Capella University
Reviews and Complaints

Don't be fooled by these COMPENSATED CAPELLA employees to (NOW) comment on here AND attempts to cover their [censor]!

"An investigation on behalf of former and current students of Capella Education Company (NASDAQ:CPLA) and its Capella University, was announced in connection with the report by the Government Accountability Office with the title "For-Profit Colleges: Undercover Testing Finds Colleges Encouraged Fraud in Deceptive and Questionable Marketing Practices."

Capella is an online postsecondary education services company. It operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Capella University. Capella Education Company faces an investor lawsuit filed on behalf of those who purchased common stock of Capella Education (CPLA) between February 16, 2010 and August 13, 2010 against Capella Education Company over alleged violations of Federal Securities Laws. The lawsuit followed a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office with the title “Undercover Testing Finds Colleges Encouraged Fraud and Engaged in Deceptive and Questionable Marketing Practices” which detailed undercover investigations into 15 for-profit schools that uncovered misconduct by school staff.
On August 4, 2010, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee conducted a hearing on for-profit education firms, where Government Accountability Office representative, George Kutz, presented the findings of report GAO-10-948T, "For-Profit Colleges: Undercover Testing Finds Colleges Encouraged Fraud in Deceptive and Questionable Marketing Practices." The report detailed undercover investigations into 15 for-profit schools that uncovered misconduct by school staff. According to this GAO study, the college personnel at schools owned by Education Management Corp. may have encouraged applicants to falsify their financial aid forms to qualify for federal aid and pressured applicants to sign a contract for enrollment prior to allowing them to speak to a financial advisor.

According to the investigation by a law firm former and current students of Strayer Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) and its Strayer University may have material information concerning those allegations and may be eligible to file a complaint for allegedly misleading students.

Also whistleblowers may according to the law firm be able to assist or file their own complaint. Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed into law in July the SEC can award between 10 percent and 30 percent of any monetary sanctions of more than $1 million to whistleblowers who provide “original information” leading to a successful SEC enforcement, so the law firm. Whistleblowers may remain completely anonymous and work with the SEC through an attorney. Under the new law, so the investigation, whistleblowers are also granted expanded rights and protections against employer retaliation when disclosing information of corporate wrongdoing to the SEC.

Recently the Attorney General of Florida Bill McCollum launched an investigation into some for-profit education companies. On October 19, 2010, the Wall Street Journal reported that Florida Attorney General's office has launched an investigation into five for-profit colleges, including four publicly traded schools, seeking information on potential misrepresentations in financial aid, recruitment and other areas. The state is reportedly looking into allegations at Washington Post Co.'s (WPO) Kaplan Inc.--including its Kaplan University, Kaplan Educational Centers and Kaplan College units--and at Education Management Corp.'s (EDMC) Argosy University, Apollo Group Inc.'s (APOL) University of Phoenix; Corinthian Colleges Inc.'s (COCO) Everest College and privately held MedVance Institute."

CU let me get right to the door and enforced the you ran out of time rule. I had finished chapters 1-5. My chairperson Dr. T. Reasons lead me on with little feedback. She even made me get an editor from Canada. Charged up my credit card and all of a certain it went down hill from there. I appeared but it was just something CU does to say they have an appear process. They rid off artists I want justice.

I did register with Capella University in 2013 to obtain the DHA Program or degree that Capella University offer. I was told that it was 4 years long and the cost was $50 thousand dollars. Now I just found out on my last year that this can take longer than 4 years. Capella University has depleated my $50 thousand so I was advice to obtain a personal loan to pay for the rest of my course in which I did and I obtain another $15 thousand dollars. Last week I was told that I have to get another personal loan to finish with my courses because Capella University did already used all the money I got from the personal loan, so at this time I have spend a total of $65 thousand dollars and I do not have a finish day to graduate. My curriculum was also change from the original one I had, so I knew how many classes I had left. Now I am getting courses that were not on my curriculum and I feel and know that Capella is a scam. I have never seen or even heard such thing like this. I believe at this time that Capella is abusing and robbing the learner. I have a complain or did file a complain with Higher Learning and I hope some can hear all of us and see all the issues and complains Capella University has and most complains are from the Doctorate Program. If I would of know or seen all these complains in 2013 believe me I will NOT register with Capella University. I just want for Capella to pay me back the money they got already because I do not have any more money to continue. I am not going to keep getting mysel into debts. I am not that stupid to keep getting into more financial issues. I believe that Capella University should return all the money and I will take the lost on the years I spend trying to obtain something that was never true.

Eric J Nieves

I filed a race discrimination case against an instructor in the Masters of Psychology program at Capella. I completed my program in March 2017, yet I would like to join a class action lawsuit. I read that class action lawsuits must have the same or similar injuries. I was very distraught when the matter occurred because she was my instructor. The twelve or so instructors that I had before I took her course had been fine. However, SHE WAS A Xxxxx!
If you had similar injuries from your experiences at Capella University and would like to include me in your class action lawsuit, please contact me at:
[protected]@gmail.com

I signed up for classes for one term and due to a family illness I was unable to start my classes. I attempted to drop but there was some type of issue which someone was supposed to resolve for me and a callback was promised and never occurred. Due to my family situation I did not think anything else about it. I consolidated my student loans and found that 100, 000 dollars had been charged to me in student loans that I did not take out. I do not know where to start to get this resolved.

I was a student at Capella University from the year 2008 to the Winter of 2014. I was in the dissertation process. It took 3 quarters, for some unknown reason, from Feb 2008 until Feb 2014. I was told at the beginning of the quarter that my Financial Aid was finished and dropped that quarter. It was my 2nd "Non-Satisfactory" quarter for dissertation writing. Despite being informed that I was diagnosed with and treated for Glaucoma (early onset) in the summer of 2015 - which affected my ability to reach and use computers; Capella has refused to consider my return to the dissertation program. They have also refused to even discuss an alternative such as an EDs designation. Despite the fact that they "dropped" me early in the Winter 2014 quarter, they refuse to refund the tuition - although I did not "attend" classes. A LARGE part of the reason that my tuition was exhausted is that it takes them an inordinate amount of time to complete things such as the Doctoral Comprehensive. It took me 3 times to pass - I received little information each time - even the time that I passed as to actual specific feedback. (It left me in doubt that anything was even read.) I had been in the Dissertation Courseroom since the Spring of 2011. Everything took at least a COMPLETE quarter in the courseroom if not 2-3 quarters. Their delays were fine - but when I ran out of money - I was OUT.

I have asked for appeals from the very beginning - when they dismissed me 10 days after I received the email. At that time, I had the Glaucoma and had told them on the phone, etc., that I was having difficulty with my sight.

Stay away from capella online university!

I spent over $60, 000 to obtain phd in nursing education. I completed all of the course work and my comps in just overt 2 years.in the second doctoral residency you select you topic and have it approved passing milestone 1 & 2.

When I reached the final doctoral residency I was told the head of the school of education had make mistake in her assessment and my work of two years was worthless, therefore I would need to start over at the beginning. This final research project was approved by the head of the school of education for capella.

This implies more time and more money. I went ahead and signed up for the doctoral classroom. The instructor was not help in trying to see if I could tweak at least part of my soe. The course is worthless. I made appoinmtments trying to see what would be acceptable and was told the road the journals.

I withdrew from this “classroom” as there was no assistance offered. I was told there is a class-action suit currently against capella. The search engine is full of dissatisfied and many others have been hurt in the same way as myself..

Do not sign any separation agreement or release agreement that capella may ask you to sign. Instead join in on the class-action suit. Just google it and you will get a number of hits relating to the class-action lawsuit and how to join in.

If you would life to join I am starting a page on facebook so please put your experiences there.

Laurie little, phd (C)
Former student with 3.6 gpa

I finished my course work for PhD in Advanced Human Behavior. Then i rigously passed my comps, and began dissertation. My first quarter i sunmitted all required documentation to my mentor. He failed to submitt to board. I had to apy 4200 for him to not do his job. Moving on 2 more qurters was not moving up in smr, smr lead suggested that i reach out to consulting firm gave me name and number. Recently Capella stated that they would not allow 3rd party help with stats...after they suggested me seeking help. Im cashed out on loans and they are sending me to collectiosn for 3000 for the balance from quarter the school failed me. Im furious and canot get transfer due to the balance. So i wasted money on credits and will kore than likely not get to finish. They are a disgrace to PhD learners as they do not help them succeed with dissertation. This is whyy they have over 50% drop out rate during dissertation.

I would highly suggest anyone and everyone steer clear of Capella University. It has become abundantly clear this 'University' and their staff have no real intention on helping anyone.

I am nearing the finish line and from what I can gather Capella's usual when students are nearing the end is to do everything they can to delay the process to enable themselves to make more money. I would say this is the case for myself.

I have submitted two paper recently which are near perfect APA styling, and have been failed both times and have also had been marked off for missing criterion. Each time I have inquired I have been told it is not correct, however I am not being given any direction in the least as to what I am doing incorrect and each time the 'tutor' and 'professor' copy and paste the instructions telling me to 'follow the instructions'. It has been over two weeks and multiple emails where I have specifically asked them to address exactly what I am doing wrong as I feel I have covered the information. And each response is a copy and past and reiteration of the criterion.

The staff is uncaring and unavailable and the school is a scam.

After serving in the Marine Corps, I decided I wanted to help others and received my master's degree in Human Services. My goal was to receive my doctorate and start a nonprofit organization. The school that I received my bachelor's and master's degrees did not offer a doctorate in Human Services, otherwise, I would not be on this complaint forum. I was diagnosed with PTSD and took medications (many) to help with stress, anxiety, nightmares, etc. It took all I had to continue concentrating, finally I gave up. School was stressful. Capella from the beginning was different. I was accused of plagiarism and corrected the misunderstanding (I quoted my own work). I was able to have all of my student loans forgiven due to my disability and inability to work and received a bill in the mail from Capellalla for over $6k. I called financial aid and was told that this amount was not covered by student aid. This is a tuition amount that Capella charges because they are a private institution. I would have NEVER PURSUED MY DEGREE FROM CAPELLA had I known about their reviews and shadiness. Now I have a collection on my credit report that looks as if I have this enormous debt. I would and should have been content with my master's degree.

I am starting a class action lawsuit or would like to join one. I was failed because 2% of my comp matched a website. The only problem being that it was my own website and my own work.

At the time i did not realize that there were other students across the nation and around the world that were also using the articles i've published on my website in there work. This resulted in another 1-2% matching. However, it is obvious that i published these articles prior to those other works and that what i used is my own original work. You try to explain this to the university and they are obviously skeptic and offer no help assistance at all.

Not only this, but my mentor told me i had a 7 day extension originally for my first submission because she sent my comp questions to the wrong email twice. Two days before my paper was due i received and email stating that i was only approved for a 3 day extension. Therefore, i missed my first submission, would not receive any faculty feedback, and automatically put into the re-submission stage...

I was warned not to attend a for-profit university and i should have listened but at the time capella was the only school to offer a performance psychology based degree in sport psych (Ms) and i/o psych (Phd) i received my masters from there in sport psych and went on to pursue my phd in i/o at capella. My dissertation topic aimed to examine the psychological processes that influence performance in sports and business, therefor complimenting my expertise in sport and i/o psychology and promoting performance psychology as an establish field in psychology. I applied some information from the articles i wrote and published on my website, which is one of the top sport psychology websites in the nation with over 15k followers on twitter @sprtspsychology.

I should have known that others would use my work but i shouldn't have been expelled for it. There was no way of getting around the work that i've published in the past on the internet for my assignment. 100k plus down the drain but what they took from me personally and professionally is far greater.

I was told that I would have enough funds with financial aid to complete my PHD and when it got down to my dissertation stage I has exhausted my financial aid and when I tried to get a scholarship with the school I was denied. Now I'm out of thousands of dollars and no degree. Something has to be done about the enrollment tactics with this school. I felt I was deceived and lied to just to enroll in the school. I was presurred by recieving call on a daily basis from their recruiters.

Valerie Johnson

I have been attending Capella online University for the past two years. I had switch over to them from another online school since they had more to offer with Psychology program. I have always attended classes and have done well and kept up with my GPA. The middle of march of 2016 I started not feeling well and had informed my instructor because I had a late assignment it was taking me a long time to do. I was forgetting the material and was having some health issues. I was able to finish the semester and passed. The following semester started in April of 2016 my Dr. advised me to take a break until I started to feel better. I love school and was and still am anxious on finishing up my bachelors so I can work with children and continue with my masters and onto my Doctorate, so I started the next semester. School is online but, not every day so I thought it would be ok and easy for me to do. As time went on I had gotten worse. There had been times I didn't even remember things sleeping a lot rapid heart and pulse rate and a lot more. During the rest of the semester I hadn't finished. When after all said and done I realized about school and noticed no one not even my advisors had called to see where I was. I checked voice mail and emails during the time I was not attending no one reached out. Time went by another semester has now begun and I heard from one of my advisors asking what was going on and I had explained. I had informed him of what had happened he advised me of a doctor’s note. This one advisors that I dealt with from when I first started at Capella knows how I love school and hate when it ends and how anxious I am to finish. When I was ready I spoke to financial aid at Capella she wanted a note from my Dr. or I would be responsible for paying 3, 000 for the course I told her Why do I have to pay Capella this money when I receive financial aid and I have two chances to take the class over before paying for the class out of my pocket. she informed me the monies were sent back She said I do not need to explain what happened or my medical condition just a note that I was seen by a doctor on such dates. She also explained to me that they are here to advocate for me. I said ok she then sent me over to a woman in learner’s affair named Sarah Lehman, who has been handling my account and been denying all my request. I then sent in a letter and a note from my doctor he had first put dates and written on a prescription pad stating some of the dates I was seen. He was not happy about it due to the hippa laws but, he said he would. After learner’s affair’s looked over the note a letter was emailed to me stating that he had to be put it on letter head. I called the Doctor and again he put in on his letter head. Once again she denied the letter. Now she said the letter had to be from x date to x date meaning from first day of school till the end. So once again my Doctor sent another letter stating from the date school started till the end. He also mentioned Joann Dellutri has been under care, and he also stated when I was there and he in the hospital. My doctor said enough is enough you have a medical note from me you need to proceed he said this is ridiculous and he has never heard of such a thing. Once again they denied my request to come back to class or release my transcripts. The dates do not coincide and the 3, 000 needs to be paid. (The Drs. dates were from day one of the April 2016 semester till the end) she also said that her and I also touched base that she wanted a note stating I informed my instructor that I was not coming back to class. So I then said even if you approved of the note you would still deny my request because I did not have the note that I spoke to my instructor she said yes. She has never asked me for this in any conversation we had.
Also I called Navient several times to see if the monies were returned they were not. The last time I called was on 9/23/16 Navient had informed me that Capella had received a check in the amount of $617.00 in May of 2016. Nov of 2016 they also had received a checked for the amount of $1, 234.11 that was the last activity on my account and no such returns. When I had l spoken to Sara and her supervisor they informed that they were not sure if the monies were returned (well why are you wanting me to pay you 3, 000) they could not answer that question. They have now threatened to put me in collections and I cannot finish school.
Thank You:
JoAnn Dellutri

I do have emails and notes to follow.
I would appreciate if someone can help me with this as I am anxious to finish school
[protected]@aol.com

My fiancé is enrolled in a Doctoral program at Capella. What a joke! He has taken his Comps twice and was failed twice despite having a 4.0 GPA. His writing meets all standards (APA, etc.). The web based system of submitting the Comprehensive exam is a junk software which changes the text and punctuation after submittal, at which point you can do nothing to correct it!
Since he has failed twice (only one of the "Readers" gave him negative marks and "feedback" and we are quite sure this is a Professor who is biased against him. Why? Because he had the GALL to call her to ask for guidance. The "Professor" and I use that term loosely, chastised him for contacting her and it was quite clear she was incensed! Her attitude was basically "how dare you!?". In addition, this professor claimed she sent him "multiple emails to no avail". Well, he never got them because he deactivated that email account months ago! His official email address (the one which all University correspondence SHOULD be sent to) is the email address he has listed under his "learner" profile. She should have never been contacting him on his personal email account and he does not even know how she got it! Long story short since he failed this second round he was told he was being kicked out of the program! "Administrative withdrawal" after her has worked for years and handed over $100, 000 to this sham of a "University". He is appealing, but from what we have read that is a longshot. They purposely failed him in order to milk EVEN MORE MONEY out of him by offering him the "opportunity" to pay more money for a Masters Degree which he already has from a REAL brick and mortar University. Apparently from what we have read they have pulled this scam on countless others. This place needs to be shut down. Exceptional, competent and intelligent students are being ripped off and are losing thousands while Capella plays with their livelihood and prospective careers and tries to bankrupt them. They are crooks! Do not enroll in this sham of a "University!"

Where to begin? The school is composed of staff that do not abide by ethical codes and regulations and do not care about the best interest of the "learner". Beginning with having to push for the legal department in the school to look into making sure the program meets California licensure (in which they told me they don't normally do that for learners) I had to push very hard and email constantly in order to get them to even look into making sure I was enrolled in all coursework that met California requirements. The tuition exceeds any Cal State tuition, so naturally I would a well equipped institution to be able to know the licensure requirements. Additionally, when a learner has any conflict, with a professor or questionable guideline they push away and turned it onto me and accused me of being unprofessional. I am currently still in this program because I am only 5 courses from completing but am proceeding with my attorney in order to ensure that all ethical and legal guidelines are being abided by from Capella. I can not wait until December to move forward from what seems to be a never ending nightmare, and most definitely an unwanted experience. I would not recommend this school to anyone and if you are a current learner, pay close attention to all actions taken by Capella and make sure you have everything written in email exchange for documentation. Best of Luck

Vanessa

I have filed complaints about Capella late last year with one of the same issues, which is financial aid problems. I had to file these complaints in order for the school to give me my money (tuition disbursements from financial aid). This was a problem that first occurred from September 2015 to just before December last year. Their alleged "IT issue" is still not fixed, causing my account wth the school to be in owing balance when it shouldn't be as well as me not receiving my disbursement again. I have one coming up in the first week of March and their issue is still not solved. The most recent issue with them is currently, I got dropped from my current course (while no one emailed, called or anything to tell me this; I found out myself by logging on trying to see my graded paper and seeing I was no longer registered. I called the school Wednesday 2/17/16 to ask why and they told me it's because my account has a balance. This balance is first of all, not my fault as financial aid/fafsa covers this and the school shouldn't be holding me liable for that because of an IT issue on their end that's been going on for months. Secondly, I am now having to out my education on hold because of this issue, not being able to continue my graduate degree work. I am absolutely furious with this school at this point. I either want them to fix this course problem and get me my disbursement in the first week of March, or to credit me back a portion of, y education so I can go elsewhere. This is just ridiculous and I have never had problems with a college/university like them. I will also take the necessary next steps to get this solved with one of these options if I need to.

I am in my Masters program at Capella University in their flex path program for IO psychology. Throughout my time here (Since March 2015) the professors have been so inconsistent. I do so well, passing with A grade criteria in some courses, than in a couple others, it's a total change. The way I write my papers and do research never changed. I have had a professor in one course who only showed having a bachelors degree in psychology! Tell me, how does a professor with less schooling than you, teach as a professor for a level of degree they don't even have?! I failed one course because the professor was extremely critical and very rude! And I am having the same problem now in my current course. When resubmitting papers for a second or third attempt and fixing what she wants, she still gives basic or non-performance scores. I've had my papers overlooked by professionals with PhDs and they even told me they thought this professor was just not right. Now with financial aid, I have not received my aid or refund disbursement nice the 8/24/15 billing cycle. The advisor told me if I signed up for 2 courses instead of one that I'd be sure to get my financial aid within a few days. Nothing came. I've been calling and emailing them endless amounts of times, usually a couple times a week to follow up on this. They are no help and are now saying it's an IT issue. They don't know when it's going to be fixed or have any progress notes on it. My next billing cycle is scheduled for 12/6/15 and I will now have 2 disbursement refunds (about $2, 400 total) that would not have been disbursed to me, as well as having over $12, 500 in financial aid not being cleared by them to my account. This is not a fafsa or financial aid issue with the government, but through Capellas unprofessional ways of handling these situations. I feel like I am being played and I filed a complain through the BBB about this. If there is anything I else I need to do to get my money, I will do it. I wouldn't recommend this school to anyone! I have also wanted to drop this school and transfer to another. But if I do that, my financial aid with the new school will be totally messed up and wouldn't have enough to cover tuition wherever I decided to switch to because of Capella putting a 'hold' or 'pending' status on both aid awards of $6, 872 each! They're holding over $13, 000 of my financial aid money! I'm just furious with this school. I have also been doing my Enron keeping up with my courses and passing, etc.

I have been attending this university for almost 4 years. I am at the dissertation phase of my program. I was dropped from the program due to no receipt of a letter of reaffirmation from a undergraduate overpayment. Each year this letter is done by the school. I was informed that my summer semester didn't have financial aid to cover the class but was allowed to continue, then prior to the fall quarter, I was instructed to apply for a grad plus money, which I did. The application was approved and the school won't disperse the funds and are attempting to hold the money and not re-enroll me in my program. I am very upset because If I am not able to enroll in the program for the fall quarter, than the money needs to be returned to the issuing agency. Not held at the school.

Capella provided me with a set of unprofessional counselors and supposedly qualified professors, whom were involved in others personal affairs, neglecting my Ph.D. dissertation. I was poorly and inadequately mentored/coached and my dissertation was rejected for such reasons. I appealed my case and they denied the continuation of my Ph.D. program. This is unfair and very troubling for me, since I have a record of educational Excellency. They also, forced us in a way to pay for retrieves out of the state, which was paid by students as well, increasing my debt and this being unnecessary to my school program. They extended almost a year my online program for a profit. This is a college cartel and they need to be responsible for such behavior and conduct. I am being emotionally and financially affected, they should pay for that as well.