Heald College-Fresno

Heald College-Fresno Academics

Located in Fresno, California within the San Joaquin Valley, Heald College – Fresno is a premier career college in the western United States. Heald College – Fresno was established in 1906, forming one of the 11 campuses that make up the entire Heald College institution itself. It offers programs in healthcare, business, law and technology and it located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley – an area with a growing job market.

Heald College – Fresno is unique in its career-focused approach. Degree programs are meant to be short and efficient, providing students with a real-world, hands-on education that will lead to success in the working world. The most popular fields of study at Heald College – Fresno are Clinical Assistant, Accounting, Business Administration, medical Administration and Criminal Justice, though many other areas are offered.

A strong emphasis is placed upon the brevity of Heald Fresno’s programs, with some degrees taking as little as six months to achieve. The availability and timeline is as follows:

• Associate in Applied Science: 18 to 24 months
• Associate of Arts: 9 to 12 months
• Short-Term Diploma: 12 to 16 months
• Certifications: 6 to 12 months

Many of the Associate of Arts degrees available at Heald College – Fresno can be used for transfer into four-year-programs (depending upon the requisites of the four-year institution, of course). A second Associate of Arts degree can also be achieved in six months, rendering Heald College – Fresno students especially competitive in and prepared for the job market.

As mentioned, Heald College – Fresno forms a part of the larger Heald College system. Heald College itself was established in 1863 in San Francisco, California as one of the first business colleges in the western United States. Today, the system includes eleven campuses in Oregon, Hawaii and California and thousands of career-ready students.

Regionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (an association accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and U.S. Department of Education), the Heald College system is now one of the most highly-respected colleges of its type in the area.

Heald College-Fresno Unique Programs

Because Heald Fresno is such a career-oriented institution, the excellence and efficiency of its Career Services Department should come as no surprise.

The goal of the school is simple: preparing talented professionals for entry into the business world. In order to achieve this goal, Heald Fresno encourages employment before students are finished with their studies. Internships and externship opportunities are abundant and provide students with the opportunity to work while earning college credit. Interesting and challenging work-study jobs on and off of campus are also offered to those looking to gain both money and experience.

Career fairs and on-campus interview sessions are held throughout the year, and students are provided with guidance and support in areas like resume-writing, interviewing and job-searching.

What is especially unique about the Career Services Department of Heald College – Fresno is its provision of job placement assistance for life. In other words, the school promises to aid all graduates in finding employment from graduation to retirement.

These policies render Heald Fresno students quite successful. Many find employment in top companies such as Bank of America, Citibank, the Fresno Supreme Court, Wells Fargo Bank and Kaiser Permanente.

Heald College-Fresno Admissions

Heald College – Fresno is set apart from other schools of its kind by its unique admission policies. Whereas many schools rely on the sending of bulletins and informational packages to attract students, Heald College – Fresno encourages all prospective students to visit the campus itself. The institution suggests that those interested in attending meet with an admissions advisor for a free college planning session. These encounters are purely informational. More than anything, they are meant to guide potential undergraduates in choosing a program that is right for them.

The admissions process at Heald College – Fresno is composed of several steps. After attending an approximately one-hour interview with an admissions advisor, students are asked to complete an admissions application (the cost of this is $40 for American students and $250 for international). Though no ACT or SAT scores are required, students are asked to provide proof of a high school diploma or GED and also take an entrance placement assessment test. Finally, an admissions advisor must recommend the student to the campus director.

Heald College – Fresno places a great amount of importance on the personalized aspect of its admissions process, making sure to point prospective students in the right direction.

Heald College-Fresno Financial Aid

More than 95% of Heald College – Fresno students receive financial aid, rendering the institution uniquely accessible to a wide demographic of students. Federal and grants, high school scholarships, government and private loans, payment plans and work study are forms of financial aid available to all students in need. Heald Fresno also utilizes a program of employer reimbursement, encouraging businesses to financially support their employees enrolled at the institution.

The Heald College – Fresno Financial Aid Department pays special attention to veterans and military servicemen. It provides educational benefits to veterans and dependents of veterans. Heald Fresno is also a member of the Serviceshipmembers Opportunity Colleges – a group of schools working in cooperation with the Department of Defense, National Guard, Coast Guard and other military entities to provide servicemen and their families with a solid education.

Heald College-Fresno Students

Currently, around 1000 undergraduate students attend classes in Heald Fresno’s 38,000 square foot educational facilities. The student population is highly diverse, though many of the students are from the area.

Heald College – Fresno is primarily a commuter college as the institution itself provides no on-campus housing. It does, however, offer free and plentiful parking to all of its students, faculty and employees. Students are also provided with a Learning Resource Center, including a library, which is open six days per week. Food service facilities and book stores can also be found on campus.

While the bonds formed among Heald College – Fresno students may not be as socially strong as at other institutions due to its status as a commuter college, its business-oriented community provides students with prime opportunities for networking. Campus buildings are meant to facilitate professional contact among students. Heald Fresno furthers these business-type relationships by imposing a “Dress for Success” policy on certain days in order to promote professionalism.

Heald College-Fresno Local Community

The college is located in Fresno, California in the San Joaquin Valley. California’s fifth largest city, Fresno’s population is around 500,000. It is the home to several higher education institutions, giving it a youthful, college town quality.

This somewhat urban location of Heald Fresno renders it a perfect home to students looking to enter into the working world. As of late, Fresno has become known for its growing presence of business incubators that serve as resource hubs for business entrepreneurs and new companies. Students looking to balance both a working and academic life should have no problem with all of the businesses popping up in the area.

Heald College-Fresno Alumni

With famous alumni such as A.P. Giannini (founder of the Bank of America), Hiram Johnson (former California governor) and “Grader Vic” Bergeron (renowned restaurateur), it is not difficult to understand why more and more students are choosing Heald to continue their education.

Carnegie Foundation Classification

Associate's — Private Not-for-profit

General Characteristics

Highest offering	Associate's degree
Calendar System	Quarter
Years of college work required	N/A
Variable Tuition

Special Learning Opportunities

Distance Learning
ROTC — Army / Navy / Air Force	— / /
Study Abroad
Weekend College
Teacher Certification