Dawn Career Institute Reviews

  • 25 Reviews
  • Wilmington (DE)
  • Annual Tuition: $14,358
25% of 25 students said this degree improved their career prospects
36% of 25 students said they would recommend this school to others
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Student & Graduate Reviews

Tyler Massey
  • Reviewed: 4/13/2023
  • Degree: CDL
"The instructors at the school are great, however I have had so far an awful experience with the school itself. I attended the CDL 5 week program. Everything made it seem like after you completed the 5 week course, you would test and receive your CDL. However this is far from the case. It has been 3 weeks since I have completed the program, and I have yet to receive even a date for my final test. This is very unacceptable. I had a great experience with Dawn before this issue. But I like everyone else have bills to pay, and now the job I had lined up is on hold. It would be one thing if the testing date was a few weeks out from graduation. But it has been 3 weeks and I do not even have a date for when I will be doing the test. I have been left in the dark and given the run around saying they are submitting my file to the testing site. I feel like information was withheld from me when signing up for the program. And I highly regret that I did not choose another CDL school."
Feel taken advantage of
  • Reviewed: 9/2/2022
  • Degree: Massage Therapy
"I give NO STARS at all! (but forced to) It was a total joke, they didn't even have their crap together. I went in with the intention of enrolling in the Medical Assistant program but was "persuaded" into taking the Massage Therapy (Technician) program. In my experience there was NO stable/ permanent campus (at that time), they were still transitioning by moving, hiring and firing instructors right in the middle of classes, and there were only 2 students (including myself) in the program! How is that even considered right? As far as I know they're supposed to have a certain number of students enrolled in order to have a "class". By the time I found out about everything, it was too late and I was stuck paying $15,999!! They DO NOT help you find employment, Certifications are only for a year, and Instructors DO NOT help you with continuing education. I wish there was help for those of us who feel taken advantage of by them."
Lauren
  • Reviewed: 7/24/2022
  • Degree: Medical Assistant
"This school should not be considered as an accredited school. When I attended they were more concerned with getting bodies in chairs and money in their pockets. The grading curve was so low it was literally nonexistent. They were allowing students into programs who had not completed high school or had a GED. They do not help you with job placement as they claim and the "so called national" certification they claim you are getting isn't even recognized or accepted anywhere. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FROM THIS PLACE."
Maria K
  • Reviewed: 8/28/2020
  • Degree: Esthetician
"Dawn Career Institute is horrible. They only care about the money that they are receiving from their students. There are a handful of teachers who actually care about their students and are actually teaching us. Most teachers give you the assignments and its "good luck" from there. You will have to teach yourself (that is the satisfying and rewarding aspect of it because you come out on top knowing anything with no help from anyone). Be prepared to hear Dawn Career preach about how communication is key and their "most important value", meanwhile NO ONE on the staff communicated anything with the students. Classes change every six weeks, so lets say its Friday of the end of week 6, you would think you know your schedule for next week right? Wrong... Dawn Career Institute will make last minute decision which is unprofessional. They will not inform you about your new classes and they will not inform you in any changes made to your schedule."
MS
  • Reviewed: 1/29/2020
  • Degree: CDL
"STAY FAR AWAY!!!! This was the worst experience I ever had. 7 students had to share a single truck, when another truck was added it was mechanical problems every day. Somehow completed the course and was told I would have my CDL In the mail which was BS!!! Going on 2 months still nothing, I just was out in penndot system as having a CDL last week. Only thing great was the instructor Armond"
It is what you make it
  • Reviewed: 6/28/2019
"I completed 2 programs at Dawn. 1 was on campus and 1 was online. My experience with both was great. I noticed something right away. Dawn is what you make it. If you go in prepared, ready to learn and are a teachable student, you will succeed here. I saw so many students that would come in and expect to be catered to like they were owed something. You pay good money to be at Dawn. They are here to teach you the skills to be successful in your career. They expect you to act like a professional from day 1 and that IS NOT A BAD THING!!! You have to treat your education like you are already on the job. Show up 15 minutes early to class (NOT 3 hours late), dress like you are proud of your career choice, don't go in here and act like you run the place because this is not the place. Don't roam the halls and walk out of class whenever you want. I would hear so many people say "This school didn't teach me anything". We sat in the same class and I learned everything I needed to be successful. I took notes, I paid attention. I asked questions when I didn't understand something. I asked my instructors to stay after if I needed help with something. Dawn is what you make it. If you have a bad review, it's because you didn't handle things properly."
Graduate
  • Reviewed: 1/5/2019
  • Degree: Medical Assistant
"If you are looking for a medical assistant program at Dawn Career Institute, please look elsewhere. I am no longer a student there since I graduated. This school has done nothing but made my learning experience terrible. The instructors there do NOT teach you what you need to know, and when reported to higher staff, they do nothing. You will have instructors that will talk about religion, other instructors, how they can tell the future with there pendulum, witch craft, there dogs, everything besides medical assistant. These teachers will still be there if you attend. However the teachers that go out and go above and beyond for their students are getting fired left and right. The teachers that actually taught you the correct information. So in class you will maybe 20 percent of the time learn what is needed. Oh but don't forget if you want to get in touch with the school after graduating about any issue, that will not happen... If you want to go to school and not learn and enjoy gossip stories choose dawn, if you want real education that will prepare you for the field go elsewhere. I have seen students get screwed over by this school many times, either instructors make them feel unwanted and they leave or they will get screwed over financially. Higher staff will do nothing to help, nothing at all. SO please beware. I graduated with honors but still have to teach myself soo much because they didn't teach anything that was needed, well i mean some instructors did but they got fired, probably because they didn't talk about gossip in class. If you choose to go to dawn that is your choice but please watch your back, my friend there just finished and needed to retake a class and its been well over a month and they have yet to put her in one. Which restricts her from taking her certifications on time.They never have supplies needed for class which restricts learning, overall please do NOT go to dawn PLEASEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Present Student
  • Reviewed: 12/2/2018
  • Degree: Medical Assistant
"This school is awful, besides not learning anything in the medical assistant program, they are charging me 150.00 to retake a course, saying I failed the course because I did not take the final. I didn't take the final because my instructor never gave it to me. which he admitted too. The school is saying that's too bad I still have to pay and retake the class, which I need to graduate. So it is basically a form of theft, you can't trust anybody at this school, most all of the instructors and administration will lie to cover their butts, make sure you take pictures of your assignments before you turn them in so you have proof you did them, and document everything you can, this school is so shady."
J Johnson
  • Reviewed: 7/2/2018
  • Degree: Medical Billing & Coding
"Attending this so called school was a waste of time and definitely money. I couldn't even.get a interview after graduation let alone a job.10 years later I still have never had a interview in any healthcare environment. DON'T WASTE UR TIME OR MONEY GO ELSEWHERE AND GET A GOOD EDUCATION. I stopped looking for work in the medical field years ago.I pursued other opportunities unrelated to healthcare, and have been with my present employer for 9 years.DAWN IS GHETTO AND HAS GHETTO STUDENTS that's probably y the moved from There previous GHETTO LOCATION ON LANCASTER AVE IN WILMINGTON I guess they r trying to get a better clientele of students.these people don't know the meaning of EDUCATION THEY JUST TRYING TO GET MONEY .My instructors were excellent but the education.if that's what they calling it is a JOKE I don't need to answer the dumb questions about my experience at DUMB DAWN.THEY S***."
RecentGrad
  • Reviewed: 10/28/2017
  • Degree: Medical Assistant
"I attended Dawn's hybrid MA program and graduated recently. I have yet to receive my diploma or transcripts as well even after giving updated address info. I was scheduled to take the CCMA exam this morning only to be told that I have to reschedule because there is no internet connection throughout the school. This is a issue that could have been prevented, not to mention that I rearranged my whole Saturday to make sure I get to the school an hour early before the exam. I missed a days work for nothing. I really hope that this school gets more organized and when students schedule their certification exam we expect to take it the same day we schedule it. Now I have to wait another two weeks become even more anxious that I am now with anticipating the exam and all that can go wrong before the exam. Thanks Dawn."
Leeanlly
  • Reviewed: 10/20/2017
  • Degree: Medical Assistant
"This is a great school, they changed a lot and they have a new campus opening up. This year their biggest graduate program was CNA and MAs. I took MA hybird and honestly is it a lot of work and you have to care about you and your own education. I couldnt be any more happier with my degree."
Bev
  • Reviewed: 7/25/2017
  • Degree: Medical Billing & Coding
"I would NOT RECOMMEND this school. Attended maybe 6-7 years ago and let's just say it benefited me in NO WAY and I still have thousands of dollars worth of debt to pay. When I requested a transcript I have yet to receive it and then when I called to see what the hold up was the last told me it was sent out already. (Didn't believe her) Then she goes on to say, do you know you have a balance? ONE OF THE WORST DECISIONS I EVER MADE!!!"
Simran
  • Reviewed: 12/28/2016
  • Degree: Health Sciences
"I actually did the medical administrative assisting and medical assisting classes at Dawn career institute. I had the best instructors who were always willing to take the extra time and assist me with whatever I needed help with. Having such a dedicated team, I was able to obtain a 4.0 gpa!!! I am now a medical receptionist at st Francis hospital. Thank you to Dawn career institute for helping me achieve my dreams."
Jacquline
  • Reviewed: 10/31/2016
  • Degree: Medical Assistant
"This school was so out of order, took a class that was meant to be like a sort of exit class to prepare you to interview in the middle of the "semester" because the class we were supposed to go to "was not ready" you get 2 pair of scrubs that if something happens to these scrubs you are responsible to replace, they HOUND you for your money yet when you go to the staff about an issue they tell you basically you have to deal with it even though you are paying them to "teach" you, if I knew then what I knew now i would have went to another school"
Taisha
  • Reviewed: 7/3/2016
  • Degree: Medical Assistant
"During my time at Dawn i was an online student. Their classes were a joke, it wasn't easy to navigate their site either. Half the time I had no idea who was the teacher in my classes and none of the teachers really seems to care how I did my assignments, it seems they did the least amount possible. It was always a struggle to reach people at the school both by email and phone. I live in Washington State and I advise if you live in this state DO NOT GO TO DAWN!!!! They do not have an externship as part of their program and believe their students shouldn't work for free. Well in the state of WA you have to have a MA license through the state which REQUIRES an externship (all of this I found out on my own doing research without the schools help). I now have a degree that I can not use in my state its worthless. This school should know this information if they have students from other states they should know the rules and regulations. And when I contacted Dawn they said there was nothing they could do for me. This has been by far the WORST experience I've ever had along with putting me in Thousands of dollars in debt for NOTHING."
Andrea W.
  • Reviewed: 12/23/2015
  • Degree: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
"Personally + I love being a dawn graduate. The teachers their were caring and supportive. They made learning fun and you don't get overwhelmed until test time. I personally would recommend Dawn Institute, especially if you want to pursue certified nursing assistant. If you are serious, focused and head strong the classes are a breeze. Thank you Dawn."
Kate
  • Reviewed: 12/2/2015
  • Degree: Medical Assistant
"SOME IS GOOD SOME IS BAD. Here's the breakdown, I'm currently attending and supposed to graduate early 2016. I'm in medical assisting, I have so far received 2 pairs of scrubs, a stethoscope & BP cuff, and CPR certification. the school is nice, kind of dirty but it's not That bad. The teachers are good (so far) they are good at teaching and very involved. What scares me is that I'm hearing a lot of things about people not finding a job after graduation. This is a program that is only 8 months long, employers will hire someone who has gone to college for four years with that kind of experience before hiring a Dawn graduate with just 8 months of training that only learned the basics WITHOUT AN EXTERNSHIP I wish I thought about that before I signed up. Another bad thing is they only teach you the basics, we are skipping all over our textbook because like I said, it's a timed program. Oh and with phlebotomy, they only teach you the basics of that too, you have to pay more to take the full class. Also students are allowed to do whatever they want. People in my class don't wear scrub tops, out of dress code and get away with it. THEY SAY you're supposed to have an 80% attendance record or you'll fail but that's not true, some students are NEVER here or only show up one day a week and nothing ever gets said to them. Also I've witnessed a student zoned out on drugs in the classroom, and not asked to leave or anything by the teacher. So yes they are good at what they do teach, they are nice and helpful, the students are great (most of them) but with every plus there is a minus. I'm still happy I chose this over Harris school."
Sarah
  • Reviewed: 11/17/2015
  • Degree: Medical Assistant
"This school is absolutely terrible! Do not waste your time nor money. The teachers as well as the staff do not care about learning. The other students in the class are disrespectful as well. The school just wants your money that's it. I was having issues with the classes and went to the student services leader as I was told I could go to her for anything and nothing , not one thing was done. I never even received a follow up phone call as I was promised. This school is a complete joke , I don't know how they are in compliance still."
Kristina
  • Reviewed: 9/18/2015
  • Degree: Medical Office Administration
"This school is nothing more than a diploma mill and should be forced to return student's monies. I left 3 years ago and not working in my field. Why am I not working? I am not qualified since studying out of a textbook does not weigh much in an employer's opinion. I've filled out hundreds of applications, sent out hundreds of resumes, and received rejection after rejection. I would tell students not to bother with this school."
joslyn e johnson
  • Reviewed: 9/4/2015
  • Degree: Medical Billing & Coding
"I enjoyed my studies at Dawn.and I recieved very good grades.my teachers were great.and very knowledgeable. However I was never able to find work in anything related to healthcare,I couldnt even get a interview. i even offered to volunteer my skills to get in order to get some experience to put on my resume. It would of been good if dawn had of offer a externship to give u something to run with .It was a total waist of 7,000 now im stuck to pay of this student loan.I am still not working in any healthcare related field.nobody would give me a chance.They all want experience if you dont have any you cant even get a interview ...this was a total waste.I dont recommend it"