Capella University

Date: Dec 31 1969
Major: Education (This Major's Salary over time)
I have just completed my Ph.D. and could not have been more pleased with the program. It was high quality, well designed and very rigorous. The faculty were professional, some the best in their fields, and many from very prestigious universities. They expected work that was well-written, relevant, and as close to publishable as possible. They were sometimes brutal in their feedback, but always were honest and fair. Unlike a face to face university, weekly participation was always required. Readings had to be done on time, responses had to be scholarly (many times citations were required on even the discussions), and discussions between learners were rich and thoughtful. The learners were often Principals, Superintendents, or college faculty members. They were very motivated and it was exciting to have conversations with peers across the nation and even sometimes across the world. Yes, Capella's initial acceptance rate is high, but students who can not live up to the demands of the university are weeded out quickly, which most likely leads to some of the negative reviews seen here. We could often tell in early courses those who we would not see the following quarter. Those who made it to the end were committed and professional learners who definitely had the tenacity to complete an excellent and well thought-out curriculum. Part of Capella's mission is to reach a diverse population and to give those who are limited in their ability to travel to a brick and morter institution an opportunity to acquire an excellent education. Unfortunately, the potential negative reviews of some students who are unable to continue is a price they will have to pay for giving this opportunity. I have had experience at a very competitive face-to-face institutions as an undergraduate, and went to a state university for my masters degree. For the motivated student, Capella provides a curriculum that matches, and in many cases exceeds both in both quality and rigor. Capella aims to develop and nurture the scholar-practitioner. They do an excellent job.