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Business Profile

Colleges and Universities

Center for Excellence in Higher Education Inc.

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Center for Excellence in Higher Education Inc.'s headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 37 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 3 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    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.

    Sort by

    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/18/2023

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      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.
      There is a charge on my credit report for this company for a school I never attended i have disputed this several times

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/12/2023

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      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 was one of the lucky ones to graduate from Independence University 3 months before it closed, however I am unable to use my degree because I did not receive the proper training to pass my board exams. I have received numerous calls and emails regarding a $6400 balance. This is a bill that they refuse to explain what the charges, fees and adjustments are for. The original bill started at $884 and all of a sudden is $6400!!!!!! I have paid over $1700 to this institution. They are now hounding me to pay, this has ruined my credit that I’ve worked so hard for! Nobody has an explanation! This is fraud! There are currently active lawsuits against this institution for fraud…scamming students!..and I, unfortunately am one of them!
      This is infuriating! This is wrong! This is illegal!!!!

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/26/2023

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      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.
      On May 31, 2023 this company reported on my credit report when this account through Steven's Henager college was included in a bankruptcy. They were being paid through the bankruptcy and everything was fine until Steven's Henager college closed in July 2021. At this time the payments were being returned to the bankruptcy trustee and he put the money aside for this account. Between July 2021 and May 2023 the collection agency representing this company contacted me and I informed them this account was included in a bankruptcy and gave them the case number so they could file the claim and get the money owed. Instead they waited and reported this to my credit. I have called and spoken to them a couple of times to get this report off of my credit as it is an illegal reporting as the account was included in a bankruptcy. They keep telling me they are working on it and I have disputed this with the reporting agencies. I have finally finished my bankruptcy and am trying to refinance my house and because this one account reported to my credit during my bankruptcy the mortgage cannot be underwritten. This school/company is causing me extreme inability to move past this part of my life and holding me financially hostage because they cannot follow the law and file a claim to get the money they want.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/12/2023

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      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 attended Independence University from September of 2015-October of 2017. I was not aware that there would be additional charges from the school itself as I was approved for financial aid through Great Lakes. This charge has showed up on my credit report for an outrageous amount and is affecting my credit score. The school closed in 2021, so I am also unsure as to why/how they are still able to request payments. I have disputed this charge through Equifax, but it has not been removed yet.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/29/2023

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      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.
      Hello, I went to SH college in 2009 and they kicked me and someone else out despite being there every single day all day front row, the man counted us absent and we got kicked maybe a month or so in. Back then they then called me so much they even called the cash register at my WORK getting me fired. Now all the sudden they have popped back up, refreshed my debt saying it was made in 2022 and have called and harassed even my friends whom numbers Ive NEVER given out and dont actively speak to anymore. this is beyond collecting a debt and has severely skeeved me out at this point. I have messaged them asking them too cool it without any response and clearly they haven't stopped. They ruined my College career a month after signing up RIGHT out of high school and then followed and harassed me making me lose my job! I will NOT be paying them and I will not accept this level of harassment! its creeping my friends and family and me out. I am Autistic and on Disability. they aren't getting money from me if I was rich though. this is absolutely terrifying and uncomfortable for me, a disabled person living alone. Please help make it stop.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:05/04/2023

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      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.
      Attended Independence University which is now closed and credits cannot be transferred. Why should I have to pay on loans for a “degree” I can’t use anywhere. I would like my student loans forgiven and cleared off my credit report. It should be illegal to charge people thousands of dollars in student loans from a school that is not accredited and a degree that holds no weight whatsoever.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:04/25/2023

      Type:Customer Service Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      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 keep getting harassed by CEHE bill collectors about a past due bill of $7000 if my other school loans were forgiven why are they charging me! I wasn’t even able to get a job with my Degree! The school is closed down and they are reporting negative comments on my credit report and collecting a debt that i can’t pay because i was not able to find a job with this degree.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:04/24/2023

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      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.
      Center for Excellence in Higher Education Inc. closed on 8/1/2021 i was enrolled in their Independence University online program i was supposed to graduate January of 2023 but i was unable to finish due to their closure; i had applied for my loans to be discharge and i got confirmation of that on 12/1/2021; now that school is charging me $9269.00 when i never even got any loans that were not Federal. This has to be illegal, I don't owe them anything because all my Educational loans were through Federal Loans which got discharged. Now they are reporting that i'm over due for payments on my credit report when i didn't even get an initial letter saying i owed anything either; and looking at my initial Financial Aid even if i did owe them anything it'd be $1073.00 for a scholarship they awarded me through them for being a single mom and i qualified for that; and if that's the case that's just wrong, how are you going to Award me money and then because the school close now i have to pay it back... 2 years later?? it makes no sense! it's wrong, unethical and illegal. I need this to go away because it is hurting my credit when i'm trying my hardest to save and get a loan for a home.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:04/17/2023

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      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 was contacted in August of 2022 by CEHE via email stating they would report my outstanding loan with Independence University to the credit agencies if I didn't start making payments. I spoke to someone in September of 2022 and got on their hardship program for 6 months and paid $20 every month by automatic payments. I was told I would need to reach back out to get back on the program to keep the payments going so they wouldn't report me. I said I hope I can remember that, the agent told me he would make a note to reach back out when it was time to reset up the payments. Well he never did and they reported me to the credit agencies and my score tanked by 134 points after I have been very actively trying to build my credit for the past several years. Some things to note, I started at Independence University in 2015, became legally disabled in 2016 and was granted SSI in April of 2016. I finished my associated degree program with Independence in 2017. They have harassed me with phone calls, been extremely rude and condescending, and have literally made me cry by making me feel like a worthless human for not being able to pay off this loan with them. I understand I signed a promissory note when I enrolled, however I can not see into the future and didn't know I would become disabled. I wish I was able to see into the future because at least I could have seen what a horrible school Independence University is. How can you give someone a degree in graphic design but NEVER teach them how to package logos and other files for clients... Wish I never enrolled. I spoke to someone with CEHE today regarding my credit and how someone failed to do their job, and he said the only thing that can be done is to reconsolidate my load to bring the monthly payment down from +90 dollars to around $40. And if I cant make the $40 I could keep paying the $20, but either way it would still be on my credit report.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:04/17/2023

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      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.
      Original loan amount was $923, payed $690 of it before Independence University closed down. The school didn't recieve some federal funding from the government so they decided to add those onto the original loan agreement through IU. IU then threatened me for awhile about reporting it to the credit bureau which they have done recently and has brought my credit down significantly. I will be disputing as it is inaccurate when I only had $233 left to pay off. The adjustments that they made are equal to the amount of $2,055 which then brought my total balance to $2,228 (now $2,444.14) because of the funding they did not receive from the governement. This had nothing to do with me personally and the school. I refuse to pay until I get answers which I have been trying to get for over a year. I have a document from the business stating that financial aid will still be available to me when in fact they are charging ME personally for it. IU stopped making money federally and they're now making the students pay for it. I want this business (CEHE/Independence University) to get rid of the total adjustments, as well as all of the late fees that have been added onto my account as they are fraudulent and incorrect. I have called asking for clarification and I got an extremely vague answer as to what the total adjustments consisted of so I figured it out myself and did as much digging as I could. Until my account through IU/CEHE goes back down to the original amount of $233, I will then pay it off. I attached documents below regarding this inconvenience which consists of the random "total adjustments added" with no explanation, the document stating that there would be no problem regarding financial aid (which there was), as well as the slip for the financial aid that they are now charging me for.

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