Holy Names University

As far as academics go they are rigorous. There are a handful of very good professors. But I have to say, they do not have a personal touch when it comes to dealing with your student accounts. The advisor I had for the EDUC program was not knowledgeable about the program at all. The bureaucracy is infuriating. The student email system is beyond ineffective– they send all info ONLY to your assigned student email address, which is spammed daily by every group, organization or student on campus. It can be 50 emails a day. If there is something major, some major deadline, they will not go out of their way to contact you. I missed some vital information this way and they drew a line in the sand and refused to let me walk in the grad ceremony. I am a graduate of JFK, another private university, and the frustrations and huge problems I’ve encountered with the bureaucracy at HNU did not exist there. For such a small university, HNU should be less corporate and less bureaucratic and focus on making their customers happy by working on serving their needs, and not just dotting ‘i’s and crossing ‘t’s.

This is a great university located in the Oakland hills. Yes this is a private school but it is one of the best private universities out there. It is on the smaller side and the pupil to professor ration is very small which makes for a great learning experience for the students. The academic level here is great thanks to awesome and well educated professors. The campus itself does feel a bit outdated but it has been around for awhile. Since it is up in the hills of Oakland you can get some amazing views of the Bay Area during the morning areas and the early evening hours. All the people that I know that went to school and graduated from here they all really enjoyed their time here and so glad they chose to come to this school for there education, you will be glad you did!

I attended this school for many years as I was a working military mom and had to take time off several times for military deployments … but I was finally awarded my degree in 2013 … BA in Psych. I loved it. The classes are small and intimate and I always felt that my instructors took a personal interest in my learning experience.
The campus is set in the Oakland Hills in a lush green oasis and I always felt safe. They have their own parking so I didn’t have to fight finding one in the street and risk getting a ticket. albeit sometimes I did have to drive around for a minute to find one!
My advisor, Dr. Martin Lampert, was almost always available which made it easy to meet and talk with him about any issues with my program. I took forever to get my degree but he could always find my file somewhere in his file cabinet … faded transcripts and all.
The little café had yummy food and great coffee plus the employees were always ready with a smile.
I agree with others that it’s expensive but it’s worth it to me to receive a positive and quality educational experience. I’d do it again just a bit faster!
I’m originally from Oakland and graduated from Oakland High (Go Wildcats!) albeit many years ago, but I’m happy that I could also graduate from a University in my hometown.

For the librarians:
Usually you’re very quiet and considerate, but the rustling of poster papers and loud talking is not helping anyone here that is trying to study. I understand that there might not be a lot of us in this facility, considering that it’s summer, but come on. As a nursing student, it’s critical that there’s silence to concentrate. It doesn’t help that the downstairs is off-​limits, which is a designated ultra quiet zone.
THANKS.

My daughter left UC Berkeley with good grades to attend here as she wants to be a nurse anesthetist. She has been excited to go here and she thrived at this school. She did well at Cal so she often raised the mid point for some of her classes as it is easier here than at Cal. This place offers a safe and nurturing environment that is not easy to find at a big school like Cal.
Only 20 students per class are accepted into the nursing program at Samuel Merritt so this place is not a shoo in just because it is a private school.

Beautiful campus, gorgoues cross at the top of the hill where you can see the city.
Needs a bit of updating but
The education makes up 10X for that.

Great Music Education program here !! The Kodaly emphasis is a gem ~~ Summer courses are great !! Very useful for teachers. Small teacher and student ration. Great environment for studying !!! 5 star for sure

I’m currently working on my MBA here and I love it. The school is set in the Oakland hills, which are so beautiful. My favorite tree lines the campus (eucalyptus), so it smells amazing almost all the time.
The tutition is more than I’m used to paying (my undersgrad degree is from a State school… Chico State!) but I think it’s worth it. The staff is always nice, even if they are overworked and underpaid.
My advisor can be special but he’s a nice guy. Just need to make sure that you’re bossy enough to speak up for yourself.
I’m looking forward to my graduation :)

I am getting my undergrad from HNU now and my experience has been very bitter sweet. I am in the evening adult program. When I first started I was told I would only need 40 units to graduate. After my first year they said I needed 55 units to graduate.
I have dealt with 3 advisers (they were «transitioning» 1 adviser out). The new adviser isn’t half as knowledgeable as the previous and could find my file several times and couldn’t/didnt advise me well since she started (and she is on vacation with school starting Mon.).
I wouldn’t recommend this school to anyone. It’s not worth the ultra high tuition that increases each semester. $ 550 per UNIT!!!
The education is okay, but if you ever have problems… the bureaucracy is unreal. Be prepared to get your cardio in because you will be running in circles talking to everyone trying to resolve the most minute issues. In the evening program, good luck finding resources that are available in the evening.
In the end they really hooked me up so I could graduate when I wanted. Too little too late.

This review is for their theatre
I have performed a couple times on this stage with different kinds of dance. I must say that the crew is consistently great to their performers and really helpful. Backstage is huge compared to many other places so dancers do not feel too cramped. The green room is awesome because god knows dancers need their energy. The stage is not the largest however the wing space and spacious hallways are great for dancers waiting for the next act. As for the seating, I do not think there is a bad seat in the house. Where ever you are sitting you’ll get a really good view. It provides an intimate setting. Love it!

I graduated with my undergrad through the weekend program for adults back in 2004. I still believe that the time and money spent at HNU was one of my greatest investments. I appreciated being in class with other working adults, and having instructors who understood the needs of adult students. No regrets! Now it’s time to get that MBA!

This school of Nursing is a waste of your time and money you will not get support of the faulty you will not get clinical sites in order to graduate you will have your home work and legal paperwork lost the needs to go to the BRN
The program will be stretched out longer than it should be and it will take you alot longer to finish because there are no clinical sites available.
The faulty is very unprofessional and lack knowledge they are not up to date on what is happening today in healthcare.
Cut your loses and go some where else

I cannot speak for the undergrad programs but for graduate school, Holy Names University certainly knows how to take care of the M.A. Pastoral Ministry students. From the moment I inquired to the moment I started my first day of class, the admissions process went very smoothly.
I had my own assistant, Mary Turowski to walk me through everything and be my point person — when financial aid needed something or when it was time to register for classes, Mary was right there helping me.
The instructors are very professional, experienced and passionate about students — they truly care about your success. The courses are very intriguing and challenging because the instructors expect you to draw not only from your academic background but your work and life experiences as well.
The cost is very reasonable and a great value.

This is the college that I needed for my undergrad work… size-​wise, it is like a posh high school, meaning that it is not so huge that you risk getting swallowed up and lost in a maze of buildings named after dead folks. The campus is very pretty, greenery and picnic benchs and lots of old shade trees. Some of the buildings are older, but I think it adds to the charm of the campus.. Parking is easy, too… yes, there are lots of spaces on campus (try to say that about SF State or UCSF).
Everyone I have had contact with, from the cafeteria folks to the instructors to the administrators, have been nothing but NICE and helpful. I know that there are classmates that may disagree, but I have never had an issue with communication at this school. Even the head honchos call or email you back in a day… Oh, and the librarians are out-​of-​this-​world! They are so helpful and they truly enjoy their jobs
Granted, the tuition is crazy-​expensive, but it is a private Jesuit university and I think their rates are the same as, say, USF, which is much, much bigger…
The religion is there, there are still nuns and virgin Mary statutes, but the nuns are modern and (gosh) use email, too! You can be a pagan and still attend school here.
Lastly, since I attended school for my graduate nursing degree while working fulltime and being a single parent (hey, big props for ME!), I have to say that the program was perfectly geared for that, as advertised! The faculty were awesome and I really really enjoyed my time, despite the stress of «being in school» and life’s curveballs. I agree with Jessica M., the instructors are people that you want to know… they are pillars in their own right and very approachable… oh, and I think that the world’s supply of powder soap has been cornered by the Archdiochese, since I have only seen it here and at St. Monica’s on a regular basis.

I think this is the only college left in the area with wooden desks and powdered soap. As a recent grad, I gotta say I’m gonna miss this place. You don’t need to be a religiously oriented person to appreciate the energy and enthusiasm at this campus. Genuine people, and teachers that you will want to get to know. This is an actual learning community, as cheesey as that may sound.

of course i love this place.
i am currently working. CAN’T YOU TELL?
(all sass and sarcasm aside for one moment please:
the university and all of its students, faculty and staff — including yours truly — are an excellent bunch. yes, we have nuns, and yes, they are awesome.
now i have to get back to work!)