Brown Mackie College
reviews and complaints

First of all I must say I am extremely upset with the fact that I had completed my FASFA in February of this year (2012) It is now May 10, 2012 and my FASFA hasn't been added on because they have still not received the software needed to add it on? This is something that should have already have been done. I am also upset about how you are treated when asking for or turning in a stipend. I shouldn't have to stand in the main entry and be questioned about how much money I have in there, am I sure and so on before I receive my stipend, same thing happens when turning it in and now I have to actually have a meeting with the President of the school bring in my bills, rent and etc to even receive the money I am suppose to get! I feel this is ridiculous! Last month I had to have a class in a motel due to lack of space in the college, not to mention the news was at the school this month. If I must say if we don't have room now why would we publicize this school at this moment? This is just a "few" of several issues going on here at this college. I will by all means not be referring anyone to this school. Everything about it is wrong all the way down to some of the most "ghetto" acting teachers I have EVER seen! No professionalism what so ever from the majority of the teachers there but they sure will grade you on yours. I will be letting other student know about this site so they to can bring their issues here and hopefully something will be done about this school. I would just drop but it's hard to once you've already got so much tied up into it already. I should have done a little more research on the school before I entered I just learned their success level is 41%

Why are we paying 292.00 per credit when some of my class are independed studies and only go 1 day a week for 4 weeks at 3hrs per day if that, I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR INDEPEPENDED STUDY OR BLENDED CLASS, IT IS NOT MY FAULT THAT THEIR CAN NOT KEEP TEACHER. EARLY THIS YEAR A TEACHER GOT FIRED BECAUSE SHE WAS HAVING A FLING WITH A STUDENT. BROWN MACKIE IS MAKING A KILLING OFF OF US AS STUDENTS. I NEED MORE PEOPLE THAT IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS OVER PAID SCHOOL.

I graduated with a 4.0 (1 of 4 students). Brown Mackie boasts a lifetime job assistance program. They didn't send me on 1 interview in 11 months. They are not fully accredited and their credits do not transfer to other universities. They do not inform their prospective students of this info and they still recruit for programs such as paralegal and vet tech when there is no market for these in the area, leading students to believe that there are. They won't even hire their own graduates for positions open on their campus.

I went to Brown Mackie and didn't learn all that I should have learned. I went to do my hours in MA, got there and was not prepared for the job. They are saying I owe them money and can't get my transcripts or degree until I pay. For one, I don't owe them nothing and for two, I didn't get the education to prepare me for the MA field. Brown Mackie did not have the material or the equipment that was need for any of my Clinicals. I've got papers that I didn't sign but was signed by them. I need help in suing them. Anyone out there.

Parkview Hospital and Lutheran Hospital will not accept a Brown Mackie application. They are 2 of the largest medical providers in the tri-county area. Brown Mackie College cannot offer community supported clinicals other than hole-in-the-wall offices that want free help with cleaning and tasks any high school student could perform. I am paying a parent plus loan until the year 2027, my daughter has the same job (cna) she had prior to attending Brown Mackie College. She was on the honor roll every semister [protected], Associate Degree in Medical Assisting. She has a solid work history with perfect attendance and reviews. So I ask you where does the problem lie... At registration our credit report and income were reviewed my daughter(19 years old) and I were told by a women that if she(daughter) became pregnant her education would be free. Who advises that... their goal is to get as much federal money as possible for selling classes no one will acknowledge therefore that student will not be self-sufficient. Government pays for classes and supports graduate and child, how is that not frauding the government and student... I told the women to shut-up and invited her to step outside. We had good jobs then, now we are all struggling to survive and pay Sallie Mae $210.66 month. I have contacted local, state and federal agencies in addition to a local tv station and a lawyer. I am looking to join a class action suit, together we may be able to shut them down and hopefully get a refund and/or cancel debits.

So, I decided to go back to school, as I had paid an old student loan off at tax time. I was interested in a medical career, and wanted the option of going on after graduation for a bachelor's degree. After speaking with a rep, I decided on Surg Tech. She explained that they were a nationally accredited college and therefore thier credits would transfer nationwide. What I know now that I didn't know then, is the difference between NATIONALLY accredited and REGIONALLY accredited. In short, national accredidation sounds better, but isn't. It's bull.
Anyway, I left my recruiters office and went to financial aid. There my f.a. advisor, Jason, helped me screw myself dry. I had gone to school in the mid 90's and had loans, one that I had just paid off I had thought was my last, but I did ask him should I owe on loans, would it show up when he applied for me? He assured me I was eligible, and that if I owed, we would know before I started classes the next week. So, I went to school. I did the work, I spent the time, I got an A.
The day before finals for the first class, Jason called me to inform me that there had been a small balance left on my Perkins loan and that through the years it had tripled due to interest, and my loans would'nt go throgh until I satisfied the loan, but if I could get it paid by the end of the term, all would be well. I told him I wanted to drop for the time being and get it taken care of, but Jason assured me that if I wasn't able to get it paid in time, Brown Mackie Akron would allow me to walk away only owing for books, but would not recieve the credits. I conceded.
Tax time, i got my w-2's and went to HnR Block for a rapid refund, taking the hit so I could get the money faster. Then I called the Dept of Ed, who referred me to the attorney general, who referred me to Akron U, who referred me back to th AG, who referred me to a debt collection attorney, who referred me back to A.U., who referred me back to the AG. WOW! Anyway, I got the total finally and sent them the money order. It was supposed to post the last day of the term, just in time! It didn't. $2.50 in interst had accumulated from the time I mailed it untill the time it was recieved, so it was NOT paid in full. But they said the University could forgive it, if they wanted to. Short story, they did'nt want to.
So, I called Jason and told him the bad news. This time, he told me he did'nt know whether the powers that be would forgive ANYTHING, and it depended on if I continued at Brown Mackie how much I would owe. By now, I had seen what they were offering, I had learned the difference between regional accredidation (good) and national accredidation (bad). I had also found bad review after bad review online. I realized I had made a BIG mistake trusting them at thier word. But, i was my fault for that. But in the end, I have no intention of accepting an education from an institution that decieved me for thier own benefit. I am raising 2 children on an income below the poverty level, and wind up doubling my debt for B.M.'s benefit. $4500 for 3 classes, for credits that count nowhere else? Really?
Don't jump into an education, do your research, and go to a REAL school. What Brown Mackie wanted to do was rob me of my options, and forcing me through threat of debt to continue at thier sub-par, over-priced school. Do yourself a favor, and just keep laughing at thier lame commercials, don't screw up and call them, even if you don't go they will call you like you owe them anyway.

I hope their are other in Phoenix that have or had the same problem and also this is a advise to other people wanting to attend the school...I'm from the Phoenix Location of Brown Mackie College...I have been at the school since Dec 2010. Since the time I wanked through the door I have been lied t0. I was told that the school was accredited and i would have no problem transfering my credit to another school. I understand transfering of credit would be my General Courses such as Eng, math etc..the other classes are up to the other schools descretion. What I was not told was the Brown Mackie College of Phoenix is only National not Regional, which when i signed up I was told they had both. I have talked to other schools and universities about this and they told me "sorry we cant use your credits"... My plan and goal was to finish my BS with Brown Mackie and then transfer to ASU Law. I now have a set back of 1 year because they did not disclose this information to me, nor did they disclose that when startesd even though I asked if their Accredidation was in good standing, they did not have accredidation in Dec and recieved their accrediation Jan 2011. Im tried of these schools not telling the truth so we all register with them so they can recieve the thousands of dollars and we become indebut with a degree that is useless. Im thinking of bring a class action together in Phoenix. What you think?

My problem with BM is that they claim to be acreditable school, but after attending there and graduating from my program of medical assistant I still have not been able to get a job. I am not attending Ivy Tech in Valparaiso and none of my credits from BM would transfer. I had to take almost all of my classes over again due to the false notion about credit transferring. I also realize that BM level of education that they provide is way undersatisfactory. I am taking the same classes at Ivy Tech that I took at BM and the level of education that is being taught is night and day. Brown Mackie's level of education is only one third of the education you recieve at Ivy Tech. This explains why each class at BM only lasted one month. A real college/university class lasts a full semester or sixteen weeks. THEY ARE A FRAUD. tHEY STEAL PEOPLES HARD EARNED MONEY. Brown Mackie college needs to stopped.

The Tucson, Arizona location had a Police complaint filed against Terry, the Financial Administrator, for allegedly assaulting a female student. It appears that after taking all of her money from Sallie Mae and then telling her she owed more money, the female student went to Terry to ask for an explanation. At this time Terry lost his head and threw his chair to the side, rushed forward and had the female student backed against the wall. He physically threatened her for making a complaint. The female student reported the incident to the Dean of Brown Mackie, Tucson, and was told that she was not assaulted. After calling the police the female was told that no one on staff saw Terry, the pathetic little man, threaten her in any way.
Do NOT SEND YOUR DAUGHTERS TO THIS SCHOOL UNLESS YOU WANT THEM TO FACE PHYSICAL INTIMIDATION AND THREATS!

I graduated Brown Mackie College with an "associates degree" in Paralegal Studies in October 2006. Made straight A's and B's the whole time I was there only to find out that the school is not "regionally accredited." They lied to me from the beginning by stating that my degree will transfer to either Barry University, St. Thomas University and/or Florida International University. I even had a professor, which he stated was an attorney, only to find out via FLA Bar Attorney Search that he IS NOT an attorney. What's even crazier is that I had a very bad medical emergency and was not able to pay sallie mae for about six months and they contacted my employer because they were going to garnish my checks! Honestly, is this place worth all this hassel. One thing I hate is being lied to. I owe $25k in student loans and for NO REASON! I feel like a loser because I let a bunch of people use me to pay for their rent! I am willing to contact an attorney but would like to see how many people are willing to do this with me. FYI...I GRADUATED from Brown Mackie College with "honors"

was thinking about attending school at brown mackie college they told me that the degree will transfer to a 4 year university I scored high 80's on entrance test said I was the first in a year to not have to take any remedial courses any opinions of what I should do or is there any truth to what they are telling me

This “so called school” wow! Really..how does our Government allow this type of business to function.? Talk about organized criminals and schemes to give people trying to do good things in their lives false hope and a mouthful of lies while they collect their profit. I should have listened to all the complaints but instead I trusted Brown Mackie College and completed my program only to find out I cannot even sit for my required National Exam that is required in order to do the job. This should so be against the law..Last time I checked most people going to college are going so they can get a legitimate education, diploma, and sit for exams that are REQUIRED in order to do the job. This school leaves a sick feeling in my stomach. Their lack of academic integrity and many consumer violations and forms of fraud they commit and get away with are a devastating reality and true fact. My personal experience along with 42+ students in my program that are left with a huge tuition bill and no validity in our education, our dedication to a sham, makes me wonder how they can continue to receive Federal Grant money? I know that several legal actions are in progress but it is held under the radar because the school has each student sign an “Arbitration Agreement” so any case that comes out cannot be public, unless a Judge allows the case to go to public court.. However, there are several cases in appeal to see if a Judge will allow these cases to go to a Public Court and be heard. THIS IS ALL FACT, I PROMISE THAT. BE ADVISED..I WOULD NOT GO TO THIS SCHOOL-PERIOD. There are so many other educational options..do not take the chance. You will hear many great things from the staff as they reel you in, just like a slimy car salesman. TERRIBLE! Seriously, this is honest and true advice from people who successfully completed programs at this school and have current legal ramifications in progress.

As an adjunct faculty member who was told my services were no longer needed, I can tell you that this thing is nothing but a scam. It is filled with illiterate, non college material beings who expect those in authority to cater to their every excuse possible, such as incarceration (as an excuse for being absent), I don't have a computer at home ( although they sign a user agreement at the beginning of each class), signing the role book and then leaving after 15 minutes. Don't get me started! Showing up for a final exam an hour and a half late, with a smile on your sorry #$$ face? In a "real" college environment, that would not happen. I was canned because of two reasons: a student of mine was pissed because I required them to spend at least 3 hrs. on line during the blended day, yet she was best buddies with the department chair. The other reason was I gave one student two opportunities to make up a midterm. She failed to show up for both scheduled events, which we both agreed upon, but she chose not to show up. Because she showed up on the day of the final exam for another class, and all the students were done, and I had already left the building to go home and grade papers (I have no office there, heaven forbid...), I was told by the Dean that I was in violation. WTF? Even if I was there, I did not have the midterm ready for her, I had thrown it in the trash. Two times, I was available, and twice this idiot decided not to show up and never gave a reason. But because she came looking for me and I wasn't in my classroom (what was I supposed to do after the final was over? Play solitaire for an hour?), she went to the Dean. She demanded I administer the midterm. I refused, letting my lead chairperson have that honor. Look, I am an esteemed educator. I am not bowing down to the folks that make no effort. That is what Brown Mackie is all about! Making excuses, trying to educate those not even holding a high school diploma, yet they can go to college? There are many fine students that I have taught. I just wish I could have taken them all, shown them how to get scholarships and apply to a REAL college. Brown Mackie is nothing but a money machine. I am a professional educator, and the whole time I taught there, I was very anxious, nervous, and it just didn't feel right. I teach at two other widely aclaimed univeristies, and I am so proud to be an instructor. Future adjuncts, future studens, BEWARE! This place SUCKS

I too was taken by BMC many years ago in Overland Park, KS. I worked in the investigative field, and thought I had researched them...boy, was I wrong! I enrolled in the now long defunct court reporting program. You were supposed to be up to 45 wpm to go to the first speed class..none of us attained that, and it just snowballed from there. As it turns out, only 2 students in the entire time they had the program actually ever did get a decent job when they somehow managed to graduate. I switched to the paralegal program when I was tired of being lied to by the CR instructors..another mistake! I had started the paralegal program at a local junior college, plus had worked for attorneys so I had an idea of what I should be learning..wrong again! They actually had the family law class briefing the movie Kramer V.Kramer, not the case the movie was based on, but the movie. Kind of impossible to do..how do you get the citations?

I took legal computers WestLaw, etc. independent study and got an A...only problem was, the teacher never showed up to work with me like he was supposed to..I would show up and sign in..that was how I got the A. when I finally tracked the instructor down, I challenged him about it and he replied, "That is why I have paralegals..to do this stuff for me, I don't have a clue about it." It just goes on and on..I was told that I had graduated, but never did get my certification and/or diploma. I found out later that the CR program was dropped because "it is so very difficult for anyone to graduate from it". They used the enticement in the 80's that if you didn't find a job within your field after a certain time after you graduated your tuition would be free..they just "forgot" to mention the fine print during the in-take interviews...you had to go on any interview they found for you, any where in literally the world at your own expense, of course, or the deal was void. They had absolutely the worst teachers on the face of the earth for the most part..there were a couple who were excellent, and i never could figure out why they stuck it out there...others would leave as soon as they saw what was going on there. We were actually threatened by a Mr. Tally, who was owner/president at the time of at least the Salina and OP campuses. When we had all gotten sick of the being lied to, etc., he called us all together and informed us that his attorneys were better than any we could possible retain and we would go down if we even tried to file suit. In both the CR and para programs they flat-out lied about starting salaries. They changed academic deans at the OP campus almost as often as some people change their clothes..literally sometimes up to 3 per semester..their recruiters and placement counselors were total liars.

The statue of limitations is, of course, long past for me, and I am now in my late 50's and will be paying back the student loans probably until the day I die. I don't even mention BMC on any forms..I literally had people laugh in my face when I mentioned I had attended BMC!

What I find especially scarey is that they are now offering medical training?!?! I would be checking on my nurses, etc. to see where they went to school!

If anyone knows of anyway to get their money back from this so-called institution of higher learning, please share with the rest of us.

And BTW, as mentioned, I did do my research, unfortunately back then we didn't have the internet to check things out..you had to physically go to the court house to check out any complaints. Also, I wasn't a young kid at the time, I was in my early 30's, and was working full-time as well as trying to go to school full-time. The staff was horrid..I had an issue where my husband had left me without a vehicle..BMC had promised to all of their students that they would take any steps necessary for continuing to get to school. The dean at the time told me to take a cab...let's see, I lived 25 miles away, and was making minimum wage, had class 4 days a week, hmm, that would have put me in the hole to the tune of lord only knows how much every week. A little poetic justice here, though, I heard that he ended up selling men's suits at JC Penny after he left BMC!

I went to BrownMackie in Louisville, Ky. I was 3 months from Graduating and got Kicked out because of a High risk to the Clinical site. I was in the LPN program. We I did my exit interview I agreed to pay $30 a month. I was Charged around $5, 000 dollars. Within two months they had a collection agency calling me about the money. They call every day. My balance has not gone down and I think because I was kicked out I should not have to pay this money. I agree I think the amount per month was $435. This school is the biggest ripe off. If I am not in school I should not have to pay for this. I have copies of my receipts where the checks were cashed.