Northcentral University Outreach

Has anyone else started receiving e-mail blasts from NCU? I had inquired about their programs a long time ago. I haven't had dialogue with them in several years. In the past couple of weeks I've had several e-mails talking about their degree programs. I wonder if this is a renewed outreach or if they are suffering from declining enrollment.

 

[quote='NCU tuition"]Price per 3-credit class:
Bachelor's Degree $1,190
Master's Degree (School of Behavioral and Health Sciences, MA-PSY) $2,025
Master's Degree (School of Behavioral and Health Sciences, MA-MFT) $2,160
Master's Degree (School of Business and Technology Management, MBA) $1,910
Master's Degree (School of Education, MEd) $1,510
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) $2,380
Doctoral Degree (Same cost for each school) $2,380
Non-Degree (Undergraduate) $1,190
Non-Degree (Graduate) $2,380

Source: http://www.ncu.edu/northcentral-global/tuition[/quote]Enrollments are probably down, due to the bad economy, so they may be seeking alternative ways to increase enrollments. Hopefully they haven't priced themselves out of the education-market during this gross economic recession. It would be wise to stop the tuition increases for at least the next three years.

 

Yes and I have a feeling that we are at the end of an education bubble that is going to pop like so many others. People seem to have enrolled in colleges in droves over the past decade and it seems reasonable that this industry would suffer a correction as enrollments have surpassed the employability of graduates for quite awhile.

I have no data to back this up; it's just a gut feeling. Purely subjective.

 

I bet that NCU is suffering from the economy worse than other schools. It had an advantage when its prices were really low, but now there are options that are similar in price which offer a much better student experience.

 

It appears that other well known schools are doing quite the same thing. For example, ASU. When I applied a few weeks ago, I started to get an unusual amount of calls (2-5) per week, mainly about if I am still interested enrolling for the following semester. After a few times to tell them to put me on the no-call list, the emails started coming in, including a few in my spam folder. I also noticed ASU commercials popping up a lot while watching TV (maybe its me since I live in Phoenix), so I am assuming other schools are trying to increase their enrollment.

 

At first I would guess their suffering is no worst or better then others. I think many schools took a hit but NCU played the "let's increase tuition again" game too many times for some people. I called them about taking another class at one point and they wanted to charge me something like $2,200 per class as a non-degree seeking student. I asked if I could at least get the degree seeking rate and they said no. I asked if to speak to someone with a little more decision power (and brains) and I was told I would get a call back. Well, months have gone by and no call...guess they are still looking for someone with a brain! Sorry, a bit off track.

 

If there was anyone they should respect, it would be you. Oh well, this is consistent with their SOP.

 

Looks like NCU's MBA Tuition is similar to my Alma Mater TAMUC's Out-of-state tuition. With GMAT exempted, why would someone go to NCU when you can get an AACSB accredited degree for the same price?

 

I was told the same thing. There is no way I would pay $2300 for one 3-credit class. I hope NCU does well, but their tuition is remarkably high and, subsequently, I won't be returning for any follow-up classes.

 

I have no idea. My PhD cost under $25K (only about $3K out of pocket) and if it was not for the price and zero residency I would have shopped around a bit more. Then again at the time I enrolled (2004) there were not as many options.

 

I pulled the following numbers for NCU Total Enrollment out of the IPEDS database and College Navigator:

2004: 1,403
2005: 2,820
2006: (not available)
2007: 4,949
2008: 7,468
2009: 8,376
2010: 10,209
2011: 9,662

So NCU enrollment grew rapidly from 2004, peaked in 2010, and then fell (by about 5%) in 2011. It wouldn't surprise me if enrollment continued to drop in 2012.

 

That is a great question. You are on to something, but what would be a viable option to NCU. Specifically, an AACSB accredited degree for the same price that is online. I have not much trouble with them (NCU) so far, (4 Classes in) but I am always looking for the best option. I am open to any and all suggestions.

 

I get a whole lot of emails from Nova Southeastern and USF. I also get them from Capella and any other school I ever gave my email address to.
TESC sends me letters about once a month asking for donations.
My wife gets letters and phone calls at dinner from the University of Tampa.

I don't get any from NCU. Maybe because I am enrolled there?