North-West College

What North-West College does

North-West College is a private vocational and career training institution founded in 1966, headquartered in Pasadena, California. It operates 12 physical campuses across Southern California (Anaheim, Bakersfield, Glendale, Long Beach, Pomona, Riverside, San Diego, Van Nuys, West Covina, and South Gate) plus one campus in Provo, Utah, delivering 15 distinct programs across healthcare and skilled trades. Programs range from short-term certificates (approximately 9-month Electrician and HVAC Technician programs aligned to NCCER curriculum) to multi-year nursing degrees offered through the Marsha Fuerst School of Nursing (MFSON) sub-brand, including Associate of Arts in Nursing and B.S. in Nursing (BSN, including RN-to-BSN and a Provo-based BSN). Healthcare programs include Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technology (CAAHEP-accredited at four campuses), Massage Therapy (CAMTC-approved at three campuses), Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Medical Insurance Biller & Coder, Vocational Nursing, Eyecare Specialist, and an A.S. in Health Care Administration. The institution is accredited through Success Education Colleges and holds multiple programmatic accreditations required for graduate certification eligibility.\n\nThe core technology is conventional vocational education delivery: classroom instruction, hands-on labs, and clinical externships, supported by an eCampus portal and Learning Resource Center. No proprietary technology platform, software product, or AI-enabled system is described. The institution prepares students for industry certification exams (CMA, CDA, PTCE, CST, EPA Section 608, NCLEX) and publishes exam pass rates for transparency.\n\nThe business model is tuition-based revenue from individual adult learners, with financial aid available for eligible students. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through a multi-channel paid acquisition strategy spanning TV, streaming TV, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Pandora, radio, billboards, Yelp, and organic search, supplemented by graduate referrals and high school presentations. An inside admissions sales team responds to website inquiries via phone (1-888-408-4211), email, and SMS (626-249-0999). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and requires contacting admissions. The institution reports 'tens of thousands' of cumulative graduates over 60 years of operation and is led by President Mitchell Fuerst; no parent company, private equity backing, or external investment is disclosed.

Name

North-West College

Legal name

North-West College

Website

https://nw.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Short description

North-West College is a private vocational school founded in 1966 operating 12 campuses across Southern California and Utah, delivering 15 certificate and degree programs in healthcare and skilled trades to adult learners seeking career entry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Career Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private/Independent Community & Junior Colleges (EDAHADAB)

Keywords

• Vocational career training
• Healthcare education programs
• Skilled trades training
• Nursing degree programs
• Certificate programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Educational Program Fees: North-West College generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees charged for its vocational and degree programs. Programs range from short-term certificate programs (e.g., ~9-month Electrician and HVAC Technician programs) to associate and bachelor's degree nursing programs. The college offers financial aid to eligible students, indicating a tuition-based revenue model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

North-West College is a private vocational and career training institution that delivers short-term certificate programs, associate degrees, and bachelor's degree programs focused on healthcare careers (Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technology, Nursing, Medical Insurance Biller & Coder, Massage Therapist, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer) and skilled trades (Electrician Technician, HVAC Technician). Programs combine classroom instruction, hands-on labs, and clinical externships and are delivered at 12 physical campus locations across Southern California and Provo, Utah.

Product overview

North-West College offers career-focused vocational training programs and degree programs primarily in healthcare and skilled trades. The institution provides a portfolio of 15 distinct programs including healthcare career training (Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Massage Therapist, Medical Insurance Biller & Coder, Vocational Nursing), nursing degree programs (Associate of Arts in Nursing/RN, B.S. in Nursing RN-to-BSN at multiple campuses), health administration degrees (A.S. in Health Care Administration), and skilled trades programs (Electrician Technician, HVAC Technician, Eyecare Specialist). The programs combine classroom instruction with hands-on lab training and clinical externships, designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in their respective fields. Programs are offered at multiple California campus locations and one Utah campus (Provo).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Marsha Fuerst School of Nursing: Nursing school division offering Associate Degree in Nursing and BSN programs, operated at Glendale, Bakersfield, San Diego, West Covina, and Riverside campuses

Products and services

• Dental Assistant Career-focused technical training program designed to provide the skills needed to start working in a dental office, including patient scheduling, record processing, insurance billing, chairside assisting, x-ray and dental imaging, and coronal polishing.
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Ultrasound Tech) Training program that develops skills needed to perform diagnostic studies on patients using ultrasound equipment for diagnosis and interpretation by a physician.
• Massage Therapist Vocational training program designed to provide knowledge and education needed to begin working in massage offices, spas, chiropractic offices, hospitals, nursing facilities, and other healthcare settings. CAMTC-approved at West Covina, Pomona Valley, and Anaheim campuses.
• Medical Assistant Training program that provides healthcare knowledge, training and certification required to begin working in healthcare or medical offices, including medical clinics, doctors' offices, HMOs, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals.
• Medical Insurance Biller & Coder Professional healthcare training program designed to provide fundamental knowledge needed to work with medical and insurance records, including medical terminology, front office procedures, claims submission, insurance reimbursement, and computer billing applications.
• Pharmacy Technician Hands-on career-focused program that provides education and training needed to begin a career in pharmacies, hospitals, pharmaceutical labs and other healthcare facilities, covering pharmaceutical calculations, prescription processing, drug labeling, and sterile/non-sterile drug compounding. Prepares students for PTCB certification exam.
• Surgical Technology Associate of Occupational Science degree program that trains students to assist in surgical operations, preparing operating rooms and helping surgeons during surgical procedures, qualifying graduates to work in hospitals, surgical centers, and outpatient clinics. CAAHEP-accredited at Anaheim, Long Beach, Riverside, and West Covina campuses.
• Vocational Nursing Training program designed to help students become a Vocational Nurse with comprehensive training programs and nursing courses.
• Registered Nurse (RN) / Associate of Arts in Nursing Associate Degree Program for Nurses offered through Marsha Fuerst School of Nursing that provides education and hands-on training needed to begin a career as a Registered Nurse.
• B.S. in Nursing (RN to BSN)

Quantifiable outcome

• Tens of thousands of graduates placed in healthcare organizations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)coreTechnology or IntegrationNorth-West College uses NCCER curriculum for its Electrician Technician and HVAC Technician programs. NCCER is a nationally recognized training and credentialing program for the skilled trades. The curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to succeed in the trades workforce and helps prepare graduates for real-world jobsite expectations.
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)coreTechnology or IntegrationCAAHEP accredits the Surgical Technologist programs at North-West College's Anaheim, Long Beach, Riverside, and West Covina campuses upon the recommendation of ARC/STSA. CAAHEP accreditation is a quality standard that signifies the program meets rigorous educational standards for surgical technology training.
• California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC)coreTechnology or IntegrationCAMTC provides statewide certification for massage therapists and approves massage therapy schools in California. North-West College's West Covina, Pomona Valley, and Anaheim campuses have received CAMTC school approval. CAMTC approval is required for graduates to be eligible for California massage therapist certification.
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)coreTechnology or IntegrationNorth-West College prepares Pharmacy Technician students to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) administered by PTCB. The college publishes exam pass rates for its West Covina, Glendale, Pomona, and Van Nuys campuses, demonstrating program effectiveness.
• Success Education CollegescoreTechnology or IntegrationNorth-West College is a member of Success Education Colleges, an institutional affiliation that maintains the relevancy and quality of its training programs through compliance and involvement. The affiliation provides an accreditation framework for the institution.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Concorde Career Colleges: Operates a multi-campus network of for-profit healthcare and dental career colleges across the U.S., directly comparable to NWC's healthcare certificate and degree portfolio and Southern California presence.
• American Career College: California-based for-profit vocational college offering healthcare and skilled trades certificate and degree programs across multiple campuses, with overlapping healthcare programs (Medical Assistant, Surgical Technology, Vocational Nursing) and similar target learners.
• UEI College: For-profit vocational institution operating multiple campuses across California and other states offering healthcare, trades, and skilled programs (HVAC, electrician-adjacent) directly comparable to NWC's portfolio.
• San Joaquin Valley College: California-based for-profit institution offering healthcare certificates, associate degrees, and trades programs across multiple campuses in the same regional markets as North-West College.
• Carrington College: Operates for-profit healthcare and trades-focused campuses across California and other western states, with overlapping programs in Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Vocational Nursing, and HVAC directly comparable to NWC.
• Platt College: Southern California-based for-profit career college offering healthcare, trades, and design programs; directly competes for the same regional healthcare training student base as North-West College.
• Brightwood College (Education Affiliates): For-profit vocational institution offering healthcare diploma and degree programs including Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, and HVAC across multiple U.S. campuses, comparable in business model and student profile.
• Charter College: For-profit institution offering healthcare, trades, and business programs (Medical Assistant, HVAC, Electrical) at multiple campuses, comparable to NWC in program mix and target audience.

Others

• National Education Alliance for Careers: Industry alliance supporting private career schools in workforce development; not a competitor but a trade-level organization relevant to NWC's institutional positioning and accreditation strategy.
• Success Education Colleges: Institutional affiliation of which North-West College is a member, providing an accreditation framework; functions as an ecosystem participant and potential parent/affiliated institution relevant to understanding NWC's governance structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/successnwc
• Xx.com/north_west
• Facebookfacebook.com/115307585181
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-west-college-of-medical-and-dental-careers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North-West College