<p>It looks like some rough times for some for-profit colleges -
[quote]
The University of Phoenix, the nations largest for-profit university, is closing 115 of its brick-and-mortar locations, including 25 main campuses and 90 smaller satellite learning centers. The closings will affect some 13,000 students, about 4 percent of its student body of 328,000.</p>
<p>It is also laying off about 800 employees out of a staff of 17,000
...
Enrollments at the University of Phoenix and in the for-profit sector over all have been declining in the last two years, partly because of growing competition from other online providers, including nonprofit and public universities, and a steady drumroll of negative publicity about the sectors recruiting abuses, low graduation rates and high default rates....
<p>University of Phoenix is on the list of schools where students are ineligible for Cal Grant financial aid for 2012-2012, due to high loan default rates and/or low graduation rates.</p>
<p>In addition, students at for-profit schools will see the maximum Cal Grant amount cut below that for students at other private schools in 2013-2014.</p>
<p>I do not know much about the residential campuses, and certainly the try a session free approach is better than the default on your student loan approach. However, I do think the for -profits offer a needed opportunity for adult learners. That is why they have grown so rapidly, and although the number might constrict they are not going away. </p>
<p>Unlike brick an mortar institutions they can offer on-line classes for students with difficult schedules The classes are shorter and more intense for those who cannot attend for a whole semester at a time. They allow a highly variable load. On-line classes mean you can participate from anywhere, even if you travel or need to go to the library for internet access. Open enrollment means anyone can attend regardless of SATs, high school GPA or whether they have even been in school for the last decade. I doubt that non-profit schools, or community colleges which are focused on their local community, would be willing or able to fill that gap.</p>
<p>I have a friend who teaches graduate classes for Phoenix. Her students are adults trying to change the direction of their lives including people like retired and active duty military, single parents trying to work and go to school, sales reps who spend their life on the road, people in their 50s or 60s who want to try something new, etc. Some may take a few classes, and then take a year off, and then come back. They may not always finish a degree, but so what, the benefit is in the journey not just the destination.</p>
<p>I hope there will always be opportunities for these types of students, and I don’t care if someone makes a profit doing it. Making a profit is not inherently evil.</p>
<p>Glad to hear the news! I fully agree that places are needed for adults to change their educational path (or get a degree), but there are other options that cost less and have produced less defaults, both online and in person. It sounds like the market is starting to reward those - just as it should.</p>
<p>Most real colleges have options for adults/non-traditional students at a far lower price and with a much better reputation. </p>
<p>Making a profit isn’t evil however these for profit schools charge outrageous rates for very little return. There are very high drop out rates and kids, if they graduate, have HUGE debt loads for low paying jobs.</p>
<p>I think they should have “stuck” with their original mission - on-line - the bricks and motor locations felt like a strategic distraction to me.</p>
<p>There was (not sure if its still there) a medium sized brick and mortar campus building in Dallas at one time. Really I think most of those attending were older folks in professions already that were finishing a degree or working on a different degree. The sell point was that you were going to classes with adults not college aged kids… This was 10 years ago so they must have changed their marketing…</p>
<p>Shutting half the brick-n-mortar campuses, but only down four percent in students, and by far the largest university in the U.S. Sounds like they’ve found a model that works.</p>
<p>(I like the football team, and the frats! ;))</p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with the University of Phoenix. I think there is a place for adult on-line education and yes, there is more competition today for the University of Phoenix than when they started. I don’t have a problem with the federal government or states holding on-line college’s feet to the fire, just like brick and mortar colleges, about federal or state loans. </p>
<p>Kataliamom…I’m not sure what the reference to “fleecing students” relates to with regard to University of Phoenix. Has the University of Phoenix been giving mail order degrees or something like that? I’ve worked with a number of people who knocked out MBAs through University of Phoenix, but anecdotally it always seemed like that had a fair amount of work to do for those classes in addition to the on-line time. I’ve not really heard much “bad” about this college accept with regard to recruiting problems so I’m curious.</p>
<p>With top colleges charging $58k a year and the students taught by graduate TAs with little real-world experience, it’s hard to pin the “fleecing” tag on the donkey.</p>
<p>mini-- I hear you!! We steered our kids away from schools with TA’s for that exact reason. We have a friend that is a TA at a CC popular state school who is probably teaching some of the kids of parents on this board now. No teaching experience, graduated from a not so good UG to begin with and reading Facebook posts from this TA, not doing a very good job…</p>
<p>This type of open enrollment coupled with general skepticism of the academic rigor/quality of online degree programs/for-profit schools, and Phoenix’s/for-profit schools’ various issues are some reasons why many employers I’ve worked with tend to look at someone with Phoenix, other for-profits, and open-enrollment institutions with extreme skepticism. </p>
<p>The very issue of “open admissions” was one key factor in why post-1969 CCNY/CUNY degrees were regarded skeptically by many NYC area employers from the 70’s until well into the late '90s.</p>
<p>Interesting, I’ve not paid much attention to the Phoenix issues. Most of the people I know who used Phoenix for the masters were simply interested in checking the box on a master’s since so many young kids have them now. Back in the day it was unusual to have completed a master’s. I have not met anyone who used Phoenix for an undergrad but I figured it was mostly people who needed to work full time and needed the on-line option.</p>
<p>“We have a friend that is a TA at a CC popular state school who is probably teaching some of the kids of parents on this board now.”</p>
<p>My d. is now a head preceptor at Princeton. In her second year, without any training or experience whatsoever, she was teaching - not TAing - but teaching new material to undergraduates. She was grading all papers and all exams, holding office hours, and making “recommendations” for final grades. Now my d. is real smart, and knows a lot, but $58,000 for her?</p>
<p>Know folks who got their BSNs or MSNs through Univ. of Phoenix, and they seemed to be satisfied customers. Also a couple of folks with Masters in Criminology. I’ve yet to meet one who complained about what they were paying for, and some praised the real-world experience of their teachers.</p>