Too Big To Fail: The Role of For-Profit Colleges and Universities in American Higher Education

By William G. Tierney

Although for-profit colleges and universities have had a long history in the United States, they have garnered significant attention only in the last decade. In the early 20th century, career colleges existed primarily in urban areas to provide training for specific trades or professions—plumbing, restaurant management, art and design, cosmetology, paralegal work, and the like. These institutions were largely small institutions that offered a few classes in rented buildings. They charged relatively low fees to their customers, who in turn learned specific skills that led directly to jobs.

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