For-Profit Education

For-profit education is the fastest growing sector of U.S. postsecondary education today. The sector includes some smaller, privately owned colleges, as well as larger institutions owned by publicly traded corporations. For-profit institutions are similar to public and private nonprofit colleges and universities with respect to degree offerings, but in contrast to these traditional institutions of higher education, for-profit institutions provide an education while seeking to make a profit for their stockholders and investors. Enrollment in for-profit institutions has increased rapidly since the 1990s, and these colleges and universities award a substantial number of postsecondary certificates and degrees. At the same time, the sector has come under scrutiny for some of its marketing strategies, recruitment practices, and the high rate of loan default among its students.

For-profit ...