Northwest Educational Center is a trade school in Houston, TX, that’s accredited by multiple state organizations and has two campuses. The school provides high-quality training to future healthcare and beauty professionals with programs for medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, class-A barbers, and cosmetologists.
Programs & Courses
Barber
- Class A Barber
Cosmetology
- Cosmetology Instructor
Medical Assistant
- Billing & Coding
- Medical Office
- Pharmacology
- Externship
Pharmacy Tech
- Pharmacy Externship
Construction Tech
- Residential & Commercial Construction
Campus Locations
Northwest Campus Address 2910 Antoine Drive Suite B-100 Houston, TX 77092
Copperfield Campus Address 6521 Highway 6 N Houston, TX 77084
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, Northwest Educational Center (NWEC) in Houston has a highly mixed set of feedback, with strong praise for specific staff members and program support contrasting sharply with serious, recurring criticisms related to financial aid, program quality, and post-graduation administration.
Overall Rating: 4.0/5 Stars
Common Praises
Exceptional Staff and Enrollment Support (Recent and Consistent): The most frequent praise is directed at specific staff members responsible for enrollment, outreach, and director roles, who are repeatedly praised for being “very helpful,” “professional,” and an “inspiration.”
Supportive Environment: Many students describe the school as a “wholesome place to thrive,” noting that staff and instructors “really care about their students” and provide help when needed, even years after graduation.
Positive Learning Experiences (Medical Assisting/Cosmetology): Recent reviews for the medical assisting program specifically commend an instructor for teaching professionalism and patient care. Graduates from years ago also express gratitude for the skills gained that led to successful careers, including one individual who started their own business.
Flexible Scheduling: Multiple reviews highlight the flexible scheduling as a key benefit, making it possible for individuals to juggle school, work, and family responsibilities.
Common Criticisms
Financial Aid and FAFSA Misconduct (Serious Allegations): This is the most serious and highly-rated criticism. At least one review explicitly alleges that the school’s financial aid representative made fraudulent claims on a federal document (FAFSA) without the student’s permission, stating the student had a child when they did not. This review strongly advises others to avoid the school.
Post-Graduation Delays (Certification and Communication): A significant negative theme is the lack of organization and poor communication after a student completes the program. One student who finished their Medical Assistant program and externship reported waiting five months for their official certification, stating they had to “be calling and calling for them to pay any attention to you.”
Quality of Education (Barber/Cosmetology): A recent negative review for the barber program criticized the initial instruction, stating that students were expected to self-study five chapters of the textbook by themselves on the very first day and that the classroom environment was disruptive and not conducive to learning. Older reviews describe a disastrous service experience (highlights and manicure) by a student, suggesting a lack of close instructor supervision or poor student training in the salon/clinic environment.
Facility and Professionalism: Older reviews mention that the school is “run down and needs a serious upgrade” and criticize the general staff as “very unprofessional.” Other students call the school “unorganized” and a “joke.”
Momentum
The recent reviews show a strong, positive focus on initial enrollment and specific instructors in the medical programs, indicating the school is continuing to attract and engage new students successfully with personalized support. However, serious and highly-rated negative reviews, particularly regarding financial aid integrity and post-graduation administrative delays, remain prominent. This creates conflicting momentum: the student recruitment experience appears robust, but the fundamental issues related to institutional organization and student financial security have not been resolved or buried by the positive feedback. Prospective students should be aware that the positive experiences of enrollment do not negate the documented risks related to the administrative completion process.