20 Best Medical Assistant Programs In Philadelphia, PA (2022 Updated)

Wanting to further my education as an adult and being excited about coming back after 25 years since my first attempt enrolled in College my expectations were to seek help in enrollment, having all typical questions answered that every student has about financial aid, classes that can accommodate my FT work schedule, meeting with my student advisor and such. It was a very upsetting and disappointing experience to say the least. I would never recommend this school to anyone and I warn you in advance when considering. My student advisor Teneshia Soriano was the worst! I tried to meet with her on many occasions and she was never in the office past 3pm. Life requires us (most of us) to work FT jobs before even attempting an education, but when a school cannot understand that evening classes are imperative to adults returning to school it’s a big red flag. I could not be helped by the financial aid office, the business office, student advisor, and worst of all John Ryder the Director of Student Affairs. I walked away with a huge bill and no help from anyone. RCSJ is the worst!Alethea Rodriguez

Both of my daughters are currently attending classes, some on-line other's in person. Both girls have had an easy time with the entire process of finances, aid, enrolling, supplies, resources and support etc. Specifically because of the staff we've been working with in several different positions have truly been their for the students and parents. They have made the process easy in my opinion and we're more then helpful and mindful to a moody 18yr old. I do hope my girls continue on with RCSJ as it's close, affordable and the credentials of course!!Brian Reilly

The nursing program does not care about putting good working nurses into the health care industry. They only care about how well you can do on written exams, not actual performance in the field. This school has made it very clear that they are only out for money. I watched a loved one put everything they had into this course just to be given up on over a single point. Also, communication between students and some instructors is absolutely awful.Sabrina H

I went to Delaware County Community College part time for four years after high school. It's one of the best decisions I ever made. I really didn't know what I wanted to do right out of high school and I didn't want to go to a super expensive university and still not be sure. I started out with general studies. I just finished my Liberal Arts associate's degree there this past spring. I enjoyed my time at this school. I got to take a lot of different classes to really figure out what I like and what I dislike, and it's way more affordable to do that here. The campus is beautiful, especially the STEM center. There's lots of helpful services and the professors I had were great. I'm now transfering to another school to study graphic design and I feel like DCCC helped me get on the right track. I would highly recommend this school to everyone!Natalie Cellini

The cost isn't horrible and the classes are similar to classes offered by four year universities. The problems I have lie with the administration (financial aid, career center, cashier office.) They do not know how to deal with students in a timely, concise manner. I was unable to get in and complete a single course for the last two years due to administrative problems, even though I had been with them previously. I would recommend having another school lined up in case you find yourself in the same boat.Akiba Perry

I went here from fresh out of high school from 2016-2019 and graduated there with my associates. Such a Beautiful campus and I had a very great experience at DCCC, I’ve had some pretty good professors during my time there although some did seem to only be there for a check. During my time here I was also in the KEYS program and they have such wonderful staff very helpful and friendly. They have a nice library and the food in the cafeteria is really good too.Nicole Flood

As the mom of a college student who had to leave a private, out of state institution for medical reasons, I came into contact with BCCC when my son was ready to obtain further credits. The administration was so very helpful, from applying for appropriate courses, to registering and payment. My son has not yet graduated, but the experience at the local community college was excellent. BCCC also has programs in which high school students with special skills or talents can participate in college level work. Both the high school and BCCC were extremely helpful in this regard. High school credits were obtained with no tuition payment. Finally, I am a sunset photographer. The high hill on the campus overlooking the baseball field just off Swamp Road is a very nice vista for sunset shots!!Carol Geibe

First off the price is great. The campus is really nice. I liked the professor's a ton. There were some really good teachers. When I transferred out most of my credits went to Penn state without an issue. I see a few reviews on here talking about bad teachers. This is not a BCCC problem, it's a college problem. I had just as many bad teachers if not worse teachers at Penn State as I did at BCCC. Expect it, accept it, and work harder in those classes. It's only 16 weeks folks. If you are looking to see if college is for you or just starting back up with your education I think it's a great place to start.Mike Carson

The campus itself is clean and the security is friendly. As for the professors I had in my two year stint here, many of them were awesome people and very helpful as teachers. I feel I have learned a lot from having knowledgeable teachers such as Professor Beers in the math department and Professor Bresnen in the music department. All in all, for the most part the staff here seems to care about their students' success and I have had many more pleasurable teachers here than I expected.Dan

If I could give this place 20 stars I would. We all are truly blessed to live near such a beyond world class health system. The amazing professionals who work here are absolutely beyond the best and I personally can not thank them enough for the countless times they have cared for and saved the lives of myself and family members.Scott Shaffer

I was in so much pain, was there for 3 and half days got my pain under control. That cut the middle man got me tested and scoped found out I developed an allergy to wheat out of the blue. Caroline took the best care of me.Karen Matalavage

Always good and thoughtful care. Avoid the ER. They are not permitting spouse to accompany the patient at this time (June 10). This is wrong for so many reasons. They need to give this the highest priority and make it work.Bob Horlacher

Please read regarding the 46th ranked PCOM PA program! After attending PCOM PA program, I made it out by the skin of my teeth, literally!! I spoke with numerous PA colleagues from other programs and my experience was horrible compared to theirs. I applied to PCOM because I knew of the name PCOM hold but that really only applies to the DO program, the PA program is explained below. The PA program is run by people who could careless about you as a student. I say this factually because I have heard them talking about how they only care about their PANCE 1st time pass rate. What this means is they wouldn’t care if they lost over 75% of the class as long as those that finished passed the PANCE 1st time. Professor say differently but they don’t mean it in their actions. The averages on tests are low 80's, they provide NO CURVE or grade BOOSTERS and you need to keep a 3.0 to progress through program! Even the employees in the learning center, who offer tutoring and study techniques say that the PA program is not well managed is over kill and loses many students. For example in 1 term we have a 10 credit class but sit in class for 16-18 hrs a week for it. Then we have a 10% exam that covers 16 different ppt that are minimum of 60 slides each all taught and tested on under 14 days. Finals were comprehensive – 100Q test that covered 90 ppt all about 60 slides each. That is 5,400 slides of information! Again that is just one class and all the 2 credit classes are very similar. They have a Pathology class for the PA students but its not directed to PA, its the EXACT same lectures and tests the DO students get but PA students get 1/3 the time to learn and digest info. Each of those PPT range from 100-150 slides each. The best class though in the program is the Pharmacology. That professor actually seems like she cares about you as a student and writes straight forward Qs to test your knowledge. I get that PA school or any Masters program is challenging and should require a little more thinking and work. But at PCOM they teach you the same curriculum that the DO program gets but you have to do it in 1/3rd the time. They never test you on Keyword or Hallmark information that the PANCE tests you on. PCOM tests you on the pointless information that they find within the required reading of a 2000 pg textbook called Current medical diagnosis & treatment, which is a medical reference book not a textbook. To me I think they literally flip to a page and with eyes closed placed their finger on a spot and then write a Q based off the word their finger landed on. When it comes to the clinical rotations they have the most strict guidelines ever and rarely if ever give students their suggestions they would like! Out of my whole class, I think only 1 person got a rotation they suggested and there were about 60 students who have ability to submit. PS this is Pre Covid, I doubt they let anyone now post covid. I submitted 3 and got 0 I wanted, including my elective!!! Finally you have to do a RESEARCH PAPER in this program. The research professor is very belittling in how he talks to students. The research paper is a waste of time and pointless in teaching you how to be a PA. It solely is to make the PA program look good by them posting it on their webpages. They could make the class way more enjoyable and not full of busy work, but the rumor around the program is that the professors purposely want to take you to your breaking point not help you excel. I’m glad I barely made it through and ever have to deal with PCOM again, I'll never donate or be a rotation site for them! I hope by sharing my view of the school this makes people question even applying to PCOM. We need PAs out in the world, go to another school as being a PA is not about jumping through a million hoops and doing countless busy work assignments that PCOM mandates all while being continually put down and belittled by various professors in the way they talk to you.B J

I was recommended to see Dr. Todd Kelman by Dr. Robby Pullen to look at an x-ray taken of my right hand. He wants me to have an MRI to reach a better conclusion than the x-ray shows. We shall see what the final outcome will be. Today, I had an appointment to see Dr. Kelman for an injection on my right hand. Hopefully this will bring some relief. The swelling had decreased somewhat, and because of other medical issues, there is a limitation of methods to be employed. Arthritis is not only painful, but also a nuisance. I'll check with Dr. Kelman in a couple of weeks to see how everything is progressing.Harold Tucker

PCOM is super responsive. I left a message about changing pharmacies and expected to wait a while for a call back, but the delightful Fatima reached out to me within 5 minutes of my call and was already working on transferring my prescription. Office visits are great too. Everyone is super friendly. I knew I made the right choice when I chose PCOM.Melinda Banks

Are you a working individual looking to earn a degree? Don’t go to Harrisburg Community College. This college uses Technology that is not easy to learn and I am good with Computers. Want to speak with a Advisor, well my advisor lives in South Carolina so I can only conduct a meeting via Zoom, the college is taking ALL personal interactions away. And working individuals…well i hope your not trying to spend any time with family and friends because I leave my 40 hour week job and I do school work for 5-8 hours a night and on my weekends. Forget about spending anytime with my wife and three children….I am taking 3 classes. Don’t ask the teachers a question, they just refer you to the syllabus…well clearly I am asking you a question because I didn’t understand it. I am military, yesterday I had duty and i didn’t get my project submitted, I logged in tonight to submit the project and the instructor removed the instructions, and locked the drop box so I couldn’t submit the assignment. I could keep going but I don’t have time…if your a working individual, don’t fall for the things they tell you.William Bricker

If I could give this institution a lower than one star rating, I would. For a community college, the course costs, books, and fees seem to be immense. I had professors who took half or more of the class periods to talk about themselves, personal topics and politics. I’ve also had professors assign English paper topics about personal things and I imagine he laughed at the student’s papers later in his free time. The required intro to college class professor had us playing with popsicle sticks and jars of rocks and sand. The certifying official for the VA office submitted my paperwork incorrectly. I dropped my classes and incurred debt because of how poorly the education at HACC is. They seem to be all about the money and not the education or students. I can’t even request a transcript for my new school because of “debts” to HACC. I no longer live in Pennsylvania and I am now attending a MUCH better school, and I am very glad. I would never recommend this school to anyone. This is not a good school, don’t waste your money and time.SMK3181

Most professors are nice but my overall experience was bad. I went here to try to accomplish a 2 year degree but every time course selection came around they didn’t have the classes I needed so I got stuck taking hardly any credits each semester. The majority of advanced classes are online only. They offer almost zero advanced courses in a classroom. So happy I made the decision to transfer. Not to mention how every time I scheduled a meeting with an advisor it either got cancelled without notice or they changed me to a new advisor who could not give me a single piece of useful advice.Kate

I am surprise people are voting Holy Family University 4 or 5 stars. I guess these rating are NOT based on the quality of the education. AS A PARENT who toured the campus with my child during an open house , I felt that Holy Family can't compete with students from the other schools in the area. Yes, they offer small class sizes ,personal attention, but what else? You don't here a lot about Holy Family graduates in Philadelphia or its surrounding area. Villanova, La Salle, and St.Joseph's are stealing the spotlight from other catholic colleges. Upenn, and Drexel are the large private schools. Temple is a large public school. You could find graduates from those 6 colleges working in MANY different fields around Philadelphia. What is Holy Family's problem? I think they have a problem standing out from the crowd. Like someone has mentioned, Holy Family is too calm. They are afraid to push boundaries, try new things, and compete with the other schools. The school is too relax. It's a calm peaceful university, that DON'T make things happen, but instead THEY WAIT for things to happen. Holy Family is VERY similar to Rosemont ,Cabrini and Gwynedd Mercy, three other failing colleges in the area. They don't have a strong alumni network and programs with a long legacy of success. You CAN'T BLAME this on the school's small size or the school's late founding, 1954. MOST OF THE BLAME SHOULD be place of Holy Family's administration. Not much is done in the president's office. You hear about their nursing program, but you also hear about better nursing programs in the area. What makes Holy Family Different? Most online reviews are commenting on the grading system. I don't understand why this university is hurting their students. Let's be honest, most students at Holy Family were not bright in high school (look at admission stats), so why would the school want to change the system. This grading system should NOT be an incentive for students to work harder. Based on everything I said, I would not recommend Holy Family. If you want be in the philly area, go to a good school. Go to one of the good schools i listed (city 6).Thomas B. Smith

The worst university ever. Do not waste your time and money sending your child here. They do not practice Catholic Values At all. The instructors are not even qualified to teach, they do not teach anything. They teach everything from power point that student already have copies of. Most of the instructors do not have PH.D's. Tuition is very expensive and under-qualified instructors all always discouraging students and putting them down. If students have problems, the faculty sides with instructors not helping students at all. The university is overrated. The name is just a cover up to attract Christian students. The faculty members and instructors, do not follow the Christian principles in the way they act and conduct themselves, specially toward students. Parents be aware, do not let the name fool you – Holy Family. Not Holy at all the way the faculty member and instructors conduct themselves. At holy family university nobody gets a second chance, evilness prevails.O Dre

Since transferring to Holy Family University in 2014 I've come to realize that this was one of the best decisions I have made in my collegiate career thus far. I have never been more satisfied with this university in terms of education, faculty/staff, and the students I have met and ultimately became close with. Holy Family is more than a University, it is a place that, should you put your mind to it, can open doors for your career and future. As graduation quickly approaches I look back on these past two years and realize that the education I gained, not only scholastically but emotionally and spiritually, will be the the ground work in creating a successful future for myself. I just wanted to thank all the faculty, staff, and students that made me feel like I was a part of their family even though we may share different views and beliefs.Adam Lee Price

Great university and very nice campus! Saint Joseph's University (SJU) is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic Jesuit university located in west Philadelphia. The university was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1851 as Saint Joseph's College. Saint Joseph's University educates over 9,200 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students each year through the Erivan K. Haub School of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Program of Professional & Liberal Studies, and the Haub Degree Completion Program. The University offers over 60 undergraduate majors, 53 graduate programs, 28 study-abroad programs, 12 special-study options, a co-op program, a joint degree program with Thomas Jefferson University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. It has 17 centers and institutes, including the Kinney Center for Autism Education & Support and the Pedro Arrupe Center for Business Ethics. In the 2014 U.S. News and World Report rankings, in the Master's Universities (North) category, Saint Joseph's was ranked number 11. It is a pleasure to have excellent academic colleagues in the Food Marketing Department!Paulino Montes-Solla

This school is the bomb dot com. One of the admissions officers, James, gave us a review of what they look for upcoming students, overview of the school, as well as costs. Yes, he answered any questions that we had. Hailey was out your guide for the campus tour and she was from VA just like us. She and my daughter connected during the tour and my daughter was able to ask her various questions during the tour as well as the other students. Be prepared to do a lot of walking on the campus tour, so dress comfortably and wear some comfortable shoes. We happened to tour on a day that the heat index was 121 degrees, but the campus kept us hydrated with cold, bottled water. Honestly, I thought I knew quite a bit about the school. Yet, I learned so much more. Don't count them out because they have a lot to offer for everyone. It's not too small and not too big. A great medium sized campus in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Don't forget to check out Hawk Hill. Most of all, remember that the Hawk never dies!!TheHawksTV

St. Joseph's University, unfortunately like many colleges around the world, is run by corporate types who care nothing about education and ethics. They continue to hire part-time professors who are low-paid and receive no benefits. There are no requirements for incoming 1st-year students, and professors are pressured to retain poor students so that the college doesn't lose their sky-high tuition. Incoming students are offered various government loans and financial assistance to get them in the door. This is the reason students carry terrible financial burden into adulthood–and the tuition costs just keep rising! The SJU administration does not support the professors, the students (unless they are exceptional basketball players), vigorous academic education, or the integrity one would expect from the Jesuits. Father Comey would not recognize today's St. Joe's. . . .Rabbit Moon

Good only for specific programs like Physical Therapy and ? and if you are planning to spend 1-2 semesters abroad. Their travel abroad opportunities is their claim to fame, Otherwise, it is a very boring campus, the food is pretty bad, the dorms are dirty for what you what you pay, and the majority of the students are commuters or live off campus so you don; t get the full college experience. As a Communications Major, I would HIGHLY SUGGEST another school. I wasn't prepared for a job as an editor on a magazine and most journalism jobs expect you are at least intermediate at Adobe Suite,using a Mac, able to do film/ photography and write, and chase are stories for $10 an/hr. The nostalgic days of the investigative reporter and my visions of bringing justice to the world like Edward R, Murrow and Hunter Thompson were over long ago, at least at this school, but the BILLS for just 2 years at Arcadia ( I was a transfer student keep on coming and probably will till I die). The Communications department is a joke and 90% is run by adjuncts. I had some good classes but I should have learned how to make a perfect resume, portfolio, and all the computer skills you're expected to know now. It is a beautiful campus although they neglect to say you are bordering a ghetto. Don't let that damn castle lure you in. Small class sizes are nice but you can get that at other schools for a lot less money The worst part is no one has ever heard of this school outside the Philadelphia area, so it is kind of embarrassing considering I am fairly smart and could have went to a better school if I had more money to pay for it. All in all, make Arcadia your back-up school and commute if u can to save a lot of money. You can throw a party in your back yard more exciting than any I ever went to at Arcadia.E morrison

Prepped for a year to do well enough on the GRE, gain work experience, and crush my interview to gain admission into their physician assistant program…which I did. Even visited the campus before accepting their offer to get an impression of if it was right for me. Well, it was a classic bait and switch [in quality]. The castle ambiance is luring, but the administration and chairs are a soup-sandwich falling apart. Two professors were fine but the rest couldn't separate out their divorced unhappy lives from their duty to teach. Some had a strange understanding of pathophysiology that makes me chuckle 12 years later now that I know better. Plus, they tracked negative feedback on courses by seeing what time your evaluation populated off and when an unnamed new one populated on…so there was no true anonymity. Luckily my academic advisor went to bat for me when I was threatened with expulsion if I ever gave another negative review. It prepared me but I am sure another university would have done so just as well with kinder and more just intent as well as better organization.Nathan Whitfield

I have spent 4 years at this great institution and I plan to stay for a further 3 years in pursuing my DPT degree. Many complain of a lack of activities and in my opinion it's due to the lack of effort many put into finding things to do. I have found it incredibly easy to have fun while enjoying the peacefulness of avoiding inner city sound pollution. If you are pursuing a degree in any biological studies and want close personal interaction with professors, this is the place to be. This university has opened many doors for me and I am grateful. I will be honest in saying that it needs a tune up in some categories, student affairs I'm staring at you, but it succeeds in preparing you for the real world. Finally, if you want to see the world, there is no better place. I have been to London and the Virgin Islands for study abroad and have had many friends that have explored nearly every corner of the world. This is my humble opinion, if you don't agree, then you didn't take advantage of this school. Hail, Arcadia! Hail! We say! I hope this helps.Kyle S

i have an associates degree from a previous college plus attending the university of Scranton for a year and appearing on their deans list. Going to Lackawanna was def a step back for me. I was accepted into the surgical tech program and thought it was my lucky break. First before I go into the details of the program I’d like to say that the professors I had besides the surgical tech (while nice) mostly read off of powerpoints , which we students can do ourselves…. the tests were up in the air as to study what. They expected you to read a whole chapter (science) and retain every critical detail. The surgical tech program was a nightmare. Not because it was hard, but because the teacher, Purnell created a very hostile environment. She would teach the skills once and expected you to get every step correctly the first time. She loved berating students and while the course is very serious because one deals with infection prevention she seemed to forget that just because she knows the skill that we were still learning, all the while being out of touch with updated surgical technology like instruments and procedures and new sterilization techniques.She definitely had her favorites and if you weren’t one you’re going to know you’re not. Snatching and cursing is one of the many ways she’ll teach you. I had heard from previous students she had worked in McCann school and was known to throw objects around whenever she was frustrated with students. While I was going through personal problems n didn’t do as well as I’d like , I decided to quit the program because honestly, you can’t learn from someone who doesn’t want to teach. If you can find the surgical tech program in another school… go there insteadRamses Bracero

DO NOT GO HERE FOR CYBER SECURITY, or any online classes for that matter. TL:DR You dont get support or help with anything important. If you want this level of education buy a CCNA study guide on Udemy. The online classes will not help you in any way. It is up to you to find the external resources to help. There is no "hay I need help with this", you are completely on your own. I am stuck at this school because I cant afford anything else and yet this is still a complete scam. I have gone through just about 2 semesters and this school can't provide as much as a zoom call. They have nothing technology related for any elective. So a majority of your classes aren't related to cybersecurity in any way. I have had to take a criminal justice class, and a macroeconomics class. Wasting both my time and money. This state has much better schools, however they are a lot of money. Do your best to get a scholarship and get out to them for cybersecurity. Don't get stuck here at this college. Pretty much anything else is better than this.Steven_T_K

If you want to receive a degree anytime soon DON'T GO HERE. My friend has been working for his associates degree and had 4 finale classes to finish. He passed 3 of them with all A's and on his 4 class receive a D because of a computer mix up and receive 5/50 on two assignments even though they were turned in on time but the assignments were flipped. Not only did the teacher give him that grade when he realized the mistake and emailed her about it but she also waited till the very last minute to grade everything in the class for everyone. This was the last class he needed and now has to wait a whole year to have a chance to receive his associates degree. This is crazy and I want the school and the public to know how infuriated I am about this. There is no reason anyone should be treated like this. This school should be ashamed that they treated someone who's gone through this far with them like this.Noelle Gallegos

I graduated from Widener in May, 2015. I was a transfer student to Widener so I was only there for two years, but for the two years I was there, it was great! I was in the B.S. Biology program so I can only speak for the sciences at Widener and I have to say Widener has a great biology program. All my teachers were easily accessible, willing to help me out, and always wanted me to succeed. There are plenty of research opportunities for anyone looking and there are a ton of clubs to get involved in. Widener also has a pre-health adviser (who is the nicest and most dedicated person ever) and pre-health committee who do their utmost to help those who want to pursue professional careers in healthcare; this makes Widener an excellent school for anyone wanting to go into healthcare. I enjoyed all my classes at Widener and felt like I learned a lot there. Widener is very expensive (but it is a private school, what do you except) however they offer a lot of scholarships and grants which reduced my tuition considerably, the cost of attending Widener for me was actually cheaper than West Chester University. Another big plus for Widener is class registration. I know it can be difficult to register for classes at other schools but at Widener they make it very easy for you and most if not all the teachers are willing to sign you into a class in order to help you which is a huge bonus. My only two complaints about Widener is….one: the registrar and bursar office a.k.a Lipka Hall is the most atrocious place on the campus. Mostly everyone there is rude, mean, and not willing to help you at all. Two: the selection of science classes at widener is limited…I wish they offered a greater variety of science classes like pathophysiology, marine biology, or histology…they really only offer core biology classes so if you are looking to take some "exotic" science classes, you will most likely not find them here and if they are offered, they are offered once every other year which sucks. However the classes they do offer, they teach with excellence and you learn a great deal and although the variety of classes is not huge, you will still get a nice mix to pick from. Overall, Widener is a great school with a great faculty who want you to succeed. Widener will give you a sturdy foundation to which to build your career in the sciences. I highly recommend it!Chels Owens

I think Widener is a diamond in the rough. I have toured and visited a lot of schools, and my experience has been great. If you are looking for a big ( Michigan) or really intense ( UCLA) school, then Widener probably is not where you want to be. If you are looking for a good college experience, or you have a degree already from one of those big high pressure schools.. then Widener might offer you a refreshing pace. The professors really know their students. They work with you, talk with you, and the school is very keen on helping those with Learning differences, which to me is huge given that there are so many who have this issue. I did not want a high pressure situation. I did my undergrad at USC and my graduate work, round one at UCLA… Widener was a refreshing change, and in 7 weeks I finish. I thought it was a 1000 percent better than another school that is trying to be an Ivy League ranked school in Philadelphia…. to me, the private NON Ivy League school in Philadelphia was more of a joke. They were more expensive than Widener, you could not even talk intelligently to anyone, and when I ftried to talk about how their tech dept failed students, I was reminded they are a top tier research school which means very little to a student most of the time, and that school was much more expensive than Widener.. I think you really need to examine what you want in a school and then find schools that fit that bill. Widener is a small sweet and friendly school… it is where people care about each other. Widener is not going to be for everyone, but I think in the years to come it might be one of the better schools to embrace. I also want to talk about tuition. Look, it is a private school, and so it is going to cost more than a state school.. However, if you put it next to UCLA a state school that charges $65K to out of state students, or USC that is a little more… or Georgetown, Drexel, Duke, or other private schools, you are not paying as much, and no one should look at the retail price of a college or university because 85% of all students get some kind of financial aid today… I am very happy with Widener! The key for any student is to figure out what it is in a college or university that they want. Widener has some pretty impressive alumni… so it can not be all bad!T. C.A.C.

The bad: 1. DANGEROUS CITY. Chester ,Pennsylvania has a very high crime rate. Nowhere is safe in this city. A student was shot inside Widener's parking lot a couple of years ago. Both the city and neighborhood are terrible. Walking too far off campus can put you in great danger. 2. Nothing to do for fun in Chester. The city is rundown and the downtown area is filled with many vacant buildings and trash. ALL Philadelphia universities are superior to Widener because of their locations. 3. Widener Law school is the worst in the area. Their graduates fall far behind Temple, Villanova, Drexel, and UPenn law schools. Widener Law is low quality. I attended Widener Law briefly in the 80's before transferring to a better law school. 4. Widener University's reputation is bad in the Philadelphia area. The quality of Widener, both undergrad and grad programs, are below average. Widener gets a bad Rep and is out shined by Upenn, Temple, Villanova, Drexel, La Salle, and St.joseph's graduates and alumni. Even West Chester University is superior to Widener. My child was interested in Widener for undergrad, but turned away due to their low quality and reputation. 5. Widener is not challenging. That's why too many people graduated with high GPAs. The school is easy to succeed. They don't prepare their students properly. 6. Widener is too expensive for a college located in a city like Chester. The Good: 1. Widener University isn't that far from Philadelphia, where there are places to shop, work, intern, and enjoy your college experience. (Attending college in Philadelphia is a better option) 2. co-op program, small class sizes, 3. The ability to transfer to another schoolThomas B. Smith

Where to start….. re-enrolling for business admin after a degree in admin. Pretty sure any of children in the children's center would have been better advisors than the first one I had as she passed me off to admissions, had no idea what she was talking about, and downright REFUSED to help me enroll in classes saying she "doesn't do that, you have to do that online but I can show you how on this computer." The next day the second gentleman was a little more helpful but again, got nowhere. Advising hold, needed a specific advisor for my program [he was the one to tell me that] but he at least got me a name. Meanwhile another advisor is emailing to set up an appointment [not the one I needed]. I contacted the one I needed, I'm not even eligible for that program due to a pre-req not being met [hours of time being wasted to find this out fyi]. Get in touch with the one that has been reaching out, my advising hold was magically lifted, no one claims to have done it, register for classes other guy cancels his appt, make payment #q all good now….. fast forward 2 weeks it's time to make payment #2. I go to the Bursar's office only to be turned away because the Bursar's office does not accept payments 😳😳. I'm starting to remember why I took an extremely long break and a long time to get my degree . I'm even contemplating paying the out of county fee to transfer up to LCCC…..Katie Fitzpatrick

Beginning of Fall Semester 2021, I was a P.T.K. honors, full scholarship recipient student here working on my second degree until I was profiled by one of the female EMT instructors who though it would be a great idea to complain to an armed police officer that I was in the hallway outside the classroom my oldest son (also a student at NCC) was attending. The officer (extremely nice and professional) instructed me not to wait for my son in the hallway anymore since one of "the female EMT instructor's" complained about me for waiting in the hallway, doing nothing wrong, but waiting for my son. The situation was quickly neutralized after showing the officer my credentials revealing to him that I myself am a EMS Chief as well as a NCC Student. The Fowler building has constant video surveillance on every floor if NCC staff wishes to investigate. This took place on the 3rd floor of the Fowler Center Building. I have since transferred as a result. I will no longer be attending or sending any of my children to NCC. Posting this now because of possible retaliation towards my son and I being NCC students at the time.John Rivera

On Friday May 31 2019 I did a self-guided tour of Northampton Community College. This was my first visit to this spacious campus. The campus is located about ten miles from downtown Bethlehem in a suburban almost country-like setting. The campus looked very modern to me. I walked through the sports building and there was a fitness center which was closed that day. Not sure if the school has a pool. There is also a north campus across the street. Student housing and Alumni Hall are located here. There are many parking lots and the school has its own campus police force. I cannot comment on the school itself since I did not go here nor do I know anyone that did.Richard K

I can't say anything about the school's academic program, because I only attended for a very short period of time, but their admissions and financial staff are the least trust-worthy bunch I've ever dealt with in an institutional setting. The first time I visited the school, it was for an informational tour where I met up with the admissions office's assistant dean. He asked to see my transcript and resume, and immediately offered me admissions on the spot. Both my boyfriend (who accompanied me) and I were shocked. I was a very good student, and have gotten full scholarship offers before, but have never had a college that accepted me before I even filled out an application. While I was still trying to take everything in, the assistant dean of admissions went to talk to someone and then came back and offered me a scholarship package that would have covered most, if not all, of my tuition. He also gave me an admissions paperwork and urged me to fill it out before leaving. I was still pretty much undecided, but in the end decided to take him up on the offer due to influences from family and friends. Lo and behold, shortly after classes have started, I found out that the scholarship they actually assigned to me was minimal because they said I had missed the deadline for the scholarship for which I was promised. Thus, requiring me to obtain a loan to pay for the bulk of my tuition. I went to speak to the assistant dean of admissions who had promised me the larger scholarship, because I didn't understand why I "missed the deadline" when I had filled out all the paperwork he said was needed for admissions, financial aid and scholarships the same day of the tour (including FAFSA and all other forms he gave me that day). Aside from apologizing and telling me he didn't know what happened, he couldn't do anything to help me get that scholarship he had promised. I told him I couldn't afford that much loan and, in the end, he advised me to back-date and submit a withdrawal form so that the tuition would be zeroed-out (since I was only 2 days past the refund deadline). He assured me that the backdating would take care of my tuition and I wouldn't have to be responsible for it. Once again, I listened to him. Of course, things once again didn't turn out as he had said. After I've withdrawn, I got a call from the financial office to meet with a financial personnel, who told me that the tuition could not be written off because the withdrawal form could not be back-dated, even if it's approved or advised by the admissions assistant dean. I explained to her my situation and how I had enrolled due to a promise of scholarship, and that I had to withdraw because I couldn't afford the tuition due to the scholarship didn't come through for reasons that were not my fault. She called the assistant dean and he confirmed everything that I've said, yet she still denied the tuition forgiveness just because it was 2 days past the official refund period – this in spite of the fact that everything that has led up to my withdrawal was due to misinformation given to me by their administration. There was no compassion. It's all about money. During the entire meeting with her, I did not cry, but tears were streaming down my face. When I walked out of her office, fleeting thoughts of jumping down the second-story railings crossed my mind over and over again. I wanted to use my death to protest and to voice the incredible anguish that the University had pushed upon me. Thankfully, I quickly remembered each time that I still had a very sick mother waiting for my care. Whether the assistant dean had the best intentions in mind, I do not know. All I know was that if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have enrolled in that school, and I wouldn't have withdrawn (if I was going to have to pay for the tuition anyways, then I might as well stay to earn the credits). I was young, I was naive. It was shameful of the school to mislead and then refused to take any responsibility – putting all the burdens on a young person with a mentally-ill single mother.W T

This is the 1st college of pharmacy in the USA. However, Usciences market themselves as being the best college of pharmacy in the USA, although the rankings says otherwise. They are not the best AT ALL. During a tour years ago with my son, the school claimed that they are better than Drexel and Upenn (ivy league). They said their equipment was more advanced , their education is better, research opportunities, etc.. Who are educating the tour guides?? Usciences offer limited majors. Only in a few sciences. What about the other sciences? Technology, mathematics, engineering, etc? The school is misleading and I wouldn't recommend this school. They want to be something they are not. If they don't offer more majors soon, they will shutdown. I also agree with some of the other comments. The staff talks a lot of politics.. Also, a lot of Philadelphians or people living in the surrounding area never heard of the school. This is probably due to the limited majors.Thomas B. Smith

University of the Sciences is an amazing school for anyone looking to pursue a degree in the field of health care, or the general sciences. From my own experience as a student here, we began working together as a health care team and learning about our future professions from day one. As a physical therapy major, all of my undergraduate classes included topics and lectures with application to the field of physical therapy and have prepared me well to begin the graduate phase of the program! If you're looking to pursue an career in the health field, Usciences should be on your list!Curtis Librizzi

I joined Drexel University as a Computer Science major with a sole aim to take transfer to a better institution. The only two things that I liked at Drexel was :- 1. Scholarship and Financial Aid 2. Math faculty (Dimitri, Jason and Pavel Grinfield) The CS lectures were aweful, so was the CS faculty. I had a 4 GPA for 3 continuous quarters (that's how long I stayed here). CS 164 was a course which taught Javascript language. However, I knew more JavaScript before taking the course than I came out learning after the course. Totally confusing. Popyack was my professor. CS 171 and 172 were fine, just because I had prior experience with C++. In 8 out of 10 lectures I fell asleep, because they were extremely boring. The professor made no eye contact what so ever. Half of the time what he says would make no sense. The labs don't really help you out, they are poorly designed. Most labs will take more time than the time allotted. You'll have to go home with extra work. The university is fraud and extremely unmanaged. There's no infrastructure compared to the good colleges. Small football field. The area is not safe at all. You keep hearing this person got shot, that person got robbed, raped etc. They do not maintain student to faculty ratio. Classes are oversized and poorly air conditioned. Drexel course registration system is very poor. Generally by the time your registration time starts most of the classes you had planned to take would be full. Leaving you sweating and worried early in the morning (around 7 am). There's something called Drexel Central at Drexel, which helps you out with general/administrative/financial aid questions. I emailed them many a times, however, out of 5 emails, I only got reply to 3 of them. Bad service. (They say they maintain a well-designed database system for all the messages/inquiries/support). They compare themselves to UPenn. (Yes, you can laugh). Also, some professors say that Drexel Dragons are much better than UPenn students. (Laugh again). Extremely expensive. (So much money for nothin'. In fact, the tuition is more than that of UPenn which is an Ivey League) There are two places where you can go and have meals, and hang out with friends too. However, the food options there is so limited that it's better you rather eat at other places and waste all your meal swipes for which you are paying about $ 2000 per quarter. Even with meal swipes you don't get everything (basically the good things). For most of the things you can't use meal swipes. For meal swipe, at one of the locations, for example you can buy Pepppperrrronnnni Pizza (You can guess the quality of the pizza! The worst pepperoni is served here.) The free refill cups are extremely small. When I joined in the Fall the cups had a good size of 16 oz, but as time flew the cups became smaller and smaller. They are now half (may be even lesser) of what they used to be. The books for the courses are at extremely high price, and are hardly used. Drexel maintains rating and review system for course and faculy, however, though it is hardly ever evaluated. (But they will send you a million emails asking you to complete course/faculty rating/review). For example, one of the Pfysics professors at Drexel, who is pathetic at teaching, asks the students to buy books if they are taking the course compulsorily, still continues this practice of making them buy books, even after so many reviews having been done against it. No action taken by Drexel. The dorm life is not bad. Except that the washrooms, toilets are not cleaned on a daily basis. The kitchen is always dirty. Laundry room is always full. Well, they do have a Subway, but the quality of service provided there is extremely poor. The guy there literally just throws everything you tell him on the bread, such that when the bread is folded, 1/4th of the sandwich comes out. Chick fil A at Drexel unlike at all other locations does not provide free refills. Again they are charging you so much for nothing. Never consider going here.Niam Tomer

Surprisingly good University, presenting a good amount of development and a few excellent professors. The co-op opportunities are very interesting, a great idea and implementation. It is, however, a very expensive education, leading to a lower prestige/cost relationship. To become a top-ranked University, Drexel still needs a lot of branding through student achievement – combined with school pride, which could be much stronger – and research projects/applications with high visibility. Both could be reached with benefits to bring more top-level students and professors and with good money usage (because there is a lot of it) and cooperations for project funding.Leonardo Rolim

I attended Drexel and I can honestly say this was the worst choice I've made in a school choice. My professors were pretty decent, but the staff are not helpful and they talk to you like you should know certain things already. I pay this damn school every month on time because I have a balance due, and they won't release my transcripts even though I am paying them upward $125 per month. Which are payments that I am never late paying. I can honestly say I regret this decision and really should have went with my first choice which was Temple and my second choice being Cheyney. The one thing that i did love was it was fast track learning.Ashley Hinton

I'm currently in the welding program so that's all I can really count on. The school is overall decent and the tuition is about average for the program. They give you a toolkit and basic welding gear but if at all possible avoid it. The jackets burn right through and the gloves will wear out in a month and they're severely overpriced especially since you're doing overhead there and have no access to the property safety gear. The instructors are great and most of your time there is spent welding which is awesome.Tom Watson

I was new to this area and I came across this school, I inquired about the Medical Assistant program. I was blown away by the helpfulness of the advisors from my inquiry to applying, and then getting into classes. This further extends to the staff and amazing teachers here that go out of their way for their students. By far, this has been the best experience I have ever had in a college setting.Heather Chapman

The degree I received isn’t worth much more then $9-$10 hr as a medical assistant. Just go for nursing, it’s cheaper and you’ll make more money. They don’t get back to you about refresher classes either although they are offered indefinitely when you enroll. Don’t waste your time or money!Patricia Carlson

I started the IT program last fall with an open mind. I'm almost done with my 1st year. I can honestly say that this has been the best experience I've ever had. The teachers care more about their students grades than the students themselves. They want nothing more than for you to succeed. The expectations were not unreasonable and the assignments really tested what I thought I knew about technology. I can't wait to see what the next year brings and I highly recommend everyone to take that next step and find a career that makes them happy. Technology has always been my passion and I'm glad that I found a school that believes in me more than I believe in myself.Mark David

Experience at PSU main nearby but, have spoken with the school in 2016 – 2017 for a recent high school grad. That would be our daughter whom also personally spoke with the recruiter for this area at her high school and still receives other schooling and trainings though. She chose a more local college and didn't like it then in fall of 2017. She's been working pretty steadily in similar fields. Her exact interest was Senographer, I do believe. Wish she would have had the opportunity to take a tour. However, with her work schedules and covid travelling restrictions, she did not.Kimberly Ramsey

I just met with admissions and i am 38 years old about to start school and they were absolutely amazing and made me feel confident and comfortable which is huge to me. I would recommend them to anyone.Nicole Hamer

What a great group of Nurses! These ladies and Gentlemen are what keeps hospitals running! The heart and soul of the medical system! I spent a few hours with this great group of people today for a test and they made me feel relaxed and cared for! I wish I could remember each of their names to personally thank them but sadly they gave me some milk of amnesia and I woke up no remembering my own name! Thanks for all the care and thanks for the great nap!Stanley Rucci

An excellent career college and perfect fit for those looking to advance their life and gain respect with a high-demand career. I love how this nonpofit career college's focus is on high priorty occupations (HPO) only, which is why their flexible programs are limited to Web Design, Medical Office Assistant, and Computer Support Specialist programs.Ali J

Im really glad I found this school to pursue my ultrasound career. The teachers and staff were amazing, our ultrasound teachers were there for us 100% of the time. Mary Beth stayed after class and tutored me almost everyday for a few hours. The faculty at this school truly care about their students and the education they are receiving, they go above and beyond to help us achieve our goals. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to go to school for ultrasound. They have a variety of machines to learn on as well as phantoms. It’s very challenging but very rewarding, you get what you put into it!victoria arnold

I come for a massage every 2 to 3 wks and every student/massage therapist that I have had has been very professional, pleasant, knowledgeable and respectful but most importantly each person truly wants to be good at what they do! Not any of them would get any complaints from me! I have been very happy going there and meeting each one and my massage experience’s have really helped my neck and back pain! Thank you so much!Karen Kimet

Great Lakes offers a wide variety of programs to get you started in the medical field. I toured the facility with the intent on becoming a nurse, but after seeing everything Great Lakes offered I am now working towards my associates in surgical technology. I would also point out that the entire staff puts a lot of effort into everything they do because they truly want everybody to succeed in anything they do.joshua weunski

If you’re looking to go to trade school for automotive this is the right school for you. First and foremost, the school is small in terms of the student size meaning you’ll have a smaller classroom and more hands on practice with the professors. The classes are divided into 13 classes, one classes per month ranging from 8am to 2pm however breaks are given during class and most of the time you’re leaving before 2pm. The professors are total sweethearts, they do their best to make sure you understand every little things. All the help is provided for you at no extra cost included tutoring if you felt like you didn’t do well in a certain class. Can’t forget the ladies up front, they do their best as well to provide a structure system for the school to run at its best and the President itself is amazing. Being a student at Lincoln Tech also comes with great advantages, you’ll be recognize anywhere as soon as you say you’re a Lincoln Tech student ( that also includes the discounts you get at certain locations). When you attend Lincoln Tech you’re not just going to a trade school but a community, a community that will stay with you through your whole career. Best decision I’ve made to transfer from college to Lincoln Tech. Here are a few pictures of us working on a engine.Tiara Ortiz

THIS SCHOOL IS AMAZING! The instructors are very informative and patient. The school is designed for each student to pass…. NOT FAIL! This school is great and I would refer anyone. The instructors take the time to provide a "for dummies" type of laymon's terms for students who have no previous knowledge of automobile repair. I'm learning so much and look forward to learning more. Text book, laptop and hands on learning. (Not to mention seriously fun!) Custom tailored to each student… Excellent garage set up too! Several different years, makes, and models of vehicles to work on and ANY associated tools you may need are ALL AVAILABLE for student use. This is the school you want!Ashley Charles

when I Enrolled in class and to be honest, I was very nervous about starting. But honestly the moment I walked in the door It felt like a big family, when I spoke to the instructor's they were very nice, and they really care about your education and want you to succeed it's not one person in the building that won't help you when you need it. You really learn a lot about automotive technology and the best part is the program is hands on I mean you do have classroom time but that comes with any school also if you need help you can stay after class or come in an extra day for more help. If you're looking to change or start a new career Lincoln tech is the place you want to be!!!!Portia Forbes