Capella University
Reviews and Complaints

I read a complaint online about capella. I too, had a major issue with them. I sent my required doctoral work to my chair for review. She sent me an email confirming receipt of it and said she would review and get back to me in a few weeks. The course ended without me hearing from her so I emailed to enquire about my status. She told me she never received the documents. I sent her a screenshot of the confirmation. She responded "oh I must have misplaced them. Send them again" so I did and the same thing happened again. I then lodged a complaint with the school. When my advisor learned of the complaint, she dropped me as an advisee. Then I had to go on a faculty search for a new advisor. When I finally got one to accept me, she reviewed my work that had been previously approved and stated that although it had already been approved, she didnt like it and instructed me to "start over from scratch" but would not provide an extension for me to complete the task now assigned. Lo and behold, I missed the next benchmark deadline and as such was administratively removed from the program. I spent a lot of money via financial aid for that program and will never yield a return. I will be paying off my student debts until I die because of them. Thankfully, I found a dissertation completion program at ncu to get me to cross the phd finish line but those student loans from an incomplete program are killing my credit score!

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I have been in the marriage and family therapy (MFT) program since 2012. I have taken all the classes and everything, all that I need to do is my fieldwork.

I am having issues finding a place to do my fieldwork and have had to push back my date multiple times, I am not reaching the cutoff date (I have until September before the remove me from the program). I have done all the suggestions and recommendations that have been giving to me and still haven't found a place. I keep running into the following issues: Places don't meet the requirements of the university, places have already accepted interns, places only work with local university students. I have shared this with the proper people and all I keep getting is "use the resources on the website, network, etc" basically I keep getting the same response I have been getting.

It's like they don't even care about the success of the student only just getting the money. I feel like I am not being heard and I would not recommend this school to anyone.

For all students past and present with complaints against Capella, please see the new law passed on "Obama for-profit college fraud protection order " that has recently been ordered into force. All students should file a complaint against Capella University, seeking to have student loan debts cancelled due to Capella University's fraud and scams we have all experienced.

I filed a complaint against Capella in 2002 with the Federal Omsbudman. The complaint was settled between Capella and myself. I applied to attend Capella in July 2018 but was never admitted after three weeks. The process, as I was told by my enrollment advisor should've only taken one week. Capella was retaliating against me for filing the complaint in 2002. I have filed a complaint with the Higher Learning Commission, Capella's accrediting body. Capella is unfair and has discriminating practices. I will not give up with my complaint.

I was signing up for the second on line class when because of a family emergency I had to withdraw. I couldn't reach my adviser directly, so I left a voice mail in the adviser voice mail box. I followed up with an email 2 weeks later when it was clear by an email I received, they never got my message.
I withdrew before the class started but they still charged my $2900 for a class I never took or officially signed up for.
Capella University
Capella Tower
Attn: DMMS
225 South 6th street 9th floor
Minneapolis MN 55402

I had my first episode with my mentor in the summer of 2017. I was highly frustrated by the way my dissertation was carrying out and on my week 10 assignment I stated that I felt like I didn't accomplish anything that quarter. She gave me a 50% on my assignment and I had gotten 100% on every week 10 assignments until this. I contacted her and told her it wasn't a personal attack on that I was just frustrated. She told me not to worry about it I was still going to pass. Winter quarter I submitted to IRB and they stated that my research wasn't phenomenal and I had been working it for almost a year and that is after working on it for a year as case study just for them to tell me it was phenomenal. I was on a conference call when my mentor suggested that it was generic research and I expressed my concern about her competence as my mentor. This quarter she gave me a NS stating that I had a lot of grammatical errors and rushed work. I never even submitted to her that quarter. I appealed it and never received a response until today and I lost my appeal, they stated that I didn't complete everything on my POA but never addressed my issue about never completing it before and they said that my complaint about my mentor being vindictive was unfounded because everyone who was on the phone during the conference call said that she was professional. This is supposed to be doctoral level staff and they don't know the difference between vindictive and unprofessional. I never said that she was unprofessional, I said that I believe that she gave me a NS because of my comments. So this quarter I submitted and it took one of the people on my chair two in a half weeks to respond. It was then sent back to the school for an approval for the second time. I was on milestone 6 and sent back to milestone 3. I received the revisions and was working on them. On May 28th I was in a car accident this significantly slowed down my work on my research plan. A phone conference was scheduled with my mentor, doctoral success and myself. I explained that I was taking my time to avoid the problem from last quarter and I was in an accident and it hindered my work as well. John from doctoral success program told me to work on it over the break. My mentor gave me a NS for not telling her directly but she was on the phone call when I stated this. Two NS in a row is academic withdrawal. I am not fighting it, I don't even want to be an alumna from this school. I am trying to save someone from the same hell and extremely high student loans from this unprofessional and corrupt school. When you submit a complaint to them, you never hear back, they inform the person who you complain about. This school should not be legal.

I started Capella University in 2009. In 2012 I was in my practicum and internship I where I completed with very high grades. In 2012 I was in a domestic violence situation but still managed to complete requirements. In 2013, December, I had a child all while completing requirements for my second Internship. Unfortunately, at the time of my second Internship I was homeless and missed a few online supervision on camera; however, I made them up but nonetheless I was still provided with a grade of NS. I appealed the decision as I noted I was homeless and living out of a van with my children and was unable to get to the 3 missed camera supervisions but I was on the phone. I was "punished" with writing an essay about the importance of supervision. Move forward March 2014 I was again still in internship, working towards my hours and had to withdraw due to medical reasons (emergency brain surgery). I was made, even though medically withdrawn made to pay an outstanding bill from that course. Again I was not working and finally had to withdraw completely from Capella in 2015. I then, called monthly to see if I could get some assistance with paying for the course and was denied any help.

In 2017 I began researching and was able to dig up the $1500 I owed and spoke with a Jon Gubbels my admissions counselor. I verbalized my concerns primarily being financial and was told by Jon himself (I have emails) that I only had to make up on course COUN5504 and take a Trauma course as it was now required before I can get back into my Internship II. I confirmed and reconfirmed that I would only need these two courses to complete.

I struggle to find an internship site; finally found one; completed the application; my site and application was approved and now in May 2018 (after approval of my internship) I am told I need to retake 5 classes; previously taken; and residencies which would require me to go out of state. Even though I am a single mother; with very limited financial resources and very if any support to watch my children.

I checked with state licensing facilities that stated they do not have requirements of "expired courses" and really it was up to the college. I send a very detailed letter to a Dr. Lange about my past experiences; homelessness, brain surgery, domestic violence, the providing of misinformation by Capella staff and basically beg that I get some type of recourse and even agreed to have to take an extra internship course to make up for any hours that might have been missed.

I am denied and told sorry, we understand you are frustrated but university policy...and she is not approving my moving on and hopes that I can continue with my education. I have no financial aid, I went to 2 residencies at 2 different states and paid out of pocket myself. I do not have any more finances, to continue, have way more than the required credits needed for my masters degree and am provided no recourse except; hopefully you can finish if not withdraw. Where is the identification of admissions staff that provide misinformation? Where is the identification of extreme admission techniques promising one thing only to get a person in the door then not allowing them to move further without more finances even though these courses were already taken.

5/27/18
I have considerable issues with one classroom with accessing classrooms, submitting and replying. Tech support is not available on the weekends when assignments are due. One professor in particular will not accept anything not submitted via email keeps telling me that I need to contact tech support, who tell me to contact the professor since it's her classroom the issue is with.

Professors do not post complete assignments or there are so many grammatical errors that it's impossible to decipher what they even are asking.

To keep me as a student longer in the system
1. Lack of close guidance in the initial milestones
2. Change of grade from satisfactory to unsatisfactory

Charging me with additional amounts twice

1. By delaying to drop me from course despite my timely request to be dropped of from the course

Kept me in the course and extending my program by a quarter.
1. delayed submission of my paperwork to school committee by faculty
2. delayed review of my paper by school committee

Slapped with a heavy lifetime debt of student loan by
1. Lack of information provided on the type of loan - Unsubsidized ( feel like experiencing a heart attack) as I cannot afford the rise in interest on a daily basis! I am the bread winner, and feel drowned and can never lift my head.
2. Repeatedly I was told my loan was less than 50, 000/- when it is 78, 000/-

Did not have a chance to even see my name in the list of graduates after all my struggle to earn the doctoral degree with $77, 000/- I wish not even my enemy any of the suffering I go through.
Reasons provided are ridiculous.. such as submission of paper for printing
They decided to put my name for Aug commencement graduates list!

I feel punished and do not even feel like taking pride in my degree for which I longed due to all the struggle and chasing with Capella.

Very insensitive, money oriented organization overall.
My thought is go for it but knowing what you will have to go through!

Minnesota Office of Higher Education
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) licenses or registers most private colleges and out-of-state higher education institutions operating in Minnesota. The OHE has the authority to take action against the license of a private college or out-of-state higher education institution that violates Minnesota law. To file a complaint against a private college or out-of-state higher education institution, fill out the OHE's Student Complaint Formexternal link icon and send it to the OHE as follows:
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108

The mentors that teach at Capella are horrible. After I passed my comprehensive examI was assigned a mentor. He made me prove that I was in his class and said he had to many students. clearly he didn't want to be my mentor. The next mentor was a woman that gave me an NS on the last week of class after I met with her over the phone every Thursday. My third Mentor claimed he never got my corrected SMR. As time went on I was making progress I thought, he kept asking if I wanted to do an Ed.S. I said no I already have one. As time went on my husband had a stroke and I turned in my corrections late. He gave me an NS. I didn't like it but I took full responsibility for it. Then he told me to submit my SMR for review. I did, made all of the corrections and HE decided not to resubmit my SMR because HE felt it was not good enough. I did not find out he gave me and NS until the day after the class was over. When he was called on the phone he pretended he did not know what he did. After I tried to get back in they told me know and offered me a masters degree. This will make my third masters. They took my money and made me get in more debt. CAPELLA IS NOT TRUTHFUL AND THEIR INSTRUCTORS ARE BOTTOM OF THE [censor] POND

I graduated from Capella in March 2017 after completing my degree (PhD) in August 2016. To date, I remain unemployed, can not get a job, can not get help from Capella (except for a list of websites I am already on and how to write a resume) and I owe $1400/a month, DOUBLE what I expected to pay, which makes me question charges. I have a debt of $145, 000... more than a house in some parts of the country and I CAN NOT GET A JOB! I CAN NOT get help from Capella and I am drowning in debt. I believe I was over-charged for my degree (how can I owe so much, especially when I took off several quarters?!?!) and WHY can I not get a job? Is it the Capella name that is keeping me from it? (the success is 65%!) My teaching career has been excellent, with outstanding references and a track record that is incredible. This is mind blowing, a loan that is over $140, 000 and no way to pay, which has also impacted my credit score and personal life. It has had a terrible impact of my family and myself; personally, emotionally and mentally!

I completed all my FAFSA documents and loans to get proper funding the 4 years I’ve been at Capella and I’m 2 classes away from graduating classes are due to start 10/09/17 and they say I can’t start my course until I pay a out of pocket expense of $3, 000 because my loan capped out. I wasn’t informed and they said the loan capped out for spring and summer but yet they let me continue with those classes and with this said balance. They said I need to pay the balance before 10/03/2017 and I just had a baby if I had the $3, 000 I wouldn’t need the loans in the first place. So now I won’t be able to graduate because it’s to late for any aid and they don’t even care I worked so hard to gain my degree and this is a kick in the face to not be able to obtain it.

I need the Financial Aid Department to release, my aid in the Department of Education. I need it completed immediately I was released from your program. I am not paying back a loan when this school wants to misuse, my funds. Navient is on me and I want it in the Department of Education computer my funds release as I'm not going to your school anymore. I need it release in 48 hours you are not allowed to use my FINANCIAL aid as I'm no longer a student at your school. Please fix this today.

Michelle Cass

Capella Sanctioned by the Government

According to the GAO report, Capella had a high withdrawal rate among students in bachelor’s degree programs, and spent an usually high percentage of its revenue on marketing.

In March 2008, Capella was also the subject of an Education Department audit, which revealed that the school overcharged lenders and this department by over a half million dollars. The inspector general’s audit revealed mistakes in calculation of student eligibility for federal loans, as well as failure to return funds granted on behalf of students who withdrew from their courses.

SEE ABOVE AS CITED AT:
http://www.collegeaffordabilityguide.org/online-colleges-sanctioned-by-government-organizations/

Capella University joined the long list of publicly traded education companies hit with class-action lawsuits filed on behalf of angry shareholders. The Police Pension Fund of Peoria has filed suit [PDF] in U.S. District Court for Minnesota, claiming that the company misled investors about its business practices in order to inflate the price of its stock.

Capella University has been engaging in abusive and fraudulent recruiting and financial aid lending practices, thereby increasing Capella’s student enrollment and revenues, ” the suit claims.

By: Beth Hawkins
NOV 11, 2010
MinnPost
https://www.minnpost.com/learning-curve/2010/11/suits-against-profit-universities-including-capella-raise-question-do-shareho

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."