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Having attended only brick-and-mortar schools in the past, I was initially skeptical about opting for a virtual Ph.D. program. However, I'm glad I chose Capella University for such an adventure. To begin with, at the doctoral level "you get what you put in"; in particular, I found that online training, such as the type offered at Capella is suited for experienced professional (like me) who are life-long independent learners, and who will be too bored listening to the type of instructions given by... Read More a professor at your typical brick-and-mortar school that might not have as much practical experience. On that note, I had a fantastic experience during my almost four-year Ph.D. journey at Capella. During course work, I found the instructional materials, the assignments, and course-room discussions to be very useful. Also, I thought that the residencies I attended were well planned/organized, and they provided an important avenue to have face-to-face interaction with other learners and instructors. During the dissertation process, the vast amount of knowledge and instructional materials I had acquired during the course work and residencies were extremely valuable. In sum, I thought that my experience at Capella University was great--I was very impressed with the rigour, thoroughness, and often frustrating reviews I experienced while completing the 16 milestones for my dissertation study. Last but not least, I would definitely recommend this school to others in the future.

This school is terrible. The instructors are arrogant and not helpful. They don't take into consideration that students come from different schools and their backgrounds, strengths and weaknesses vary. They get you in the school and leave you on your own. They don't care they have the tuition money and student enrollment numbers. That's it. You're left with a student loan for something you didn't finish. Not enough instructor support. Now I'm in debt and no degree. I felt like I was set up for failure.... Read More Mind you I'm quite capable of learning. I have a MBA. I was enrolled in their DBA program.

This University is focused on money not education. I already have a PhD in Chemistry from a brick an mortar University but decided to continue my education many years later with a degree in Business. The classes were very good and I learned a lot. However, the doctorate portion of the program was very lacking compared to what I did in my previous graduate studies. It was not going well and I requested to be placed on leave while I decided if I would continue. This was done for a quarter but then... Read More I was charged for the following quarter that I had not requested to be signed up for. I have sent many letters to Capella explaining that I did ask to be enrolled and explained why I left. They will not even talk with me about the program unless I pay for the quarter I did not attend. I would like to discuss the option of completing the program with a Masters but this is not their priority only the money.

I have received my Bachelors, MBA and am in my Dissertation phase of the PhD program at Capella. Capella's professors provide you with a list of assignments, due dates and expectations upon beginning the classes. Participation is graded up to 50% percent of your grade but if you read carefully the requirements of the participation then you can easily nail that 50%. I found the program flexible as long as I planned ahead and once I figured out that I must meet the minimum requirements it was easy... Read More for me to integrate the workload into my very busy life. The PhD program has been the most challenging. The course work was more difficult and Track 1 and 2 have evolved since I attended to better prepare students. Comprehensive Exams are extremely intense and there is a reason that only 2% of the population has a PhD. The courseroom experience for dissertation is frustrating but as get closer to milestone 6 I am hopeful that the process will go faster. New learners are prepared thru Milestone 5 during their Track 1 and 2. Overall, I am pleased with the school, I have been challenged and have gotten from the experience what I have put into it!

I discovered that all the expected outcomes depend on individual motivations, willingness to sacrifice, and ability to extract value from school resources (incl. faculty, library, cohorts, etc.). My dissertation mentor and faculty not only were solid academic professionals but each was a professional consultant. Entrepreneurship through consulting was part of motivation for pursuing my doctorate. The relationship was perfect to further my education and learn my desired profession from experts. The... Read More faculty narrowed the gap between academia and practitioner for me. Through their influence and always being willing to advise, assist, and consult I learned more than what could be offered through a syllabus or individual course. I am grateful for the experience. i wish to continue relationships with many of the faculty long after graduation. Once again, it is important that each prospective learner weigh their motivation v. willingness to commit.

I work full-time and wished to earn my PhD part-time. Capellas business doctoral program (PhD) was by far my best choice. Heres why: **Why I'm happy I went with an online PhD program ** 1. You're in control. You decide the pace and course load (1-3 courses/ semester). It costs a maximum of $5,000/quarter. If you need to, you can take a quarter off. I feel relieved knowing that it'll work *with* my busy schedule (not against it). 2. You may be eligible for tuition reimbursement through your employer.... Read More Their annual $5,250 tuition reimbursement benefit covered 30-40% of my MBA, and it will do the same for my PhD. Ask your HR department about this benefit. 3. Keep your day job. Why quit a good job to go to school, when you can do both? An online doctorate enables you to keep making money and gaining experience while you earn a major credential. When you complete your PhD, you'll be an experienced businessperson (or whatever your field) who *also* has a PhD. People find this impressive. It also makes you more competitive in the job market. 4. Career flexibility. Lets say you get a promotion and have to move from Seattle to Cincinnati. In this scenario, an on-campus program becomes a liability. Online programs give you flexibility and legroom. You can complete them anywhere. 5. Open New Doors. an online degree supports passionate professionals who wish to pursue a new or complementary work (teaching, consulting, writing/publishing etc). If you love education and learning, (as I do), then you'll be pleased at the doors it opens too. ** Who an online PhD is not for ** 1a. If you wish to be a full-time academic researcher, Capella probably isn't for you. Probably best to put all your eggs in the traditional academic basket and go to a full-time program. Keep in mind, those have lower acceptance rates (5-20%) vs. online programs. Of course, that makes them more exclusive/ prestigious, which is a good thing if you want a name-brand academic pedigree. 1b. HOWEVER, you may still have trouble getting a professorship or research position. A good friend of mine went to Harvard and Oxford (the "Harvard of England") for his PhD and Masters, and he struggled to get a teaching gig! By keeping your day job, you open more doors and generate more opportunities for yourself. The economy is changing; Id rather be adaptive and skilled to evolve with it. 2. If you have a Masters degree, that may be sufficient for your career. Im going for my doctorate for the doors in teaching it, open, and for the intellectual weight itll add to any consulting or writing I do. 3. Timing is everything. Maybe a doctorate is something you'll complete later. It *is* an investment, and you may have more pressing things to spend your money on. ** Why I chose Capella over other schools ** 1. There are zero part-time, on-campus PhD Business programs at nearby universities (UCLA, USC, Pepperdine, Cal State Northridge, etc). I would've enjoyed the in-person aspect of it, and the name brand aspect, but it would've anchored me to LA for 4-5 years (i.e. no flexibility to be promoted and move). 2. There are zero online PhD Business programs offered by traditional universities. I did see PhD programs for nursing and plant science, but nothing business-related. So I began researching online PhD programs. 3. Capella continually appeared on my searches for top online PhD programs. I filled out a form and within 24 hours, 5-6 of them were dogging me, calling my phone and emailing me several times a week. I found this annoying and off-putting. 4. Capella was the one PhD program that did not stalk me. They had class. When I contacted them, the advisor, Jess, was helpful, cordial and spent 45+ minutes answering all my questions. When I spoke with 1-2 other programs (Walden was my #2), they didnt really seem to care about my individual needs and circumstances. 5. Capella's program in Business Strategy and Innovation was hands-down the best fit for my interests and career direction. 6. Capella includes an in-person component. I like that. There are three, in-person, 4-day seminars held year-round throughout the country (Atlanta, Orlando, Arlington, Dallas etc). At these, you get to meet your peers and network. 7. Capella explained the payment plan to me in a clear way, and reaffirmed my flexibility in how fast I could progress in the program. All in, with books and classes, my PhD will probably cost $55-$65K. Im spreading it out over 4-5 years to keep it manageable and affordable. A PhD is not for everyone. Its a commitment. If you have a vision or a plan, it can be an asset especially if it adds to career momentum or opens up new options and opportunities. On a personal note, I see a lot of people in their 20s and 30s partying, spending money, and frittering away their time. That's their choice. I would rather invest my time, money, and energy into something that lasts and grows in value. For me, that includes a PhD. Best of luck to you all, whatever you decide. DGK

I have two graduate degrees, including my PhD from Capella. The other is an MS from a well-respected brick and mortar school where I now teach. By far, I worked harder and learned more at Capella (which should be expected, since it was a more advanced degree). Many doors have opened to me that I never could have anticipated, including (among others) the opportunity to chair a prestigious international conference at one of the top Boston-area universities. (Hint: what are the first two that come to... Read More mind? You probably thought of the one I'm referring to.) Those who says this is a diploma mill have no clue what they're saying. It is anything but. Enroll here only if you're seriously about learning. And be prepared to work hard. You will EARN any degree you get from Capella.

Capella is really one of the worst school to attend. Universities such as Capella will take our country back years and years. The education materials are weak. They promise you of flat rate, and you think you will be able to save thousands of dollars because now you can take as many courses to finish fast, but it's big lie. This school should be going through serious audit and former students should be getting their money back. My advice to students, if you're busy professional make your choice very... Read More careful. It's not like before that you have no options, there are many other reputable schools that offer online education to working busy individuals. Don't be fooled by no GRE, GMAT, or other standardized test that CAPELLA offers, invest some money and time to complete courses in GRE, or other exams and attend good school. You will see a good return on your investment. Capella will find many ways to keep you in school and you will find yourself paying more and spending more time to get your degree. Be AWARE of Capella practices.

This University is a joke. They do prey upon students and they are not consistent with graduation requirements. In the DBA program, they allowed some students extra time and support to finish work that was not afforded other students. I finished my coursework with a 4.0 and they did not allow me to complete my dissertation to finish the program. I had health issues, family deaths, and other personal crisis that I was facing, and I was never advised to take "leave" from the program. Out of the group... Read More that I started the program with, only 2 people, JUST two have completed the program. To my knowledge they did two of us the same way, but their graduation rate is abysmal and the program is a joke. DON'T go to this school. AND, they started to loose numbers so they kept raising tuition to make up for it.

Pros of Capella is that the program is offered online which makes it easier to work and attend classes outside of work. Instructors/Professor's work with students and offer their expertise to the classroom environment. They encourage discussions as we can all learn from each other as we all have different backgrounds and methods on how to handle different situations. Cons is tuition is a little steep but can be expected for the Doctoral level. Also, need to have more colloquiums on the West coast.... Read More Majority is on the East coast.

Capella University offers a regionally accredited and recognized Doctor of Business Administration program. The faculty and staff are dedicated professionals capable of extending world class business insight and experience for aspiring business professionals like me which are definite pros. There is no substitute for quality education. The educational environment and delivery platform are both technologically innovative and user-friendly. Capella excels in its core competencies which ultimately create... Read More competent students and future business and academic professionals. I am proud to be part of this dynamic curriculum and program. The cons however have to do with the changing landscape of education, delivery systems, and costs. these are cons that all institutions face; however, Capella faces them remarkably well.

Capella offers an array of pros and cons, which the PhD program is a rigorous academic process. For example, some pros about the program is the accessible of technology that is more advance then traditional classroom.It also offers working students the opportunity to always have the class room in the palm of their hands by just turning on the computer. This also give one the ability to have the flexibility of working on both academic endeavors and careers. As for the cons, most course work is done... Read More in individual manner. Also with any technology, there is some problems on the course class rooms that slow student research. With that said, one can see how important the online classroom hasbecome for a working professional.

Do not look at the "overall" as this is a calculated number... As an online program several of the ratable categories do not exist for an online program with minimal "campus" experience. The residential colloquia have been revised since I began with the intent of moving learners more quickly through the dissertation process. I found the academic demands of the program on a par with another Research 1 institution and rigorous enough to feel competent to compare my preparation with any other PhD. Capella... Read More is a well run, academic institution with a new modern model, and should not be lumped with other for profits. This is not a diploma mill.

good school, but needs to help students with financial difficulty a little more, especially with the currnt economy. These students are doing their best and have no control over layoffs and other adverse actions that befall them. Do not blame the student! Qutting school is NEVER the answer. Capella has a great doctoral program. You have to work hard and that's okay. It was gotten the seal of excellence and many other industry awards. worth the workload and study. Looking forward to finishing my degree... Read More soon as I can get back on my feet.