Why Did They Close?
CollegeAmerica, a private for-profit college headquartered in Denver, Colorado, served as one of four institutions associated with the Center for Excellence in Higher Education (CEHE) in Salt Lake City. The institution offered 41 degree programs, including associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in healthcare, business, information technology, and graphic arts.
Originally established as the training division of Control Data Corporation, the college faced accreditation challenges. Despite prior accreditation by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, all CEHE-owned institutions were placed on probation in September 2018.
This action was taken due to concerns about the design and implementation of inputs, resources, and processes not conducive to student success. Following the loss of accreditation at one campus in April 2021, the company responded by freezing new enrollments across all campuses and ultimately decided to close all its campuses by the end of 2021.
Programs & Courses
Healthcare
- Healthcare Management
- Nursing
Business
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Human Resources
- Marketing
Computer & Information Technology
- Networking
- Software & Mobile Development
- Web Design & Development
- Computer Systems Technician
Campus Locations
Phoenix, AZ 9801 North Metro Pkwy. East, Phoenix, AZ 85051
Flagstaff, AZ 399 South Malpais Ln., 2nd Floor, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Colorado Springs, CO 2020 North Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Denver, CO 1385 South Colorado Blvd., 5th Floor, Denver, CO 80222
Fort Collins, CO 4601 South Mason St., Fort Collins, CO 80525
Financial Aid Services
It’s easy for applicants to access financial aid. Resources range from federal and state to private loans. Additionally, there are grants for first-time and returning students. Scholarships are available through CollegeAmerica too, and anyone can apply for them.
Student Services
The school supports all people from the moment they register. This includes help with applications. The staff schedules the necessary courses based on a student’s field. Also, CollegeAmerica provides learning materials at no extra cost, including laptops and books.
Career Services
CollegeAmerica gives advice on resume writing, interviewing, and job hunting. The Career Services staff also shows each student how to network in today’s world. The goal is to help them improve current employment or gain entry to their field.
Veteran and Military Services
The college has programs for active duty service members and veterans, as well as military spouses. Counselors who specialize in military financial aid guide these students in using their benefits. There are also scholarships and discounted tuition rates available.
Alumni Services
Alumni can continue to use Career Services after graduating. Job placement may be possible as well. If graduates need to brush up, they are able to retake CollegeAmerica classes from their degree program at no cost.
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, CollegeAmerica in Flagstaff has a mixed reputation, with a low overall rating and more recent reviews raising serious concerns.
Overall Score: 3.4/5 Stars
Common Praises
Supportive Staff and Teachers: Some positive reviews mention that the staff and teachers are helpful, encouraging, and dedicated to helping students understand the material.
Small Class Sizes: A few reviewers appreciated the small class sizes, which allowed for more personalized attention.
Common Criticisms
High Cost and Debt: The most significant and frequent criticism is the extremely high cost of tuition, with multiple reviews citing a cost of over $40,000 for a certificate or associate degree. Many students claim they were left with a large amount of debt for a degree they felt was not worth the price.
Predatory Practices: Several reviews describe the school as a “predatory” institution. One review specifically alleges the school targets Indigenous people, getting them to take on large loans with “promissory notions of a nursing career.”
Worthless or Non-Transferable Credits: A major complaint is that the certificates and credits earned are not widely accepted or are “worthless,” making it difficult to transfer to other institutions or find a job in the field.
Lack of Hands-on Experience: At least one review expressed a desire for more hands-on experience, particularly in the clinical field.
Misleading Promises: Reviewers feel the school’s promises about career outcomes and the value of their education were not met.
Momentum
The most recent reviews are highly critical, alleging predatory practices, high costs, and a lack of value, while the more positive reviews are older. This suggests that the school’s reputation has declined over time.