When New York City sued Berkeley College last month, charging that the for-profit school “preys” on low-income students, it raised increasingly common concerns that so-called “proprietary” colleges put profits ahead of educating and securing employment for graduates.
But opinions remained divided about for-profit colleges, which have been around for decades and have advertised heavily in recent years to grow their public profile. Their statistical profiles can be hard to evaluate even with data most commonly used to compare institutions of higher education.
Critics say that some are predatory organizations that trap typically low-income and first-generation students into high-interest loan repayment plans, and overstate graduation rates and career outcomes. Advocates say these institutions make higher education accessible to more students and give students options for focused professional training.
Donna Gurnett, president and CEO of the Association of Proprietary Colleges, a 12-member organization whose membership includes Berkeley College, said the group’s members are well-known, community-based institutions.