For-profits gaining ground, but changes loom
By Elaine Korry and Liz Willen
Photo by Hvnly on Flickr
SACRAMENTO – A year ago, Joseph Carrillo Jr. had to fight to get into overcrowded classes here at the public American River College. He couldn’t find a guidance counselor, and he felt lost. So he switched to the private University of Phoenix, where everything fell into place — at 17 times the cost.
Carrillo’s move from the community college to the for-profit university shows the allure of a higher-education sector that is growing so fast the federal government wants to rein it in. The 24-year-old, who hopes to own a business someday, said he was impressed by the ease of course-scheduling at his new school and unconcerned about future debt.
“What good is cheap tuition if classes are so packed you can’t even get in?” he said.
Photo by Hvnly on Flickr
SACRAMENTO – A year ago, Joseph Carrillo Jr. had to fight to get into overcrowded classes here at the public American River College. He couldn’t find a guidance counselor, and he felt lost. So he switched to the private University of Phoenix, where everything fell into place — at 17 times the cost.Carrillo’s move from the community college to the for-profit university shows the allure of a higher-education sector that is growing so fast the federal government wants to rein it in. The 24-year-old, who hopes to own a business someday, said he was impressed by the ease of course-scheduling at his new school and unconcerned about future debt.
“What good is cheap tuition if classes are so packed you can’t even get in?” he said.