You see commercials from universities like WaldenU (Walden University). You probably read most of the reviews. Some are good, some are bad, then you deep search into Google and find out that there’s a good amount of people who swear WaldenU is a diploma mill.
No, Walden University is not a diploma mill. The university is fully accredited. Walden University is most popular with its online learning. They offer areas of study from business to criminal justice to nursing.
I graduated from WaldenU not too long ago. I completed my psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program there. Although I faced some turbulence along the way, I didn’t have any issues.
In my YouTube videos, I find “diploma mill” commenters. It’s funny to read some of their comments, and when I ask them about their experience, it’s always crickets.
Traditional vs. WaldenU
I attended both brick and mortar, aka traditional school, and online school. WaldenU is my second distance learning school. The only difference with everything is that you have less interaction, or should I say no face-to-face interaction, with online learning.
| Traditional | Walden |
| Face to-face learning Human interaction Follows state and national guidelines FAFSA available | 100% online learning Human interaction behind the computer Follows state and national guidelines FAFSA available |
Walden University will accept everyone and will just pass you like a diploma mill
I see where this is going. The big picture is that WaldenU is for profit, and they have a “bigger platform” to host many students. I have not met anyone who has been denied to attend the university. However, I know that they are strict with their admission policy. For example, you need to meet specific guidelines on how many years you should be practicing as a nurse before enrolling in your program of choice. Did you know that some of the programs have an enrollment cap?
You will not get hired if they see you graduated from Walden University
This is inaccurate. There are so many factors why you didn’t land your job. Number one is that you are not the only one that is applying. It’s competitive out there. Number two, it’s all about your experience, first impression, interview, and many others. Not because you graduated from Walden University.
You don’t learn anything from Walden University because it is a diploma mill
Let me tell you. Most the traditional university is either hybrid or online. They teach the same Evidenced Based Practice (EBP) course as any other school. If someone can answer the difference between traditional EBP vs. online EBP? There’s none. EBP will be EBP from one book to the other, the same as from one school to the next.
