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California Institute of Applied Technology Reviews 

118
TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.5

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 76 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. People frequently praise the extremely helpful and knowledgeable staff, noting that instructors and student advisors provide outstanding support throughout their educational journey. Consumers also deeply appreciate the flexible class schedules, practical study materials, and efficient onboarding processes that make learning smooth and engaging. Some reviewers were not happy with career services, mentioning communication issues and feeling unsupported by certain advisors during their studies. A few other people also felt that having more program choices and clearer guidance regarding purchasing extra materials would improve the overall experience.

What people talk about most

Staff

Customers consistently note positive experiences with staff, highlighting helpful, knowledgeable, and patient... See more

User experience

People report positive experiences with user_experience, highlighting helpful instructors, accurate training,... See more

Service

Users describe positive interactions with service, noting that staff respect their time, keep appointments,... See more

Customer service

Reviewers express mixed feelings about customer service. Some consumers report extreme frustration, feeling... See more

Product

Reviewers express mixed feelings regarding the educational product, noting both valuable resources and... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

My experience here at CIAT is going good. My only concern is that I wish books were included in the tuition or at least received more help with purchasing books.

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Great school! Wish they had more programs. I would love for them to get a Master’s in Cybersecurity program.

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

The information given in the "get ready" was useful. The professors were very engaging and friendly.

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Cameille provides outstanding support for first time students.

Company replied


Company details

  1. Educational Institution
  2. Career and Education Provider
  3. College
  4. University
  5. Vocational College

Written by the company

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.


Contact info

4.5

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

118 reviews

5-star
4-star
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1-star

Asks customers to review

This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative

Replied to 85% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 2 weeks

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4.5

All reviews

(118)

71 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This program has been extremely helpful…

This program has been extremely helpful during all stages. They have ensured that I understand the student portal amd have provided very clear instructions so far.

26 September 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

Thank you for your wonderful feedback, we’re so glad to hear that your experience has been smooth and supportive every step of the way!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Mr. Hancock was awesome!

Mr. John Hancock was honest and super easy to talk to.

26 September 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that Mr. Hancock made such a positive impression. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words, he’ll be happy to know he made a difference!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Go!!!!!

Go!!!!!! Go find your tribe at CIAT!!!

26 September 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

Thank you so much for your amazing energy and support! We love hearing that you’ve found your tribe here at CIAT. 💙 Your enthusiasm inspires others to join a community that’s all about growth, connection, and success!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great staff and a great future!

Douglas was super helpful and kept in touch the whole time and made everything go super smoothly

26 September 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

Thank you for your review! We’re so glad to hear Douglas was able to support you every step of the way and make the process smooth. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with him, it means a lot!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Go Grizzlies!!!

CIAT is a really great school! From the student advisors to the instructors, they're just simply amazing! I had zero problems signing up for my program.

26 September 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that signing up for your program was smooth and that both our student advisors and instructors have made a positive impact. We’re so glad you’re part of the CIAT community and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish, Go Grizzlies!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very helpful

Very helpful, from the start, all the way yo being prepared for my first week. Looking forward and thank you for the added live videos as well to answer questions.

26 September 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear that you felt supported from the very beginning and that the live videos have been helpful in answering your questions. Wishing you an amazing first week and we’re excited to continue supporting you every step of the way!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

For me and its only been a week and 1/2…

For me and its only been a week and 1/2 already its the lectures and the interacting with the Professor he's very informative and inciteful.

28 August 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

We’re so glad to hear your experience has been positive so early on! It’s wonderful that your professor’s lectures and insights are making an impact, we look forward to supporting you throughout your journey.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Outstanding support!

Cameille provides outstanding support for first time students.

28 August 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

Thank you for highlighting Camille’s support! We’re proud to have team members like her who go above and beyond to make first-time students feel welcomed and supported.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Great school

Great school! Wish they had more programs. I would love for them to get a Master’s in Cybersecurity program.

2 September 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

Thank you for the great feedback! We’re thrilled to hear you’re enjoying your experience with CIAT. We appreciate your suggestion for a Master’s in Cybersecurity program and will be sure to share it with our academic team as we explore future program expansions.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Better than a traditional school

Better than the traditional school system. Classes are more focused on learning the material and practice. The schedule is very convenient for people that work during the day. The school is very friendly to veterans. I also get to take certification exams, that helped me a lot to land a job with the department of defense.

2 September 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

We’re so glad to hear how well our flexible schedule, hands-on classes, and certification opportunities have supported your success; especially in helping you land a job with the Department of Defense. Thank you for sharing your experience, and we’re honored to support our veteran community.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad to hear you’re enjoying our hybrid program and that it’s been a great fit for you.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Great experience at CIAT

My experience here at CIAT is going good. My only concern is that I wish books were included in the tuition or at least received more help with purchasing books.

28 August 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

We’re happy to hear your experience at CIAT is going well! Thank you for your feedback about purchasing books, we value your input and will share it with our team.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great School

28 August 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

Thank you for the 5-star review!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I like the access

I like the access, to the platform and it was very informative.

28 August 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

We’re so glad you found the platform accessible and informative, thank you for sharing your experience!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Helpful staff and instructors

Helpful staff and instructors, short response times.

21 August 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

Thank you! We’re glad our team and instructors could support you quickly and effectively.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

It was great

It was great! Overall good experience. Just wish my .edu email was recognized for student discounts and that the school could be found in job application databases.

31 July 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

5-star

The overall experience with the staff has been A-1 thus far.

10 July 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

Thank you for the kind words! We’re so glad to hear your experience with our staff has been “A-1”, and we look forward to continuing to support you every step of the way.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The training is too fast for the first…

The training is too fast for the first week. Student needs time to get situated.

10 July 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

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 management@ciat.edu, 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.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I did not know I was taking just one…

I did not know I was taking just one class the Va requires me to take at least 12 hours to be full time so after the first day and finding out I was placed in just one class and not even my choice of which I message my professor telling him I want to drop out

10 July 2025
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Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology

We’re glad we had the opportunity to connect with you and confirm that all of your programs are considered full-time through the VA approvals. If any questions or concerns come up in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out, we’re always happy to help.

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