In America, simply having a job is not enough. Nowadays, jobs are hard to find and most only offer part-time employment. It is near impossible to afford the cost of living while earning entry-level wages. The job market has become hostile, and it has gotten to the point that one must have formal training or a marketable education in order to obtain a stable position that offers decent wages. With this realization, many people have decided to go to college. Those that are in the market for a college education face many choices. The most common: community colleges, which do not make a profit, and technical schools or online schools, which are in the business to make a profit. These schools are called for-profit schools. Many people do not realize how important it is to shop around when debating which school to attend. Nowadays, one must get an education about their education. For profit colleges, such as Everest College, gain their profits by using high pressure sales tactics, manipulation, and fraud, and offer no benefits for college students.
First, I will explain how for-profit colleges use high pressure sales tactics to lure in students. We all are familiar with the late night advertisements for Everest College, Devry University, and the University of Phoenix. These colleges make, on average, six-hundred and fifty million dollars a year. Thirty-percent of all profits are put into advertising (Kirp, David L). Think about that for a second; billions of dollars are given to propaganda marketers that are professionals at getting consumers to dance like puppets on a string. Naturally, we dance or at least I did.
Recently, I was subjected to a tour of Everest Campus, in Vancouver Washington. To understand what I went through, one ...
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...ore making a crucial decision, be sure to do some investigating, and look into the local for-profit schools. Examine their graduation rate, and their student loan default rate. The numbers will speak for themselves.
Works Cited
Lewin, Tamar. "U.S. to Join Suit Against For-Profit College Chain.(National Desk)(Education Management Corp.)." The New York Times. (May 3, 2011): A10(L). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Clark College - Cannell Library. 28 May. 2011
Kirp, David L. "The 'for profit' college an educational alternative." Current. 457 (Nov 2003): 25(6). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Clark College - Cannell Library. 28 May. 2011
Marklein, Mary Beth. "As for-profit colleges rise, students question value.(NEWS)." USA Today. (Sept 29, 2010): 01A. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Clark College - Cannell Library. 28 May. 2011
These days, colleges are seemingly endless money pits. Did you know that in 1970 at a public university, tuition on average was only $2,710? Today, we could only dream of it being so low. Once you start looking at the actual average prices of attending a college or a university, you start to think it’s a joke with how expensive it is. It’s definitely no joke. The annual cost for undergraduate tuition, room and board is estimated to be $12,804 at public institutions and $32,184 at private institutions for the 2010 academic year, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. That means that even a modest education—a bachelor’s degree from a public university or college—will cost at least $50,000. You can find cheaper colleges for example if you attended a community college, but many of those you cannot get more than a two year degree with. There are also colleges with pr...
College is marketed towards students as an essential part of building a successful future. The United States “sells college” to those who are willing to buy into the business (Lee 671). With the massive amounts of student debts acquired every year, and the rising costs of
At many universities changes are happening every day for students. According to a 1997 article in Harper’s Magazine by Mark Edmundson titled On the Uses of a Liberal Education, universities are changing due to consumerism affecting the education system. A professor of English at the University of Virginia. In the article, Edmundson says his overall point is that the consumer ethos is winning (Edmundson 50).
As the high school chapter is coming to a close, many students have to make a decision that will affect the rest of their lives. Hopefully, for many that decision is to enroll in a college and attain a higher education. However, as tuition costs rise, students have to take a second look at their options for a better future. A community college is that second look for many because it is the less expensive option. From 2007-2009, enrollment for community colleges has increased by 24 percent (“College costs and the CPI”). Students aren’t choosing a college for educational purposes because they are overwhelmed by financial issues. They are attending community colleges so they will be able to graduate with a lower debt. Some seniors have wanted to attend a certain university all their life and they work toward that goal through grade school; however, they are hindered by soaring tuition for that college. Students should be able to attend a private university if they mee...
Increasing concern has been drawn toward the fact of there being a consistent correlation between for-profit colleges that accept federal student aid, and the sharp increase in tuition that results from the acceptance of...
Although most of his evaluations are favorable, he was fearful of the comments that his class was also enjoyable; Edmundson doesn’t teach to amuse nor interest. He possesses the genuine passion of spreading knowledge resulting in hearing the students talk of how the course changed them as a person, an individual. (Edmundson, p.390). Addressing the culture of the university Edmundson believes they are more devoted to the consumer consumption and entertainment values. The quality of education is declining due to giving the consumer what they want, rather what they need. Higher learning is shifting towards a society that is sophisticated with technology. The marketing side of decisions that are made with the finances and education are primarily for money being placed their pockets and making sure it stays there due to their tenure and permanent seats. They will always have a job, but what about the decisions for the quality of the education? Or having to cover the expenses of staying current with the newest technology and amenities as well? In order to keep balance in all of this the school will usually raise tuition which causes a chain reaction of rising costs for everything. With the rise of costs, school becomes undesirable to the students who aren’t able to afford it, or the ones who go into debt
According to Turner (2006), for-profit institutions are more responsive to the changes in the external environment and are able to capitalize on new opportunities. The growth among for-profit institutions can be attributed to their ability for geographic variation and catering to the need of non-traditional students for increased educational access. The geographic variation references the inability of non-for-profit educational institutions to adjust to changes in state, regional, and local demand due to political and social forces. For-profits' flexibility in their governance structure, sensitivity to market conditions, and the ability to generate investment capital through public and private means allow them to establish themselves in new and emerging markets regardless of career and location. Also, for-profit institutions are able to conceptualize the geographic boundaries of education that constrain traditional educational institutions. Therefore, for-profit hold a competitive advantage over non-profit institutions in attracting the expanding market of the aforementioned non-tradit...
...rson pointed out that “all yardsticks for ranking universities have their drawbacks; yet parents and students are clearly desperate for information.” McPherson further stated, “The degree of defensiveness that colleges have is unreasonable….the usual resistance to having someone interfere with their own marketing efforts.” The Commission on Education is being advised toward “create an easily navigable Web site that allows comparisons of colleges based on their actual cost..,” entrance fee data and significant graduation degrees. While ranking standards can be improved, rankings will likely not be unbiased, because the majority of the measuring tools will remain subjective; i.e., Indiana University Surveys of how students feel they are performing.
"Should schools accept corporate advertising and sponsorships?" NEA Today Oct.2006: 43. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.
Throughout the years, America has always debated whether education is needed- if it helps people succeed or not. The argument in the past was always over high school education, which is now mandatory. That decision has helped the US rise economically and industrially. Today, the US is in the middle of the same debate- this time, over college. Some, like David Leonhardt, a columnist for the business section of The New York Times, think a college education creates success in any job. Others, such as Christopher Beha, an author and assistant editor of Harper’s Magazine, believe that some college “education” (like that of for-profit schools) is a waste of time, and can even be harmful to students. Each stance on this argument has truth to it, and there is no simple answer to this rising issue in an ever changing nation full of unique people. Any final decision would affect the United States in all factions- especially economically and socially. However, despite the many arguments against college, there is overwhelming proof that college is good for all students, academically or not.
Wolf, Patrick. "Lost Opportunities: lawmakers threaten D.C scholarships despite evidence of benefits." Unabridged version of article published in education next 9:4 (2009): 1-15.
These universities are fundamentally different from the non-profit universities because one of their main priorities is to return a high profit to their shareholders. For this reason, for-profit universities aim to admit as many students as they can while cutting as many costs as possible, such as offering online courses only, which removes the costs of building classrooms. For-profit universities also target students who are not as well informed on the college selection process and what to expect from college. This group includes first generation college students and veterans; people who usually do not have the ability to learn about the pros and cons of the different types of colleges. Private, for-profit colleges base their tuition on how much money the government is willing to give to their students in aid. The students that attend these colleges are usually low-income, and are almost guaranteed to get federal aid, which guarantees money for the college, regardless of whether the students drop out in the middle of the school year or
In today’s time, colleges have slowly turned education into a commodity and made a market. People are continually informed that going to college is the essential difference in our competitive job market. The numbers are often neglected, and people are misled to believe that everyone is meant to go to college. Although not everyone can be a doctor or a lawyer, and some majors don’t pay in the long run college, it is still a great opportunity for those who can properly prepare for the time and money it requires. College is not the difference between success and failure if you don’t attend.
John Merrow. PBS Home Video 2007. DVD. Kelderman, Eric. “As State Funds Dry Up, Many Community Colleges Rely More On Tuition Than On Taxes To Get By.”
Carey’s article explains how for-profit colleges should be fixed by offering actually training to improve students education and to pursue their degree. Also how for-profits are all business, for example he used University of Phoenix and how he interviewed Michael Clifford, an investor, to explain what their goal was in for-profits and that was to make money. I believe that Carey’s argument improves and from the credible sources I found, it shows a lot how for-profits are a no good even just to be educated, it's just a waste of time and money. My first source that was used” Former Grand Canyon University investor: No future in for-profit education” by Angela Gonzales connects to Carey’s article building more effective by showing more valid and