Is Western Career College a good school?

BabyRN2Be · Jul 8, 2010

I have to be honest here, in my experience, many schools that have "career college" in the name tend to send up red flags in my mind. I had read an article in Good Housekeeping (May 2010) titled "The School of Hard Knocks", and it was all about people getting ripped off by "career colleges." The counselors will say ANYTHING to get someone to sign up. They quote outlandish salaries to get people to enroll, they overcharge them, and then they graduate and find out that their degree is worth nothing more than the paper it's printed on because although they say that the school is accredited, their nursing program may not be and then one may not be able to sit for the NCLEX.

It's been discussed here a few times about these colleges and many are scams. The student is left in deep debt and may not be able to find a job because of accreditation problems.

If you have a vo-tech in your area, it's probably much better and MUCH cheaper to tend there to get your LVN or go to a community college to get your ASN. I did some searching on the web, and the average charge nurse in southern California on average makes $87,000, and that's with a BSN. I would be kind of leary of a program who says that an LVN is going to make $80,000 per year in CA. I had some trouble searching for the salary of an LVN, but a CNA on average in the same area makes $30,000/yr. I know that an LVN makes more than a CNA, but there's a huge gap between $30,000 and $80,000.

These career colleges really irritate me because they tell the students in the MA programs that everyone makes high 5 figure salaries when starting. No stinking way does a medical assistant make $90,000/year.

Before this post becomes more about my rants about these types of colleges, I implore you to do your research before signing up. Check with the BBB in your area to see if any complaints are lodged against them, and BE SURE to ask directly if your specific program is accredited, not just the school. If they hem and haw or give you a round about answer, run far, far away. Even if they say, "Oh, by the time you've graduated, we'll be accredited", say something like, "Well, I'll come back when they are accredited."

I know nothing of the school you mentioned, but by the track record of other schools which tend to charge high tuition for unaccredited programs, I'm a bit leery of them. I only say this because I was almost pulled into one of these schools and I am so thankful that I eventually said, "no." There's a better way to achieve your dream... with a lower cost in many ways. Good luck to you!

funnymonkeymed · Jul 8, 2010

thank you, babyrn2be for your honest comments and wealth of information, i appreciate it! it's just a bit frustrating to see my friend graduating so quickly and i have another year to go before i can even apply into the asn program at my community college. i just want to do my best and become a great nurse! :nurse:

BabyRN2Be · Jul 8, 2010

And you will be a great RN! :) You're on a great track and honestly, the best track. I know that you're friend is graduating sooner, but with the program you're in, you're going to be ahead in several ways. First of all, you aren't going to have as much debt, secondly, I did some research on WCC and there are some complaints out there, and I'm not sure that they are accredited.

Stay the track you're on... I know you want to be out there, an RN and making money, achieving your dream. You will get there. :)

Calinurse4 · Jul 8, 2010

I looked into Western Career College almost 4 years ago. After taking an entrance exam and sitting through a long seminar, they finally got to the tuition (which they wouldn't tell me before this point). It was about $42,000 for the LVN program. They also told us that within a year they would have an RN program to bridge over to. Keep in mind, this was 4 years ago and they still don't have the RN program. Needless to say, I walked out at the point~lol.

That did give me the motivation to sign up at my community college the next day and start chipping away at my pre-reqs. I applied to the nursing program this past spring and got in on my first try! I will be starting the program in 5 weeks and I'm so excited and really happy I did it this way. I have no student debt and my entire schooling will only be around $2000.

Your friend is going to be highly disappointed to find out that not only will it be difficult to get a job, she will not be making nearly that much money. I work as a unit assistant at a hospital and I make almost as much as the LVN's do. Those schools are strictly for profit and they will tell people anything to get them to sign up.

Keep doing what you are doing, it will be worth it in the long run!! Good luck :)

funnymonkeymed · Jul 8, 2010

good for you k10rn2b*2012 ! that's the type of motivation i need...crossing my fingers that i will get the same results as you!