In 1978, the University of Phoenix was among the first for-profit universities to receive accreditation from a prestigious regional agency: the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Its accreditation marked a turning point in broader acceptance for the for-profit model in higher education and gave the…

Students today face a grim reality: they pay exorbitant tuition costs--often for little gain. In recent decades, policymakers and educational institutions have focused on increasing access and funding for first-generation, low-income, and minority students. But these efforts have failed to close the achievement gap because they do nothing to…

Once comprised of local, sole-proprietor ownership, the nation's for-profit institutions now range from small, privately owned schools to publicly traded corporations. Enrollment in such colleges has grown far faster than in traditional higher-education institutions. Moreover, during the 2009-2010 school year, for-profit colleges received almost…

This booklet outlines the steps that postsecondary institutions must take to maintain their eligibility for federal student financial aid, discussing state and federal review requirements and the role of the State Postsecondary Review Entity (SPRE) Program. It reviews the compliance requirements for institutions utilizing Title IV federal…

Reviews the Program Integrity Triad enacted by Congress, a three-tier process in which states, accrediting agencies, and the U.S. Department of Education evaluate institutions participating in Title IV federal student aid programs. Describes State Postsecondary Review Entities (SPRE), in which states are directed to set up under the Program…