Grand Canyon University Reviews

"As a GCU online student, I completed two Masters level courses. In May 2007, I received my Masters in Reading Curriculum & Instruction. And, I just completed a second Masters in TESOL in the fall semester of 2009. My overall coursework experience was challenging and exciting. GCU provides valuable resources such as access to the library, comprehensible lecture notes, and intense interaction through the discussion questions with the online instructor and classmates. The Masters level online learning community of GCU enhanced my skills in teaching. I am glad that GCU helped me "not to miss a day of my future." :-)"

Sarah

Reviewed: 1/27/2010
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"I am a current online student at GCU and I am considering withdrawing. The academic counselors are awful and they never ever answer their phones! The finance counselor has no idea what is going on with my account and I have had 4 different academic and finance counselors since I enrolled just over one year ago. PLEASE do not go to GCU! They will not notify of you changes, they will not help you with your classes and they are never available!"

D.J.

Reviewed: 1/25/2010
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"I will admit, I have had some problems with GCU and I feel like I am constantly calling to get everything fixed, but my classes are challenging, I am learning a lot. I have 2 friends who have received their degrees from GCU and neither of them had a hard time obtaining the proper licensure in our state. I have recommended this program to friends but I caution them to keep in touch with an advisor and don't be afraid to keep calling. The actual education is great, probably superior to the brick and mortar school I attended before but the "paperwork" side of things could use a little work. Overall, I am satisfied and would not change my decision to attend GCU."

Melinda

Reviewed: 1/14/2010
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"I am now currently in my second semester at GCU. Even though I had researched many online colleges before deciding on GCU, I was still very skeptical because there are so many scams online. I was surprised to find that the faculty was helpful and supportive, and the curriculum was very informative (ex: I am an education major and the foundations of education course gave me so much detailed info about becoming a teacher). I have recommended GCU to my family and friends because I think it is a great college. I have read some of the previous reviews and I can agree with the finance counselor comments; this is my second semester and I have yet to speak with my finance counselor. This could be because my enrollment counselor has done all of the work. My enrollment counselor is amazing though and I can call him and leave a message and he calls me back within 10 minutes. He also researches any questions that he cannot answer then calls me right back (but he usually knows everything because he has been a student of education at GCU for years and is now working as a counselor while pursuing a higher degree). The only thing that I really have not liked about GCU is the requirement to take the Arizona Federal Government class. I think it is stupid for students that live outside of Arizona to have to take a class about Arizona, but on a positive note my writing skills have improved since taking the class because the teachers are really anal about APA format and it is really HARD especially if you have no interest in taking the class. Also, GCU has continued to make improvements, raise their standards, and (you have no idea how excited I am about this) raised their credits from 3 credits for most classes to 4 credits for a lot of classes. They have made numerous changes since I have started my classes a few months ago. I think that maybe when they first started out doing online classes that they may not have known what they were doing, but they definitely have since I have started there in the fall of 2009. I hope this review helps anyone who is deciding whether or not to take their online classes :)"

Anynomous

Reviewed: 1/7/2010
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"I would not recommend this university to anyone. it is subjective instead of objective. In fact this past semester one of our classes had to beg for a syllabus. The professor kept blaming it on someone else that was to write it prior to class.The financial department is inexperienced and often gets bills mixed up.Academic counselor for the Master of Science Program was difficult to reach and often not helpful.If you plan on attending GCU you should sign your lawyer up with you."

Norberto T A

Reviewed: 12/31/2009
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"I cannot make the decision for any one but all I can firmly say is that GCU is all about MONEY. My firm statement to the GCU faculty was that since I pay your salary do the work, because I had to drive them to get answers or to even get my registration right. They -admissions/registration/financial aid office/ academic counselors, never have a clue what is going on. I wonder reading all the other reviews if those are from paid sales-broker-students who do as if they really were GCU students. Straight to the point: I should have NEVER EVER waisted my time with this GCU whatever it is."

Charles Young

Reviewed: 12/21/2009
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"I'm in my senior year and a History major.I have taken 4 classes so far at GCU. All of my classes have been challenging. It takes me at least 2 hours per day for the interactive area in each class. I have two written assignments on some classes. These take about 20 hours. I average almost 30 hours of reading and writing each week.I find the professors available and helpful. The courses are challenging and the professors are always pointing out ways to improve. My latest History professor pointed out small errors each week. At the end of his course my writing skills had increased appreciably. I received a good History course and great pointers on writing History.After a 31-year gap between my junior and senior year I thought I would just try out school again to see if I was really up to the work load. Well, the work load at GCU is more than I thought it would be, but I find it challenging and rewarding. I would highly recommend this school to those not having time or a campus to attend."

Punk

Reviewed: 12/13/2009
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"I received my M.Ed in Special Education with GCU. The staff were superb to me. They always took the time to find out information and pass it along in a timely manner. The professors were challenging, yet forgiving. I had to have major surgery during my tenure and they were most gracious in accepting my assignments later while I was healing.I am starting my doctoral program with this college. Thus far, this department has been amazing.I have had the opportunity to fly down and visit the campus. I was introduced all over the place and welcomed into the college like a dignitary, and here I was just an online student. I look forward to flying down to Phx to walk for my degree. It was well worth every cent I paid, and I can't imagine not walking for my graduation!As for the people who reviewed GCU poorly about their state requirements. They tell you up front contact your state education department and find out what you need for your certification process. I have been the 4th person from my undergraduate college to graduate from here, get credentials, and start teaching.THANK YOU GCU!!!"

DEE

Reviewed: 11/16/2009
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"I can only speak for GCU's online program as I have witnessed first hand the atrocities of such. Although the enrollment counselors always stay in touch, the entire time you are on the phone with them, you get the feeling they are only listening to half of what you say. You can even hear them typing in the background. Next the school is very impersonal from an online perspective. I have a difficult time getting anyone to answer their phones. The finance counselor is absolutely the worst. They do not answer their phone or emails. Instead you have to leave about 3 or 4 messages before they will call you back. I do not trust or feel that my finance counselor has my best interest at heart or even knows what is going on with my aid. For instance, after discussing an issue, he says I will look into that and get back with you. After week without a call, I begin my series of calls,(takes about a week of leaving messages, before he gets back with me). He finally calls, and has absolutely no idea what he was suppose to look into for me. I have to re-explain, and he tells me the same thing.."I will look into it, and get back with you". This has happened several times. Even worse, the coursework is not rigorous like I would expect at a graduate level. That I would be happy for. However, it is just opposite. I found it much less rigorous than my undergrad. In addition, the professor's don't grade the assignment. Bascially if you turn it in , you get an A. The feedback is ridiculous, as if the professor, cut and paste a bunch of words to make a sentence. Their comments just doesn't make sense, and feels routine, not personalized. There is no professor challenging you to do your best, or quality standards to attempt to attain. Turn it in , and you get an A. Whippee! Personally, I want more!"

Michele

Reviewed: 11/12/2009
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"I find GCU to be a very professional and engaging school. I enjoy the MSN program very much. It is both challenging and provides alot of information. The only downside to the school is that they switch advisors to often. I've been in the school almost one year and I've had 4 already. The cost is excellent and the education is worth it"

Carolyn Blue

Reviewed: 9/30/2009
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"I am in my sixth class with GCU and I have never had a better time in school. There have been some times when I was ready to quit, but something in me would not give up. GCU is a school that really cares for it's students. The teachers in the Education department really know their stuff. I have had a few problems with getting to my advisors or having them change them and not letting me know, but for the most part I would recommend the school."

Ken McCormick

Reviewed: 6/9/2009
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"The M.Ed program was difficult, requiriing a host of different assignments each week. This was not an easy set of classes. If you finish, you can be proud of yourself. It requires total commitmnet and a lot of self-control"

James L. Snead

Reviewed: 1/19/2009
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"I received a masters in instructional technology at Grand Canyon University and I am presently receiving my masters in administration. The school is well organized and since I began school, they are continually trying to upgrade their systems. I started out on Blackboard which kept getting overloaded. Now they use Angel as their computerized management system. The system allows you to learn whenever you want.Purchasing of books is easy. You can either buy them through the online bookstore or through Amazon.com. Sometimes you save money, sometimes you don't. They allow you plenty of financial aid. I think it is a good program for a working professional. It is highly accredited and allows you to get state certification because of this. There may be a few courses that Grand Canyon may not have that states like Rhode Island may require you to have, but you can get the one or two courses at your local college.I think the best thing about GCU is that most of the instructors are flexible and are willing to work with you on projects and assignments. You can contact most by email or by office hours on the phone. I have already been accepted into their doctoral program, and I expect to get my doctorate in Educational Leadership.Another great thing about GCU is that you can fly out there and attend your graduation on campus. They have a beautiful diploma and ceremony."

Kenny

Reviewed: 1/15/2009
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"I have found the program very good and challenging. I found that at least 15 hours per week were needed during the program. If you want an excellent masters in education, I would highly recommend GCU. Barron's Profiles of American Colleges (2009) categorizes GCU as "Very Competitive". Believe me, it is."

Kirk Henderson

Reviewed: 12/21/2008
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"I have enjoyed studying at Grand Canyon and would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to further their education via online. I am an adult learner who went back to college after 20 years, and I have found the experience at GCU challenging and quite helpful and relevant to ministry. The instructors have all been helpful, and the advisors have also been equally helpful.The greatest aspect for me is that there are rarely tests given. Most of the work is writing papers and posting on the discussion boards. Occasionally you will work with a group of students on a project.Classes are only 8 weeks long, so you can get your degree quickly. I take two courses at a time and I spend about 10-12 hrs. per week total for both classes.I do know that graduate work is probably a bit more rigorous, but for undergrad, I have found it very doable.I would highly recommend GCU to anyone.Contact me at khenderson *at* churchoftheking.com with any questions, I'll be glad to help."

Casey S.

Reviewed: 10/28/2008
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"I researched my program for a year before deciding on GCU. I found the average tuition cost to be $20,500 for my particular area of interest. When I finished the program at GCU, the final tuition came to about $14,000. I believe it to have been well worth the money. GCU is an excellent educational value"

KS Carl

Reviewed: 10/18/2008
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"I was very impressed with the MEd in TESOL program at GCU. The program requires a great deal of work and time. There are weekly journals (3 pages) and research papers (typically 10-20 pages) per week along with 80-100 pages in nthe text and other articles as well. Professors were for the most part excellent as well as the level of assistance from the administration and technical support. The program required about 22 months. If you want a high quality program in education that fits a busy teacher's schedule, I can recommend this one."

ken sherman

Reviewed: 10/15/2008
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"I received my masters in education from GCU and found it to be a superior experience on many levels. After some initial difficulties with the in-take advisor (a lack of communication on his part), I discovered that the classes were very stimulating and challenging. The workload was heavy: 100 pages of reading per week, a 2-3 page summary of the reading (journal)and a 10-15 page paper per week as well. In addition,we were expected to participate in class discussions. The professors were knowledgeable, responsive to questions and very involved in the classes. The classwork was equivalent to approximately 15 hours per week for me. I am used to challenging programs having my BA from USC and two california state teaching credentials which I earned through UCLA. I can say that GCU is challenging and can highly recommend it to my colleagues in education"

Reviewed: 8/12/2008
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"I would not recommend this school as I have had nothing but problems. The enrollment counselor lost paperwork then mysteriously found it after I yelled at him. This was paperwork to get transcripts as they insisted on ordering them themselves. Because of this, the financial aid kept harassing me for money even though I had financial aid approved due to the proper paperwork from the enrollment counselor not being turned in. Advisement said they had all the paper work (lies upon lies).The second quarter, I was advised I could drop a class three weeks before it started. I am unemployed and that $747 that the business department was trying to collect was an extreme hardship. Three different departments did not advise me correctly but the business department wanted their money and didn't care. It comes off as a bit of a scam there. They didn't try to collect until after "their deadline for dropping the class". So now, I have to pay for a class I didn't take. They don't care and only want money.The Financial Accounting class, I had problems. The teacher would mark problems wrong then refuse to tell me how I got them wrong. It was like pulling teeth in that class.Don't go there, it is a waste of your money and the classes are way too easy. I have never had such a difficult time dealing with a school."

N. Brooks

Reviewed: 7/7/2008
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"The classes are very competitive, and I love the program although online and not face to face with a Instructor you are able to learn alot. It gives the feel that you are actually in a classroom setting. There are so many programs out there but I highly recommend Grand Canyon University, what I really love is that it is a REAL institution not one that is just online and you do not have the ability to visit the campus....."