SAN ANTONIO – Just after 2 p.m. Thursday, Vantage College closed all five of its campuses, including two in San Antonio. The closures came less than an hour after students at the campus on Southwest Military Drive were told it was an early release day.
“Out of the blue, they went into the class and they said that it was early release so we all went home,” said Lisa Nolasco, who enrolled in the medical assistant program last summer.
About 30 minutes later, she got a call from a classmate who said the release might be permanent.
“Sure enough, doors are locked. These letters are up,” she said. “It's just really upsetting because -- my future. I have a family, my kids. It's just frustrating.”
A statement placed on the school’s website this afternoon reads in part:
The U.S. Department of Education has been conducting a review of the College. No report has yet been issued in that review and consequently we have not been able to address any concerns that the Department might have. Nevertheless, despite this lack of fundamental due process, the Department just informed the College that, due to the existence of this review, the regular flow of federal student aid funds to the institution has been ended and the College has been placed on a reimbursement system, where funds will be delayed for 45 days or more. Unfortunately, the College has not been able to make alternative arrangements to cover this delay in funding.
Tuition for Nolasco’s program runs about $16,000. She received some grant money but also took out loans for the yearlong program.
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“I have four kids and it's hard to try to do my school, my work, because I also work and I have my kids that I have to attend to,” she said. “It's really overwhelming having to come and see this.”
A separate release stated the school has not received any information regarding the review nor has it been given the opportunity to address any possible concerns the review may have exposed. Vantage also has one campus in Austin and two in El Paso, where it began.
The Texas Workforce Commission, which licenses career colleges, issued a statement Thursday afternoon saying that the school informed them yesterday about the decision to close. The estimated 600 students have several options including seeking loan forgiveness and tranderring credits to other accredited programs.
Students may reach out to TWS at 866-256-6333 (use prompt #1) or at 512.936.3100, or they can email the commission at career.schools@twc.state.tx.us.
Links regarding school closures will also be available soon by clicking here.
Students can also check for links for information when it becomes available on the Coordinating Board’s school closure web location at or the main website or may call the school closure dedicated phone line at 512-427-6562.