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3:52 pm EDT

Westwood College scam

I have been going to there 2012 - today 4 - 3 - 2015 when I found I was being scammed I woke up to find I could not log it to classes, called them to find out why I was treated badly on the phone and was told I needed to make a 150$ payment, but the loan agreement that I signed says payment will not start until 5 - 1 - 2015, So right there we have them breaking a legal binding contract.
Law suit is needed I contacted the Ombudsman group and filed complaints the ones who accredit them.

Please contact me.

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Dea Garcia
US
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Apr 14, 2016 7:49 am EDT

Hello, I'm also a victim of Westwood College. I attended the school for over two years. Long story short, they were sued for $4.5 million dollars back in 2012, out of that I received a little over $5, 000 but not enough to cover the $35, 000 that owe in student loans. Can you please file a complaint with Colorado Attorney's Office. Here's the link below and I also included a link because Westwood closed permanently so there's a chance that students wont have to pay there student loan debt accumulated at Westwood.

http://www.stopfraudcolorado.gov/about-consumer-protection/complaint-forms/consumer-complaint-form

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_29446270/westwood-college-closing-after-freezing-enrollment

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nichol wolf
US
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Nov 03, 2011 5:10 pm EDT

I went to westwood for 7 months and never got any of my maoney back to mne for my schooling and I was told each quarter i had money left over so what can I do to get this taken care of ? I have seen that there are no more wqestwood college commericals good for that because i can not even get my credit forward to a new college to further my education so what the deal with that !

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mgrimesb
Parker , US
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Sep 08, 2009 12:42 pm EDT

I have heard such bad things about Westwood College and I work with a television station and would like to know more about the problems of Westwood College. Please call [protected] I need to get the skinny on this terrible college

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tomj14
Peoria, US
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Nov 29, 2012 1:37 pm EST

I'm guess that has to do with your lack of English skills and not Westwood College.

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RoyB
Chino Hills, US
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Feb 27, 2012 7:01 am EST

Totaly agree. But the commercials run during the day. Sorry. Please visit westwoodisawful . com and see why this fake wannabe college needs to be shut down.

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RoyB
Chino Hills, US
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Feb 27, 2012 6:59 am EST

Strongly agree. Visit westwoodisawful . com to see the real truth. Someone needs to take a stand and shut them down.

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designcreations4u
Fort Worth, US
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Mar 24, 2010 2:03 am EDT

Hello,

I have so many stories to tell you about Westwood. I am a victim of Identify theft because they mailed out end of the year statements with other peoples social security numbers. I am an internet professional and am extremely careful with who I give out this information to. And it was only 2 weeks after those forms that were mailed out, is when I found out that my tax man informed me that someone had filed under my social already. So I am having to work with the Federal Trade Commission and the Iris to fix the problem, but my tax is delayed and they said it will be delayed every year for up to 5 years because of this problem.

I would really like to speak to you because I truely feel that this college is not credited moneies accurately. They refused to provided me with a detailed item by item of charges and payments made on my account, why would that be.

I am so stressed because I am only 4 classes away from graduated and now they are saying I have a least 8 more to go because they have changed their structure.

I would be honored to speak with you and provide you with all the paperwork that supports my claim.

Thank you,

Pam

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mgrimesb
Parker , US
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Sep 10, 2009 3:47 pm EDT

...alleged terrible college

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Westwood College fraudulent use of title IV finacial aid

I received a post withdrawal letter of disbursement which I completed and returned to the school requesting that all eligible title iv funds be disbursed to me. Since westwood college refused to do that I submitted an email to the westwood college online financial aid office requesting that the loans be cancelled. That never took place either.

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Westwood College bogus accrediation

I talked to Jackie Poland of Westood College in Woodridge il, i specifically asked after doing my homework if their program for Medical Assisting was accredited she said "yes by ACICS" after looking up the exact accreditation needed as below:
http://www.aama-ntl.org/cma-aama-exam/application-steps#.Upk1MOKmaHF
i waited until she called back and told her what i have learned only to be told she does not have to "defend her school" and that she "hates when people are misinformed by other colleges and i can take the exam under their accreditation, i told her no only CAHHEP AND ABHES accredited programs are allowed to take the CMA exams. she said "we could send each other articles all day long" i said not really, this says it all and left it at that. She also informed me i can talk to all the big wigs there and they will also tell me... of course they will!. Good thing i am smarter than she and the sad part a younger person would trust that they are being told the truth, as they should! how sad they taking advantage of people like this. I do not have time or money to be taken advantage of and i had emails with her claim but maybe not enough to prove to a lawyer, not sure. but i'm disgusted beyond belief by these hideous people.and would have gone to the ends of the earth suing them if i was gullible enough to believe her.

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steve chr
US
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May 23, 2016 8:02 am EDT
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Westwood college is a joke. I went to from [protected]. got a useless degree. they promised me jobs, told me it was accreddited college and also told me i would make 75k a year. they are bogus and gave me a piece of paper that should be made out of gold so i can have my money back. I like when i first was looking in the school and then they would call me every 30 mins if felt like. even on weekends. I was a victim and hope i can get my money back. I paid over 30k in past 10 years still owe 45k on student loan debt. I am glad to see the school closed. I have noticed all the complaints now about the school as i have never look due to being busy raising 3 kids. I cannot believe the scams they have pulled to lure people in to this bs school. At least now the school has closed and no one will ever be able to fall into their traps again. I am so very depressed about this situation i am in cause i will never be able to pay back the debt.

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Westwood College not accreddited

I went to college there for 9 months in 2005, I had to quit after 9 months and then they charged me 10, 000, through Sallie Mae,
Well I went back to college with a college in Tuscaloosa and they told me that Westwood is not accredited, they told me when I signed up for Westwood that they were indeed accredited but I didn't get any degree from them and got charged 10, 000 in loan . My credits cannot be transferred to any school apparently.
I would like my loans cancelled due to this seems to be a rip off where I can't even get a transcript and I never could get a grant but with Shelton State I am getting grant money to pay for my school not Loans.
thank you for your time in this matter,
Candace Johnson

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foggynights
US
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Jan 01, 2013 2:47 am EST

They are accredited through ACSIS which is not a regional accreditation. National accreditiation is different than regional. If you want to transfer credits to a regionall y accredited school, you need regional accreditation. They won't cancel your sallie Mae over this as this is a consumer issue. In other words, you are stuck unless you can find an attorney that will sue the school. This is possible and has happened in the past. Westwood was already sued by the state and you should be able to get someone involved. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/westwood-college-pays-4-5m-to-settle-lawsuit

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Westwood College fraud rip off

I went to this school in 2005 for a while then i drop because i got sick, I found out that I own 26, 000 thousands of dollars and sallie mae say is my fault and I sign all the papers to cancel all loans and the school still crew me over. Yes $26, 000 of private and federal loans.

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Westwood College goverment fraud of loans

Westwood college is scamming the goverment. The cancelled loans are still being cashed in by westwood along with pell grant funding even while the student is not attending. If the student has/had the apex loan owned by westwood college, which comes after you sign up,.. This is collected through the goverment subsudidzied loan system, plus westwood college collects a pell grant on top of the empty numbers which in return is totally free money. These are the biggeist thieves I have ever encountered. Smiling while they take the money!
The insider

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Westwood College institution of higher learning my ***

I am at my wit's end with this degree mill. They lied to me in every way, shape and form. Ben my admission counselor (Salesman) stated credits would be transferable, now they post on the website they are not transferable. Degree can be used to obtain a better position or higher paying job. Now they state is only gives you the tools to succeed..lies, lies, lies. Even the Dean, School of Technology of WOL who I met lies to me about future accreditation. Where does it end?

Westwood has voluntarily dropped from Regional Candidacy. As I work a second job (nights and weekends) trying to pay for this now $80, 000 education that is worthless, trying to stay afloat of this financial h**l that this college create, my anger grows. So what did I learn that cost me $80, 000 and nothing but grief, financial insecurity and embarrassment? That For-Profit schools like Westwood are out to make money off the backs of those who want to succeed and have dreams by lying and making false promises. They are in it only for the money and will not supply you with an education that will allow you to enter the job market. You will be placed so far into debt that no matter what job you apply for, you will not be able to realistically pay it off timely and if you do get a degree from them, it is better used as toilet paper.

I was duped and feel like I’ve been made a fool by attending this joke of a college. Yes, I am trying to pay off this bogus debt. I have been in the IT business for over 20 years, hold certifications in Cisco, Microsoft and database administration, all obtained prior to Westwood. Here's how great they are, of those that graduated from Westwood with me, here is a list of their current positions as of today: Manager KFC, Walmart Clerk, Homeless and Unemployed, Clerk 7-11, Student (went to a real college to start over)

Now the have a placement guarantee that is really not a guarantee. See the other posts to see how it works. It's your money that they are giving back to you if they cannot help you find a job. You are still paying for it and once the six months are up, you are still saddled with outrageous school loans. No one who graduated with me was able to work in their field of study and failed to keep their promise of job assistance. Westwood college (joke) needs to be shut down. Westwood ruined my credit, finances and future dreams. I am amazed at the amount of fraud, deceit and lies from this degree mill. Online research has provided me with some interesting information.

On 04/20/2011 the BBB accreditation wassuspended due to recent government action concerning the marketplaceand its customers that demonstrates a significant failure of thecompany to support the principles and purposes of BBB accreditation. The matter will be reviewed by the BBB's Board of Directors at its next meeting.

On December 14, 2010 the Colorado Commission of Higher Education (CCHE) changed Westwood College's status from Full Authorization to Probationary Authorization due to it's probation order from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. The Department of Veterans Affairs has pulled GI Bill funding from all three Texas campuses of a for-profit college accused of misleading advertising and enrollment practices.

At the December 2, 2010 regular CCHE meeting, Commissioners voted to defer action for Westwood College until staff had received notification from the Accrediting Commission for Career Colleges and Schools. Department staff received a "Continued Probation Order" from the ACCSC on December 9, 2010. The ACCSC reviewed the September 1, 2010 Probation Order and the school's response to that action at its November 2010 meeting. It was determined that the school has not demonstrated compliance with the ACCSC's requirements relative to student achievement outcomes.

Additionally, Westwood College was requested to provide information with regard to compliance to several and various state agencies and other accreditors given the allegations of the Government Accountability Office August 4, 2010 report.

On April 6, 2009 the United States of America (on behalf of the United States Board of Education) filed an Amended Complaint in the United State District Court of the Northern District of Texas. Charges filed indicate the business was in violation of state law prohibiting a failure to comply with Statutory and Regulatory Requirements for Proprietary School Operations. Particularly, some charges related to unethical and/or misleading recruitment practices, failure to report unsatisfactory job placement rates for graduates, and/or failure to properly register school representatives. The matter was resolved by a settlement in March 2009.

In 2009, Westwood's parent company, Alta Colleges Inc., of Denver, agreed to pay the U.S. government $7 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the Texas campuses of submitting falsified federal student aid forms.

Wow...and they have the nerve to tell me they are transparent?

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coryz
Stevensville, US
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Aug 07, 2014 6:08 pm EDT
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Hey folks. I am currently doing article research for a Twin Cities'-based newspaper about for-profit colleges and some of the issues their students have had. I am looking for a few students who live in the Twin Cities Metro area and who would be hip in allowing me to interview them for the story. Any interest/have questions/etc. email at coryzurowski@hotmail.com.

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Westwood College fraud

I attended Westwood College from [protected] and received what I thought was a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. This Degree cost me $67, 000 in Sallie Mae loans and Apex loans. Originally I did not question the cost since Westwood was a private school. But after applying to several schools for my Master's Degree and being told that unfortunately they could not accept my degree due to problems with Westwood accreditation. I was pissed. I get pissed every time I see the commercial for the westwood success story because I now know it is all a lie.

As it was explained to me when I first enrolled at westwood, was that the campus I was enrolled at, was applying for its regional accreditation and by the time I graduate it should be accredited. The process takes about five years and I would still be able to go to other schools to further my degree with no problem. They did inform me that I would not be able to use my degree to work with Chicago Police but suburban departments would take my degree. This is false. Every job I have applied for in the Criminal Justice field all said the same that my education must be from a four year fully accredited university. Every university I have applied to said the same thing, that I could try to transfer my credits to see which ones are transferable or I could return to school for another Bachelors degree. I was disappointed after that. First off I am left holding this large loan that I must pay regardless for a fake degree that I can not use. Then in order for me to go back to school I would have to apply for most likely more loans that I can not afford.

I spoke to a representative at westwood in regards to what I had been told and this person told me that none of this is true that other schools are going off of old information, not the current status of the school. But, yet I am still being told as recent as three weeks ago, that Westwood is not accredited and my degree with them is useless. At most the degree I received will be looked at as just a diploma if I took all my general classes or a certificate program. Which means I would still have to go back to school for a degree. Which means another three to four years for a bachelors and another 40 to 60 thousand dollars.

The Department of Education needs to step in and do something about these schools that continues to rip off people like myself who has to work full time, but, wants further their education in a career field. My best advice is avoid Westwood college and schools like them.

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Rioghan
Denver, US
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Mar 30, 2010 1:38 am EDT

After the military, then a failed college experience at the University of Arkansas, due to financial woes, I decided to give college another try in 2005. I looked over several colleges and Westwood convinced me they were the right one for me.
I signed on, made sure I dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's and kept all the paper work. The first semester felt as if I walked into kindergarten again. Students were not there to learn, they were there to play, and the instructors did not seem to want to control them. They made me take a life skills class, after I served in the Army, was in my early thirties, and would not let me out of this class. They would not allow me to test out of classes that I already had at the University of Arkansas. In my second term, I was teaching a photoshop class, since the instructor did not seem to know her rear from a hole in the ground. An InDesign instructor smelled as if she smoked pot every time she stepped out of the class room.
Don't get me wrong, we did have a few instructors that seemed to really care. The Flash and Video Editing instructor was really well prepared, and ready to teach, and seemed to care if the students learned, yet when he tried to teach, and then refused to repeat himself to one student who was obviously not paying attention, and just playing a game, the next term, this teacher lost his job. The 3D instructor also cared if you learned. He took you step by step through the program and worked with you until you got the program. As far as I know, he is still there.
Then came my graduation year, YAY! (sarcastic undertone) the last semester they come up to me with "by the way, your a class short..when I had a major brain surgery planned for the day after I graduated. I had to drop out, then sign back in after I healed from the surgery, took the last class, and they promised to help me find a job..This was back in 2008...it is now 2010...they have yet helped me find a job in my career field...I have been freelancing since I graduated.
They also send me wierd bills, that I know I don't owe...then when I complain, they say it is their mistake, or they forget to send bills, then send the stuff to collection agencies. When I ask the collection agencies what they are talking about, they refuse to tell me. Come to find out, the collection agency is an inhouse company that works with Westwood. I went to get my transcripts the other day from Westwood, so I can get a job with a State agency, and they refused to release them to me until I pay them in full, which is going to cost me according to them, over 10 grand, but according to my paperwork, I owe them 3 grand...and until that discrepency is taken care of I am having trouble getting my loans consolidated.
So if you plan on going to Westwood, RUN the other way...

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tomj14
Peoria, US
Send a message
Nov 29, 2012 1:41 pm EST

Maybe it's just you. There are tons of Westwood grads who work in the field of CJ for city and suburban employment agencies. Don't blame your lack of success on the school you go to. It's unprofessional and that might be why you can't get work.

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Howard McManus
Pullman, US
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Dec 17, 2011 8:31 pm EST

show them your panties for a discount

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Alex Berg
La Crescenta, US
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Dec 29, 2010 11:58 am EST
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My name is Gor Akopian, I am from California and i graduated REDSTONE/CRIMSON/ WESTWOOD college back in 2008.
It was a BIG SCAM!
I have a worthless degree in "construction management" I have to pay back more than $38 000 to SallieMae bank .
No job, no money to pay. They promised me to get a job for me which will let me make between 80-120K per year. NO WAY!
The college was SOLD and renaimed to CRIMSON as soon as i graduated. There is no more previous people there to go and complain.
The college was located in Inglewood California, on Aviation Blvd
The biggest thing is, they KILLED my CREDIT HISTORY.

Please, everybody... let's SUE these people and get our money, time back.
My phone number: [protected]
akopiangor@yahoo.com

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Westwood College degree is worthless

Institution of higher learning my A$$.
I am at my wit's end with this degree mill. They lied to me in every way, shape and form. Ben my admission counselor (Salesman) stated credits would be transferable, now they post on the website they are not transferable. Degree can be used to obtain a better position or higher paying job. Now they state is only gives you the tools to succeed..lies, lies, lies...

Even the Dean, School of Technology of WOL who I met lies to me about future accreditation. Where does it end?
Westwood has voluntarily dropped from Regional Candidacy. As I work a second job (nights and weekends) trying to pay for this now $80, 000 education that is worthless, trying to stay afloat of this financial h**l that this college create, my anger grows. So what did I learn that cost me $80, 000 and nothing but grief, financial insecurity and embarrassment? That For-Profit schools like Westwood are out to make money off the backs of those who want to succeed and have dreams by lying and making false promises. They are in it only for the money and will not supply you with an education that will allow you to enter the job market. You will be placed so far into debt that no matter what job you apply for, you will not be able to realistically pay it off timely and if you do get a degree from them, it is better used as toilet paper.

I was duped and feel like I’ve been made a fool by attending this joke of a college. Yes, I am trying to pay off this bogus debt. I have been in the IT business for over 20 years, hold certifications in Cisco, Microsoft and database administration, all obtained prior to Westwood. Here's how great they are, of those that graduated from Westwood with me, here is a list of their current positions as of today: Manager KFC, Walmart Clerk, Homeless and Unemployed, Clerk 7-11, Student (went to a real college to start over)

Now the have a placement guarantee that is really not a guarantee. See the other posts to see how it works. It's your money that they are giving back to you if they cannot help you find a job. You are still paying for it and once the six months are up, you are still saddled with outrageous school loans.

No one who graduated with me was able to work in their field of study and failed to keep their promise of job assistance. Westwood college (joke) needs to be shut down.

Westwood ruined my credit, finances and future dreams.

I am amazed at the amount of fraud, deceit and lies from this degree mill. Online research has provided me with some interesting information.

On 04/20/2011 the BBB accreditation wassuspended due to recent government action concerning the marketplaceand its customers that demonstrates a significant failure of thecompany to support the principles and purposes of BBB accreditation. The matter will be reviewed by the BBB's Board of Directors at its next meeting.

On December 14, 2010 the Colorado Commission of Higher Education (CCHE) changed Westwood College's status from Full Authorization to Probationary Authorization due to it's probation order from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has pulled GI Bill funding from all three Texas campuses of a for-profit college accused of misleading advertising and enrollment practices.

At the December 2, 2010 regular CCHE meeting, Commissioners voted to defer action for Westwood College until staff had received notification from the Accrediting Commission for Career Colleges and Schools. Department staff received a "Continued Probation Order" from the ACCSC on December 9,
2010. The ACCSC reviewed the September 1, 2010 Probation Order and the school's response to that action at its November 2010 meeting. It was determined that the school has not demonstrated compliance with the ACCSC's requirements relative to student achievement outcomes.

Additionally, Westwood College was requested to provide information with regard to compliance to several and various state agencies and other accreditors given the allegations of the Government Accountability Office August 4, 2010 report.

On April 6, 2009 the United States of America (on behalf of the United States Board of Education) filed an Amended Complaint in the United State District Court of the Northern District of Texas. Charges filed indicate the business was in violation of state law prohibiting a failure to comply with Statutory and Regulatory Requirements for Proprietary School Operations. Particularly, some charges related to unethical and/or misleading recruitment practices, failure to report unsatisfactory job placement rates for graduates, and/or failure to properly register school representatives. The matter was resolved by a settlement in March 2009.

In 2009, Westwood's parent company, Alta Colleges Inc., of Denver, agreed to pay the U.S. government $7 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the Texas campuses of submitting falsified federal student aid forms.

Wow...and they have the nerve to tell me they are transparent?

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IMD1
US
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Oct 14, 2011 7:15 pm EDT

Whether credits are transferable to another institution is up to the student to verify, as different institutions have different criteria.

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Westwood College they ripped me off

Megan Hansen Statement for Senator Durbin Forum 4-28-11

Hello, my name is Megan Hansen. First, I would like to thank Senator Durbin for holding this forum and inviting me to share the story of my experience at Westwood College. Unfortunately, it’s not at all what I had hoped it would be. I graduated in March of this year with a degree in Criminal Justice, after attending Westwood’s O’Hare campus and taking online classes. I’m now $65, 000 in debt and have wasted three years getting what’s turning out to be a worthless degree.

My dream was to work as a parole officer and then go on to law school, but that doesn’t look very realistic at this point. After graduating, I quickly found out that most agencies won’t call me back when I apply for jobs, and most traditional colleges don’t recognize Westwood’s degree or credits. My pursuit of higher education and the promise of a rewarding career have come to a screeching halt.

When I first saw Westwood’s TV commercial about its Criminal Justice program more than three years ago, it really caught my eye, because it said I could be done in 3 years, instead of four. So, I called the school and went in for a tour. The Admissions Rep made it sound like Westwood’s Criminal Justice program was one of the best. I would get all this hands on training and be taught by teachers who actually worked in the field. She made it sound like I was practically guaranteed a job when I graduated, and that the school would help me find a job.

It all sounded amazing, but when she told me about how much it would cost, I started having second thoughts. She said it would be $14, 000 a year, which sounded like a lot, but I later discovered it was even more than that. I just recently got an account summary of what my last year cost, and it was $26, 000 for just that one year. The two previous years were also more, coming to an additional 8-thousand dollars above what they told me it would be. Seeing how much this ended up costing is part of the great stress I deal with every day.

When I left Westwood that first day, I was still on the fence about whether to enroll, but then, they kept hounding me, calling me over and over, and telling me how great the school was, until I finally decided to go ahead and enroll; a decision I regret to this day.

Now, I’m finding out *all that Career Placement help they promised has turned out to be just a bunch of emails about job openings that I’m not qualified for, could have gotten without a degree, or are too far away for me to even consider. Worst of all, when I do send my resumes out, I never hear back from anyone. I send emails trying to find out if they’ll consider me, and no one ever responds.

I’ve also tried to apply to several “regionally” accredited schools in the Chicago area, but none of them will accept Westwood’s credits. It’s so frustrating, because the Admissions Rep never said anything about how Westwood didn’t have “regional” accreditation or that my credits wouldn’t transfer to most other schools. When I found out that the school’s lack of accreditation might be a problem, it was more than a year after I enrolled. I confronted the Program Director about it, but she kept reassuring me time and time again, not to worry. She said Westwood was a candidate for “regional” accreditation and would become accredited. Westwood never did get the regional accreditation, and I just recently learned the school has even withdrawn its application.

I went to school to better my life, but I’m still working as a receptionist in a doctor’s office, as I have for the past six years. So for now, I don’t really know what to do. I can’t afford to pay back my $65, 000 in loans, which are deferred for now. In September, I’m getting married, which is right about the time I’m supposed to start paying on those loans.

This should be the happiest time in my life, but instead I’m full of anxiety about what the future holds. I can’t get a job in my field, I can’t continue my education at a traditional school, and I can’t pay back my loans.

Getting a college degree was supposed to give me a brighter future, but all it’s done is put me in a worse position than if I never went to college at all. I hope other people looking to further their education will listen to my story and be very careful before they sign up at one of these schools. I don’t want them to end up like me. I wasted all this money, and, now I’m totally sick to my stomach and don’t know what to do.

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RoyB
Chino Hills, US
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Feb 27, 2012 7:05 am EST

Megan, keep up the fight. People are starting to wake up but the pressure is waining. Visit westwoodisawful . com and help spread the word. If Congress won't shut them down, we can!

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ear85
Victorville, US
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Jul 02, 2011 7:21 pm EDT

I have had a more than similar issue with Westwood, as a matter of fact your story is my story (just at the inland empire campus)... I earned a degree in 2009 and it has been the worst decision I have ever made, I now have a worthless degree, $69, 000 of Sallie-mae debt I can't pay, and a job that doesn't recognize the degree as anything more than a piece of paper. I still receive "job placement assistance" emails for worthless employment, and am at my wits end about how to deal with this.

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4:37 pm EDT

Westwood College scam and rip-off

After searching around, hoping to get into a bachelor’s program where I could move into management, I was contacted by a Westwood representative by the name of Ben who told me nothing but lies and mislead me during the application process. Yes, at the time, they were seeking Regional Accreditation. They had their ACICS accreditation but I was told by the recruiter that they were way past the point of candidacy and it would be only a short time before they were Regionally accredited. False promises, lies about their accreditation and several years later, I graduated. Took my degree to my current employer and after HR review, they explained to me since they do not have Regional accreditation, I was out of luck and could not be considered for management. My employer would not even allow me to apply for educationally assistance or reimbursement because this “college” was not a valid institution.

So I tried taking my transcript to 3 local community colleges and was told the credits are non transferable. Went to 2 local “for-profit” schools with ACICS accreditation as well and was also denied. Tried using this fake degree to apply for several positions with SCE, IBM, Oracle, Wells Fargo, and a hand full of respectable and known IT companies. Received nice thank you letters but was told that I did not meet the minimum educational requirements by two potential employers because this ‘college’ did not meet their criteria as an educational institution. Yet, I did meet the experience portion of several but because of my lack of an actual degree, was denied an interview.

So now, several years down the road I see that Westwood has voluntarily dropped from Regional Candidacy. As I work a second job (nights and weekends) trying to pay for this $50, 000 education that is worthless, trying to stay afloat of this financial *** that this college create, my anger grows. So what did I learn that cost me $50, 000 and nothing but grief, financial insecurity and embarrassment? That For-Profit schools like Westwood are out to make money off the backs of those who want to succeed and have dreams by lying and making false promises. They are in it only for the money and will not supply you with an education that will allow you to enter the job market. You will be placed so far into debt that no matter what job you apply for, you will not be able to realistically pay it off timely and if you do get a degree from them, it is better used as toilet paper.

I was duped and feel like I’ve been made a fool by attending this joke of a college. Yes, I am trying to pay off this bogus debt. I have been in the IT business for over 20 years, hold certifications in Cisco, Microsoft and database administration, all obtained prior to Westwood. Some people have hobbies, collecting coins, boating, needle-point. Starting today, my hobby will be to go online at least once a week, visit as many websites as I can and spread the word on what this school did to me, financially and emotionally, and of those that graduated from Westwood with me, here is a list of their current positions as of today: Manager KFC, Walmart Clerk, Homeless and Unemployed, Clerk 7-11, Student (went to a real college to start over)

No one who graduated with me was able to work in their field of study and failed to keep their promise of job assistance.

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12:32 pm EDT
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Westwood College westwood's deceptive practices

As a former educator and someone who spent time at Westwood, I would suggest staying as far away from this school as possible. Admissions reps will tell you a mountain of lies and endlessly harass you until you enroll. They lack proper accreditation, and none of your credits will transfer to ANY decent school. Anyone that tells you differently is lying. Faculty and staff care little for the quality of education or for their students welfare. In fact, the system is purposely designed to confuse anyone who asks questions (especially when it comes to financial matters) and there is open hostility to any student who dares buck the system. Do not go to this school. The only thing you’ll get from Westwood is an astronomical bill, poor quality classes, and a worthless degree.

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Youngtiff80
Paris, US
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Feb 02, 2011 8:26 am EST

I am having the same problem right now with Westwood online. I received an outrageous tuition statement a few days ago and I've only been going there since March 19, 2010. I've requested a detailed statement of all of my charges and loans, as well as grants. Nobody is answering my messages, emails or anything. My student advisors & financial advisors keep getting changed which I am never notified of until I try to reach them. Is there anything we can do about this? If so please let me know how and what because attending this school has got to the worst choice I have ever made in my life. My email is young_tiff26@yahoo.com.

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designcreations4u
Fort Worth, US
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Mar 24, 2010 2:13 am EDT

Is there a chance of sueing them? They won't even provide me with a detailed billing, which should all charges and all payments and grants given. I don't understand why this would be.

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9:45 am EDT
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Westwood College classes and finical aide

i attended westwood college in houston texas and was told that they worked with people that have a learning disability and the instructors would be able to work with me. i asked my instructor for extra credit several times and was told that she did not have time to get me any. as a result i fell below the gpa level of where i needed to be and was put on probation and told that if i did not get my gpa up i wold be failed and have to repeat the term. i made it clear to them that i had a learning disability from day one. i had to be out 2 weeks sick and was informed that if i did not attend class by a certin date i would be dropped. i contacted the school and told them i had a doctors note and tryed to work it out. they would not do so. also the instructor i had diid not cover the required lessons like the class was informed the meterial would be covered.

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11:39 am EDT
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Westwood College terrible everything

Westwood College sounded great to me when I was 18 in high school. I signed up and started the August after I graduated High School. I was an excellent student, and several times received Executive Director's List.

I had to take a break in my studies at Westwood, and I wish I never would have went back. When I went back, I was asked to sign a paper that said I would not sue Westwood for the quality of education received. I do want to sue Westwood for something else.

I recently tried to apply to Ohio State University to further my education. What I found was Westwood is demanding 9, 037 to release my transcript, and because I can't find a job, my federal student loans are in default, and I can't get federal student aid.

Westwood promised to help me find a job, but all they do is send me links to jobs that I'm not qualified for! I wish I could give all the money back to federal aid so I could actually go back to school. My life is completely ruined, dreams killed because of my being young and taken advantage of by Westwood.

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DJ Bell-Fair
Seattle, US
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Jun 23, 2013 6:56 pm EDT
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I attended Westwood College from 2007 until recently, taking two breaks in enrollment due to surviving an attempted murder and the aftermath and emotional toll it took. When I first began the enrollment process in 2007, I was told that if I decided on-line schooling was not for me that I could transfer my credits to another school in my area since Westwood does not have any campuses near me. Westwood has shown some unbelievable audacity in their business practices. The last time I was called and persuaded to re-enroll, I was upset to find out that the Interior Design program I had been taking was being discontinued and that I would have to take a course overload in order to even come close to graduating. It proved to be too much, attempting to complete 18 credit hours shoved into a 9 week term while working full time (and some overtime) at about 55-60 hours per week. I had no option but to drop from the Interior Design program and call it a wash. I was still interested in obtaining my degree, however, so I asked my student advisor if there were any options that I could put my current credits toward that may at least help further my current career in property management. I have spent 5 years of my life on my education due to the interruption nearly losing my life caused, and still have nothing to show for it. I was contacted once again just three weeks ago by an assistant admissions director and asked if I would be interested in re-enrolling in a different program. Since I am looking to further my current career and brought that option up to my student advisor when I dropped from the ID program, I mentioned that I would be interested in the Bachelor of Sciences program for Business Administration majoring in Business Management. After completing my FAFSA and jumping through all the little hoops the assistant admissions director had me go through, I was then informed that Westwood would not take me back because I wasn't a good risk. When I asked to speak to the legal department I was hung up on. This place needs to be shut down.

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Shadow3xa
LV, US
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Dec 05, 2009 1:58 am EST

I want to sue them as well I resigned mid term and they charged me a whole year

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MasterChief
Baton Rouge, US
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May 13, 2009 6:49 pm EDT

So...how'd it turn out?

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mrsquigles
North Platte, US
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Apr 13, 2009 6:04 pm EDT
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$9, 037 for a transcript release? Those things usually cost like 10 bucks. Sounds like there may have been a mix with a tuition payment or something like that. Though if they've placed a hold on releasing your transcript I'm surprised the hold didn't prevent you from graduating. Call the number, sounds like they're willing to help.

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Westwood Student Services
Denver, US
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Apr 13, 2009 6:00 pm EDT

We recently came across your post and want to hear more about your experience. Please contact Westwood College’s Student Resolution Hotline at 888.331.3036 so we can begin to work through your specific concerns.

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1:22 pm EST
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Westwood College academic programs

I have been attending Westwood college since Aug of '07 and when I signed up for the Visual Communications program. I asked if the classes I took there were able to transfer to other schools. I was told that it is up to the other schools discretion whether or not the classes were transferrable. That should have sent up a red flag.
Then in Jan of '09 I was told that the cirriculm has changed and that they apply to me! 5 classes that i have already taken would no longer apply toward the degree, I was half way done, and now I am not!
This doesn't sit right with me at all I feel like I am getting ripped off, I recieved a copy of my ledger (since the school handles all of your finances) and at 4, 000 a term that is not too far from 10, 000 after term tuition and lab fees and books.
Books is another issue which i am sure that other students have complaints about.
If there is anything that can be done, a class action suit or something of that sort please contact me.

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Jonie
venice, US
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May 12, 2009 5:26 pm EDT

i am so glad that i decided to research this school before i completed the enrollment process. I requested info. online and got a call not even 5 min. after i submitted. the lady was really nice and i went in to speak with her. she sold me a dream...the next day i even paid the 50 dollar application fee. so 3 days later i do a little reseach an whaddaya know the same thing said by everyone, phony advisors, the trick you into getting loans. Matter of fact i jst emailed the lady and told her i was no longer interested...she said' you should still finish the enrollment process. you dont wanna be put in a bad situation, you.ve been out of school too long" Please lady i am not dumb. during the brief meeting she kept saying i was good and i could defer my payments for up to ten years like she did. she even said that grants would cover most of tuition..80, 000. i thank all who take time out to share their stories on websites like these to warn young ppl like myself about scams like westwood thanks to you i.ve saved 80, 000 . even though i cnt get my 50 buxx back it made me open my eyes and realizze everyone is not here for u...especially westwood admissions reps...

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Tom
Longmont, US
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Mar 24, 2009 1:10 am EDT
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Hey have you joined the facebook group "warnings about westwood"? They're bringing a lawsuit against the school.

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Westwood College unauthorized charges

After only one year of westwood college, I went from an intimidated young adult returning to school, to a confident decision maker by removing myself from such an unorganized institution. I was repeatedly reminded of weakness in the organization by the constant change of authority.

Every week, a new member of staff would be replaced, especially in the financial aid department. I was Already swallowing my pride and kicking myself for the Sallie Mae loans I have to repay. After healing from a surgery 1 year after leaving Westwood, I was contacted by a collections recovery, telling me I have a 15000 loan and if I don't pay it back now im going to be in a lot of trouble!

I have my financial aid packet and I have no record of any such loan. I know I was taken advantage of because I made sure I knew everything I signed. how can this happen to so many students? il make sure everyone hears about just how shady this school is. They take advantage of young eager to learn individuals.

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Daniel
US
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Jun 17, 2009 3:28 pm EDT

If I could ever have a do over in my life it would be in March 2006 when I went to talk to the admissions rep at Westwood College. Lies, lies, lies were all I was told. I complained to any and everyone there at that college about how bad the teachers were and they assured me things would get better. Externship site was a joke and I didn't complete the required time on my externship site, but was told to just make something up by the externship coordinator. Had to wait six months after completing the course to take my certification test so we could take it with the class that just completed the course and was helped with the answers on the parts we never covered. When I finally got a job interview (the only one I got) for a job in the field I had 'studied in' I failed miserably. Their test was 100% harder than the certification test. As I took the test at that job interview, I just kept getting madder and madder at Westwood College for not providing me my money's worth of education and myself for not bailing out.

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ratigy24
Houston, US
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Jul 08, 2009 11:34 am EDT

I'm just wondering if there's anyone out there that is in the same boat as I am. I attended Westwood College in SW Houston, TX for a little over a year [protected]). I had most of my basics already completed so I was told by the advisor my cost would not be that high; infact, I remember her giving me an estimate of about $15, 000. I figured that was reasonable so I continued with the whole process and bought into their whole lies. I filled out for financial aid and did not receive grant money which wasn't a surprise. Afterwards I was encouraged to fill out the paperwork for loans. I went through the whole loan process. I had no clue how much my classes + books were going to cost and they never told me how much my award amount would be to begin with . They said to leave that spot blank while filling out the loan applications. They knew exactly how much I would need to borrow. YEA SURE. So I go to school and graduate. Let me just go on to mention that I learned ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Teachers passed everyone. I even had a teacher that hit on me and email/text perverted things. I was so close to filing charges if he would have touched me that would have been it. Back to the financial situation...I got out of school and realized that I owed about $25, 000 to Sallie Mae and $6, 000 to Westwood for private loans since my loans didn't cover everything (so they say). This isn't even going the full 2 years! I am going to UH now but I have to pay a crazy amount just right now on private loans. I don't even want to imagine what it will be like after I get out of school. This is crazy! Going to school there for a little over a year couldn't possibly cost that much! I didn't even get anything out of it! If someone has had the same experience, please contact me: ratigy24@yahoo.com. Thanks.

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eshia1
Country Club Hills, US
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Jan 18, 2012 6:43 pm EST

I agree with that here is my email tyeshiab1@yahoo.com as well if you'll are going for a law sue I in.

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dave123
belmont, US
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Jul 02, 2009 3:08 am EDT
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I attended Westwood Online for all of 2006. My admissions rep never informed me that the program cost 64k. My loans never got approved and towards the end of the year they finally told me how much in the hole I was. I decided to drop out because there was no way I was going to pay 64k for an online degree. The school recently settled a lawsuit with the Department of Justice. There is also a class action lawsuit that has recently been filed against these crooks.

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Renster
Los Angeles, US
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May 07, 2009 4:31 am EDT

I too was cheated by them...I lost many years and money because of them...my email address is enriquez.r@gmail.com. Westwood got sued by 60 students in Texas and the students won. Lets do it again.

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