The National Center for Postsecondary Improvement joined with CCRC to pursue an exploratory study comparing for-profit and public two-year colleges. The research was based on analysis of available data and case studies of a for-profit private school chain and community colleges that operate in the same markets. The study investigated the size of the for-profit sector among two-year colleges, how public two-year colleges have been influenced by the rise of local proprietary competitors, how the academic and technical programs offered by the two types of colleges compare, and differences in student outcomes following graduation.
This project was funded in part by the Educational Research and Development Center program administered by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education.