For-profit college network that operated 1953–2016 across five states before closure.
Westwood College operated six schools offering associate and bachelor's degrees in business, design, criminal justice, technology, healthcare, and automotive technology. The college ran on a term schedule with five start dates per year, allowing students to earn associate degrees in as little as 20 months or bachelor's degrees in three years. Westwood College Online offered 25 degree programs delivered entirely via internet with audio/visual technology. The institution offered a 30-day trial period with no financial obligations and an Employment Pledge to assist graduates unable to find work.
Westwood maintained 15 campuses across five states: four in California (Anaheim, Upland, Los Angeles Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles South Bay), two in Colorado (Denver North, Denver South), four in Illinois (Chicago Loop, Woodridge, Chicago O'Hare, Calumet City), three in Texas (Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston), and two in Virginia (Annandale, Arlington). The college also operated Westwood College Online for distance learners. Each campus focused on different programs based on regional economic demand.
Prior to December 2015, Westwood maintained an open admissions policy. Students were eligible for Pell grants and federal student loans. However, a 2010 Government Accountability Office report named Westwood among 15 institutions that encouraged fraudulent practices, including encouraging applicants to overstate financial need and hide assets. Former admissions staff described a high-pressure sales environment that enrolled students who accumulated significant debt with limited educational outcomes.
Westwood faced extensive legal and regulatory challenges. In 2009, it settled a federal lawsuit over misrepresented graduation statistics for $7 million. The Colorado Attorney General reached a $2 million settlement in 2012 following a two-year investigation, with an additional $2.5 million in student restitution. In 2011, the Veterans Administration disqualified three campuses from the GI Bill Program due to deceptive practices. In 2015, Westwood agreed to forgive $15 million in loans to criminal justice students following an Illinois Attorney General lawsuit. The college suspended enrollment in November 2015 and officially closed all 15 campuses on March 8, 2016.