, collecting data for your research; but very little to aid an EdS who isn’t tied to a dissertation. They have very ‘lax’ attendance at the residencies also, you can literally check in the first day and check out the last and in between, party like a lunatic and no one knows the difference. Hence, the real college experience! I skipped 99 percent of the residency and still got credit for it. Did I learn something? Yes. Will it help me at my civil service position? Yes. Will I ever use it as a true education degree? Probably not. Would I recommend the education program for someone on a tight schedule, of course. Just make sure you aren’t on a tight budget.

I have read through many of the reviews here and wanted to give my experience.

First, I graduated from Capella in 2001 with a Master Degree from the Human Services department in Professional Counseling. It was a great program then, though it received its CACREP certification after I left. The education was a great experience for me, it made me a much better writer, and as an adult learner it fit well into my life.

In regard to prestige and employability, this may be the most important question people might have. I have found I have never had a negative response to this degree. I was hired RIGHT out of school -- actually I had to get the university to release my diploma early so I could accept a position that required it. I have been actively employed ever since.

While I suppose if I had a Master Degree from an Ivy League school maybe I'd have had a greater impact on this leg of my career path, this was not going to happen. But, in retrospect, my choice of Capella made my career dream possible, and it never has been a barrier to me working in the field of my choosing.

I have been reading the reviews and must say that it is very interesting. I will beging my MS in Counseling at Capella very soon. This decision took me about 5 months to make. My first contact with Capella was pleasant (did not feel harassed or forced into program). I simply stated that I was exploring the program as well as others and I would not rush into anything. Low and behold I have decided on Capella for four reasons:
1. The cost and time to complete program
2. They are accredited
3. An actual Course demonstration seminar
4. The residential colloquias - in my search I only considered schools with this component. You do need some interaction and placing of names with faces.

I remained in email contact with the Enrollment Counselor, with all my questions and concerns being addressed during that time. They were very helpful and informative. I look forward to beginning my program. They definitely left me room and time to make my decision.

I do agree with some of you about the admissions reqirements though, I feel they should get references and have the Goals Statement be a little more lenghty. I have a few friends who graduated from University of Phoenix and they all say it wasn't easy. Brick and mortar schools have that social aspect, you can actually see fellow classmates in the flesh, but the traveling and costs add up. I like the fact that at 2AM I can log on an submit assignments. As opposed to working full- time, taking care of my child, and rushing from work to school. Was a struggle to complete undergrad, that is why I opted to go the online route.

You must also realize that a lot of brick and mortar schools have jumped on the band wagon and are offering online programs as well.

I will be back with updates on my rating, once I begin actually taking courses.

I was a student at Capella, in the Master's of Education program
Halfway into my first semester my father passed away.
I immediately contacted my professor by e-mail to inform her of the situation and told her my assignments would be late.
My father lived in Fla and I lived in Mich. I didn't take anything with me when I made the emergency trip to see him before he passed.
We are talking 3 days.
I followed up with a call to my advisor, who told me to contact the Prof, explain the situation and ask her to defer a grade.
This way I could complete the work at a later date and still get a passing grade.
I told my advisor I had already made the contact and was waiting on a reply.
The Prof e-mailed me back to tell me, my advisor would have to make the call?
The advisor was as confused as I was and said the Prof is the ultimate decision maker and due to the circumstances, she could hold my standing as incomplete until I satisfied the class requirements.
The advisor also suggested I fax a copy of my father's death certificate and she would be contacting the Prof.
She said wait for her call.
Several weeks later I was contacted by the Prof and she stated that since I dropped the class, I didn't qualify for an incomplete and would have to pay to retake it.
Calls to my advisor were not answered and I was charged $700.00 for the amount of time I spent in class. ( Money my job paid up front for tution assistance)
My opinion: very unprofessionsal way to handle business and a delicate emotional situation I wasn't asking for anything beyond what they offered in the student handbook.
Went back to school through another on-line program, scheduled to graduate in the Spring

This is really a review of my experience of looking into Capella's clinical psychology doctoral program, which I did not attend. The customer service experience, first, was awful. As others have noted, there is an intense and off-putting sales push that makes you feel more like you are buying a used car than an education. Second, my attempts to get outcome data regarding their program were stonewalled, over and over. Capella is not accredited by the American Psychological Association, so they don't have to adhere to APA rules, but when I looked into APA-accredited programs they all provided data on admissions profiles, number of applicants & rate of acceptance, internship placement rates, and, most importantly, rates of licensure after graduation. After several efforts, I never was able to get any of this information from Capella. Clinical psychology is such a competitive field that there is no way I would want to attend a program without having a thorough knowledge of the program's quality, which absolutely includes outcomes. Capella also declined to put me in touch with any of their clinical psychology alumni, which worried me, and combined with their unwillingness to give me outcome data made me wonder what they're hiding. There's a lot of anecdotal evidence on the Internet that Capella grads are having difficulty getting licensed, so that alone would be enough to scare me off. And as I talk to more and more people in the field who are responsible for hiring and selection of psychologists I'm hearing people say things like "I don't even look at applications from psychologists who went to an online program--I just throw them away." So maybe online education is working well in some fields, but psychology does not seem like a good bet. Makes sense, anyway, given that it's a clinical field.

Capella University was my "window of opportunity" allowing me to work toward a terminal degree at an accredited institution while continuing my career and earning a living. Location alone prohibited travel to a land-based institution that offered a terminal degree. My experiences were top notch with Capella, I was in courses with other students who also were successful in their fields and needed the flexibility (as I did) of Capella to achieve their goals. I had no negative experiences and still maintain valued friendships and networking with those I met along my Capella journey.

I am a Capella PhD student in the Business and Technology School. I have had good ... mostly good but some bad experiences at the University. It is expensive and they could do some things to make their entrance requirements higher to fall more in line with some of the brick and mortar universities. Mostly however, my experiences have been good. I've found that the instructors have all been pretty good. They seem to care ... more than I do. I think I took one course where I thought that the instructor ... well it seemed as if that instructor had too many courses or just too much to do.

Also when I compare my experience to that when I attended the brick and mortar university ... the online experience was a thousand times better. The school that I attended ... it's better now, but when I worked on my Bachelor's degree the business processes were horrible plus I definitely had some instructors that did not have a clue.

At Capella I have seen how quickly things have changed. Students have complained about specific aspects of the classroom and those things have been addressed. It is one of the few times where I have felt that when I complete the assessment at the end of the class that it really has some meaning.

I would also like to say that most if not all of the brick and mortal schools will have or do have or are considering an online environment. My belief is that these schools will be looking at how Capella and the University of Phoenix have built their online environment. While it is not perfect, I think it is better than going to the brick and mortar school. Before choosing to go to the online school I did look at the local brick and mortar schools but most of the local schools PhD courses are during the day which means that I would have to leave work and try and get back... in most cases I would loose three hours at minimum pluse the logistics of parking, traffic, trying to get to class when you've got to complete a work assignment.

I do think that having access to a special instructor is something that is missed by online universities. I think that will be addressed in the future. I think that the current brick and mortar schools will be able to take advantage of some of their top named instructors teaching an online class .... giving lectures ...

It's not easy for the online universities to make these things work ... there are many processes that they have to develop and perfect but it's gotten better and I still think it is better than my experiences at the brick and mortar schools.

Update:

I still feel as strongly as I do now about Capella Univeristy. It was a fine school during my masters but changed during my PhD. What changed?

-expensive, expensive, expensive
-rude customer service
-faculty not all that interested in their "learners." Not their students.
-noticing that huge junks of my financial aid was being taken for God knows what.
-residencies not a part of financial aid
-WebCT hardly works often crashed my system.
-mentors were not supportive nor proactive.

I just got tired not going anywhere with my education.

If you would like to read more about my thoughts about this school please go to epinions.com. I give a lengthy review there.

Ta!

I don't have a rating yet because I have not attended Capella, however, I am in the process of seriously considering the PhD there in nursing education. I understand this program has just recently been started last July. Is there anyone out there (nurse)who has started this PhD program and do you know if it is accepted as a legitimate PhD in nursing at a higher education(university) level? I don't want to waste my time or money. I currently have a masters in nursing and teach at a community college. I was told by an advisor that the (NLN) National League of Nursing "assisted" with structuring and developing this degree however it is not "accredited" by the NLN. Should I be concerned about this?

I don't think my experience is the norm, but I will say I felt scammed since I am not (nor will I ever be due to my experience) be a student of Capella University. I called Capella University in my efforts to do some school comparisons. 

I'm a student, albeit new, but nevertheless my experience hasn't been bad at all. My financial aid was approved and everything went smoothly in that regard. Having a BA from a traditional school, I know what is expected of me concerning assignments, financial aid, counselors, etc. I am not expecting my counselors to hold my hand through this process just as I didn't expect that in undergrad while I resided on campus.

What I can tell anyone looking into going here is that there are a lot of assignments. I'm guessing it's because it's a non-traditional program they have to track students' progress somehow. If you are one who dislikes writing 1-2 assignments weekly, then this program may not be for you. And be prepared because while some professors are great and check in every 1-2 days, others are not so great and they take a while to get your papers graded and commented on. Again, I've attended a big public university for undergrad so I tend to look at these things as all in the cycle of the education process.

I wouldn't change a thing about my experience. Hopefully it will continue on smoothly. Do you homework, research your decision, weigh the good comments against the bad and do what you think is best. Good luck with your future plans.

I did attend University of Phoenix (no complaints) but I am looking for a less costly alternative. I was pleasantly surprised to find that UC Irvine has an agreement with Capella. You can transfer credits from a certificate program at UC Irvine to Capella. Someone else on this forum commented that "Capella does not have any entrance requirements". I am seriously considering Capella to finish my BA in Business.
Well, UC Irvine does not have any entrance requirements for their certificate programs. Does that make UC Irvine a "bad" school?
UC Irvine has a great reputation.
I think traditional schools are trying to discredit online schools. The online schools are competition, after all. Of course, there are some online schools that just want to make a buck and are not delivering a quality education.
I found my classes at University of Phoenix very challenging. I attended University of Southern California a few years ago. At USC - you sat in a lecture hall with about 200 other students and listened to a lecture and wrote yourself notes. Then you tried to memorize a lot of facts for tests. Is that "better" learning? I found I learned more at University of Phoenix by writing paper, participating in the discussions, doing Power Point presentations,etc. (all required to pass the class). More is required of you at UofP. My writing skills improved considerably. The only thing I did not like was all the group projects. You really cannot work at your own pace and on your own schedule when you have to work with a group.

I don't think that anyone is saying that online schools are easy. Matter of fact, I think they can be more challenging than being in the classroom. As far as I know, Capella is not yet respected out there and you will have a hard time finding the respect that you want because of the perception about the school, whether it's true or not. Also, I don't know if it matters where you get your BA from but it does matter to most employers where you get your Masters from. How can you learn to apply a skill without the human element attached. For example, counseling, teaching or even business.You need mentors and they need to shape your professional behavior and skills. I think it's better to get your Masters in the classroom because it most mimics where you will be working and helps you to interact with your professional peers. My opinion. Besides powerpoint slides are fine to learn but what about real world application and gaining experience through participation in different settings. This is just one of the many missing elements. Personally, I just don't feel comfortable with a complete online learning experience yet.

Enjoyed reading your comments. I too am an online student at a prestigiuous university in a master's degree program. There are so many people who have no clue what an online program is all about and that is why there is so much negativity toward it. I have had no issues speaking with Capella advisors and am looking forward to a possible education in PhD IS once I complete my master's degree at another university online program. Thank you for your positive comments about the school and program.

  I guess like many, I am trying to read about the credibility and quality of online degrees because, being a mom of 2 and living a bit outside the city that offers the degree I would like to pursue, online education might be the only viable way of further education for me (at least for the next 5 years).   It is difficult to relate between those who've had bad experiences from those who have had positive experiences with Capella (or any other online education) because there will always be two sides of the story.    I just wish those who have had successfull stories would be willing to be more specific when they mention where they've been offered jobs, etc.  that would make it a bit more credible or valuable than just positive/negative talk!  Thanks.

Thanks Capella!!!! Now people can comment about their experiences with Capella, free from the other "Capella students" who have been frequenting this site trying to "challenge the  integrity" of those of us who would like to tell about our bad experiences with this school. 

So,  now I will leave my original comment about Capella.

My gripe has to do with the initial contact I personally experienced at Capella University

I've been looking around and Capella supporters continually try to blame others for their problems. There are complaints about Capella everywhere. I was looking at their psychology programs and found that Capella has the worst record of all American schools in getting their psych interns placed. The Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (AAPIC), which helps to place student interns, shows that Capella University was last (with the exception of one, much smaller school, Walden University) in placing student interns over a 7 year period. (  http://www.appic.org/downloads/APPIC_Match_2000-06_by_State.pdf  ). When compared to schools that submitted the same or more students, Capella was at the very bottom. Much larger schools often submitted far fewer interns and had significantly higher acceptance rates. It looks like Capella accepts everyone into their programs then abandons them when it comes time to obtain internships. The average placement rates for all schools is nearly 75 percent while Capella's is between 25 and 30 percent. The American Psychological Association also refused to give Capella University approval for accreditation. Dr. Robert Schnedler, chair of the Clinical Specialization program in Psychology at Capella University told the Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology that "Capella applied for A.P.A. accreditation but was deferred in a paper review. Dr. Schnedler said Capella could either appeal or withdraw the application and decided to withdraw without prejudice ( http://health.state.tn.us/Downloads/Psy_Min13007.pd f  )." Capella chose to withdraw rather than facing a denial. Considering their meager placement rates, that makes Capella look like a very poor choice.

I am a recent graduate with a Master's degree from Capella University. There is no doubt in my mind that an education from Capella is a high-quality one. Every single course I took was challenging and educational (I took four years worth of courses, having changed my focus throughout that time). The requirements and demands are rigorous. There is barely a time throughout each course in which you feel you can just slow down; be thankful for your two-week break between each course! I'll admit that before beginning my education at Capella, I did not think online learning would be that difficult; in fact, I think I assumed it WOULD be easy. I was wrong; I assure you, online learning at Capella was the most difficult form of education I have undergone! It is almost completely self-learning; and to those of you who are "unlearned" in the art of self-learning, there is nothing passive or lazy about it. By the end of each course, I would look back at the coursework I completed, and would be so amazed at the ground covered and the knowledge gained. Is everything perfect, all of the time? Well, what can you say IS? As far as quality education, they do not skimp. Most instructors are very involved and available; and you interact more with peers than what might be required in traditional brick and mortar. I will say, I often did miss the physical interactions that a brick and mortar education offers; and you do have to be prepared for the "silence" (which, by the way, was maddening to me at first). But you do adapt; and I was actually quite thankful that I could attain such a thorough education in the comfort of my own home. Online learning, if one has not done it, brings up a few misconceptions among people. Talk to those who HAVE done it before you make a decision. Blessings!

Hello... First, I am a Capella PhD student who is about done!! My dissertation is currently in the committee approval and is about to be turned into the school for approval! With that said...for those who are questioning the validity of Capella, you will have to make your own mind up, but from my experience...it is no joke. I have felt like giving up before, but the school of B&T kept pushing me. The dissertation process was the hardest thing that I have ever done, mentally (and I have done several demanding tasks in the US Army). It wasn't hard from the "Capella sucks" mindset...but from the "you can't just walk in there, pay your money, and get your degree" mindset. For those who have that mindset about Capella, you need to be put away for insanity (or for frivolous motivations).

Do I ever feel that I have to defend my degree (or soon to be degree)? Sure. Why? Because all of the nut jobs out that that have zero clue what distance education is about and their failures on life in general. I, like I said, am a veteran. Mom and dad couldn't pony up for me to go off to school right out of HS (not that there is anything wrong with thatjust making a point). When I got out of the Army, I had started a family and a career, so the act of going to school (even part time) was hard. But I did it with my BS and MS.

Something that I have learned about these people with pessimism towards Capella is that they are on tilt, have had their "wittle" feelings hurt by the process, or just are down right mad/ jealous that there are other options than the traditional B&M route (of which my BS and MS are from B&M schools).

With all that praise said, and to show my non-partisanship towards Capella, I will state that I feel they over advertise on mediums such as the Internet, which brings down the "shine" in a sense. Also, they do need to start putting forth some more stringent standards on acceptance...i.e...GMAT scores, etc. AND of course the cost...it isnt cheap! Just MHO.

Oh...almost forget....for the "Einstein" that made the idiotic remark that people that go/ graduate from Capella have no real world experience... Dude, get a clue! I have active duty military experience, collegiate teaching experience, and over 10 years of professional IT experience. You can take your foot out of your mouth at any time :)

To Victoriaa, I have never encountered a single faculty member at Capella that is apathetic or unavailable. In fact I have never received so much attention in all my life. All of my professors have been attentive, caring, and helpful. There is something about the written word The reviews out there are your own sad and sadistic campaign to thwart Capella and Capella students. I know..I know..it is difficult for you to wrap your mind around the possibility that one might learn online. Perhaps you feel threatenedI do not think that traditional schools should be worried. Capella simply makes it more convenient for nontraditional students to pursue studies in areas that concern them. In terms of a 100% acceptance rategood for them!!! Those students who are not serious will be weeded out before it comes time to work on comps or a dissertation. ..At least everyone gets a chancewhich according to your supposed Marxist perspective, such would be a good thing. This should be the case with any university, but unfortunately elitism gets in the way.

I believe Capella is one of the most challenging universities I have ever attended. At times I feel like pulling out my hair while doing my assignments or just quit the university. However, I try motivating myself to get assignments in even though sometimes they were late. I feel disappointed with some of the instructors (Like Wayland Seacrest). Consequently, there are some good ones. I try to make the best out of all classes and conduct researches online when I did not understand certain terminologies used in the textbook or the course room. Online Students need to understand that online degrees take a great deal of your time, since you are not being spoon fed by instructors. Thus, an online student should be responsible in teaching him or herself with the use of textbooks, article etc. However, with this learned enthusiastic behavior, an individual will have edge over other employees in the workplace. Thus, you could be looked at as self starter within your organization. Stick to program and dont give up. You will be happy at the end. Moreover, if you keep a positive mind you can overcome any obstacle. God Bless you all. 

To: CriminalJustice

You should definitely look into Capella University.

I have read almost all the comments on this site, and the negative comments really make very little sense.

Capella University is Accredited by the North-Central-Accrediting body - this means that Capella has the same accreditation as Indiana-University, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin, University of Minnesota, Ohio State University, University of Illinois, etc.

Accreditation is the most important aspect of any credible school. As mentioned on several sites over the internet, "the purpose of Accreditation is to provide public assurance of educational quality and institutional integrity."

As for the people who are negative about Capella, most of the issues are either out-of-context, inaccurate, or very subjective to someone's personal, negative experience.

As a Doctoral student at Capella, I am completely satisfied with Capella's Accreditation, Reputation, and the Quality of Education that I am receiving. Capella is NOT a diploma mill. Capella follows ALL federal, state, and NCA guidelines which other reputable NCA universities adhere to as well.

A Diploma-Mill is a place where you pay lost of money, do very little work, and graduate with a non-accredited degree. Capella's tuition rates are competitive with major universities, students must do as much - OR MORE - of the work that students do in traditional classroom environments, and all aspects of the degree are credible and accredited, so a graduate is assured that the Capella degree is worth exactly the same as any other university in the list of NCA accredited schools. Of course, there are many traditional schools which specialize in certain disciplines - so, if you want an engineering degree, you would enroll at Purdue.. If you want a clinical-psych. degree, you could enroll at IUPUI.. But, if you do not have the time to attend school in the day time because you work full-time or because you live far away from the closest University, that's when you would want to attend Capella University.. Not because Capella is easy, on the contrary, I think Capella's coursework is just as challenging and rewarding as a regular birck-and-mortar school's coursework.. No, that's not why you would attend Capella... you would attend Capella because you would rather do courseroom interaction at 11pm instead of sitting in a classroom at 11am. That is the main reason to take advantage of what Capella offers - at least that's what my main reason is. I came to Capella University after exhaustin all distance-ed Ph.D. courses at a local (70-miles away) University.. And Capella has been just as challenging and rewarding.

I would not pay attention to any commenter who does not provide solid references for their negative (or positive) feedback.

As a critical thinker (thanks to my life experiences and to my instructors at Capella) - I have learned to take nothing at face-value - you must question everything, find out as much as possible with regards to facts and misinformation, and then make an informed decision.

When i made that informed decision - i ended up choosing Capella University.

Good luck in your search for the right school..

M.

I am considering a phd in criminal justice at Capella. I live in Georgia and currently, there is no PhD program for cj in the state. I am in law enforcement and work nightshift, so the flexibility appeals greatly. I do have my B.S. and my M.S. from brick and mortar schools. I am also looking at a PhD at a brick and mortar, but it is not in criminal justice; I would only have a cognate in criminal justice. I would like to teach eventually, and I am not picky as to whether it is a two year college or a well known brick and mortar. Any help would be greatly appreciated, whether it is good or bad.

My experience was similar to surprised's from June of 2007. I'm a somewhat embittered former doctoral level Capella learner who earned a 3.76 GPA through my masters with another institution, a 3.933 GPA all through the doctoral coursework with Capella, and who had no problem passing the comps at Capella the first time around.

What was my experience during the dissertation process? A lack of oversight from my mentor resulting in many mis-steps and dead ends, months of delays in the development of my proposal because of the same, and a continuously-frustrating lack of "connect" between the guidelines that Capella's School of Human Services provided at the time, and what my committee was even aware of-in the end I withdrew out of frustration.

I will likely always regret withdrawing, and I know I'll regret not earning my doctorate. I honestly, though, saw no end to the frustration. After it all, and as an educator in a public school district (K-12), I have a very hard time understanding how anyone could be willing to accept anything less than excellence from an institution that charges $50,000+ for an educational program.

If anyone has had a similar experience, please send me an e-mail at searchinglearner@juno.com, I'd be interested in comparing notes.

I'm currently a doctoral student at Capella and will be taking my comps this summer. With already three degrees under my belt (brick and mortar ones), I really can't say that Capella's education is inferior. The courses are far more challenging than the doctoral level ones I took at NOVA Southeastern U in FL. They are far, far more challenging than the masters level courses I took at the University of Pittsburgh. In any case, everyone deserves to make an informed decision.

If you talk to grads from lots of colleges and universities you will learn that some are happy; some are not happy. My comment, really, is regarding Capella's tuition. I have seen, in many places online, negative commentary on their "high tuition and fees." Well, I don't pay any fees at all, and (since I take three courses a semester) my per-credit tuition is just around $350 a credit hour. I'd challenge anyone to find a doctoral institution with a better rate than that, be it brick and mortar or online, especially since there are no extra fees. Northcentral U is cheaper, but they offer no financial aid. Further, once a student enters the comps and diss stage, the tuition drops even lower.

I think it really all comes down to what you're seeking. I didn't need a fancy library or a huge campus with lots of social and academic groups. I have four children and work for a university that has a huge library. I couldn't see paying for things I did not need and would not use, only to find myself "trapped" in a classroom for three hours a night, several nights a week, for which I had to drive three hours.

I say bravo to Capella! I'm proud to attend a school that empowers people who are self-motivated and who have more going on in their lives than the need to spend half their lives "on campus."

I am quite honestly appauled by some of the negative comments given for Capella University on this website. I graduated with a PhD in Psychology last year and was offered numerous job offers just prior to completion. Capella U has incredible faculty in the Harold Abel School of Psychology. My mentor and the rest of my dissertation committee were absolutely fantastic. I have absolutely no complaints about the entire PhD journey and highly recommend this school.

Hi, I am considering a MA degree in I/O Psychology from Capella. Can anybody tell me about their experiences with this program? I would also like to hear about experiences with employer's accept of the such a degree.

The constant negative controversy surrounding Capella and other institutions of this type is deserved. They are not really "non traditional" excellent institutions as much as they are advertising savvy businesses. They seek out and use four types of students: 1) students who are not very adept at finding good institutions, 2) students who doubt their own abilities, 3) student who cannot overcome the psychological barrier of being outside of perceived mainstream systems, and students who want a simple way out of the challenge of good competitive educational excellence. These people are great sitting ducks for trashy institutions like Capella that are really all about misuse of government loan funding. When Cappella's low rent degrees are exposed to hiring entities aware of good education practices, they do not hire these so called degreed graduates. I recently was involved in a conversation at work where a Capella PH D student was so ashamed of the school for his "in progress" degree that he did not want to mention the name of the institution to the group. When they, in error, thought he was at the University of Arizona and were impressed, he just let them think that, turned red, and left the conversation as soon as possible. Knowing that he was in the Cappella program and then seeing his embarrassment said volumes. There are many mainstream online classes through good universities. Capella is a disgrace and people who enroll there are fooling themselves. There are always lucky people who will get ahead with any degree. Capella is a junk degree sold to a disenfranchised group who are looking for a Ph D in all the wrong places. PhD's from Capella are the equivalent of a medical degree from a Wal-Mart pharmacy. People who have PH D's from Capella are academic QUACKS...and perceived as such by people who know higher education.

Capella PhD Student,
I am currently a PhD student following the Information Security track. My undergraduate work was completed at the State University of New York, earning a BS in Computer Science (B.S.C.Sci) and a Master in Business Administration (MBA), after doing some researching about various online programs I choose Capella because they are accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The courses and professors are very flexible with the students and that is one of the many pros I observe, yet the profit* aspect is something worth looking into, tuition is not cheap these days. I believe they provide a good education, meaning not excellent, but again we need to consider that the online university sector is very young.

I am currently teaching and acting as consultant for the City University of New York and wanted to make you all aware that degrees offer at Capella University are recognized by City and State Colleges in New York State.

For me, Capella has been very challenging and rewarding, yet I still have about 1 year to complete my thesis. If you are accustomed to work in an online environment and like working with a computer then this is the school for you, if you are use to work with a physical person this school is not for you. This is my observation of Capella.

Capellastudent,

On one side, I think you are correct in saying that it is clear that the fellow who runs the anti capella websites also is posting here. However, he is not the only person who has expressed concerns about their degrees, and I can guarantee you that, at least in my case, I have not posted anywhere else on the subject.

Regarding the argument you make about teaching, it has several problems. First, just because 80% of these people are teaching, does not mean that the capella degree got them those jobs, or that the degree will be considered by those institutions when they have completed it. I know someone who was hired as professionally qualified with a master's degree. They are enrolled in an online program for a Ph.D. but their institution has already indicated that they will not recognize the degree, nor allow the person to use the title Dr. when they have it.

Second, you do not specify the type of employment (adjunct, full-time, tenure track ect.). I know quite a few people with Master's degrees who teach as adjuncts. I also know several who teach full-time, but in non-tenure-track positions.

Third, you don't mention what type of schools they are teaching at. The vast majority of people with unaccredited (professionally) Ph.D.s tend to work at private colleges or community colleges. If that's your goal, then you're fine. I will reiterate however, that most colleges of business will not consider a Ph.D. from a non-AACSB college of business. I suspect it is similar in other fields that have professional accrediting bodies.

I have been following correspondence on Capella on several different sites. I have noticed a trend. There appears to be only one or a few people who are constantly negative when it comes to Capella and they have been using several different log in names. The reason I have noticed that is since the words / sentence structure they (or he) have been using is very very similar so one can tell it comes from the same person. Now, I am not sure what agenda that individual has, but I am enrolled in Capella PhD program. This has been very challenging and rewarding experience. During my last colloquia I have noticed (from talking to other students) that around 80% are in some kind of teaching capacity, so the whole - if you get a degree from Capella, you won't be able to teach argument appears bogus to me.

One of the worst things about Capella is that it doesn't integrate technology into its courses. There are no Power Point slides, no telecourses, no video feeds or rental tapes, etc. In fact, all you can expect to do at Capella is read and write (in the traditional, visually unappealing, and very boring way). There is actually very little teaching going on, except for what you are teaching yourself through your own efforts (reading and writing). You can expect to learn more from your fellow classmates than any instructor teaching at Capella. At least that has been my experience and I have taken 6 classes with 6 different instructors. Whatever you choose to write about in your discussion posts is fine. There are no corrections in your thought process or interpretations because there is no teaching going on. They make you use APA but it doesn't matter. Why? Because if you get your grammar and punctuation wrong, no one bothers to correct it. Again, there is no teaching going on. I just don't understand why quality instruction can't be provided by a university with no actual campus and high tuition rates. Can't somebody please summarize and highlight the important points in my text through, say for example, a slide presentation? How nice the staff and administration are is secondary to getting a proper and useful education. Don't you think?

I have completed my first course in the Mental Health Counseling Program at Capella, and thankfully, I have had a positive experience with my instructor and other students. However, despite the fact that it has CACREP accredidation, I am little--no, very much so, aprehensive about whether I will have problems obtaining an internship or a job in the future because of the fact that this is soley an online program. I can't help but believe that Counseling is such an interpersonal related field that one just cannot gain the entire scope of education experience by just narrative communication. I also don't like the fact that the instructor ( is the same for all?)did not participate in the student discussions. Instructor interjection, in my opinion, is crucial to learning and questioning one's own knowledge of material. I have chosen to attend Capella due to convenience and because of the CACREP. However, I am not so sure how important and online CACPREP program will be compared to a traditional program when it comes down to the actual job market. Since I have been putting Capella on my resume, my job contacts in the human services field have been minimal. Does anyone, more than one person's reply please, have any suggestions about how I can find out about actual licensure statistics and graduates from this program? Also, does anyone know why Capella has failed to meet APA? And, last, will FA pay for Masters level residencies? Thanks!!

I started with much enthusiasm at Capella. I did considerable research about on-line degrees. My wife, who has a PhD from Columbia cautioned against my undertaking the PhD program, but I pursued it anyway. I found it to be a disaster in the set up. I found the administrative organization and the focus on money obscuring the educational experience. Furthermore, the evaluation of my Master's degree credits was unbelievable in that less than half of my credits were transferred, and I graduated from Boston University. At work, the school was not recognized. I would strong urge people to avoid this school. Perhaps there are some on-line schools that are focused on education.

I will finish this Capella in 2008. I have already been offered both teaching and administrative positions based on my pending doctorate from Capella. Many brick and mortar people feel threatened by this new way of learning. New ideas are always criticized. The success of the students will speak for the school in the future.

I am enrolled in the BSIT project management degree program. I have a PMP, Scrum Master and Lean certifications. I am very pleased with the faculty and rigor of the course content. I definitely feel I get my money's worth and have been able to apply my learning in the workplace. A very important litmus test. Prior to Capella, I attended the tradition brick and mortar institutions for 4 years but dropped out due to finances.

As a working professional and continual learning, I'm very pleased to have access to an accredited undergraduate online degree program. Not only do I learn from the course materials but other dedicated, working professionals. The class format, working in virtual teams, is very relevant in today's global economy.

Capella has many issues within it. There are plenty of problems that do not surface until you get past the PhD comps. Instructors have one set of information while learner support tells learners something else. Currently working on my dissertation, I have been getting the runaround about whether or not I have to pay for a continuation section while my mentor drags his feet over my initial submission. Granted, some specializations have good programs and good leaders--others do not. This is where the issues arise. One learner is told one thing while another one is expected to do something completely different in order to move forward. All the while they are charging you $3000 a semester to do nothing. It is incredibly frustrating to be working on a PhD and having to pay bills while making no progress. Think carefully about your reasons for taking courses at this university. Many online courses are excellent and programs are out there that ARE helpful and successful, but this university does not have a good foothold on what's going on.

Bottom line--it is an expensive place and I have learned a hard lesson