MATTHEW FAJARDO

MATTHEW FAJARDO

Matthew Fajardo doesn’t need the fluff. When he puts his mind to something, it gets done. When he transferred from private school to public school in high school, he soon discovered that pushing hard at the beginning of the week, meant time to relax before the weekend hit.

Matthew also likes computers. In fact long before he graduated from high school, he knew he wanted a career in computer science. And what’s more, he wanted to get working in the field as soon as possible.

Matthew wanted a school that gave him access to both computer science and a career. That's why when Matthew and his father, Mark Fajardo, heard about Neumont University, they knew it was the right fit – even though it meant Matthew would be relocating more than 600 miles from home.

“Neumont was a good fit because I like to get through things fast,” Matthew, a recent Neumont graduate explained. And by fast, he means less than three years it took him to complete his bachelor's degree in computer science. “I could skip what I didn’t need,” he said.

Like most Neumont students, Fajardo discovered a place where his degree contained exactly what he needed to launch his career post-graduation – he is a software developer at Kern River Gas Transmission in Cottonwood Heights, Utah.

By attending classes year-round, Neumont’s unique and intense approach to education means students focus on what’s most valuable for a career in the tech industry. 97% of Neumont graduates are employed within six months of graduation, and accept an average starting salary of $63,000 per year.*

But the program is not for the faint-of-heart. Where Matthew could get by in high school with a single day of hard work (and ‘coasting’ for six). “At Neumont, you have to do the work every day,” he says. “You get out of it what you put into it.”

And it’s more than time that you’re putting in. While the cost of any education is expensive, Mark says Neumont is worth it.

"It’s an investment, but worth every penny. Neumont was a life-changing experience for my son," says Mark. "The entire Neumont experience was wonderful.”

From the financial aid staff to the advocates to the admissions officers, Mark was especially thankful for the time and attention Neumont gave him and  his son. 

“They encouraged us to ask questions and were very informative with the parents," says Mark. "Any time they were making any changes they informed us ahead of time, and any time I called they would get back with me right away.”

For parents wondering if Neumont could be the right fit for their computer science-minded son or daughter, Mark says “I recommend it to all my nieces and nephews.”

And his son Matthew, has some words of advice for future students, “Don’t get sucked up in video games.”

*Employment and salary statistics are calculated using data from the 2011-2014 Neumont University graduates. Neumont verifies employment and first-year compensation by employers in writing. Neumont does not guarantee employment or first-year compensation for future graduates.