Northcentral University: Is it currently worth applying?

I have reviewed the feedback regarding attending NCU at this time, including the risks involved. However, if one were to be admitted now at the very low tuition of $120 a credit the entire cost of the degree will be approximately $7,000 versus over forty thousand at one of the big three for a doctorate in Psychology.

There appears to be intimation that since NCU is associated with SCUPS that this may portend a problem in their acquiring regional accreditation. I did't discern any such feedback when other schools were seeking accreditation such as The Graduate School of America. Comments?

 

I'd say two facts are definite:

(a) There is no guarantee that NCU will gain regional accreditation.

(b) There is no guarantee that NCU will not gain regional accreditation.

If a regionally accredited Ph.D. is the goal,
then I'd consider it a gamble.


Peace,

Tom

 

Sam asks, There appears to be intimation that since NCU is associated with SCUPS that this may portend a problem in their acquiring regional accreditation. I did't discern any such feedback when other schools were seeking accreditation such as The Graduate School of America. Comments?

The evidence is clear that DETC doesn't takes neither the past nor other school connections into account. Does NCA? I am not aware of any evidence. There is not a parallel with Graduate School of America (now Capella), since its founder, Steve Shank, was associated only with large metal trucks, not with a controversial (to some) other school.

(He was CEO of Tonka Industries.)

Seems as if all we be known, Northcentralwise, in just a few months.

John Bear

 

Thanks John and Tom for your response. Considering NCU's current status, would a school such as MIGS, regardless of the controversy it is embroiled in, be a better choice at this time? I am aware that MIGS does not offer clinical degrees resulting in licensure, however, according to your previous statements, they meet GAAP criteria. Does this imply that a degree from MIGS would be considered on par with a regionally accredited degree in the U.S. at this time? Obviously their degrees are quite reasonable in cost.

By the way John, your new guide was a pleasure to read and has succeeded in surpassing previous editions. Congratulations.

 

I had earlier missed the line in the accreditor's statement, as posted on the Northcentral website, that the visitation team was charged with determining the likelihood that the university would achieve accreditation within four years (maximum candidacy period.

The North Central accreditor used to have six years (and Union Institute took nine). I don't know if four is now standard, or if the number varies situationally.

 

The accrediting agency (NCA) has set four years as the maximum candidacy period for all new candidates including Northcentral University. Four years is now standard. They want a candidate school to move forward and either get accredited or get off the process. To accommodate this shorter time requirement, NCA has streamlined its internal processing and procedures to accommodate this time frame. It's fine with us.