Stark State College Reviews

  • 18 Reviews
  • North Canton (OH)
  • Annual Tuition: $7,644
67% of 18 students said this degree improved their career prospects
44% of 18 students said they would recommend this school to others
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Student & Graduate Reviews

FormerLPNstudent
  • Reviewed: 3/4/2024
  • Degree: Licensed Practical Nurse
"I never write reviews, however when someone pays tens of thousands of dollars to be completely mislead from the start on this LPN program I knew I had to write my opinion in hopes of helping others .First, I took all my prereqs at Stark State in Canton, the instructors that I had were really good and truly wanted the best for their students. I passed all my prereqs that consisited of algebra 1 and 2 along with BIO 101, my GPA was 3.75 . I then attendend the LPN program that fall of 2023. I went to the orientation with roughly around 80 people. This group of people consisted of morning, afternoon and weekend/night programs. This is where the misleading started to take place. We were told how proud the instructors are that they have a 100% NCLEX passing rate. I thouhgt that was so amazing looking around the room, not knowing that they only had 12 grads out of 80 the previous year. I then found out that 12 people is one of their higher grad rates. This is ridiculous!! I hope 12 people can pass their NCLEX the first time around. THIS IS NOTHING to be proud of by any means!!! Next, when classes started we were remindend over and over that most of us will fail out by Nursing 3 and that we all need to work harder. Only 2 instructors lectured in Pharmacology. As far as nursing 1 and 2, we were given outdated and poorly narrated slides that were made during COVID for our learning pleasure. Between all the ummmms and talking in circles, you may get some information that you need for nursing. The pharmacolgy video lectures were pretty good, however these were mostly self taught as well. We also received weekly emails stating that if we don't do what they want in a very short amount of time that we will be excused from the program. This mainly pertianed to ACEMAPP and clinicals. Also, rules are changed as to what mood the instructors are in on that particular day. This became to be part of our usual routine. Then, I started Nursing 3, which I was so excited because we were told that we actuall get weekly lectures. We got an option to sign up for mornings or afternoons. I started out in mornings and due to my childrens school/sport schedule I signed up for afternoons. For those who chose afternoons, we were told by that instructor that she will be starting her classes musch earlier because she likes to get in and get out due to traffic. If we really had no choice and the instructor got to completely dictate the Nursing 3 schedule, then why act like they are giving us a choice? Lab is one day per week, the instructors in lab are very nice, but the equipment is less than par for a decent learning environment. They really did do the best with what they had, which is not the fault of the lab instructors. Then, I had what I thought was a classroom time of lecturing of the current topic at hand. WRONG!! The instructor lectured maybe 45 minutes, gave us a quiz and for the rest of the class time gave us what she called "busy work" such as crosswords, more ATI videos and a scavenger hunt all the while she went to her office and graded papers. She actually used our classroom time and what we as students paid her for, for her grading. We would practice case studies that were no where near the same setup as to what she expected on her tests. She literally taught on an RN level which is ridiculous! Her tests were very confusing and focused on material that wasn't gone over thoroughly, as most material was not. I met with her to look over my test/quizzes and I got zero support. I was told that I most likely have testing anxiety and that I need to put more time in my study habits. I literally went to school, drove almost and hour there and back Monday-Wednesday and had clinicals Thursday and Friday from 7am-3:30 pm. I would go home and teach myself by watching 25 hours worth of videos and take lengthly notes from an RN standard. I also had assignments on ATI for hours, because you had to get a strong on the assignment to recieve NO GRADE and if you didn't do the assignment to her standards, you would not receive participation points for Lab ( Lab and clinicals are a pass/fail as all programs). I studied for up to 12 hours a day only to take a test and fail them. As to knowing the material, I did know the material. It was the way the instructor had the tests set up. She would literally focus on mainly one topic and test on that one thing along with a handful of other topics. I had up to 60 pages of notes that I took weekly and only to focus on a handful of topics is ridiculous.We then had to do a case study that we really didn't learn about other than what you teach yourself. We were expected to know all the labs, meds (and all the generic names), diseases, side effects, nursing implications of up to 50 diseases.Then we had the pleasure of looking at our previous weeks case study. It was mostly matter of her opinion on what she thought was appropriate for that specific case study. Most students failed these case studies. She said it was because we weren't studing enough when asked by a student in class if she would lecture on these. She said she would look into that and never did help us with them. I am convinced the tests and case studies were designed to fail students. I am by far not the only one that has stated this. I eventually withdrew on my own from the program because I truly got tired of failing, not receiving any help even when asked by me and by other students, teaching myself and paying a lot of money for horrible video lectures. In conclusion, if you are wanting to pay a lot of money, teach yourself, learn on less than adequate equipment for Lab, be told over and over to look around and that the person next to you will not pass the program, and never be taught how to do a case study properly then Stark State LPN program is for you!"
Major Online Concerns
  • Reviewed: 3/6/2023
  • Degree: Laboratory Technician
"It is important to disclose that this review is regarding Online classes only, as my disability and commute distance make attending in person very difficult. To get started, the online courses I've taken for Stark State are conspicuously lacking in depth and actual instruction. Despite all the online technology that can be utilized these days, there are very few options within the classes other than going over PowerPoint slides or clicking on a link to a website. I personally have zero issues with PowerPoint slides, but when they are the core method to instruct students, it is not acceptable to have these slides lacking important medical definitions, slides with placeholder pictures, and slides that have a 50/50 chance of actually playing an embedded video. It’s like these slides were not completed for the class (or they are meant for an in-person class where the instructor can fill in the blanks). On top of that, the structure of Online Exams and instruction is terrible. Yes, it is absolutely important for the student to work hard to try and pass the class, but there were several instances of questions that were not covered in the material, yet were a question on the exam, or cases where questions on an exam were then covered in a future week of class! I even went back to review why I missed some questions, and they were simply not in the slides or the book. Also, unlike a paper exam where the material can be gone over and missed questions reviewed, there is no option to review online exam material. You have to hope you remember what questions were incorrect and go off memory, making any future attempt less likely to succeed. While I’d also agree that it is necessary to keep a check on online cheating, Stark State really seems to have cheaters living rent-free in its board members heads. From having to SMS Text every single time logging in to check out new material (checking your phone every log-in adds up to a lot of wasted time after a few months) to having Respondus Monitor (anti-cheat webcam software that gives rural internet users a headache...it doesn’t even have a dark mode for sensitive eyes...also, you'd better hope that the webcam you need to buy will be compatible), as well as changing what is and is not acceptable a few weeks into class, the inconsistency of these online classes are based on the whims of what the instructor deems appropriate, and that’s bad news if the instructor does not understand or doesn’t care that online teaching needs to hit different beats than an in-person class. For example, the instructor offered extra credit, but the students had to attend the campus to be able to qualify for that extra credit. In an ONLINE class. If you didn’t/couldn’t show up, then that was tough luck for you. That is not fair for the students, nor is it acceptable to not provide online alternatives. I suppose the motivation to write this review came from the fact that I frequently emailed the last instructor on my concerns regarding the online system. The responses were professional and friendly, which I appreciate, but my concerns were deflected and dismissed at every turn. Responses such as, “Well, everyone thinks online classes are going to be easy until they take them!” and “Well, you just need to find a way to get it done.” This tactic of the instructor arguing against straw-men (I never assumed the online class would be easy, I just wanted to understand why such needless roadblocks were necessary, especially for a student with a disability) leaves a sour taste. I expect better for as much as a college education costs, and if this is the result of genuine attempts to highlight problems from the student perspective, I don’t have any trust or loyalty for the college as a result. In conclusion, while there are positives to be found (the instructors seem like nice people, trapped in a lousy system themselves), and remember that attending in-person may be a totally different story than what I experienced, my current opinion is that this Stark State does not care enough about students but rather the money they can get out of them while doing as little work as possible. And hey, if the poor quality of teaching means the students fail, they can always pay for the class again, right? You will undoubtedly be forced to teach yourself, and genuine concerns for how the classes are taught are almost certainly going to be dismissed because, after all, that would require more effort on Stark State’s part. This college's online system makes it not worth attending unless you have no other options."
Jo
  • Reviewed: 10/17/2022
  • Degree: Nursing
"My daughter was looking for in class instruction for her LPN degree only to find out the instructor simply has videos of her teaching, rather than actually having class and teaching in person. Ridiculous. No question/answer sessions, no reviews, no discussions after tests. Extremely disappointed they would get away with this type of “instruction”"
Bill
  • Reviewed: 8/11/2022
  • Degree: Electrical Engineering
"What a great start! The teachers worked hard teaching, I worked hard learning, I did well and graduated well prepared for a high paying job immediately after graduation. Later in life I added two bachelor's degrees to my resume and every single credit transferred both times even after many years. I still use the hard and soft skills I learned there. I couldn't be happier with my Stark experience."
Cheryl
  • Reviewed: 6/30/2021
  • Degree: Office Management
"Some people do not want to help. There is too much miscommunication. I suffered much from the miscommunication. I was dropped out of a class due to no pay when it wasn't my fault. Some people there are wonderful, but others are very snotty and do not want to help. They are very sneaky and will try to stop certain students from succeeding. Got to watch your back when it comes to that school."
LEX
  • Reviewed: 10/21/2020
  • Degree: Automotive Technology
"I am giving Starkstate college zero stars. The T-Ten program is a joke. The teacher mock the students and refuse to help. The teacher dont help with the homework or review it. You have teacher yourself for beginning to end. Look for a different college."
Concerned parent
  • Reviewed: 5/7/2019
  • Degree: Nursing
"Students werent notified this was a flip style class setting until AFTER sign up. This was a teach yourself setup which is far from desirable. This is a poor teaching type venue that is a money grabber but.not a success teacher. This is simply a required to get by attitude with i structors but no attention to help any struggling students. Poorly setup and poorly ran program period."
Julie
  • Reviewed: 4/7/2018
  • Degree: Human Services
"I started in 2012. I didn't know that I had other options besides Stark State. My Major is Human and Social Services_Gerontology_Substance Abuse. I thought Stark State was the only college to offer what I was looking for. As for my major, I need to be directly accepted to the program and SSC doesn't mention this. I have made mistakes & lost my Financial Aid but I am good academic wise so I would have to pay out of pocket to complete my degree. I am a single mother with no income sources due to personal reasons & me battling depression after the loss of my Grandmother & then having my baby in 2016. SSC gave me no kind of support to succeed in any way. I was on my own there. I needed help with my barriers especially the Math and they knew that. Instead, they take my Financial Aid when I had it and didn't care if I struggled. As long as they got paid, nothing else matters. I need to complete my degree with success but how when SSC doesn't care if I complete or don't help with resources on how I can complete. I hope SSC uses the recent funds to help students with support and they can figure out how to get students with low income to return and complete with strong support. Out of 27 credits that I've completed, the Math was my only development course & that I had the worse struggles in. The cost of the college is cheaper then other community colleges but is the lower cost worth not completing & not being successful with support a student needs? To me, using my financial aid I use to have would've been worth using elsewhere that supports there students."
Disgruntled Lab Tech
  • Reviewed: 9/22/2017
  • Degree: Laboratory Technician
"I can say when you first go to Stark State College in Ohio, the admissions staff is BAD. They will mislead you into classes you do not need and so you really need to see your adviser for the main program you want. Basic classes did offer smart professors who greeted you with kindness and respect. Once in this Medical Lab Tech Program, I arrived excited and full of lust to learn! I now see that the professors for this program do not care, at all, for their students. It is very obvious that they would rather be somewhere else instead of teaching you. What s**** is I am paying for this. They read lectures off of a power point, rip your head off if you ask a question or even MOVE. The program itself is a disorganized mess! Students all seem confused, they do not know what it is they have to print for themselves before classes, unsure of what homework to turn in and they sure as heck are scared to ask. Most items on the main boards are dated 2014 etc and you are taught to work in a 1970's lab. I saw a happy group of people turn into a group of depressed and angry students. I do not have confidence in passing the state requirements test at the end when I graduate to become certified. I realized a lot of the information we learned is inaccurate, EXTREMELY outdated, and/or just plain wrong.... Why did I...Am I paying to teach myself? Because I was to stupid to go to a better college and am stuck here. Do not get stuck here! Ohio State, Cleveland State or any other technical college will treat you with more respect!! This college does not. They simply want your money...."
Jefferson Buchannan
  • Reviewed: 8/28/2017
  • Degree: EMT
"We were using angel and i was so use to it but they now changed it to black board! why change something if it was working before. Made me go through the orientation again. I heard Akron was on spring board and also changed it on there students. Students don't want to learn something simple again. We already have enough to learn like the classes that won't even help me in my career. Thank you Stark State for changing it. Hopefully in another year you can change again."
Shanon
  • Reviewed: 2/21/2017
  • Degree: Medical Assistant
"I felt that the actual program was great! I loved the small classes and all the instructors were great and so helpful! You gained relationships with both the teachers and students because you are with them for the whole 2 years. Overall great school"
Anon
  • Reviewed: 1/23/2017
  • Degree: Massage Therapy
"The registration services and admissions services for this school suck. They never want to help and no one is ever on the same page about anything. Make sure if you choose this school you ask 20 different people the same question. No doubt you'll get different answers."
Gcremer
  • Reviewed: 10/31/2016
  • Degree: Nursing
"I have 3 years of college from another institution with grad date of 2004. I enrolled in Aug 1016 at Stark. I previously completed comp I&II but Stark won't give transfer credit for either. Costing me more money to take class again. Completed Mth 125 which they gave me credit for but made me take mth 093 before being allowed to take statistics. This college wants your money - beware. Getting assistance with academic issues is like pulling teeth. I would go someplace else if my husband would allow me to but they have classes close to where we live."
Alexis
  • Reviewed: 6/1/2015
  • Degree: Nursing
"I have attended this college for only two semesters and I've never had the issues I've experienced here happen to me anywhere else. They are a complete joke. If you live at home and go here (which is the majority) and are under a certain age (which is 23) and you have to apply for a loan, you can pretty much guarantee that you won't get the full amount you wanted. Each semester this has happened to me. And if you need to call the institution's offices for any reason they are no help either. They give you the run around and then if you complain long enough that's when they tell you "because you live at home and are under the age of 23 you are still considered a dependent and you can't get any more then what you're getting." I've attended two other universities and never had this problem at either one. Just because you live at home does not mean that you don't have bills to pay on top of tuition, books, and gas. I just don't understand why this is only an issue here. For that reason this second semester will be the last I ever take here at Stark State College and I will never recommend this school to anyone!"
Tasia Seefong
  • Reviewed: 8/6/2014
  • Degree: Dental Assistant
"Stark State College professors prepared me for my career to the best of their ability. Not only are the professors helpful from the classroom to the scheduling of classes, but the staff even help you put your best foot forward by being available to answer questions and even tracking down answers for you when you need them. If you are having difficulties with studying, the professors can give you tips or tricks to help make the most of your learning environment and that continue on into your career. I would strongly recommend Stark State to those who are serious about furthering their education to excel in a career."
Mary Lee
  • Reviewed: 8/5/2014
  • Degree: Paralegal
"I think more emphasis needs to be put on actual skills for degrees. Critical thinking abilities are essential but employers want people that can actually do something when they get out of school"
Brett R.
  • Reviewed: 8/5/2014
  • Degree: Computer Networking
"Stark State College is a fantastic school to obtain an Associate's Degree for use in today's challenging job market. I have learned many things towards my field of study (Computer Networking) and have been granted many job opportunities through Stark State. Stark State has a great campus life and a very friendly student base. You can expect to meet a lot of like-minded people who"
Scott Schrock
  • Reviewed: 9/14/2012
  • Degree: Nursing
"I have truly loved the experience of going to school at Stark State College. First, the tuition is a great deal, especially when comparing to a 4-year college. Yet, in spite of being 2-4 times less expensive, the labs were terrific, and the credits transferred directly with any state school. A great option for prerequisites for advanced degrees. Second, the professors I have had have all been terrific, and there are typically many options to choose from as far as teachers and styles. Lastly, there were a lot of different resources that are available to help a student succeed and find a good path for their career. In summary, when it comes to useful degrees, high quality education, and overall experience, I think Stark State gives the best bang for the buck around!"