Westwood College

Westwood College was a private, for-profit institution with 15 campuses across five states and online programs. Established in 1986, it was accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) and graduated over 37,000 students before closing in 2016. Originally founded as Denver Institute of Technology in 1953, it became Westwood College in 1997 and later part of Alta Colleges Inc.

The college faced legal challenges, including a 2009 class action suit settled for $7 million over graduation rates and a 2011 disqualification from the GI Bill due to deceptive practices. In 2015, it agreed to pay $15 million toward student loans after a lawsuit by Illinois Attorney General.

Westwood offered online education and had partnerships with public schools. Its curriculum included six academic areas, though its open admissions policy was criticized for fraudulent practices encouraging financial misrepresentation. Financial difficulties and new regulations led to enrollment suspension in November 2015, followed by campus closures in March 2016. Many students faced challenges transferring credits or managing loans.