California Institute of Applied Technology is an award-winning technical college helping students launch and advance their career in the competitive job market. Founded in 2008 with two main campuses in National City, CA and Albuquerque, NM, CIAT is committed to personalized training through comprehensive, innovative, and high-quality vocational programs that prepare students for a rewarding career.
California Institute of Applied Technology (ciat.edu) has 133 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.
Also known as
ciat.edu
Website
ciat.edu
Category
Education Services
Location
National City, California
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
About these reviews
Replies
The company replied to 95% of reviews.
Latest
Most recent review: October 2026.
Edits
Reviews are shown as their authors wrote them. The company can reply, but cannot edit them.
Score
This company cannot pay to remove reviews or change its score.
IF YOU ARE A PERSON OF COLOR: BEWARE. I attended this school but had to drop out due to racial discrimination. There is a career counselor by the name of Maria Dien. She told me I look like an illegal. MY passport was stolen from my vehicle, I mentioned it and her response was: "It must have been one of these ILLEGALS, who's family was ICED, you LOOK like them - so you were targeted." This actually happened and the head of this department, Ms. Jill Lackey, found it amusing, downplaying the comment. I had to drop out after it became clear how they felt about me and the intent not to help me get to where I was headed. PLEASE DONT GIVE THESE HATEFUL PEOPLE YOUR MONEY!
Response from California Institute of Applied TechnologyAug 14, 2026
Thank you for sharing your concerns. We take any allegation of discrimination very seriously, and we strive to foster a community that is diverse, inclusive and respectful. Many of our students and staff come from a wide range of backgrounds, and we’re proud of that diversity. We do not condone any form of racism; such behavior would be contrary to our mission and values. If you would like to discuss your experience further, we welcome the opportunity to speak with you directly to better understand your concerns and continue to improve our student experience.
CU
Customer
I’m beyond frustrated
I’m beyond frustrated. I’ve been trying to go back to school, and I honestly didn’t think it would be this hard just to get someone to talk to me.
I called several times about my application. No answer. I left messages. No one called me back.
So I applied again and scheduled an appointment. I got the confirmation that the appointment was booked and thought, “Finally, I’ll actually get to speak with someone.” Then I received an email saying they are appointment only. Okay... I HAVE an appointment.
Then I get a TEXT saying they need to reschedule me.
Seriously?
I just want to go to school. I did what I was supposed to do. I called. I left messages. I applied. I scheduled the appointment. What else am I supposed to do?
If you’re appointment only, then why let me schedule an appointment just to turn around and reschedule it? And not even a phone call—just a text. What happened to the days when someone would actually call the customer to confirm or reschedule an appointment? A simple phone call would have made the experience so much more personal. At least then I would have felt like I was talking to an actual person who cared about helping me instead of just receiving another automated message or text.
As a veteran, this experience was especially disappointing. I was ready to take the next step with my education, but instead I felt like I was chasing the school just to get someone to help me.
At that point, I decided to go somewhere else. I found a school that respected my time, kept my appointment, and made me feel like they actually wanted me there.
It shouldn’t be this hard for someone who is simply trying to go to school.
CU
customer
Ciat does not communicate…
I feel CIAT is a shady institution with a bait and switch scheme. Never was it mentioned prior to my enrollment that classes are 5 weeks each term, held 2 days out the week on a predetermined schedule, and progress 1 class at a time. That is not the education model that works for me, nor is it one I wish to conform to. Please remove me from all lists, disenroll me from all classes, and cancel all my funding for/from the program. I will not be in attendance, I will not be completing any coursework,I will not be viewing any course material. I genuinely would not recommend anyone to enroll in any programs you may offer, nor will I change my mind in the future. It has been 4 days now since I signed and returned the disenrollment form, yet I have this email from you in my inbox regarding attendance. This alone shows me CIAT does not communicate internally, nor do they truly care about their students and their needs.
I truly do not believe paying $42k in tuition to learn on my own is worth it when there are millions of other accredited resources at my disposal for free that will grant me the same certifications I would have received upon completion of the program at CIAT.
Response from California Institute of Applied TechnologyJul 23, 2026
Dear Student,
Thank you for taking the time to share this feedback. We're sorry to hear about the confusion around the program structure, and we're especially sorry that you received a follow-up communication after your disenrollment was already processed. That shouldn't have happened, and we understand why it added to your frustration. We're looking into how that gap occurred so it doesn't happen again. We encourage you to connect with our management team by sending us your contact information through [email protected] so that we can collect the required information to ensure your enrollment cancelation is processed and gather feedback about what type of learning experience you were expecting. CIAT has a unique full first term cancelation policy to allow all students to complete a full five weeks without any long term financial commitment.
We do want to clarify our program format for anyone reading this. Our courses run in 5-week terms, with a new course starting every 5 weeks. Classes meet live online twice a week, and each session combines instructor-led lecture with hands-on lab work, so students get both the concepts and the applied practice in real time. Every session is recorded, so students who can't attend live are able to complete the work on their own schedule. Our programs are designed to support adult learners balancing work schedules, family schedules, and other life commitments, while committing to their career journey. Comprehensive industry certification support, academic support, and career services support are all integral parts of your student experience. CIAT takes great pride in providing a personalized support from enrollment through graduation and beyond. We look forward to hearing from you directly and wish you the best in your next steps.
-CIAT Team
RI
Ricardo
Took this scam place a while ago
*Response to CIAT reply*
1. You know my name
2. No you don't look at yelp and other areas.
3. I HAVE PROOF OF ALL THIS and MORE. I will post them in multiple areas. Gas light me again.
4. People at your accreditation "ACCET" are bought off/incentivized... I still have proof. Particularly of a Matthew Nistico and Res Helfer
5. And yet I still don't have mine.
6. And yet I don't and repeatedly said this in email to multiple people. Ed Brancheau, Records Specialist... Is also dodging me.
7. And lies, I've literally had to help fellow "alumni" with resumes and other poorly done things by Sydney Young (She/her/hers), Career Services Advisor. And others failed at.
8. Again your job assistance is a joke. Also your job people took me off the job list when I caught them lying in order to apply for a client. I have proof of this too.
IF I'M LYING. SUE ME.
9. No you don't... example 2 or years ago you did a false ad with data left out. The data was how many students you had per class. Reason being is because if you included that data it. would shed the truth on your claims of cert passes, programs etc. IE in a year you had 4 people pass a aws exam... you claimed something like 75%-100%... 4 people out of 30+ people a month x 12 month is HORRIBLE. When it was pointed out, you deleted the comment.
10. Wrong. It was rebranding after reviews on yelp, reddit and other places came out.
11. These are SOME of the names positions of the people at ciat that I contacted and belittled, berated then ignored me.
Sydney Young (She/her/hers), Career Services Advisor
Dina Matheson— The CIAT Team
David Camarena, Career Services Advisor
Claire Park, M.Ed. , Vice President, Compliance
Jamie Doyle, CEO
And more...
Keep playing and I'll put proof on yelp and other places. And again you know who this is. If I'm lying sue me.
If you still don't know... here's more hints. I caught you using Professor Messer free youtube VIDs as graded testing. I also complained about your AWS course that was trash and the abusing dated udemy materials as part of paid curriculum as well. Labeling as "supplemental".
If I'm lying, sue me. Have a great day.
_____________________________________________________
Took this scam place a while ago. They actually still owe me a diploma/graduation certificate. They know about it, because their staff likes to try and belittle you and then run.
I left a review on yelp. A number of things they lie about. The bad part is people don't realize they're being conned till later on. Their career support is a joke. Literally gave me one of the worst resumes I've ever had in my life. All the companies they have on their site that they claim hires their people isn't true either.
I've caught them doing so much unethical sketchy things. It's ridiculous... I was one the main reasons they changed their name. Please go to yelp and also research CIAT California Institute of Arts Technology. T
Response from California Institute of Applied TechnologyMar 13, 2026
Hello,
We take claims like this very seriously. However, statements suggesting CIAT is a “scam” or engages in unethical practices are simply not accurate.
As published in our catalog in accordance with accreditation requirements, diplomas and graduation certificates are issued only after students meet all graduation requirements, including minimum GPA, attendance standards, and financial obligations. If a student has not met these requirements, a diploma will not be issued until those requirements are fulfilled. Students always have access to their official transcripts showing their graduate status to support employment or continuing education goals.
Regarding career outcomes, we stand firmly behind the success of our graduates. The companies listed on our website represent organizations where our alumni have been hired, and this information is reviewed and updated regularly. We are extremely proud of the many students who have successfully launched or advanced their careers after completing our programs.
Transparency is also something we prioritize strongly. We publicly share key student outcome data, including student satisfaction ratings for each 5-week term, completion rates, certification exam pass rates, and placement outcomes. Anyone can review this information on our Trust & Transparency page here:
https://www.ciat.edu/trust
Additionally, our name change from California Institute of Arts & Technology to California Institute of Applied Technology reflects our continued effort to stay aligned with industry trends and emphasize our applied, career-focused approach to technical education.
If you believe there is an outstanding issue related to your academic record or graduation status, we encourage you to contact our Student Services team directly so we can review your specific case.
— The CIAT Team
CU
customer
I withdrew from the school and program…
I withdrew from the school and program last year due to having covid. They are still emailing me/sending me money. I also believe they are still collecting financial aid or student loan money from the FAFSA application that I completed last year. I want my account to be completely closed like I asked it to be last year.
Response from California Institute of Applied TechnologyFeb 11, 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re very sorry to hear about the challenges you faced due to COVID-19 and the frustration you’re experiencing regarding your account status.
We understand how concerning it can feel to receive communication about financial aid or student loans after you believed your account was closed. Please know that federal financial aid funds (including FAFSA-related loans) are processed according to federal regulations, and in some cases, adjustments or updates may occur after a student withdraws depending on attendance dates and return-of-funds calculations.
That said, it is absolutely our priority to ensure your account is accurate and fully resolved. We would like the opportunity to review your records in detail, confirm your withdrawal status, and clarify any remaining balance or financial aid activity so you have complete transparency.
Please reach out directly to your student success advisor, or to us at [email protected], and we will coordinate with Financial Aid to review your account and assist you in finalizing any remaining steps toward closure.
We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and look forward to helping you resolve this matter as quickly as possible.
TE
Ted
Slow
Slow. Password issue. Authenticator is bad.
Response from California Institute of Applied TechnologyFeb 11, 2026
Thank you for taking a moment to share this feedback. We are sorry to hear you’ve had issues with your password setup and the Authenticator experience. That is not the smooth process we want for our students and we’d love the chance to help get this fixed. Please reach out to your student success advisor or to us at [email protected] with any details you can share about what happened. Thank you again for bringing this to our attention. Your experience matters, and we want to make it right.
CU
customer
The training is too fast for the first…
The training is too fast for the first week. Student needs time to get situated.
Response from California Institute of Applied TechnologyJul 22, 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We understand that the first week of training can feel overwhelming, especially when adjusting to a new academic environment and learning pace. Your success is very important to us, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
If you're finding the pace challenging, we encourage you to connect directly with your Student Success Advisor who can help you explore additional resources like extra tutoring, time management strategies, and personalized academic support. You can also email our team at [email protected], and we’ll be happy to assist you.
To help ease the transition into your program, all students are enrolled in our CIAT Readiness Course prior to your start date. This course offers helpful guidance on navigating our systems (Microsoft Teams, Canvas), understanding attendance expectations, and accessing key academic tools and resources. We encourage you to re-review these resources to make sure you are set up for success.
We also encourage you to participate in live classes, where instructors walk through lessons and labs in real-time, answer questions, and provide individualized support tailored to your needs.
As a reminder, students should expect to dedicate 20–30 hours per week to coursework to stay on track for success. We’re committed to helping you reach your goals and are here to guide you through every step of your journey.
