For-Profit Institutions

The technical difference between for-profit and not-for-profit educational institutions rests primarily on the treatment of net income, or surplus revenue. In the case of a not-for-profit institution, all net income must be retained by the institution and used to support its educational or charitable mission. Such income is not subject to taxation by the government provided that it is derived from and used to support the institution's central educational purposes. In the case of for-profit institutions, net income is available for distribution to owners or shareholders, or can be used for other business investments. Income from such for-profit institutions is taxed in the same manner as other corporate earnings. This technical difference, however, does not fully explain the substantial historical and cultural differences between for-profit ...