I attended Westwood college for about 3 years and graduated from the Inland Empire (Upland), Ca campus in December 2009 with a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice. My experience at Westwood was disastrous to say the least.

In the beginning, I went to get more information from the representatives- (I took my mom with me for help) my representatives name was Tiffany, after a quick discussion, I was sent in another room to take some kind of exam to determine what basic classes (like Math, English, etc) I may still need. After the results were determined, Tiffany spent an hour telling me I placed exceptionally well, my credits from the local community college would mean I took less classes and spent less time pursuing my goal, and telling us of the "benefits" of Westwood, and the "Fully Accredited" degree I would receive. She stated Westwood was Nationally Accredited and recognized as a valuable degree program by hundreds of companies and other schools nationwide, they helped students with job placement once they had graduated (with an 80% success rate), and the classes were taught by experienced instructors within the field. My concerns were primarily the cost (quoted at approximately $15, 000 a year- in totaling $45, 000- 47, 000) as I come from a poorer family and expressed that I couldn't afford the cost of education- the response was a positive "don't worry, there are scholarships and grants, and of course we accept FAFSA and loans. So after they took the $100 registration fee, I was enrolled in what I though was the best choice I could have made.

Now comes the reality of what Westwood was for me-

To start- In the beginning I filled out tons of paperwork for financial aide... only (surprise surprise) to be told I didn't qualify for grants or scholarships, and I had unfortunately missed the FAFSA deadline. I was told my financial aide rep (Alicia) had taken the liberty to check into a few loans through SallieMae and that said loans would completely cover the costs and Salliemae was more than willing to allow for lowered payments, deferments, etc after I had graduated until they (Westwood) were able to help me find employment in my field of study.

My first term there, I was enrolled in four classes- three of which I had received transfer credit for since they had already been taken at RCC. I was told to get a hold of Mark Lewis for corrections but to continue coming to class so I wasn't dropped for the term for attendance. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact he finally returned my call (one week before the end of the term) only to inform me that since I technically sat through the whole course, I had in fact agreed to take them, and therefore the only thing he could do was label them as "elective" courses. No tuition refund would be issued nor would the funds be applied to classes the next term I actually needed to take.

As frustrated as I was I dealt with it. Then after only two terms, tuition costs went up- and continued to increase (tuition went up about four times in the three years I was there) until one day Alicia, about two terms from my graduation, notified me that for some reason my financial aide did not come through completely, and I had an outstanding balance of two thousand dollars. I needed to pay before the start of the next term or I was out of the program. I ended up having to borrow the money from a family friend- after contacting SallieMae, I was told that my paper work was not submitted timely and therefore the tuition increase was not calculated into the loan amount. I became furious and confronted Alicia- who labeled me as a combative student, took no blame for the incident- stating I had given consent for the financial aide department to make such decisions on my behalf with something called an "e-signature". I received a call from Mark later informing me that all financial aide issues for me would need to go through the office at the main campus after my behavior towards Alicia.

I went to the main office in Upland, and requested a break down of my financial aide- I wanted to know where the money was going in detail, how much each term had cost (tuition and books included)- essentially everything. I got no response and ended up having to call the dean of students and threaten a lawsuit- I received a week later a hand typed crude assessment of funds. Only stating the exact information on the salliemae website and a $2000 listing as an APEX loan- when I questioned this APEX- I was informed it was none of my concern and that maybe id get better treatment if I stopped going over people's heads.

To top that off, once the bookstore became null in void- in place of the newer on line ordering system- I stopped ordering books for my courses and simply started borrowing them from friends. In the last five terms I was there- I maybe ordered three books- the rest I borrowed. Fast forward to this year March 2011- I received a collections notice from some company stating I owed Westwood College $90- when I called no one was able to tell me why... the next day I got a call from Roseo (?) telling me it was for a book I ordered the last term I was there (IN 2009) FOR A CLASS I WAS NOT ENROLLED IN!!! Basically the solution was pay it, they hadn't done anything wrong and sometime they run late conducting the student account audits- they didn't care if it was two years later, that I had never taken the class, or that I had never received a book. I left a scathing report on MySafeCampus.com... checked a few days later was was informed that the school had recognized who I was based on the information provided and has since paid the $90 charge... Now why would they do that if they had done no wrong?

Oh and lets speak of job placement assistance... I receive random emails from Don about jobs in other states, jobs I don't qualify for, or jobs that are temporary or commission based only. No resume services were ever offered, just simply make a resume, email it to Don and he'll send you suggestions (time permitting), oh and mock interviews only if you took the class otherwise you are SOL... the friends I graduated with are as follows: 2 say at home moms, 1 records clerk, 1 counselor (thanks to Monster.com), 1 club promoter, 1 bouncer, and 1 club hopper.

My family tells me there has to be some kind of legal repercussions for Westwood's actions- since I/ we all do feel like I was lied to from the beginning- unfortunately due to my financial restraints and inabilities- I have moved numerous times since graduation and no longer have my paperwork from Westwood or even Sallie Mae. It has become the victim of constant moving (from family member to family member because I can't pay all the loans, cost of living and rent by myself even working 40 hours a week... even if I could do something about it, I couldn't prove it : (

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.

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

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...

I am a resident of Chicago, and I attended Westwood College between the fall of 2006-2007 at the Loop Campus here in Chicago. I experienced been told I had no other choice then private or "preferred" loans and they turned away grants I had received and was awarded in high-school; to make a long story short I couldn't transfer their credits including gen-eds, and have an out-standing debt in loans, which they procured funds without my knowledge or consent. Also, I have contacted a host of ex-students here in Chicago who have gone through this scenario. Please contact me with any extended information on suites and proceedings.