Pasadena, TXprivate forprofitwww.ict.edu/campuses/tx/pasadena/
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Interactive College of Technology (ICT) in Pasadena, TX, is a no-frills career college specializing in fast-track vocational programs—think HVAC certification, medical office management, and IT training—with a near-open admissions policy and a student body that's majority Black and Hispanic. While some alumni praise its hands-on training, others warn of disorganization and aggressive recruitment tactics.
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Outcomes & value
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
ICT operates with near-open admissions—sources report a 100% acceptance rate at some campuses, with one noting all 27 applicants were accepted at its Gainesville location. The college serves a predominantly minority student population: 61.5% Black, 13.8% Hispanic, and 13.8% Asian students. There’s no mention of standardized test requirements or early decision policies, aligning with its mission to provide accessible career training.
ICT focuses on short-term certificates and associate degrees in practical fields like HVAC repair, medical office administration, and IT support. Its most prominent programs include:
Some credits may transfer to partner schools like Morehead State University for bachelor’s degrees, but the emphasis is on immediate job readiness—think 5-week HVAC certification courses advertised on Facebook.
Reviews are polarized: while some students call ICT “one of the best decisions I ever made” (per Facebook testimonials), former employees and students on Indeed accuse it of “taking advantage of students” and being “unorganized.” The college lacks traditional campus amenities—no dorms, sports teams, or Greek life—but promotes tight-knit cohorts in its career-focused programs. HVAC and IT labs appear to be the closest thing to a “student center.”
The graduation rate hovers around 54.55% (per federal data), and median earnings for bachelor’s grads are $27,182/year—below the national average. The Houston campus enrolls just ~65 undergrads, suggesting small cohorts. Alumni on Reddit debate whether IT program outcomes justify costs, with some landing tech jobs and others feeling underprepared.
Tuition is $13,358 after aid (per College Board), with 79% of students receiving grants averaging $6,587. There’s no indication of a no-loan policy or full-need meeting—this is a tuition-driven institution where Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculators warn estimates aren’t binding. For context, its financial resilience score is just 37/100 (Ibex Insights), suggesting precarious finances.
ICT’s hyper-practical, no-BS approach appeals to career-changers who want fast credentials without gen-ed requirements. Its racial diversity (majority Black/Latino) and open admissions fill a niche underserved by traditional colleges. But buyer beware: outcomes vary wildly, and its low financial resilience score hints at instability. Ideal for those seeking a trade-school vibe with flexible scheduling—just don’t expect a liberal arts experience.