Pacific College - Costa Mesa, California

Jennifer V.

I was in Cohort 7. Yes of course nursing school is hard and nothing can change that, but let me tell you how THIS school made it a living hell. Cons: They constantly threaten to kick you out of the program. During our orientation we were ALL told that our tuition had to be paid in full before we graduated. Come semester 3 and we’re told that by the end of the semester we have to be in $0 balance or we will be kicked out of the program. On the last week of our semester we are told that we had to pay for our last semester before it starts or we would be dismissed from the program (meaning we had 1 month to pay). Forgot to mention that we were threatened with dismissal the day before we had to go in for a ATI test (the type of test that if you fail twice you are dismissed from the class). Some of us were threaten by mistake because some students were already in a payment plan or had paid and thought “oh maybe I didn’t it off completely” or thought they’re payment plan was no longer valid. They would make changes from one semester to another: when we started the program we were told our med math tests would have a total of 3 tries to pass or we would be dropped from the class. But then, in the beginning of semester 3 we are told we only have 2 tries and our test was 3 weeks away. On top of that we were not given enough practice or workshops to prepare for those tests. During the first test we did but for the second one we were just given 1 packet with practice problems BUT we did not know how to solve them since they were more complex (basically figure it out on your own). Once we complained we were given ONE zoom workshop 1 week before the actual test. There are many hidden fees besides your tuition: We were given a sheet to sign that said tuition was 70,000. A week into the program, we got the surprise of them telling us that 70,000 was the cost for the year before us… that we would have to pay 85,000 and it was valid because the paper we signed said “subject to change.”
In the start you use a program called complio to upload all the documents needed for them to show their clinical sites you have all your vaccines and ect…supposedly. We had to upload our own documents to each individual clinical site and pay an additional fee to even be able to upload those documents (it was $50). We were made aware that WE had to pay once we got an invoice in our email and when we asked the school about why we had a random invoice that’s when they told us what it was for (we all thought it was spam). Also, to receive your diploma you must pay $85 even though we were told by Pricilla Greco (program director) herself, in person, during our live scan/NCLEX sign up day; that they would just be mailed out, but wait there’s more. We get an email letting us know that if we want to attend graduation we have to fill out form and an employment verification form. In the graduation form it says there’s a $85 commencement and diploma fee, but like I said we were told we didn’t have to pay so we all thought the $85 is to graduate. In another email after many complains we’re told that graduation is optional and not included in our tuition and that we still had to pay it since it would be the processing fee for the diploma (which should not be optional and every other school GIVES you your first diploma but charge for copies then after).
There was one professor in particular that would retaliate against us when we spoke up and even dismiss our concerns.

I wrote a bunch more so please see the pictures for my full review (my review didn’t fit in here)

Holly J. S.

I was in Cohort 6 of the ADN program.
I had such a terrible experience at this school, I can't recommend it at all. The professors are nice, but that's about it. The financial staff (all the way up to the COO) are the absolute worst. They were so unhelpful with my student account, and I ended up getting wrongfully dismissed from the program.
They only have one private loan service to finance your education. No matter your credit, it's at 18% interest. There are no other options from banks, credit unions or Sally Mae. It felt very sketchy, and with how disorganized the schedule was, they made it extremely difficult to work and pay the $2300/month the program. They absolutely will not work with you.
They only would respond or get into contact with me when the money was due, which was 5 months into the program, and that was in the form of threats. When I emailed back for clarification, I was ignored.
I emailed and called many, many times during the session to get clarification on what I owed, and to come up with a plan to pay, but my contact was ignored. It even got to the point where I was gaslighted by them, claiming they never received any emails or calls in their "system".
I went through the emotional trauma of trying to go through this program, deal with the erratic schedule, and still try to figure out how to work full time to afford it, while the financial department was breathing down my neck. They harassed me like the mob, but refused to help me when I had questions about exactly what I owed.

Going through nursing school is difficult, and I expected that. What I did not expect was the stress and drama caused by the financial administration that nearly broke me.
Stay away from this school, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Yvette R.

Don’t! Come to Pacific College Costa Mesa! They do false advertising telling you that they have a satellite school in Cerritos where you can do your theory classes and clinical hours, and once you sign the contract they make you drive to Costa Mesa the main campus. Also, instructors there are rude and mean. If you ask for help they will yell at you and ask you leave if you don’t like it. New instructors don’t want to teach they just waste your time. Worst experience!

Sal W.

Im still enrolled in this school but I will write a new review when I finish the course in 3 weeks.

Update, 4/15/2023
It’s been over 4 years since I was last at that campus. I was doing great until the last term. The administrator who at the time was main guy , Marcus tromp I believe, have all failed to give me a progress report on my current grades during the last few months of my last term of the LVN program. I would call the front office and even leave messages requesting my grades so I may know what to improve on but they assured me everything was great. Well I shouldn’t have trusted them , because 2 weeks before the class ended I was told by my teacher that I was failing and I had no time to pass on time. I was in nursing school for over 3 years , 2 different schools and this school on the last week of school tells me I’m failing and need to pay to take the last term again. The first school was shutdown by the government on my last term as well. I have never failed a term within those 2 schools and when I heard back from this school I couldn’t continue anymore.Unfortunately this loan I got from this school I’m stuck paying unlike the first one. This school is pure evil. They haven’t tried to help me with my future and clearly are for profit. What ashame but also a blessing to know where the devil resides. Stay away and don’t look back even if they smile at you to sign papers.

Angela M.

I graduated from this school in January of this year and have not received my degree. I payed to get my transcripts released the first week of June and they were quick to charge my payment but still have not sent out my transcripts and it is September. I tried going to the campus to pick them up myself but they said the business office can’t release them yet (keep in mind I DO NOT owe the school money for them to hold any paperwork.) I have been eager to continue my education but this school is making that impossible for me to do so.

Shalamar W.

Im only giving the 4 stars to my educational and clinical experience. Nursing school was tough and at times stressful, but as long as you're dedicated and really study the material it will definitely be rewarding. I also had a really good instructor towards the end (Mrs. Mckim) My main complaint of this school is administration. They get 1 star from me and they only get 1 because there are a couple of staff members there that actually care about the students. Their lack communication to the students is what stressed me the most. Honestly the only time they were efficient with their communication is when your monthly payments were due and would most definitely hold you back if it was not paid. Admittedly, I fell behind with my payments and so I was restricted from having my nursing paperwork sent out, which is understandable, I had to pay, which I did--paid the rest of my tuition off in full. However, they took FOREVER to send out my paperwork I literally had to hound them down every single day. There were times I even had to drive up to the school to get an answer (not fun at all) they also promised students an "incentive" if you pass your NCLEX on the first try then they would "reimburse" you (350.00) I passed my NCLEX on the first try in April 2018. I have called, filled out the paperwork they requested and sent an email in regards to this incentive. I was told I would recieve it in August and it is now October, I was even told by administration "well it's not like the owner likes writing out all these checks" lol what's a mere 350.00 to the 30,000 I have to pay back in student loans attending this school? Lol Honestly I'm glad I do make decent money as an LVN. It's honestly just the principle of the matter of keeping your word to the students and having effective communication with them since they are making an investment in your school.

Donald B.

Last year I completed the diploma program in vocational nursing from the Pacific College. This is the best nursing school in California. The place feels like a family, with the staff being so friendly and helpful. My instructor was awesome. Definitely worth the money because they train you really well.

Zarah P.

Great experience overall. I credit Pacific College for my thorough clinical training and theory class. I have graduated here in 2010. Highly recommend it to students looking into Nursing school. The instructors are dedicated in teaching you the highest quality and help you become a successful Nurse.