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
While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more
To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more
Review summary
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
Great school! Wish they had more programs. I would love for them to get a Master’s in Cybersecurity program.
Company replied
The information given in the "get ready" was useful. The professors were very engaging and friendly.
Company replied
Cameille provides outstanding support for first time students.
Company replied
Company details
- #95 of 146 best companies in Educational Institution
- #40 of 61 best companies in Career and Education Provider
- #1 of 2 best companies in College
- #3 of 6 best companies in University
- #2 of 2 best companies in 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
401 Mile of Cars Way #100, 91950, National City, United States
- (877) 559-3621
- info@ciat.edu
- www.ciat.edu
4.5
Excellent
118 reviews
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
How this company uses Trustpilot
See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.
Amazing team and so far a great…
Amazing team and so far a great experience, Ryan Larson has been extremely helpful in getting everything sorted out.
March 20, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you so much for the kind feedback! We’re thrilled to hear you’ve had a great experience so far. Ryan will be especially happy to know his support made a difference. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience!
Very smooth and easy admissions process.
March 20, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear the admissions process felt smooth and easy for you. Our team works hard to make getting started as stress‑free as possible, and we’re excited to support you as you move forward!
I had a good experience for my first…
I had a good experience for my first day at CIAT. During orientation, all the instructors were friendly and explained clearly what I was expecting to hear for me to be ready for my coming class. Also they explained everything i will need during my courses and to whom to address to when I am facing all kind of difficulties.
March 20, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad to hear that your first day at CIAT went well. It’s great to know our instructors made you feel welcomed and provided clear explanations to help you feel prepared for your upcoming classes. We’re committed to making sure every student knows what to expect and where to turn when challenges come up. We’re excited to support you throughout your journey!
Courteous and professional staff
CAIT has made the entire process seamless. Their staff provides clear guidance, responds quickly, and goes above and beyond to ensure you get the help you need. It’s a professional and supportive environment that makes a real difference.
March 20, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear that your experience at CIAT has been seamless so far. We’re grateful for your trust and are proud to be part of your journey!
KNOWLEDABLE INSTRUCTORS
KNOWLEDABLE INSTRUCTORS
PROFESSIONALISM
WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST
CUSTOMER SERVICE
March 20, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for your positive review! We’re thrilled to hear that you’ve had such a great experience at CIAT so far! We’re grateful for the opportunity to support you and appreciate your feedback!
The employees are extremely helpful
The employees are extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and patient. Working with them has been a pleasure this far and I look forward to future encounters throughout my education journey
March 20, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that working with our team has been a positive experience for you. Supporting you on your education journey is truly our pleasure, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to be part of it. We look forward to continuing to assist you every step of the way!
There dedicated to technology
It's my first semester here at CIAT hopefully it will be a great place to learn.
March 20, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback! We wish you the best of luck as you continue your journey at CIAT!
Very helpful and a great staff
March 20, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for your review! We’re delighted to hear that our staff and faculty have contributed positively to your CIAT experience. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback!
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for your review! We’re happy to hear that your experience at CIAT has been positive so far. Thank you for sharing!
Great bootcamp
Great bootcamp! Very intensive where you have to spend time reviewing and studying before class and after class 12-14 hour days for 5 days straight, but well worth it! I took the exam the next day and passed!
Make sure you study leading up to the bootcamp to gain the foundational knowledge because otherwise it can be very confusing
March 15, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that you found the bootcamp intensive, engaging, and ultimately worth the effort — and a huge congratulations on passing your exam the very next day! We appreciate you sharing your experience and wish you continued success on your certification journey!
Took this scam place a while ago
*Response to CIAT reply*
1. You know my name
2. No you don't look at yelp and other areas.
3. I HAVE PROOF OF ALL THIS and MORE. I will post them in multiple areas. Gas light me again.
4. People at your accreditation "ACCET" are bought off/incentivized... I still have proof. Particularly of a Matthew Nistico and Res Helfer
5. And yet I still don't have mine.
6. And yet I don't and repeatedly said this in email to multiple people. Ed Brancheau, Records Specialist... Is also dodging me.
7. And lies, I've literally had to help fellow "alumni" with resumes and other poorly done things by Sydney Young (She/her/hers), Career Services Advisor. And others failed at.
8. Again your job assistance is a joke. Also your job people took me off the job list when I caught them lying in order to apply for a client. I have proof of this too.
IF I'M LYING. SUE ME.
9. No you don't... example 2 or years ago you did a false ad with data left out. The data was how many students you had per class. Reason being is because if you included that data it. would shed the truth on your claims of cert passes, programs etc. IE in a year you had 4 people pass a aws exam... you claimed something like 75%-100%... 4 people out of 30+ people a month x 12 month is HORRIBLE. When it was pointed out, you deleted the comment.
10. Wrong. It was rebranding after reviews on yelp, reddit and other places came out.
11. These are SOME of the names positions of the people at ciat that I contacted and belittled, berated then ignored me.
Sydney Young (She/her/hers), Career Services Advisor
Dina Matheson— The CIAT Team
David Camarena, Career Services Advisor
Claire Park, M.Ed. , Vice President, Compliance
Jamie Doyle, CEO
And more...
Keep playing and I'll put proof on yelp and other places. And again you know who this is. If I'm lying sue me.
If you still don't know... here's more hints. I caught you using Professor Messer free youtube VIDs as graded testing. I also complained about your AWS course that was trash and the abusing dated udemy materials as part of paid curriculum as well. Labeling as "supplemental".
If I'm lying, sue me. Have a great day.
_____________________________________________________
Took this scam place a while ago. They actually still owe me a diploma/graduation certificate. They know about it, because their staff likes to try and belittle you and then run.
I left a review on yelp. A number of things they lie about. The bad part is people don't realize they're being conned till later on. Their career support is a joke. Literally gave me one of the worst resumes I've ever had in my life. All the companies they have on their site that they claim hires their people isn't true either.
I've caught them doing so much unethical sketchy things. It's ridiculous... I was one the main reasons they changed their name. Please go to yelp and also research CIAT California Institute of Arts Technology. T
March 20, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Hello,
We take claims like this very seriously. However, statements suggesting CIAT is a “scam” or engages in unethical practices are simply not accurate.
As published in our catalog in accordance with accreditation requirements, diplomas and graduation certificates are issued only after students meet all graduation requirements, including minimum GPA, attendance standards, and financial obligations. If a student has not met these requirements, a diploma will not be issued until those requirements are fulfilled. Students always have access to their official transcripts showing their graduate status to support employment or continuing education goals.
Regarding career outcomes, we stand firmly behind the success of our graduates. The companies listed on our website represent organizations where our alumni have been hired, and this information is reviewed and updated regularly. We are extremely proud of the many students who have successfully launched or advanced their careers after completing our programs.
Transparency is also something we prioritize strongly. We publicly share key student outcome data, including student satisfaction ratings for each 5-week term, completion rates, certification exam pass rates, and placement outcomes. Anyone can review this information on our Trust & Transparency page here:
https://www.ciat.edu/trust
Additionally, our name change from California Institute of Arts & Technology to California Institute of Applied Technology reflects our continued effort to stay aligned with industry trends and emphasize our applied, career-focused approach to technical education.
If you believe there is an outstanding issue related to your academic record or graduation status, we encourage you to contact our Student Services team directly so we can review your specific case.
— The CIAT Team
Getting accepted was easy and painless.
How easy it was to fill out the paperwork. The ladies I dealt with were amazing. The pretty much did everything and if they needed something they reached out pretty quickly.
February 9, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for your positive feedback! We’re so glad to hear the enrollment process felt smooth and stress‑free for you. We truly appreciate your kind words and are happy our team was able to support you quickly and effectively. Welcome again—we’re excited to be part of your journey!
Currently Enrolled with CIAT
I am enrolled in CIAT at this time. The program has a large network of resources and support for students. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, bootcamps, certification testing vouchers, resources like Crucial Exams, Career Services support, "which offers a vast amount of resources as well," all at no additional cost to students. You just need to take advantage of them.
February 24, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that you’re enjoying your journey with CIAT and making the most of the resources available. We’re glad to hear these benefits are making a positive impact for you. Keep taking advantage of everything offered—we’re here to support you every step of the way! Thanks again for being part of the CIAT community.
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for sharing this! We’re glad to hear that our team was able to work with you to make tuition more manageable. Supporting our students and helping them access the education they want is a top priority for us!
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for your review! We’re happy to hear that Mayra has made a positive impact on your CIAT experience. Thank you for sharing with us!
Exceptional Staff
February 9, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for your review! We’re thrilled to hear that our staff and faculty have made a positive impact on your CIAT experience. Thank you for sharing!
5/5 Recommended
CIAT is great so far because of the helpful instructors and the overall experience is fun! I am looking forward to the live lectures and for receiving my certifications. Definitely would recommend!
February 9, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We love your enthusiasm for the live lectures and certifications, and we’re cheering you on as you reach those next milestones. Thanks again for the recommendation—we appreciate you!
Very helpful staff
February 9, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We’re so glad to hear that you found our staff helpful. We appreciate you!
I love ciat its the best school i have…
I love ciat its the best school i have ever went to. They helped me so much through my journey and i just completed my associates in cybersecurity.
February 9, 2026
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time at CIAT and that our team was able to support you throughout your journey. Congratulations on completing your degree—what an amazing accomplishment!
I withdrew from the school and program…
I withdrew from the school and program last year due to having covid. They are still emailing me/sending me money. I also believe they are still collecting financial aid or student loan money from the FAFSA application that I completed last year. I want my account to be completely closed like I asked it to be last year.
September 26, 2025
Reply from California Institute of Applied Technology
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re very sorry to hear about the challenges you faced due to COVID-19 and the frustration you’re experiencing regarding your account status.
We understand how concerning it can feel to receive communication about financial aid or student loans after you believed your account was closed. Please know that federal financial aid funds (including FAFSA-related loans) are processed according to federal regulations, and in some cases, adjustments or updates may occur after a student withdraws depending on attendance dates and return-of-funds calculations.
That said, it is absolutely our priority to ensure your account is accurate and fully resolved. We would like the opportunity to review your records in detail, confirm your withdrawal status, and clarify any remaining balance or financial aid activity so you have complete transparency.
Please reach out directly to your student success advisor, or to us at studentservicesteam@ciat.edu, and we will coordinate with Financial Aid to review your account and assist you in finalizing any remaining steps toward closure.
We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and look forward to helping you resolve this matter as quickly as possible.
The Trustpilot Experience
Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.
We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.
Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.
Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.
Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.
Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.