Complaints

This profile includes complaints for High Desert Medical College's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

close

Find a Location

High Desert Medical College has 2 locations, listed below.

*This company may be headquartered in or have additional locations in another country. Please click on the country abbreviation in the search box below to change to a different country location.

BBB accredited

Near

Country

USUnited States

Please enter a valid location.

Filter

• 

  High Desert Medical College

  701 W Avenue K #123 Lancaster, CA 93534-1134

  
• 

  High Desert Medical College

  2000 24th St Bakersfield, CA 93301-3815

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/17/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I am currently a student at High Desert Medical College, having enrolled in 2022. When I started, I expressed interest in the Ultrasound Technology program with Associate Degree. However, I realized last April that I was actually enrolled in the Ultrasound Technology Certificate program instead. I voiced my concerns to the Director of Education, as well as the Financial Aid and ***************************** and I was assured that the issue would be resolved. Fast forward to April 2025, and I am still in the wrong program. Every time I attempt to speak with someone to address this issue or seek clarification, I feel as though I am being given the runaround. Additionally, I have discovered that I am being overcharged and misled about various aspects of my education. The school also has inadequate externship facilities, which adds to my concerns.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/14/2025

  Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We understand there was confusion regarding your enrollment in the Ultrasound Technology Certificate program rather than the Associate Degree program. When you and your parent met with our team, we reviewed your file and confirmed your current enrollment. We explained that you may complete the certificate program and re-enroll in the associate degree track for general education courses.

  We also discussed your financial aid eligibility and the remaining balance on your account, which includes an unresolved third-party payment plan from 2023. While we are unable to change past enrollment, we did provide information on the available options moving forward.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/21/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Extortion -* EXTORTION *BACKGROUND INFORMATION : As a student I was very displeased with the program and how the school was ran. I struggled to find a job due to how the program was ran. I was not aware that without an associates degree I wouldn't be able to be hired and the school never made us aware of this. Although all training had been done without my associates degree I would not be able to move forward. Thankfully I was able to find a job out of state. Out of desperation I took the job and was able to get a job for my classmate at the same facility. Due to this I refused to provide information regarding where I was hired because I knew this institution would want to take credit. Current situation of EXTORTION -My classmate was offered a discount from our tuition since her brothers wife (now ex wife) worked at the school. The school is now stating that they will no longer offer this since she no longer works here.BUT would be willing to honor this discount IF she were to share our place of ************* classmate and I discussed this on the phone with the president of the school and made it clear that this is extortion. Extortion is defined as : the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats."he used bribery and extortion to build himself a huge, art-stuffed mansion"Which is illegal. They refused that this was extortion and that they are aggravated that we refused to share where we are employed.Action needs to be taken regarding this situation. Please see attached emailing regarding this issue from our school.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/01/2025

  Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We take student feedback seriously and are committed to addressing concerns with transparency, professionalism, and respect.
  
  We are sorry to hear that aspects of your experience with the program and career process did not meet your expectations. Our goal is always to provide clear information about program outcomes and career pathways, including credentialing requirements. We understand how critical this information is, and we are continuously working to improve how we communicate it.
  
  Regarding the allegation of extortion, we must respectfully and unequivocally refute this claim. At no time was any threat made, nor was there any attempt to compel or coerce you or your classmate to share employment information. The term "extortion" is a serious legal accusation and does not accurately reflect the conversation that took place.
  
  To clarify: our corporate business officer was referencing the standard terms of our tuition discount policy, which includes a stipulation that employee-related discounts are only valid during the period of active employment. Because the individual who initially qualified your classmate for the discount is no longer employed with the school, the discount was no longer guaranteed.
  
  Nonetheless, in a spirit of collaboration, the business officer suggested that if the student were willing to voluntarily share employment detailspurely to help with our career placement datawe could explore a goodwill solution. This was not presented as a requirement, nor was any financial benefit contingent upon the disclosure. It was a gesture of mutual support, not a demand or threat.
  
  If you would like to discuss the matter further or provide additional documentation, we are happy to connect directly and work toward a resolution. Please contact our Campus Director, ****** ******* at ************** to set an appointment to meet directly with him.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/14/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  This SCAM of a school has collected almost $50,000 out of me as well as all of my classmates!I had gone to the head of the program (**** or whatever you may like to call them) as well as the campus director multiple times over the school/program and how LITTLE we are actually being taught... I only did decently well in my bookwork because I studied on my own time, the instructor would just read parts of their PowerPoint that all the other instructors also had, but it was contradictory to what was in the physical book, and when asked about those the instructor would get upset and have us go on break for ***** minutes to collect their thoughts or whatever was going on. In LAB this instructor would not really help us - instead, this instructor would forcefully take the transducer from our hands and find the area we were looking for, instead of guiding us helping us along, and letting us learn... MULTIPLE times this instructor would get into screaming matches with students and had kicked a few students out for asking a simple question that was asked multiple times but not obtaining a direct/clear answer. When this was brought to higher-**** attention nothing was done other than excuses for the instructor. Also, there is a mysterious charge that is on my credit report that the school is saying that I owe $20,000 for! When I went in and asked the financial aid "director" could not pull any paperwork while I sat in their office for over an hour. Two weeks later the financial aid "director" called and said they found the paperwork, I went in and noticed the "signature" was one from the computer, but when I do an e-signature I make sure that it comes to my email address as a copy - I never received a copy when I "signed" this paperwork when I had enrolled. This school is setting people up to fail, telling students they owe more for the school than what was originally signed for, and will not do anything to right their wrongs. I would not go to this school even if I was paid

  Business Response

  Date: 12/01/2023

  Dear former student,

  Although you signed as anonymous, we believe we were able to access your student file by your phone number. When you enrolled in the Ultrasound Technician *** program, you signed an enrollment agreement. The enrollment agreement is the contract signed between the you and our institution agreeing to pay tuition for the your enrolling program. Our records indicate that you enrolled in the Ultrasound Technician *** program on March 29, 2021. At your request, we approved a drop of the *** portion and you signed an adjusted enrollment agreement and your financial package was updated. Our records indicate that a copy of your signed agreement was sent to you. 
  
  We are disappointed that your experience has been unfavorable. However, your student file shows that our Campus Director, Director of Education, and others within our organization, worked to accommodate your requests for different extern sites because of your need for flexible hours. 
  
  The charge on your credit report may be your loan with Tuition Flex that you signed an agreement to cover your tuition balance. 
  
  Our records also indicate that you completed the Ultrasound Technician diploma program and graduated June 2023. We wish you the best of luck in your future.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/05/2022

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  August 8/25/2022 Registration fee of $100 I was a Student at high desert medical college. When I went to this school and when I look the school up it DO NOT STATE that they are a private school nor no it state that they will be taking money out in our name for the school and we have to pay it back on top of paying them back for going to school meaning they taking my financial aid and want money from me out of pocket on a payment plan on taking loans out on my name that I do not see and without my permission

  Business Response

  Date: 11/09/2022

  Dear ********,
  
  I acknowledge your frustration and am disappointed that you are no longer enrolled in the Clinical Medical Assisting program at HDMC. The enrollment process at High Desert Medical College includes your signature on an enrollment agreement. On page 13 of the enrollment agreement you initialed in acknowledgement the statement that reads, "The institution has informed me that it is a private college and not a public institution."
  
  When you enrolled, we presented the cost of enrollment breakdown. As part of the breakdown, the $200 registration is explained, and you initialed in acknowledgement, that the fee is non-refundable if you withdrawal from the program. Regarding Financial Aid received, you did sign an agreement in acknowledgement that your Federal loan would be disbursed to the college to cover the cost of the program enrolled. If you have further questions, please reach out to me directly.
  
  ***************************
  CEO, Legacy Education
  *****************