06.07.06
Is ITT Technical Institute accredited?
One question I received after the distance education workshop at NCHE this year was if ITT Technical Institute is accredited. I assume the attendee who asked was considering them as a possible distance education provider.
The answer is yes, ITT Tech is accredited, but not by a regional accrediting body. Regional accreditation is what to look for when choosing a good distance education school because regionally accredited schools have met very high educational standards. Also, if a school is regionally accredited it is typically easier to transfer college credit into and out of the school.
This goes back to the question of what your ultimate educational goals are. If you want to earn a degree that will generally be recognized by employers as being from a quality institution, regional accreditation is a must. If your only goal in attending school is learning a skill that you will then put to use in your own business or in an employment scenario that is less strict about such things, regional accreditation becomes less important.
The bottom line is that you should opt for regional accreditation as often as possible. For more information on the various types of accreditation, check out this article.
Anon said,
May 27, 2007 at 9:35 pm
I graduated from ITT Tech in San Bernardino, CA. It is regionally accredited. I matriculated with no probelm. I have begun working on my MBA at UoP, also regionally accredited. Some ITT Techs are regionally accredited and some are not.
Joey said,
December 19, 2007 at 11:34 am
Goto http://www.chea.org to see if your school is regionally accredited. There are 4 regions north, mid, south, and west. If your school is not associated with any of the four regional section then your school is not regionally accredited on the website. With that being said your school could be accredited but its not regional. ITT and UOP is not regional.
Gary L. Holder said,
September 12, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I am interested in knowing why ITT Technical Institute is not regionally accredited. for the money that is charged, it seems as if it would definitely be considered in the groups of schools that have a high educational rating. The hands-on training and the real-world experience possessed by the instructors should be evident in that. I am trying to find out who I need to contact regarding info on that. I work for the state government of Alabama, and they told me that ITT’s degrees are pretty much useless and not honored. I have tried contacting the corporate office to no avail. Please give me some feedback…
Matthew Bass said,
September 13, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Gary, not sure about that. It just must not be a priority for them. If they’re getting plenty of students coming in as-is they probably figure it’s best not to spend money on accreditation.
Armengol Jose Martinez said,
January 7, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I gradguated from I.T.T in Houston Texas with an – A.A.S. Electronics Engineering Technology. I am trying to join the Houston Fire Department. Does any one out there know if they will accept my hours? I have 109 hours, they said that my school has to be accredited for my hours to be accepted.
Marty said,
February 3, 2009 at 2:37 am
I hold a B.S.E.E. from Montana State and have worked in equipment manufacturing for 11 years. In that time I’ve seen many ITT Tech graduates who struggle to make their exorbitant student loan payments that result from the absurd tuition charged by ITT Tech. Not to be too harsh, but when interviewing electronics techs, or drafters I find myself questioning the judgement of people who choose ITT Tech. The individual I work with presently pays $980/month for student loans that got him a, at best, AA in drafting and he makes $14/hour. I make $70K +/year and my student loan payments are $238/month.
My advice: do it the old fashioned way, go to a community college if necessary, get into a 4-year college and learn what you’re supposed to. If you finish, it’s much less expensive, much more rewarding and it’ll pay you back many, many times over throughout your career.
FSJ said,
February 11, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I graduated from ITT tech in St.Louis, MO. I found it more difficult to obtain a position in engineering since it was not as well recognized. Therfore, I started as a tech and just did my own self development to become an electrical engineer. I was accepted at NYU epoly to start my MSEE and now I am a senior electrical engineer. Majority of students at ITT go for the Associates degree (which is where ITT makes it money) and a few go to the Bachelors courses since they are on the same level as universities! I have alot of classmates who probably still work at Burger king etc.
The way I look at it! if you want to succeed you have the ability to becuase the material is the same and when you go infront of a company and they askyou questions on certain areas you should be able to prove to them through analytical explanations either verbally or on paper! be prepared it happens alot.
John said,
February 20, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I went to ITT and got a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electronics Engineering Technology. I took the GRE exam and scored right in the mix with other people that had gotten engineering degrees from 4year Universities. I went on to Grad school and picked up a lot of undergraduate engineering classes I hadn’t had in the process.
I have been working proffesionally in the field for years and have run into a lot of inept engineers from the top Universities.
But I will say this, If I had to do it all over again I would never go to a school that was not regionally accredited. ITT has done there students a complete disservice to not try to achieve either ABET or regional accredidation.
I have run into many ITT graduates and they typically feel like they are on a lower rung of the ladder due to the accredidation. Not to mention the ring clickers that you run into.
I gladly say where I went to Graduate School but rarely mention where I got my bachelors degree. In addition I wen to Grad School in the early 90’s. I am not sure but I think that the regionally accredited schools have gotten together to make sure people like me who got a degree from ITT can not go to their Grad schools anymore. Even if our test scores are higher and we are fully capable to do the work.
Yes it is a game but we the student that paid the money to go to ITT should not be fighting it. ITT should be fighting it themselves. The wash out rate was over 50% at the associates level and then again almost as hig at the bachelors level. Certainly the ones that finished their degrees are capable of good work.
Researching ITT said,
February 23, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Hi,
I’m currently researching schools especially ITT and this forum was very useful in making my decesion. Thanks to all of you especially Joey and Marty. Good luck and take care!
Sincerely,
Researching ITT
Undecided said,
April 23, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I like this, it is the most up-to-date topic on ITT. I am about 5 weeks from finishing my Associates at ITT, and decided to look around. While ITT is a good school, I had instructors telling me that the material and books were really outdated (we were taught ABEL, while our instructor told us no one really uses it any more) and they require their instructors to have obtained a bachelors with a certain amount of field experience.
I went to DeVry the other day, and they require their instructors to have a Masters, plus they are TAC of ABEC accredited. I called Lockheed Martin (I figure a really well known company) and they told me they look for this accreditation, then I called ITT and they couldn’t claim the same. They had alot of other accreditation but did not mention ABET.
On top of that I had an instructor tell me last night (MBA, 15 years teaching), in his honest opinion (off the record mind you) that since I’m looking at electronics, he personally would go to DeVry. Columbia university for anything else though, LoL.
on Top of that, DeVry was very passionate and talked to me for 2 1/2 hours about their school, I went to class that night and asked the rep at ITT to “convince me to stay here”…disappointingly I got a 10 minute talk about the classes in the bachelors program.
So I know this board is Con-ITT but if there is anyone with a good reason why i should go to ITT and not DeVry please tell me quick, I have about 2 weeks.
Jon said,
April 29, 2009 at 8:16 pm
I currently attend ITT in Washington.. Heh, in all honesty I have learned quite a bit about what im doing. Im currently attending my Associates in Visual Communications. I’ve never had a teacher with a bad accent, and all of them are very passionate. And only one to my knowledge does not have their bachelors. And he’s only alowd to teach Problem Solving.. Which is a stupid class based on Groups and Trying to solve an issue that you have in life.. Whew.. Its tough.. Heh. All I have to say about anyone following any degree from this college. Is that we simply cannot expect doors to open for us to walk through only because ITT Tech promises it can happen. It means we have to work our butts off and become prideful that we can still do what people from other colleges can. Im working towards my Bachelor’s here, and im just glad to be in school. I don’t pay that much for monthly loans because I have obtained several grants through the help of the Financial aid counselors. Maybe some campus’s are better then others. Im not sure, but everything I have learned has been taught with dedication for the material. And even though some books may be outdated. They are always corrected by the teachers themselves.
todd said,
April 30, 2009 at 12:29 pm
I graduated from ITT Tech in Norwood Ohio. With an A.A.S. Electronics Engineering Technology I am looking at going back to school to get my B.S. but I have to agree with a lot of the ones here the teachers new what they where talking about and enjoyed what they did. That’s why I went there and that there were a lot of hands on labs. But while I was there we went through three Deans and three dept chairs. The way the school is run is a joke.
The school’s I am looking at all has said that they don’t take anything from ITT. The schools that take them charge about the same price as ITT. All I have to say is stay away from ITT why give them more money. All they care about is making money.
Miki said,
May 28, 2009 at 11:36 am
I think you are misinformed.
In the field of Engineering or Engineering Technology employers prefer ABET
accredited program graduates.
Even in IT there is ABET accreditation as well.
As to RA vs NA this is dynamic situation and transfer of credit got better.
Miki said,
May 28, 2009 at 11:38 am
There has been a “competition” between public , state and for profit schools.
Main concern to Professors in state universities.
There is no study that shows that state university graduates are better or do better then ITT graduates.
Vern Hall said,
June 1, 2009 at 5:14 pm
I have thus far enjoyed ITT tech. I have only just begun, but I am already in the field of information technology. So while learning at school I apply what I learn to the job and seems to help me better retain the knowledge. It seems ITT is a stepping stone to get you certifications. As of now certifications are best in the IT field. I guess I wil find out. Please let me know of any other information I should know about.
Ross said,
June 3, 2009 at 11:18 am
I graduated from ITT in Arlington, TX with my associates in EET about 15 years ago. It wasn’t a bad program and the way I see things, you get out of it what you put into it. Most of the instructors were pretty solid and did their jobs very well. Like any business this one was there to make money so there was definitely a certain laxness in their standards. I worked hard on the material and dug in hard to really learn the nitty gritty but many other students in my class would sand bag their work and still receive passing grades. One example is when we were studying AC circuits, relays, etc and we had to build a project that met certain parameters. I worked to create something from my own mind and make it work. Most of the others opted to copy a circuit out of Popular Electronics. Either way was accepted by the instructors. In the end I think I came out with a better understanding because I worked hard to create new things instead of going with the “plug and play” approach.
The other problem I saw with ITT was that it was definitely a pay and pass instution. One of the students in my class was very obviously not comprehending the material from day one and failed every test miserably yet the management continued passing him along well into the third semester. At that point his mom, who was paying the tuition, got wind of what was happening and promptly yanked her money out. Being a CPA she was not too happy about their practices. This kind of operation more than anything else is probably why ITT doesn’t have any kind of respectable accreditation. They don’t bother to pursue it because they know they won’t get it they way they practice. Fortunately, I was able to put the education to some use. I enlisted in the air force as an E-3 right from the beginning which meant better pay and more responsibility. Beyond that, I would have been better off going to UT Arlington or some other real college rather than paying through the nose for that expensive school.
Just my two cents.
Jonas said,
June 10, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Information Systems Security from the ITT in Fort Wayne, IN. As I was recently looking around to get my Master’s Degree in something of the same field, that is when I found out that ITT was not regionally accredited. Am I mad? Yes, in the sense that I sort of feel screwed over. But that won’t stop me from working even harder to get certifications. I got my CompTIA Security+ certification…big whoop..I know…but that leads to getting even better ones.
I can’t slam ITT too bad because they helped me get a job at the bank that I currently work for doing IT work, but it has also opened up doors to doing more network security projects my boss has me doing, such as laptop encryption, ID badges, CSA, and a lot of other things. Using my experience and certifications that I am obtaining on the job, will only better increase my odds of getting a better job down the road. I think more employers want people who have experience and the ability to learn new things on the fly. I read one comment where government funded employers were looking for regionally accredited graduates…but honestly…the way the economy is going right now, I think I would prefer private businesses over government funded companies. I have had MANY interviews and MANY opportunities and not one employer mentioned only hiring regionally accredited graduates…so if you are like me and stuck with what you got…keep your head up. If I get the certifications that I want…I think I will be “A” okay.
Though…the bill after getting out from ITT was horrible!! Since most of my loans are UNSUB. and not the SUB. loans…SallieMae wouldn’t consolidate them for 25 years…so now I am being forced to pay the $113K bill (Interest included for 4 years) in the span of 10 years. It has it’s positives and negatives…but I am being forced to pay the $1600+ a month for my bill now. Good news…my college debt will be paid off in less than 10 years. Bad news…doesn’t leave too much room for enjoying life. Glad my gf understands and is so loving.
Carrie said,
June 22, 2009 at 10:29 pm
I just started ITT with a loan …. is there something I can do to change my mis fortune?
Karen said,
July 23, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Ok- I can clear a few of the questions. First, the reason that ITT Tech is not regionally accredited is because that distinction is only given to schools that hold a certain level of conformity. An accreditation committee visits the school every so often and all the ducks must be in a row. The Professors must have PhD’s (or Masters at the Comm. College level)–they must have a certain size library and collection that serves the degree programs. The librarians (a number enforced by the accreditation committee) must all have Master degrees in Library science. There is much more to it but you get the idea. In addition, if you go to a school that is regionally accredited they must offer and require things like English 1 and 2, humanities, history, and so on. When you attend a school that is regionally accredited you know that that school had to conform to the same standards as other regionally accredited schools like Harvard, Purdue, and MIT.
ITT Tech and other schools that are nationally accredited do not have to conform to those rules and they also PAY for their accreditation. Regional’s do not. I worked for ITT on the faculty for 2 years and once I was there I could not wait to get out! As soon as I found a job I was gone. I know that if you are in a school that has a librarian with a Master’s degree at a nationally accredited school it is because the state of that school requires a librarian with a Master’s degree. I can tell you that the employee working at ITT are usually very good academic people with the best interests of the students at heart but the company is not and has not! I tell you that they only care about the money and getting your butt in the seat. All those Deans, etc. that leave it is because they are educators that do not know what they are getting into when they go there and then cannot stomach the practices of ITT. The teachers and the Dean actually have to go to a meeting every week and they go through a list of every student that was absent that week (we are talking about adults here!) and the teachers have to call them and ask why they were not in class. There is also an incentive to having your students in class–they get a bonus if they have over a certain amount of attendance (like the teacher can control that!) You know those stupid surveys you have to do? They also get a bonus if they get a certain percentage of students to do the survey. I could go on and on but ITT is NOT a good move. In fact, it is the worst and most expensive mistake a person could make.
Jonas said,
July 27, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Yeah, make sure you get as many federal loans as possible. SallieMae won’t consolidate any private loans…and well…most of my loans are private and ITT is the ones that helped me get my loans. Had I know this information beforehand…I would have done things differently.
Jason said,
August 3, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I graduated in 2002 with my BASEET from their Mt. Prospect campus…. My end goal was to become a Patent Attorney. A few years ago when I attempted to apply to the University of Chicago the admissions dept did everything but laugh at my accreditation.
I’m now stuck in a position where I want to go to Law School but the $60K I spent on my BAS is meaningless… It’s a terrible reality and one that I have a hard deal swallowing everyday….
Bill said,
August 16, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I’m starting ITT Tech in about a month doing their Computer Networking Systems degree in Washington state. After that I’ll be going for their BA in Information System Security like Jonas (hit me up bro lol) I realize that the accrediation issue can be problematic. I also believe that you’ll get out of it what you put into it. In the IT world, I know that experience prevails over degrees. Majority of employers will go for someone with the ++ years of experience and a proven track record over someone with the higher degrees and green horns. With that, I’m looking for the BA in Infosec to be my foot-in-the-door. I also thought about staying on for another year and a half or so after I get my BA in Infosec to get a 2nd BA in Project Management (A strong skill to have in the IT workplace, later down the road).
One of the most-recognized Infosec certifications out there is the CISSP. Which requires one to have 5 years of experience in the field, or 4 + a BA on the subject. *Average* salary for an Infosec specialist with a CISSP cert in my area is 96k a year. Infosec Manager ranges from 80-145k a year in my area from the 10 to 90 percentile. Chief Information Officers anywhere from 155-245k a year. Requireing a BA & 10+ years experience. All of this will have to come from my own ambition and perseverence. The BA would be a foot-in-the-door to atleast get me started. I thought about persueing a graduate degree online after ITT. Or perhaps going in part-time to a local community college to persue a business degree to compliment the infosec. Many advocate going to a university and while I am, by nature, more conservatively in agreement with that. As a husband and father to a 5 month old kid, working full-time, I can’t help but be drawn towards the evening classes that are offered through ITT.
I think ITT could work well for the people who are willing to see it out (through the BA degree) and for certain programs. Some programs however, set people up for a career that doesn’t earn a whole lot of money, which is fine, if it’s what you want to do.
The $113k bill sort of took me off-guard though lol. For my Associates, I’ll be paying a total of $27k discluding interest. The cost is split almost in half by Unsub’ed and sub’ed loans. The rest being covered by grants. Anyway. I’d like to hear from you, Jonas, or anyone else in the Infosec route of things. E-mail me Vel454@Hotmail.com
teniisball said,
August 17, 2009 at 6:49 am
I grduated from ITT in 1996 (BAS/EET) and have been working in a lab for the last ten years. My company DOES NOT RECOGNIZE ITT AS A LEGITIMATE DEGREE I have had 2 jobs since graduating but the only reason I obtained these positions is because of my previous work with mechanics. I call ITT the biggest mistake of my life Carrie get out while you can CUT YOUR LOSSES.
Angela manning said,
August 18, 2009 at 2:26 pm
My fiance and father of my 5 month old daughter just graduated from itt, albany ny. The money’s alot but that isn’t why i feel robbed he worked full time never missed a class got straight A’s he even won a tech fest. We did and are doing are job paying off student loans and to find out to further his education he has to start all over. Because nothing transfers. So really we wasted 2 years and thousands of dollars. And if I didn’t have my beautiful daughter I guess I could let it go. I want to know how many others are in the same situation.
Nick said,
August 27, 2009 at 1:10 am
Carrie, it is best that you do your best to run from ITT Tecnical Institute…
Nick said,
August 27, 2009 at 1:11 am
HOWEVER,
I am a ITT tstudent getting ready to graduate, and I have been turned down by many Universities due to ITT Tech’s accreditation thus far.
I am trying to attend an MS program in either Biomedical Science, or Biomedical Engineering. However, I have found this link (http://itt-tech.edu/hlc/),that states ITT Tech is getting visited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (“HLC”).
The HLC is one of six accrediting agencies in the United States that provides institutional accreditation on a regional basis.
I have 11 more weeks to go, and I praying that ITT becomes regionally accredited before I graduate.
Mike said,
September 4, 2009 at 11:29 pm
Hey people i just finished my BS degree in ITT in Torrance, CA. in Criminal Justice. I recently researched if the school is regionally acredited but is not. Im very dissapointed on that and i sacrificed 4 years of my life and was happy that i accomplished something big in my life which was graduating from college and finding out that my degree is worthless. I just hope that ITT works on getting regionally accredited so they can accept my degree in any Federal Government Agency. For now they cant accept my degree, so i feel bad about it and dont know what to do. Does anybody have any recent info on ITT accreditation?? i need it soon please
linda said,
September 23, 2009 at 6:27 pm
I really feel bad to read all the negative comments made concerning ITT Tech. I graduate with a BS degree in March, 2010. Now I feel bad that I may not recieve the promotion I so much deserve on my job because ITT is not a regionally accredited. Oh No….
Stuart said,
October 26, 2009 at 8:51 pm
You should never ever pay more to go to ITT than MIT get out while you can.
James said,
November 30, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I’m currently a student at ITT Tech here in San Antonio, TX. I am studying the Computer Aided Drafting Associates degree. I can say that it is very informative and it very well makes a difference in whether or not you put forth the effort. There are students at my school that just skate by by doing the bare minimum to pass. If you put forth the work and dedication, it will make a difference. I have learned a bunch in my 5 quarters so far. I have been to a regular university as well and its not much different. Take my advice…. No matter what school you go to, you get out what you put into it!
cha said,
December 7, 2009 at 12:58 pm
When I started school over a year ago, I was almost sold on ITT Tech…I started doing research and found almost no positive student/graduate feedback on them! What does that say for a school when almost non of it’s students have anything good to say about them? As for having teachers that don’t even have a BA (from an earlier post)…I currently attend ECPI and I have not had one instructor yet that did not have their Masters degree… this tells me a little more about the quality of education that ITT Tech offers and I thank my lucky stars every night that I did not make the mistake of going there.
current student said,
December 7, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I am a current criminal justice student at ITT in San Diego. I will receive my associates in may, and although the tuition is very high, I can truly say I have been very fortunate with the level of my instructors. To date I have had instructors who currently work in the field, and I could truly care less where they received their degrees from because the fact is that they teach beyond the curriculum. The last two quarters I have completed were taught by a current Federal Air Marshall, the Sergeant at Oceanside PD and Captain of the Gang task force, one of the leading defense attorneys in the state, Mr. Caruana, and the captain of the cybercrimes unit at Murrieta PD. Not to mention the chair is former PD, FBI, and US Marshall. All of these people were on my reference sheet for my background investigation for the police departments I have applied to. I can honestly say that if I went to another school I would be taught by someone with a teaching degree in the field, and not by people who have actually dedicated their life to the profession. I know being a CJ student is a little different than the other electronic and drafting students. When I get into a PD they really don’t care where you went to school, just that you did go to school. However, it’s not always what you know, rather it’s who you know, and I can say I feel like I have a leg up based on the quality of professional references I have gained while at the school. It’s very true that most people have a hard time finding a school that accepts ITT’s credits, and that a lot of people think that because other people from ITT have had a hard time finding a job that they are doomed themselves. I say quit settling for the fact that you might suffer the same fate and try to prove yourself as the exception. Fact is, you are trying to better yourself with education and no one can frown upon that.
Ron said,
January 4, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Reply to Jonas,
I am in the same boat as you, except I graduated from ITT in Portland Oregon with a Bachelors degree in the Data Communications System Technology program. Which, I tell people that its computer science related in information technology. Nobody really understand when I say that.. Anyway…
I too feel screwed over… But I am counting my blessings and surviving the storm as you are.. I was able to obtain some IT certifications and I worked full time through my education so I didn’t start entry level when I graduated.
Let me give you some history with my education. 10 years ago, I tried going to college right out of high school. However, my circumstances were much different back then and I dropped out of 2 separate “Regionally” Accredited universities. Long story short, I just wasn’t focused and wanted to take time off of school for a while.
About 5 years ago, I got stuck in a job and realized how important getting an education is. I had a friend that went to ITT at the time and said that he liked it. I then came to the conclusion that I should give it a shot. Sure enough, I talked to one of the counselors and the admission into the college was cake. I don’t even think they saw my High school transcripts, nor did they care about my previous college credits from a regionally accredited university. At the time, I didn’t know much about accreditation bodies and how important a reputable college would impact your career growth. I just thought going back to any college would help.
Well, low and behold, here I am. I have about 3+ years of solid IT experience and I work for a reputable employer and have a non-reputable degree. On my resume, I do not state the institution I went to because I am embarrassed to have gone through this program. I would only tell if they ask. My plan for here on out?? Well, what would any other IT pro do in my situation? Continue to gain real world work experience and certifications.. I guess I can kiss an opportunity to get a Masters degree from a regionally accredited college goodbye. Unless anyone knows of any opportunities that would be available to continue a post graduate degree?
Tracee said,
January 14, 2010 at 9:53 pm
The whole higher education business is just that..a money making business. Skip the very high tuition for low academic students that are looking for anywhere to go. These adds on TV make me ill. They are stealing your money and time..Go to a recognized university 2yr or 4yr Devry takes in people, doesn’t care what their academic potential is..treats their recruiting staff like Wallmart only with a quota (a friend worked there) and places like ITT and the rest of them mislead young people. They have openings all the time on career builder and I could not in good faith teach there and have them steal your money
carlos said,
February 14, 2010 at 4:19 pm
thank GOD i found this forum. I had a appointment for tuesday to sign my life away to ITT tech for only 439.00 usd a credit so i am happy i will not be signing anything lots of negative info on ITT tech thanks to all who posted warnings.
Evelyn said,
February 20, 2010 at 12:49 am
I was an instructor and program chair for ITT. I have seen the school from the inside. It is in the business to make money, not educate students. The quality of the instructors in the school where I taught was horrible. The pay was terrible, and the administration threatened the department chairs and instructors at every turn. I was told on many occasions to do whatever I had to to keep the students in the class rooms. When my students got near that AA graduation – they were put under great pressure to enroll in a bachelor’s program to keep that money rolling in. It’s a sin to expect a student to pay $40,000 for an associate’s degree education which is usually not recognized at a regular four year institution. ITT will tell you that “it depends on the institution” as to whether the ITT “degree” is accepted. ITT is now starting the process to go to regional accreditation which will probably give students a better chance at getting into a four year college, but the national accreditation that it has is a virtual guarantee that the ITT degree won’t be accepted.
Giovanni said,
April 22, 2010 at 11:46 am
I hava a A.A.S in drafting and design from ITT in FT. Lauderdale FL, I’m currently working as a drafter and Im thinking of going back to school, ITT offer a Bachelors in Construccion Managment but I’m not sure if I want to go that way, any suggestions???? Schools??, by the way I’m still paying for my loans and I used all of my GI BILL.
NoName said,
April 26, 2010 at 8:03 pm
I went to ITT Tech and was ready to sign my life away as well. I was hoping to only sign it away for 1 year and then transfer to Pitt. I decided I should probably talk to Pitt one last time. When I did, the guy nearly laughed when I said I wanted to transfer. He said he was glad I would consider Pitt next year, however anything I did this year would not count at all at Pitt and I’d be doing it all over again. I talked to the ITT guy, and he also finally admitted Pitt would not take my credits. Why didn’t he tell me the first time? My guess is to suck me into a 2nd year once I found out at the end of the first year I had to start all over and spend thousands more dollars than I needed.
I went to a community college who works specifically with Pitt. It offers courses that are directly transferable to Pitt as well as many other colleges nation wide, and for 1/3 the cost of ITT.
Juan said,
April 27, 2010 at 2:52 pm
I am really disappointed in the end result of my decision to attend ITT Technical Institute. I graduated from ITT in March 2009 with an AASCET and have not seen any merit in obtaining this degree. I can honestly say I did learn a good amount of material and put a lot of effort into my studies, but companies do not see that. All they see is ITT and they toss the resume.
However, I feel ITT does have the tools and technology to be a very good school; it just needs to be restructured and reorganized. They need to crack down on instructors handing out easy grades, meet ABET accreditation standards, and become accredited. Wow, that was a mouthful!
I can also say I had some good fortune swing my way during my 2 years at ITT. I was in the process of transferring into the BS program during my last quarter there, but was pushed back because there were not enough students to form the class. I then opted to graduate with the Associate degree and wait for the Bachelor classes to form. Luckily, I found many good forums like this one to be very informative. I immediately dropped my application for the BS program and looked for another program with other universities. Unfortunately, like most of you, ZERO credits were transferrable.
In the end, I enrolled in Devry University’s BSEET program. This program also has negative issues, but the bottom line, the program is regionally accredited. Devry U accepted a few credits from ITT (only technology credits, no GE credits). Let me tell you, a few is not much, just enough credits to amount to a couple of intro classes. So I basically start from the bottom again. Upon completion of this program, I hope to earn my MSEE which is also offered by Devry University’s Keller Graduate School.
Although my degree path does not follow the “Traditional” college road I can honestly say that it is no different. I have witnessed firsthand what a traditional college grad can do versus some that has earn a BSEET from a regionally accredited institute. In most cases BSEET degreed employees provided results and solutions comparable to BSEE degreed employees. I am not saying that the BSEE and BSEET degrees are equal, they are not. If I could go back, I would go to a traditional school and earn a BSEE, but I can’t. Devry U was the only option that could meet my needs and provide a much better outcome than ITT.
As many of you have stated, the degree is not the entire piece of the equation. Everything you put into you education is the true end result. If you work hard on you course of study, you can find success in your career. You just have to work really hard and provide results. Companies want results not degrees. The degree gets you the interview; your skills and drive for success get you the job.
rf engineer said,
May 13, 2010 at 4:17 am
wow im not from itt but i have an non abet bseet degree. i have been a mri rf coil engineer for close to 10 yrs. i have actually been asked to interview phd level engineers. developed a very novel product line that is used as examples in slide shows at international scientific meetings. and i cannot get intogradschool. my career has been hard as i hate to say where i went to school on top of being maxed for bachelor level loans and feeling under educated all the time and stuck. i actually was laughed at by a foreign born ee department chair at a public universitysaying i would need a whole new bsee degree. my last phd level employer actually asked one of my references if i was a engineer! my cv says i have developed low noise low impeadance pre-amps on top of all rf coil design work. so i currently feel hopeless as i am unemployed and a headhunter made a mistake of emailing me before finding out ididn’t have a msee let alone a bsee.maybe as i prepare for bankruptcy i am not one for advice but if you want the burden of educational discrimination and lots debt and no prospect of scholastic advancement then go ahead and enjoy your hardship.
Andrew Kriner said,
August 14, 2010 at 2:06 am
Nice post, cool site, keep it up.
Jonas said,
August 23, 2010 at 4:22 pm
I am or was an instructor at ITT. We are told never talk about the acrediation. Keep the student in the school at all cost. They can go to UoP if they must. U of Phoenix was fined 300 million for false business practices by the USDOE so they are even worse off. Many companies won’t even look at a candidate from U Of P. At Itt many students can’t even speak English and we are told pass them anyway. One kid could not sign his own name in English. I felt so sorry for him. He’ll get a huge debt he can never repay. Studets are told the following lies: You can transfer credits..you can’t. You can use this degree like any other..you can’t as military and federal agencies won’t accept it. We are acrediated…they are not. I finally just quit and went to a fully acrediated school. Stupid people will always give their money away to criminal enterprise.
Jen said,
October 14, 2010 at 11:08 am
I graduated from ITT Tech that was located in West Covina, CA (currently relocated to El Segundo) in 2003 with a BS in Automated Manufacturing. I read that some people got accepted into a CSU to attain a Master degree. I am trying (my hardest) to attain a MS degree at any CSU but none are accepting ITT credits. I need help with this. Can anyone (who has successfully) acheived acceptance into a CSU to persue a MS give me information on how you were successful?
Please provide feedback.
For the record, I consider myself pretty succesful. I work at a Aerospace company and am better at my job than people who graduated from a CSU and UC with a similar degree. So my point is, at the end it is your skills, intelligence and personality that makes you successful, not a piece of paper with a fancy university name on it.
Laura said,
November 4, 2010 at 3:44 pm
I have an appointment to check out ITT in a few days but after reading all this feedback I’m planning on canceling. I’m glad so many shared their thoughts and experiences cause it sounds like I almost made a huge mistake!
Melina said,
November 13, 2010 at 12:24 am
I just signed all my paperwork on Wednesday. I am so glad that I came across this site – I already had my doubts. Thankfully I am within my 3 day cancellation period! Thanks to all for sharing their comments.
Jo said,
November 22, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I am currently enrolled in the Paralegal Program with ITT, this is the first year they are offering it. I have had some issues with this course. It’s 60 credits. Paying $40,000, things started out great with ASC calling weekly to check on you and then it’s dwindled down to not hearing from anyone. Unless you ask questions such as doing an intership, one would not even know that “it’s not really a requirement”, though I don’t quite understand why? It should be. My tutor? Well, let’s see, she really couldn’t help me, she had just stated with ITT and her experience is in English, not law. Isn’t that funny. I could transfer my 48 credits to another Nationally Accredited School with over 20 plus years of experience but then do I want to pay the extra added cost and spend and 12 to 18 months to get my degree, because they would only except 12 of my credits? Not sure what to do.
Brandon Canty said,
December 2, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Just from reading the posted blogs, I feel that legal action should be taken against the school and I know a good lawyer who specializes in this field. If anyone is interested please email me at brandoncanty21@yahoo.com. They should be ashamed by the way they have been misleading students, their not in any way concerned about the students obtaining an education they only care about the money. Let us please take a stand against this school and expose it for what it truly is.
Nicholas Dittmer said,
December 14, 2010 at 2:39 am
Ok, I have to say this. I recently filed my paperwork for a new Quarter at ITT in Louisville KY. The cost for this re-up is in the ballpark of 24000. I am/was attending for my Associates in Criminal Justice. I was just wondering, since I am Bi Polar, how am I supposed to get a decent career, with a degree that in most cases, has future employees taking psych tests? I will say this. The teachers at that school are persons that operate in the fields they teach. My program chair is even an ex-police chief. They do know what they are talking about, and care about the students. Besides the Bi Polar, I have to drive close to 60 or 70 miles, one way to get there, and do this three times a week. My question is, should I drop the school? Did I truly make a three year mistake? Any feedback is welcomed.
LaDonna said,
December 21, 2010 at 7:54 pm
I took the Computer aided drafting class and graduated in 1999 I went to school every day and got a 3.98 gpa I worked hard and my teachers were wonderful and I feel they truly wanted me to succeed. I was told that my credits world transfer to another state school, as of two years ago the state California schools won’t even let you test for credits if you went to ITT. Now if I had tried right after I graduated from ITT I would have gotten to transfer some of my credits. I feel since the people I went to school with are not going to get the degree they founded on ITT credits pulled from them, that I should be able to do the same it should be a cutoff date and I should be grandfathered in. I’m sure no such luck. I just spoke with ITT and they of course gave me the run around and said there is nothing they can do for me – I feel they should be able to argue for me, at least want to but they -like everyone here said- are in it just for the money. Don’t get me wrong since I graduated I have had great jobs and done very well I make a great living even in this depressed economy but I work very hard -especially since I’m a woman in a man’s field- but if I want to go higher? I have to start at the bottom again. No thanks to ITT.
SS777 said,
January 11, 2011 at 11:51 am
Sue ITT, yes sue them! A lot of people have and won. They charge more than everyone else and NEVER tell you that they are NOT regionally accredited. They are only accredited by ACICS and most regular Universities do not accept degrees or credits from ITT as valid. I do not know why Pell Grants and National School Lending Programs even allow ITT to get fat by deception because in my opinion that is fraud and against the Truth in Advertising Laws. They advertise and advertise but NEVER tell that they are NOT a “Regionally Accredited” university. Why do you not call Harvard, Yale or any other Ivy League school and ask them if they accept credits from ITT PLUS– THEY ARE ALL CHEAPER than ITT!
adam said,
February 24, 2011 at 8:55 pm
I believe ITT needs a class action lawsuit. I spent 70k on a bachelors degree that most companies wont look at. Anyone interested please email me awallen23@hotmail.com
Michael said,
June 16, 2011 at 8:07 pm
I’m sorry, but please stop complaining about ITT Tech not informing you that they’re not regionally accredited. You do your research on ANY company that you’re planning on investing thousands, and thousands of dollars into in return for a quality education, especially for one that is for-profit instead of non-profit like the majority of universities and colleges. Second, stop blaming this institution for your bad choices in acquiring $70,000 in student loan debt for an Associate’s Degree. Again, do your own research. There is a reason you can drive up the street to a regional technical school and do the same program for 3/4th less of the cost of ITT Tech. It’s like walking onto a car lot. Of course they tell you all of the positives and show you the fancy bells and whistles.. but until you do your own research you don’t know what you’re buying.
Stop blaming everyone for your own mistakes. You paid for a “degree”.. They gave you one.. No promises are made beyond on that. That’s why education is considered a risky investment.
Lis said,
July 27, 2011 at 11:23 am
I graduated from ITT Technical Institute in 03/2009 with a Bachelors in CJ and still can not get a job. I did not know it was not regionally aggredited until yesterday. And of course I feel bad about that but like Michael said I should have done my own research. I am now having problems going back to school to get my Masters.
Randy said,
August 31, 2011 at 12:54 am
I am currently enrolled at ITT in Albuquerque, NM for an Associates in CJ. I did my research and I knew beforehand ITT wasn’t regional acredited. I still decided to go for my Bachelors though, I thought it was fast and easy since all I wanted was that degree to be consider for a federal agency.
Now, one month ago, ITT decided to let all CJ students know they are not going to offer any more the CJ Bachelors program.
That leaves me with the option of finishing my Associates Degree and/or to change my career..
Yes, they are trying to offer me a Bachelors degree in anything else but then I would be running even a greater risk that the degree will not be what the federal agencies are looking for.
I looked trough the educational requirements for the DEA agent and fortunately they give special cosideration to people with Degrees in finance, accounting, economics and foreign language. I just hope when I go to the local DEA department here in Albuquerque they do take degrees from ITT.
christine said,
September 8, 2011 at 5:10 am
I feel completly misled! Classes start again on the 12th, I agree something should be done about the false hope. Not only is it costly but isn’t are time worth something? Brandon let me know if i can help!
Ciara said,
November 25, 2011 at 5:55 pm
This is terrible,I’m looking into their associates degree nursing program which is 53K. My plan is to get my Batchelors they only offer an Associates and without the accrediation I’m sure if any of my classes will transfer . Not sure if I want to spend the money
Rick said,
January 4, 2012 at 12:52 pm
******DO NOT WAST YOUR MONEY!!!!********
I chose ITT back in 1998 because I knew nothing about college, scheduling classes, and getting my books. ITT was all inclusive, I really did not have to schedule anything as it was already done for me. Well that was a big mistake. I finished my AAS EET in 2000 and was luck enough to land a job as a contractor for a large Defense Contractor. I worked there for four years and was converted to a direct, non-engineer, even though I had been doing engineering work from day one. When the local ITT offered the BS ECET I jumped on it because my credits did not transfer anywhere. I finished my BS ECET in 2010 and was then promoted to Senior Engineer. Well with the economy and defense budget cuts, I started looking at the automotive fields. I currently work for an automotive manufacturer, but as a contractor, because ITT is NOT ABET Accredited!! There is no chance for me to become direct unless I go back and get my MBA. I have just started looking in to this and hope to find a school that I can get in to. If I had only known then what I know now, I would have NEVER gone to ITT. When I was in my bachelors program I would have to correct the instructors as they were sometimes misleading the class. I can absolutely say that I would not be making the money I do without my education but at the same time I am ashamed and embarrassed to say where I have received my degree from. Save yourself a lot of headaches and disappointment, STAY AWAY FROM ITT!!!
Eugene said,
January 21, 2012 at 4:36 pm
The moral of the story: never consider a college that advertises during Jerry Springer and Maury.