This school appears in our ranking 20 Most Affordable MBA Online Programs at Small Colleges 2018.
Operating from offices in Scottsdale, Arizona and San Diego, California, Northcentral University is a for-profit institution that features a virtual campus and online learning opportunities. Available degree programs at Northcentral University include those at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Founded in 1996, Northcentral University gained institutional accreditation in 2003 from the Higher Learning Commission. Schools operating within the university include the School of Business, School of Education, School of Social & Behavioral Sciences, the School of Health Sciences, and the School of Technology. The school's official colors are blue and gold, and the school's mascot is the Roadrunner. The school is an online university; there are no campus athletic teams.
When it was founded in 1996, the university was created with the intent of offering online learning, and the school's first programmatic accreditation would occur in 2003 when it received approval from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. The university would receive approval to offer federal student loans to students in 2009. Since its establishment, the university has advertised itself as a school focusing primarily on graduate-level offerings. More than 10,000 students are enrolled in degree programs at Northcentral University, which was ranked 148th out of 205 institutions for "Best Online Programs" by U.S. News & World Report.
Northcentral University Accreditation Details
Northcentral University gets its regional accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission. The university's accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Other accrediting agencies have also accredited programs at the university and include the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), the International Accreditation Commission for Systemic Therapy Education, and the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. These agencies accredit degrees like the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and the Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy. The school's business programs are accredited by ACBSP.
Northcentral University Application Requirements
Applying to Northcentral University begins with the submission of the official application that requires the student's personal information, the program of study he or she wishes to enroll in, and the student's military affiliation, if applicable. Students will also need to submit unofficial transcripts, and some programs may require additional materials. During the enrollment process, students will need to obtain their official transcripts for all schools where a degree has been earned, or credits have been completed, as well as documents sharing scholarship information. Applications for undergraduate school and graduate school are similar, but students are encouraged to check with their chosen program to see if they need to submit any additional documents.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees at Northcentral University vary depending on the program in which a student is enrolled. The university's online delivery mode means that there are no options for room and board at the university, so all tuition costs are solely for classes. The university provides total estimated costs for their programs, which can help students decide whether the degree they seek is worth the investment. For example, the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is estimated to cost $30,310 for the entire program, the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Business is estimated to cost $13,134 for the entire program, and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) is estimated to cost $31,960 for the entire degree program. Costs for other programs vary greatly and usually depend on the level of the program and the number of credits required to complete it. The Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (PhD-BA) costs $77,510 while the Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD-OL) costs $75,530.
Financial aid is available to students attending Northcentral University through federals student aid, as well as private student loans, grants, and scholarships. Students who qualify for federal student aid must submit their FAFSA form to receive a financial aid award from the school. The university helps veterans and military students with tuition assistance and also accepts Veterans Administration benefits. Several large companies across the country have partnered with Northcentral University to provide tuition assistance, and many students are also eligible for grants. Students may qualify for private student loans through the university or via a direct application to the lender.
Online Degrees Available
Northcentral University offers degrees in many subject areas with some unique features designed to assist busy students who are already employed full time. One of the helpful facets of NCU's online graduate degree programs is the weekly starting dates for all programs. Students can begin their degree program in any week they choose during the year, and the university offers students a flexible completion timeline to accommodate part-time study. Some of the available online degrees are offered in the areas of Public Administration, Teaching, Data Science, and Information Technology. Overall, the university offers 24 online graduate degrees. Some degrees allow the student to choose a concentration to ensure their degree experience is as applicable as possible for the student's future career goals.
Master of Business Administration
One such option is the Master of Business Administration, which offers students many specializations like Applied Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Healthcare Administration, or Financial Management. Students may also seek a concentration in Strategic Management, Management of Engineering & Technology, Project Management, or Computer & Information Systems. Students must complete 30 credit hours to earn their MBA and may begin in any week of the year. The university expects that students will take approximately 16 months to complete their degree. Students will complete the degree with an immersive simulation that will serve as the degree's capstone test.
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration degree is another helpful program that can help students learn about nonprofit leadership, management of government agencies, the direction of local divisions, operation management, or government program coordination. The program requires that students complete 36 credit hours, which are divided into 12 separate courses. Students can expect to spend 25 months in the program and may begin study in any week of the year that suits their schedule. Students will investigate common administrative challenges met by today's government, private, and public organizations and exit the program with a deeper understanding of budgeting, organizational behavior, and human resources. Students with interest in the Master of Public Administration or any of the other online master's degree programs at Northcentral University can contact the school for more information.