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The for-profit online university Capella was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging the school focuses on growing enrollment, but neglects current students.
Two former Capella University students allege in their class action lawsuit that Capella falsely advertises the time and money it takes for students to get their degrees.
The plaintiffs say that the for-profit university pours resources into recruiting new students at the expense of current students, leading to decreased resources, high instructor turnover, and delays.
“Capella essentially operated a ‘bait and switch’ program,” alleges the Capella University class action lawsuit. “The bait was displayed when Capella’s marketing materials and recruiters misled prospective and current students making misleading statements about the time to completion and cost of their mostly student-loan financed doctoral degrees.”
One of the plaintiffs alleges that she spent more than $50,000 trying to get a doctor of nursing practice degree. She says Capella advertises the degree as taking 30 months and costing $35,000 in tuition, but despite earning high grades, the plaintiff says that delays and instructor turnover led her to quit and pursue her degree elsewhere.
The other plaintiff says she spent more than $100,000 in tuition at Capella pursuing a doctor of education degree based on false promises that the degree would take three years. The plaintiff also alleges she earned top grades, but when it came to making progress to finishing her degree, Capella only presented barriers and hurdles.
“Instead of completing the promised doctoral degree program requirements and being awarded a doctoral degree in the advertised time, Capella employed the ‘switch,’” says the Capella University class action lawsuit. “Capella created an endless routine of hurdles and benefitted from additional tuition payments. Students who believed they were getting ever closer to obtaining their doctoral degree were in fact stuck with decreasing resources, faculty turnover, disorganization and a lack of oversight, all of which increased the length of the doctoral students’ enrollments at Capella.”
According to the Capella class action lawsuit, the online nature of the programs offered by Capella makes it difficult for students to realize that their peers are facing the same obstacles as they are in finishing their degree.
The plaintiffs say that they and thousands of other frustrated students are at the mercy of Capella advisors “who can and did ensure that doctoral students would be misled, confused, and ultimately cheated out of their money to the benefit of Capella.”
The Capella University class action alleges that Capella banks on the “crushing student debt” created by the delays and hurdles it creates to force students to un-enroll before finishing their degree so they can work to pay back that debt. Further, alleges the Capella class action lawsuit, the credits awarded by Capella are useless because other institutions will not accept them.
The plaintiffs seek to represent other Capella students nationwide who enrolled and paid tuition starting in 2006, along with Kansas and Tennessee subclasses.
The Capella class action lawsuit seeks damages as well as a court order stopping Capella from its alleged bait and switch and false marketing. The plaintiffs also want Capella to disgorge all profits from “excessive doctoral program coursework.”
The former Capella University students are represented by Garrett D. Blanchfield, and Roberta A. Yard of Reinhardt Wendorf & Blanchfield and Paul Lesko of Peiffer Tosca Wolf Abdullah Carr & Kane.
The Capella University Class Action is Wright, et al. v. Capella Education Company, et al., Case No. 0:18-cv-01062-WMW-SER, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.
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116 thoughts onCapella University Class Action Says Degree Process is ‘Bait and Switch’
Capella university has screwed me over bad!
The schools lack of communication and complete unprofessionalism, shows zero regard for its students. I’m at the very last end, 5 weeks from graduation, and am being told I may have to retake all courses next term because they cant seem to communicate with each other, and all say something different. My advisor is doing her best to help, but the lead faculty members and the dean who I’ve emailed, are literally just making me waste time and money. I had so much depending on me graduating this September. There’s no phone to reach the MSW practice site, which makes zero sense. Everyone is appalled at the schools actions, even my clinical supervisor. I’ve lost 2 prospective internship sites because of the school’s incompetence. There’s a chance I will lose my $20,000 loan for the year and future job prospect because my entire graduation date will be messed up, at no fault of my own.
Capella is denying me an earned degree because they say, “The program no longer exists, and I did not apply for the earned degree within the allotted time. I was paying an outstanding balance and upon paying in full, I inquired about the degree clearly earned, and was given the above excuse.
Capella when starting the dissertation phase informed me that my I would have to began paying out of pocket. Capella in their University listing of what could apply was a reduction or no tuition fee when at the dissertation phase. I was informed that this was not the case but had a copy of the document Capella had provided upon admission to the university. I would’ve had a year to complete but unable to do so because of tuition.
I have now reached my maximum time to receive my Doctorate. I was currently working on Chapter 5 and also met with my mentor to inform the Department of my study. The school was aware of the numerous variables in the study and I was tol “everyone gets this letter and gets an extra term no problem”. This did not happen for me. I appealed in detail pointing out who and when I spoke to them along with a plan to complete the degree. This was all I needed to do. My mentor was not aware of their decision as it was only sent to me. For a whole term I was not in class; however had a bill I paid on every month (through arrangement). I received an email from Doctoral Success that informed me they were upholding their decision and they would no longer correspond with me. They quickly took me out of their system and sent me to a collection agency. I am paying the same amount to them! I am over $180k in debt, no Ph.D and term limit expired. Capella brings you in with the end result of getting this degree when they take your money and hang you out to dry when you challenge their decisions. I only answered what was asked. My mentor was shocked as well as they have allowed other learners with more serious infractions back in. I had A’s and B’s and finished at a another school years ago. Once they hook you in it is hard to get out of their net. I have nothing to show but more debt and no degree and this is what I worked hard for.
I was a learner at Capella from May 2019 until Fall, 2022. I was a 3.5 GPA DHA student. I had a pre-Capstone course that was not very well taught. The instructor was very vague with course direction, and had several students very upset and stressed out over this class. I tried to work with the program, but was advised that my work was unsatisfactory. I went to the administration about this instructor, and they then had this same instructor contact me to handle the complaint filed against him! The academic coach simply did nothing for my grievances. My Mother became terminally ill during that course, and I was truly overwhelmed. The university didn’t care, and did nothing to help me during that trying time. And reading up on the “Bait and Switch” practices of this school, I need to become part of a class action lawsuit against this shameful institution. My email address is JTUTM@AOL.COM
Hello viewers,
In reading several comments regarding Capella University, I would like to take part in the class action lawsuit. My manuscript was approved w/changes by the School Reviewer (Dr. Lett), the Program Reviewer (Dr. Smith), and my mentor (Dr. Bond). I was 95% complete with Capella. On 1/30/2023, I was accused of plagiarism and after several appeals with the IRB, Research Compliance, and the designee to the President, I was removed from Capella and no changes of re-enrollment. Nothing like this has ever happened to me in my 58 years of living. I am sick and discouraged. I am open to doing what it takes not just for myself, for others who have similar situations. My email is serenity313@gmail.com. Thank you, Crystal
I have paid tuition at Capella since October of 2019, with NOTHING to show for it. In the midst, I worked 50+ hours during each wave of the pandemic, lost my 36 year old brother June 4th, my 20 year old cousin August 20th, and my stepdad January 20th. I reached out to my coach multiple times, and was misled every time and never offered more than “sorry to hear, keep trying your best.” The last tuition I paid was 11/21. On 1/30 I was contacted stating I was being academically withdrawn from the university and would be dropped from all courses in 1 to 3 days. Tuition posted to my account on 2/21, no one is responding to calls or emails, but I continue to get text messages threatening to take me to collections. At Capella, you are not an individual or working adult that will have the flexibility to complete their degree, you are nothing more than a dollar sign.
I am also a doctoral learner enrolled at Capella in the DHA program. I am in the capstone phase with no progression since 2021. I have completely changed my topic and the committee members have given me a hard time. The program was altered without my knowledge or communication. My mentor does not have a clue what to do. I am out of tons of money dealing with this school. When I initially got into the program it was right on track with my future goals but this has turned into a nightmare.
Over six years to complete my Doctoral degree which should have been completed in under four years. The coursework was completed in two years. However, I had to file a grievance against one professor who only graded about five out of 20+ assignments and gave me an “F” for the course. I kept a spreadsheet of my assignments and grades. I presented the details to a grievance committee and they agreed with me; however, they stated they could only recommend that I receive a “B.” I was informed that the process for review and decision would take some time. Thus, without knowing the outcome, I retook the course and received an “A” grade for the course. This was additional and unnecessary time and money spent, and stress for me.
Additionally, I ended up with three different advisors throughout my journey. The initial advisor started the negative battle with Capella. It took her over one year just to approve the dissertation topic because she kept re-reading and making changes that she previously approved. At the end of her approval, the committee reviewed the topic she approved and made recommendations that she previously had me remove. Out of a total of 16 Milestones, I only receive 3 in two and a half years with the first advisor. By the time my topic with to the IRB and they did not approve it, I know it was time to have her dismissed. Again, this cost me more time, money, and stress. However, I received approval for my second mentor. The fact that I received four milestone completions in one semester with the second mentor was confirmation, I had been a victim of being used by Capella/the mentor to gain money at my expense. Unfortunately, the second mentor left Capella, and I was informed I was now assigned to a third mentor. While I eventually graduated, the undue stress, time, and money charged were excessive and unnecessary. I am now nearly 69 years old with a $275k debt with limited teaching funds. I need relief and help to have this loan discharged. Please advise accordingly.