Five Reasons why For-Profit Universities are more important than ever
When you are considering which colleges to attend, it is more critical than ever that you make the right choice for your future. It’s not enough to just attend a school because it is nearby or you like it. This is a decision that will likely affect your future for decades to come so you want to do your best to seek out meaningful information such as the real cost of colleges as well as the outcomes.
But what exactly are for-profit universities? As the name suggests, for-profit universities are owned and typically operated by private companies with investors or shareholders that expect a return on their investments. Though they are schools, it’s best to think of profit universities as businesses because that’s exactly what they are. Profit universities are generally more career and technically focused than conventional colleges and universities.
So if you are considering attending a for-profit college, here are 5 reasons why profit universities are more important than ever:
Flexibility is guaranteed
One great thing about profit universities is that they offer more flexible scheduling compared to traditional colleges and universities. For-profit institutions tend to offer students more options when it comes to online, night, as well as weekend classes. This flexible scheduling is usually a priority for anyone that’s hoping to work while in school or for someone that needs it such as parents and childcare providers.
A large non-traditional population
Most individuals that attend profit universities are non-traditional, meaning that they would usually consist of adults that are employed but have chosen to go back to school. If you are not too keen on being stuck with college freshmen and if you are looking to network with your peers, profit universities may be more appropriate for you.
The typical for-profit college student tends to be:
- From a low-income background
- Women especially mothers
- People of color
- Military veterans
Profit universities are designed to meet a demand
In the next coming years, profit universities are bound to be the number one choice for many students. As stated earlier, the pandemic has had a devastating impact on the economy. People have lost their jobs and are struggling to keep their heads above water meaning that they would be unable to cater to the growing cost of a 4-year college education.
Profit universities tend to offer shorter courses, which is why they often look like a much more attractive alternative despite the associated costs.
Society needs them
Society needs profit universities, probably now more than ever with the pandemic completely changing all aspects of life as we know it, especially education. Households all over the country are struggling to make ends meet, which is where profit schools will have to step up. Profit schools are important for society because they will allow numerous low-income students to still access their education.
Where race is concerned, profit schools have some of the highest populations of racial minority students. As mentioned above, many of these students are non-traditional and they are interested in gaining practical skill-based coaching that will enable them to go out to the marketplace. Additionally, profit universities come with well-defined programs of short durations that prepare students for a particular vocation or profession.
The programs on offer are varied
For-profit colleges are quicker than most community colleges or even traditional universities at developing and implementing programs for its students. These programs are usually developed to cater to the growing needs of the workforce. Profit universities have always been good at keeping tabs on the occupations of tomorrow.
Profit universities are known for expanding into popular fields while eliminating fields that students and employers no longer deem attractive. Traditional universities take much longer to make such changes owing to their dedicated workforce and the systems in place that prevent them from doing so. By keeping up with future jobs and trends, profit universities tend to attract a lot more candidates looking to advance their skills or careers.
How to find a profit university that you can afford:
Pay attention to your ideal characteristics
Once you start narrowing down colleges, pick out a few characteristics, both financial and non-financial, that are important to you. Some of the things you have to pay attention to include the distance from your residence, overall tuition costs, work from home programs, and so on.
Be realistic about the costs involved
University education is bound to be expensive whether you plan on attending a profit university or choose to take a more old-fashioned route. Be realistic about the costs that will be involved and prepare adequately for them. This means that you may be forced to get a job as you study or before you enroll to cater to these expenses.
Some profit universities have programs designed to help needy students get through school so be sure to find out if the school that you are applying for has such a program in place.
Don’t discount merit scholarships
Merit scholarships, unlike need-based financial aid which is determined through CSS profiles and FAFSA, are based purely on your grades, achievements, or qualifications. Regional profit universities are known to offer lucrative merit scholarships aimed at encouraging talented students from all over the country and the world to sign up.
If you believe that your academic profile is stronger than most people’s or if you are athletically gifted in some way, you should seriously look into some of the merit scholarship opportunities available that you can apply for. This will ensure that you get into the profit university of your dreams without worrying about the financial repercussions involved.
Final Thoughts
For-profit universities can and do play a very valuable role in higher education. However, you have to pick the right one. Don’t just go with what a college representative has to say about their institution.
The stakes have never been higher. The last thing you want to do is make a rash decision about your education post-high school. It is your responsibility to mount your own research about the different profit schools that have attracted your interests. This way, you will make an informed decision that you will not regret.
