Is Keiser University a Good University? Full Review of Courses, Reputation, and Scheduling
Choosing the right university is one of the most important decisions for any student. With countless options available across the United States, Keiser University often comes up as a serious contender for students seeking career-focused education, flexible course scheduling, and small class sizes. But is Keiser a good university? What kind of course schedule can students expect?
In this detailed article, we’ll explore Keiser University’s strengths, course structure, scheduling flexibility, accreditation, reputation, student support, and more. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of whether Keiser is the right choice for your academic and professional future.
Overview: What is Keiser University?
Founded in 1977, Keiser University is a private, non-profit university headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It has grown rapidly over the decades and now operates more than 20 campuses across Florida, an international campus in Nicaragua, and an online division serving students nationwide.
Keiser’s mission is to provide educational programs that prepare students for successful careers through hands-on learning, small class sizes, and flexible scheduling. The university offers more than 100 degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.
Accreditation and Academic Recognition
One of the most critical aspects to consider when evaluating any university is its accreditation status.
✅ Keiser University Accreditation:
- Institutional Accreditation: Keiser is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), one of the top regional accrediting bodies in the U.S.
- Programmatic Accreditations: Many of its programs hold additional industry-recognized accreditations:
- Nursing – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Occupational Therapy – ACOTE
- Radiologic Technology – JRCERT
- Business – ACBSP accreditation
This accreditation ensures that Keiser meets high standards in faculty qualifications, academic curriculum, and student support services.
Is Keiser a Good University? Pros and Cons
To fairly assess Keiser University, we need to examine its pros and cons based on feedback from students, third-party rankings, and overall educational outcomes.
Pros:
1. Career-Focused Programs
Keiser designs its programs to align with real-world job requirements. Fields like nursing, cybersecurity, sports management, healthcare, and criminal justice are popular and in demand.
2. Flexible Scheduling
Students can attend classes during the day, evening, weekends, or online. This flexibility is ideal for working adults or students with family responsibilities.
3. Small Class Sizes
With an average student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1, Keiser offers personalized attention. Students are more likely to engage in discussions and receive mentorship.
4. Online Learning Options
Keiser University Online offers full degrees at all levels. This mode is ideal for remote learners or professionals who cannot attend on-campus classes.
5. High Job Placement Rate
According to Keiser, many of its graduates find employment within 6–12 months of graduation, particularly in healthcare and business.
6. Supportive Environment
Keiser provides career services, mental health counseling, tutoring, resume assistance, and internship placement.
Cons:
1. Tuition Costs
As a private institution, Keiser can be more expensive than public universities. However, financial aid, scholarships, and grants are available.
2. Fast-Paced Curriculum
Courses are accelerated—usually one class at a time every four weeks. This can be intense for some learners but ideal for those looking to graduate quickly.
3. Mixed Student Reviews
While many students praise the hands-on training and faculty, others criticize administrative delays or lack of social life on smaller campuses.
Course Offerings: What Can You Study at Keiser?
Keiser University offers a wide range of degrees in high-demand fields. Here are some of the top academic programs:
🎓 Popular Degree Programs:
Health Sciences:
- Nursing (ASN, BSN, MSN)
- Radiologic Technology
- Occupational Therapy
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Health Services Administration
Business & Management:
- Business Administration (BBA, MBA, DBA)
- Marketing
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Human Resource Management
Technology:
- Cybersecurity
- Information Technology
- Software Engineering
- Network Systems Engineering
Criminal Justice & Legal:
- Criminal Justice
- Legal Studies
- Homeland Security
Sports & Psychology:
- Sport Management
- Exercise Science
- Psychology
- Applied Behavior Analysis
Education & Teaching:
- Elementary Education
- Education Leadership
- Curriculum and Instruction
Keiser also offers doctoral programs in several fields, including nursing, business, and education.
How Does the Course Schedule Work at Keiser?
Keiser’s course schedule is one of the most distinctive features of the university. Unlike traditional semester-based systems, Keiser University runs on a block schedule or modular format.
📅 Course Format: One Class at a Time
Students typically take one course every four weeks (sometimes five), focusing entirely on that subject before moving to the next. This system is designed for:
- Better concentration and focus
- Accelerated completion
- Real-time application of concepts
🕐 Flexible Class Times
Keiser offers morning, afternoon, evening, and online classes. Each student can select a schedule that fits their personal and professional life. For example:
- Morning Block: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Afternoon Block: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Evening Block: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Online: Self-paced with set deadlines
📆 Course Start Dates
Unlike traditional universities that have 2–3 enrollment periods per year, Keiser allows monthly enrollments. This rolling admission model allows you to start whenever you’re ready.
Is Keiser University Good for Working Professionals?
Yes, Keiser is particularly well-suited for working adults or non-traditional students. Here’s why:
- Night and weekend classes allow students to keep their jobs.
- Online learning supports remote or travel-heavy lifestyles.
- One-class-at-a-time format is manageable even with a busy schedule.
Many students attending Keiser are adult learners returning to school for career advancement or a change in profession.
How Long Does It Take to Graduate from Keiser?
Thanks to its accelerated schedule, students at Keiser can often graduate faster than in traditional four-year universities.
Estimated Completion Times:
- Associate Degrees: 16–24 months
- Bachelor’s Degrees: 36–48 months
- Master’s Degrees: 12–24 months
- Doctoral Degrees: 3–5 years (varies by program)
These timelines can be further shortened if you transfer credits from prior education or have relevant work experience.
What Do Students Say? Real Reviews of Keiser University
Here’s a summary of common student feedback from trusted review platforms like Niche, GradReports, and College Consensus:
⭐ Positive Reviews:
- “Keiser prepared me for a job right after graduation.”
- “My instructors were experienced and really cared about our success.”
- “The block scheduling helped me balance work and school.”
⚠️ Critical Feedback:
- “Financial aid office was slow in processing documents.”
- “Tuition is expensive.”
- “The program moved fast—it was hard to keep up without discipline.”
Overall, students rate Keiser positively, particularly for hands-on learning, small classes, and schedule flexibility.
Keiser University Rankings and Achievements
While not ranked alongside Ivy League schools, Keiser has earned recognition in various categories.
Recent Rankings:
- U.S. News & World Report (2024):
- #1 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (South Region)
- Ranked among Best Regional Colleges South
- Niche: B rating overall with high marks for diversity and value
- Military Times: Listed in “Best for Vets” colleges
These rankings reflect Keiser’s commitment to accessible education and career outcomes.
Financial Aid and Tuition
As a private university, tuition at Keiser can be higher than public schools, but it offers many forms of financial support.
Financial Aid Options:
- Federal grants (Pell Grant, FSEOG)
- Federal student loans
- Work-study programs
- Institutional scholarships
- Military and veteran aid
- Employer reimbursement partnerships
Tuition varies by program and degree level, but averages around:
- Associate/Bachelor’s Programs: $21,000–$24,000 per year
- Graduate Programs: $25,000–$30,000 per year
Prospective students should work with admissions to get a customized cost breakdown.
Keiser University Blackboard
Here’s a detailed guide on Keiser University’s Blackboard (Anthology) platform, including access, login issues, helpful tips, and support:
🔐 Accessing Blackboard
- Keiser uses Anthology (formerly Blackboard Learn) for course delivery—accessible via the URL keiseruniversity.blackboard.com
- It’s part of the single sign-on ecosystem, shared with Office 365 and the Student Portal/Self-Service site keiseruniversity.edu.
🧭 How to Log In
- Visit the Office 365 login page:
https://login.microsoftonline.com/ - Use your Keiser email address as your username and your student ID as the initial password .
- Set up multi-factor verification—this enables access to Office 365, Blackboard, and the Student Portal.
- Note: Firefox is not supported for the portal—use Chrome or Edge
Is Keiser University regionally accredited? is it legit?
Yes, Keiser University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate through doctoral degrees . That accreditation is widely recognized and considered a trusted “rock‑solid” form of academic legitimacy theguardian.com+2aumvibe.com+2republicreport.org+2. The university itself states this clearly on its website reddit.com+6reddit.com+6reddit.com+6.
✅ Is It Legit?
- Institutional accreditation: Keiser meets all standards required for degree-granting institutions under SACSCOC .
- Program-specific accreditations: Many programs—like accounting (ACBSP), nursing (CCNE/ACEN), counseling (CACREP), and chiropractic (probationary CCE accreditation)—have their own accreditations reddit.com.
So, from an accreditation standpoint, Keiser is certainly legitimate.
⚠️ Important Concerns & Warnings
Despite accreditation, several critics raise concerns:
1. History of For-Profit Origins & Controversial Non-Profit Conversion
Keiser became a non-profit in 2011, but watchdogs and Congress question the legitimacy of its structure and profit flows republicreport.org+3republicreport.org+3reddit.com+3. The university settled investigations related to leasing arrangements and deceptive practices .
2. Program Probations & Warnings
Some programs, like chiropractic or occupational therapy, have been placed on probation or warning due to low exam pass rates or program effectiveness .
3. Aggressive Marketing & Bolstered Spending
Keiser is known for large marketing budgets and aggressive recruitment tactics. A former insider described “boiler room”–style calling and misleading information about admissions republicreport.org.
4. Mixed Reviews & Complaints
Many student testimonials on Reddit and the BBB site share serious complaints about high costs, administrative issues, aggressive recruiting, and poor program support:
“The level of training and support … falls below expectations.” – BBB reviewer bbb.org
“Keiser is horrible … system is bad … Super expensive and not well respected.” – Reddit user reddit.com+2reddit.com+2reddit.com+2
And more:
“It was a scam … cleaned up to go legit IMO.” aumvibe.com+4reddit.com+4vetsedsuccess.org+4
“Keiser University does not have a good reputation nationally … very shady when it comes to financial assistance.” reddit.com+15reddit.com+15republicreport.org+15
🎯 So, Is It a Good or Legitimate Choice?
| ✅ Strengths | ⚠️ Caveats |
|---|---|
| Accredited by SACSCOC—regionally recognized | Certain programs under probation—research your specific program |
| Offers career-focused, accelerated degrees | Aggressive marketing, high tuition, administrative concerns |
| Flexible scheduling, small classes | Mixed student satisfaction, poor BBB rating |
Final Verdict: Is Keiser a Good University?
Yes, Keiser University is a good university, especially for students who:
- Want accelerated, career-focused education
- Need flexible schedules due to work or family
- Prefer small class sizes and hands-on training
- Are looking for strong online or hybrid options
It may not be the best fit for those seeking a traditional campus life, Greek system, or large research opportunities. However, for adult learners, healthcare professionals, business students, and tech aspirants, Keiser offers real value.
FAQs About Keiser University
Q1. Is Keiser University regionally accredited?
Yes. It is accredited by SACSCOC.
Q2. Are Keiser degrees respected?
Yes. Degrees are recognized by employers, especially in healthcare, business, and tech fields.
Q3. Can I transfer credits from Keiser?
Yes, depending on the institution you’re transferring to and program alignment.
Q4. What is the class size like?
Typically 10–25 students per class, allowing personalized interaction.
Q5. Is Keiser University good for nursing?
Absolutely. It offers one of the strongest private nursing programs in Florida, with excellent NCLEX pass rates.
Conclusion
Keiser University stands out for its flexibility, personalized attention, and career-oriented programs. Whether you’re starting college for the first time or returning to finish your degree, Keiser’s unique one-class-at-a-time format and strong support system make it a top contender for students who want to succeed in today’s fast-paced job market.