Capella University

I strongly advise anyone considering Capella University to think twice before enrolling. My experience with their administration has been extremely frustrating and unprofessional. Communication is disorganized, and it often feels like no one takes responsibility for student concerns. Emails go unanswered for long periods, important updates are delayed, and when issues arise, you’re bounced around between departments with no real help. Instead of feeling supported, I constantly felt ignored and dismissed. Capella presents itself as flexible and student-centered, but in reality, the administration fails to deliver even basic professionalism. I wish I had chosen a school that values transparency, accountability, and genuine student support. Save yourself the stress — look for a university that truly cares about its students.

This may be the one and only college that allows students to utilize AI like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot to write college papers for them. I know a person that has been attending this college for two years. The person brags about how she uses Microsoft Copilot to write all her papers.

Dealing with the financial aid team has been extremely frustrating. I have waited on the phone for over an hour on multiple occasions just to get a few basic questions answered, only to be told that additional items still need to be completed even though emails from the school state that everything has already been completed on my end. This has been ongoing for over a month with little to no guidance. Students are expected to wait indefinitely for answers while other universities process FAFSA smoothly and efficiently. Communication is inconsistent, and the quality of customer service varies depending on who you speak with. At times, responses come across as defensive or argumentative rather than supportive. Due to this repeated experience, I have withdrawn from the college once again, as I previously did in June 2025 for the same reasons. There is no benefit in enrolling in a university if the process creates unnecessary stress and lacks clear guidance and reliable support.

After completing 10 doctoral courses at Capella University, I was administratively withdrawn because I couldn’t complete one class within the 3-month FlexPath deadline. Despite maintaining strong grades (8 A's and 2 B's) and making consistent progress, the university denied my appeal and permanently removed me from the program. It’s incredibly discouraging to invest so much time, money, and effort—only to be dismissed over one course without any flexibility or real support. The appeal process felt more procedural than fair, and communication from leadership was minimal. If you’re considering Capella’s FlexPath program, be aware that even strong academic performance doesn’t guarantee protection from rigid policies. Update: Capella refused to put my last bill into my loan and made me pay for the final $3,440 out of pocket. Financial aid said to contact academic coaching. Academic coaching said to contact financial aid. After getting no answers, I got a notice that it was being turned over to collections. I immediately put the bill on my credit card. The next day I finally heard from financial aid that I owed $86 that was being turned over to collections. As you can see my balance is $0.

Communication with financial aid is terrible. I was set to start the Masters program on 1/12. I noticed that there was one class I that had not been registered. When I tried to register, it noted there was a hold on my account. I contacted financial aid and was told bc of a previous balance I would not be able to start until the balance was satisfied. My problem is not the balance, it was the fact that I called back in October and asked several questions regarding financial holds, etc. the information I was provided was incorrect. Had I been informed correctly I could have taken care of the balance prior to the semester starting. This was the second time a rep had misinformed me and there is no way for the students to have proof of a verbal conversation. They really need to work on providing students with correct information so this does not keep happening.

My experience with Capella University was mixed overall. While I successfully earned my Master’s degree through the FlexPath program, there were several challenges and frustrations along the way that future students should be aware of before enrolling. Financial Aid: The financial aid process was extremely slow and difficult to navigate, as many other reviewers have also mentioned. It took much longer than expected for everything to be processed, which caused unnecessary stress and delays at the start of my term. Communication from the financial aid team could definitely be more efficient and transparent. FlexPath Program: I chose the FlexPath option because of its advertised flexibility and ability to study at my own pace. In theory, the model is convenient — you can work when it fits your schedule and complete courses at your own speed. However, there are major limitations that students should know. You cannot move on to the next assignment until your previous one has been graded. Professors can take as long as they want to grade your work, which can stall your progress for weeks. For example, a course that could be finished in two weeks might end up taking a month or longer simply because of grading delays. Each course typically includes four major assignments, each taking about one to two weeks of full-time effort to complete — and that’s assuming grading turnaround is quick. If professors delay grading or request revisions, those two weeks can easily become three or four. This defeats the purpose of “self-paced” learning and can feel like an intentional way to slow students down. Program Duration & Policy Issues: I managed to complete my master’s degree in about nine months, though I originally planned to finish within six. A large part of that delay came from grading bottlenecks and administrative issues. At one point, I missed completing a course by a single day and was required to extend into another term, with no flexibility or forgiveness from the administration. That felt unnecessarily rigid and disappointing. Technology & Platform: The student portal and online platform frequently experienced glitches and slow performance. There were several times when the system would not load or save work properly, which added to the frustration. Given the tuition costs, I expected a smoother and more reliable platform. Overall Experience: While I was ultimately happy to have completed my master’s degree at a relatively affordable price, the overall experience left me frustrated. The delays in grading, inflexible policies, slow financial aid processing, and technical glitches made the program feel more stressful than it should have been. If your main goal is to earn a degree at a reasonable cost, Capella can be a practical option — but go into it knowing that “FlexPath” doesn’t always mean fast. Be prepared for administrative delays, limited instructor communication, and a process that can easily extend longer than expected. In the end, I was relieved to finish and move on. While I appreciate the opportunity to complete my education affordably, I often felt stuck and slowed down by the very system that was supposed to provide flexibility.

Rn-BSN approach with caution especially with the practicum process. Trust me it’s VERY stressful and they don’t care. So my advice is ensure you have your site, a preceptor and have a good communication with the person who will sign the affiliation agreement BEFORE YOU PAY YOUR MONEY AND START ANY CLASSES. It’s been SIX MONTHS and my practicum application cannot be approved due lack of communication between the university and site. Don’t believe them when they say oh we have affiliation with these sites. LIES LIES! Each student needs their own affiliation so you have to establish one of your own! I Can’t wait to be done! I definitely won’t be doing my MSN here! Lesson learnt 🏃‍♀️ 💨

Finished Masters level degree in 16 months at my pace in the flex path program. Overall, a great experience. As with any school there is a learning curve for processes and expectations. Had great support from academic coach, admissions and teachers. Would recommend especially as they partner with my company in the TAAP program.

I earned my Master of Science in Psychology from Capella. It was a wonderful experience. I was enrolled in the FlexPath program. One instructor was horrible, so I submitted a complaint. The great thing about FlexPath is that I was able to drop that class and enroll in a class with a different instructor literally seconds later.

I have been very happy with Capella on my doctoral journey. The classes are well structured, and the professors are always available to help. Christina, in the the FAST office was able to help me get my finances arranged, and I appreciate them working with my budget. The ability to "cap out" financially really makes this school stand out from other institutions. Also, the 10 week on and 3 week off schedule allows you to focus without burning out and obtain a degree. I definitely recommend Capella, especially if are looking for a program that allows you to continue working full time while taking classes.