Reviews of National American University Rapid City (University)

K Ang

I enrolled in NAU a few years ago. The online class said it was 12 weeks when I logged in, turned out it was 8 weeks and you had to get 12 units done in that time. There was absolutely nothing written anywhere about this. Not in the class instructions or the syllabus, so I failed the class. I asked the school for help, they wanted proof from me, but when the class ended, everything online disappeared, I couldn't login. What's worse, is they pushed so hard for me to get into class as soon as possible. I told the admissions rep that I wanted to wait to be sure my financial aid would go through, I had not filed taxes the previous year. It was like high pressure sales, she swore up and down that I would get aid, taxes didn't matter. The end result, I believed her because I thought she had experience, she was wrong, I was on the hook for over $3500. They refused to let me retake the online class for no charge despite the fact that I had no way of knowing it was accelerated. Now I find out, years later that not only did they put this charge on my credit, they also put my husband at the time's unpaid bill on my credit of $6,000. So I owe this school $9,500 for 3 classes that I didn't even get the chance to finish.

Hue Proutt

NAU has give me the best education, and I truly recommend them to anyone seeking to better their education. I'm a Masters Graduate.

CeCe Williams

Worst decision I ever made

Brianna McElroy

Worst School Ever The Staff Have Rude Attuides an or very unprofessional worst decision ever to attend this school wasted 2years dealing with this school,finally made Up my mind getting my transcript an leaving this school,to attend school an complete my degree somewhere else.

Celia McDonald

Being a non-traditional, working student is difficult. National American University had the schedule, program, resources, and facilities to achieve both my degrees even while growing my family. The small and personable staff were definitely part of my academic success. I would not be on the path to being a physician assistant if it were not for this school. Thank you NAU Georgetown!

Liz Medina

NAU was so easy to work with when it came to financial aid and my schedule. I thought I was going to have to pay 100% out of pocket, but the financial aid person, helped me get majority of my school covered!

P!nkOverachiever

National American University is an amazing college. It's a place where goals become reality. You get to learn from phenomenal successful professors . They work with you one on one and the results show greatness. I am proud to have gone to the college, because it was the greatest journey in my life.

Sugarandpumpkinspice

Really nice instructors and others who where willing to help. Yes starting classes online was a bit difficult but once you understand the system it's really not at all hard. I went to a different universtiry and spend 15,000 on one semester, so NO at least in my experience NAU is really not that expensive.

Elena Sacks

I have always hated school..my job required me to take some type of bachelors degree program, so I found NAU from a friend and ended up loving it!! I am now thinking about going back for my masters!

Bradley Colson

I've just been trying to just get into their 1yr "Networking" program and it"s been nearly a month now, that's a month of unreturned messages, unanswered calls, constant miscommunications, having National American University's online pages either not work with the most common device platforms and/or browsers or just not work at all, and just, well... such a vast array of issues it's been like a really, REALLY, EGREGIOUSLY BAD JOKE. With tuition costs ranging upwards of $1300 to $1400 per class (not including hidden fees & other class related charges and costs) one should really expect better than what National American University aparently has to offer.

Peggy Hamilton

Please do your own research and don't go by the negative reviews. This school was amazing. I am so glad I did my own research and signed up! They have awesome staff and very convenient schedules!

Julia Gruis

I promised myself I wouldn't do this but I really feel that people should know NAU is not as good as it seems. I started the Vet Tech program in 2010 within 2 months of moving to Rapid City. I was only moving here for 1 year to take a break from chaos back home but I started work in a vet clinic as a kennel assistant within a week of starting at NAU. Its been 5 years and I'm still here working at the same clinic as a technician and done with NAU. The teachers of the vet tech program were not the problem and I actually quite enjoyed them most of the time but the structure and organization of the program was awful. When I started back in 2010 the main campus was still on Kansas City street. Our small classes were sometimes in the big lecture room which was fine but huge for 10+ people but it was the only space available. When the new building went up on hwy 16 is when the structure and organization really took a turn. Regular classes and generals had to be taken at the new building and actual tech classes had to be at the animal health building on Kansas City street. The schedules were changed constantly and recent graduates had to jump in and start teaching some of the less extensive lessons such as bandaging. Anatomy lab started being taught by a vet and a tech that had never taught it before so the quality of learning and teaching was very bad even though they tried their best. The real issue here is NAU as a whole. Back to when I started in 2010. I had $1500 to my name which was all that was left after my move here due to costs of gas and U-Haul. Luckily I was with my aunt in an apt so I wasn't going to be homeless if I had no money. I had to put all of the $1500 down just to start school because they told me financial aid would not kick in until the following quarter. They did however tell me that I would get that money back "in full" within a week one my financial aid paperwork was cleared so I was fine with it. Two months later after constant hassling (by me) I went in and demanded to know why I had not received my money. Their answers were circles of words which were lies and they would never give me answers. After thirty minutes of getting nothing but BS I walked out and called my aunt (a lawyer). She dropped everything and came to the school and helped me deal with financial aid for another 30 minutes until the lady made a three second phone call and said I'd have my money the following day. Still to this day I have no idea why they were holding my money and lying but I'm assuming they were making interest by holding it. Tuition is also pretty high but onto other issues. The faculty never has a clue of what they are doing and if you have an issue they do not call or e-mail you back and there is never the right person there for the issue to be discussed. If you have questions, especially regarding money or funding you will not get straight forward answers. Last week I registered to take my VTNE state board exam and NAU is not wanting to release my transcripts. I've been on the phone 3 times and to the building twice where they had me write down my credit card info for the transcript fee and sign all papers for the release of them and then three days later called to tell me they cannot send them via e-mail, fax, or mail after they already told me they could and had me leave my cc info. Also now I'm finding out they keep lying on reports about the number of students they have enrolled so they can get more government funding and the current nursing students who have months left until the graduate could end up not receiving diplomas because of wrongful actions made by the school in letting go nursing professors and directors. NAU is hit or miss with some programs but it is not honest, ethical, and does not care to help you. Yes there are people within NAU who are awesome and very helpful but as a whole NAU is awful and I will never recommend anyone to go there. Apologies on the long read!

Joshua Hudson

I was planning on attending a big university, but found NAU and save thousands of dollars. I cannot believe I was going to pay so much for a degree, just for a schools name! NAU set me up on a payment plan and helped me the whole way!

Hilda Adkins

Hello this message is for anyone wanting to know about the teaching and learning at National American University. I have been attending their online courses and it is wonderful all my instructors are so helpful and understandable. They have a great team of instructors and employees staff, that seems to care about all students attending online and campus. If you are anyone you know are interesting in fulfilling your education give NAU a try you will not be disappointed. All resources along with online librarians, tudors, and YouTube are some if the resources available along with a team of financial services and technical support assistance.

Chris Holloway

Horrible, seemly inexperienced instructors who have an Im best attitude.. Financial Aid office WILL try to screw you over with your Aid.. They did me PLEASE B CAREFUL of this school in Rapid City SD HORRIBLE

schad priem

Very accommodating

Oren Gaines

Since the first encounter with the school, the entire school has the nicest people I have ever encountered. Colleges are busy, but they take the time to truly help you!

Krista Russell

NAU cares and tries to have every student succeed. Each of us comes from allover the states and we find at times life is not easy or fair. NAU strives to get synergy thru those of us who want to strive and better ourselves. Thanks NAU!

Emily G

I go to NAU in Wichita, KS. The advisor are really helpful. Yes tuition is pricey, but with my degree I'll be able to take it anywhere in the US.. So not complaining

Wenzombo Rose

I googled for an ADN program but apparently google describes this as being offered they don’t offer healthcare courses ,just to clarify do you guys offer ADN or Rn program?

Chelsies Reviews

This school will not call you back no matter how many times you call the Dean, your advisor or really anyone else there. I completed all of my classes that I was told that I had to complete to get my associate's degree. I even have an email stating that I had completed my courses and I was eligible to walk. I was told to pay off my balance to receive my diploma and which I did and I have a receipt for yet I still have not received my diploma. I was told that I have another class that magically appeared that I need to take which is now the second time they have done this to me. I have been promised that I would get call backs and that this would be resolved yet here we are again with no one answering my messages, emails or returning phone calls... I've used up all of my available funds through the VA and I've also used up all my funds to go to this school... I'm now maxed out. The communication is very poor here they would rather you sit in the dark and wonder what's going on then pick up the phone and talk to you for 5 minutes. Since starting my associate's degree I have had over 4 advisors and many different financial aid advisors. I have tried to contact my advisor Stacy in regards to what's going on with my diploma and this supposedly other class I need to take with no luck except ' I'm checking in on it' and never getting a return phone call. I've left three different messages for the dean of the school and still no return phone call. I've worked very hard day and night to receive my diploma. It is a slap in the face when you can't get a straight answer from anyone at this campus. I just want my diploma that I have worked so very hard for and have paid for.

Casey Eberle

Worst experience of my life spent more time with teachers lecturing on how bad their lives were then actually learning. Anatomy lab consisted of labeling on a computer never once stepping foot in a lab. Transferring out is a nightmare they are holding my transcript because of an unpaid balance that I have repeatedly tried to prove is not accurate. I would avoid this school and tell everyone that asks the same thing!

Myesha Robertson

Horrible staff, well not all Michelle and Connie (my advisors) have been very professional and have assisted me in every way possible. Since starting at NAU summer 2016 I’ve had issues, the courses do not prepare you for your career and they are very fast paced which makes it hard to retain the small bits of information you do retain and they are extremely over priced. One financial services representative Angela Charbonneau is very unprofessional. I’d gotten married and ultimately had to pay outside of financial aid because I no longer qualified for pell grants , I paid without issue, towards the end of my degree I was contacted via phone and text by Angela needing to speak with me regarding payment. I reached out to her on numerous occasions with no response. Closer to the start date of my classes I contacted the financial aid department to obtain the amount I would need to pay to find out I didn’t owe and would be receiving money back. All the while Angela never returned my calls to state hey I just wanted to let you know you will not owe anything this semester and will actually receive money back. I reached out to them via email after I noticed my loans have been posted to my account and I do have a balance owed to me. Angela’s response email went completely around my initial question regarding when I would receive my stipend and stated NAU is an attendance based school, confused as to why my email would prompt this type of response. All in all I’m still waiting for my stipend to be issued, complete this semester so I can graduate and continue my education elsewhere. Very unprofessional individual who needs to be enrolled in a professionalism/communication course. Do not attend this school go somewhere else!

Berta Coleman

National American is a great choice for schooling: Close to home,work,family, and very accommodating to my needs. When went to school had 2 choices should have followed my heart. I'm doing what I graduated with still have a field in what my heart lead me to. National American University is a great school small class sizes and that will fit into all of your daily needs end well. Thank You!

Mark Hess

National American University has given me an excellent education that fit into my professional work schedule. I certainly recommend anyone seeking a higher education or going back to obtain your degree, to give NAU serious consideration.

Stephen Hagan

I am set to graduate this December, and I have to say, they made school so easy to do with the flexible scheduling and wide variety of classes they offer.

Katina Tucker

I have had a wonderful experience with NAU. The staff is fantastic and stay connected with you even after you graduate! I recommend NAU to everyone!

Natalie Rossiter

Would not recommend. I have had 2 different advisors lost track of how many financial aid advisors I had. Today got an attitude when I asked for a detailed statement of all that has been paid, after my out of pocket went from 250 to 3000 for adding a class that suddenly I dont have as I was slated for graduation with Bachelor's at end of fall. Financial aid proceeded to tell me this was an issue for my advisor.... um no its a financial issue. Financial aid has been a headache since the beginning.

Kiana Thompson

You are so true not enough help at any schools or even the main office. Everyone asks me where do I go to School. I do not tell them , I say you do not want the headaches they offer. Point Blank they need more help at there schools. It seems every time I need to see someone here goes a different person again. They hire and seems the fired or staff walks out. I would really like the answer to that question.