Cautions of Enrolling at a For-Profit College

You may have seen TV commercials and other advertisements for for-profit colleges. These
typically highlight testimonials from past and current students. Some students claim that these
schools have prepared them for success and they have landed a well-paying career. However,
many of these colleges are deceptive regarding enrollment. Government investigations have
found that some of these schools have made false claims about their accreditation, high
graduation rates, cost of program, etc.

For-profit colleges have been notorious for aggressive recruiting and often lure prospective
students by persistent phone calls. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found
that for-profit colleges have higher tuition rates than a nearby public institution. Graduation rates
may be much lower than public or private institutions. The GAO report also found that 23.3
percent of students at for-profit schools defaulted on their student loans compared to 9.5 percent
of public school loans.

If you still wish to enroll at a for-profit college, be sure to do your research first. It is in your best
interest not to talk to a recruiter because they may be aggressive or give misleading information.
Ask for the school’s graduation rate in writing, as well as written proof of their post-graduate
employment rates in your field. Also, just because a school is “accredited” does not necessarily
mean it is accredited for the type of work you want to do. It is therefore crucial to see if the
school’s accreditation meets your profession’s standards. Lastly, make sure you research the
tuition expenses and see if your student loans will be able to cover these costs.

READERS, what do you think?

1. Would you consider enrolling in a for-profit school if it met your academic and
professional needs? Why or why not?

2. Why do you think some people enroll in for-profit colleges?

3. What do you think is the best way of dealing with for-profit colleges that take advantage
of students? Do you think the government should close these schools?

References: 

The Office of Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson. (n.d.). For-Profit

       Colleges: Do Your Homework. Retrieved July 6, 2015, from

       http://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/Publications/ForProfitColleges.asp