Before You Enroll Checklist	FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES

About the school:

•	Istheschoolpublic,private,non-profitorfor-profit?

•	Whatisthestudent-facultyratiooverallandintheprogramyou areconsidering?

•	Whatistheschool’sgraduationrateoverallandintheprogram youareconsidering?

•	Doestheschoolaccepttransferofexistingorpriorlearning credits?Doestheschooloffercreditforpriorwork/volunteer experiencetowardscompletionoftheprogram?

•	Whatamount(asapercentage)doestheschoolspendon educationalinstructionversusmarketingandrecruitment?

About the program:

•	Howmanycoursesareofferedandneededtocompletethe program?

•	Istheprogramaccredited?

•	Willtheprogramqualifyforlicensure(ifapplicable)inthestateor elsewhereforyourchosencareerfield?

•	Aretheprogramcreditstransferrabletootherschools?Ifyes, whichschools?

•	Arethereprerequisitecourses(e.g.,math,Englishproficiency) neededtoenrollintheprogram?

About costs, financial aid and student loans:

•	Whatisthetotalcostofadmission,tuition,instructionalmaterials andothermandatoryfees?

•	Whatisthedeadline(ifany)forsubmittingafinancialaid application?

•	Doestheschoolitselfofferanyscholarshipsorotherfinancialaid forwhich youmaybeeligible?

•	Whatistheestimatedstudentloanamountneededtoborrowto completetheprogram?Whatisyourprojectedmonthlyrepayment rateuponcompletionoftheprogram?

•	Whatisthetotal(average)amountofstudentloandebtcarriedby graduatesofthisprogram?

•	Whatistheschool’sloandefaultrate?Inotherwords,what percentageofstudentscannotmaketimelypaymentsoftheir studentloansthreeyearsormoreafterleavingtheschool?

•	Whatistheschool’scancellationandrefundpolicy?What deadlinesshouldyoubeawareof?

•	Isrepaymentrequiredonscholarships/grants/GIBillbenefitsif youleaveschoolwithoutcompletingtheprogram?

Career placement and other school resources:

•	Whatistheschool’sjobplacementrateinyourchosencareerfield forgraduatesoftheprogramyouareconsidering?

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU ENROLL

A GUIDE FOR STUDENTS

Other Resources

College Navigator – http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator Thisonlineresourceprovidesdetailedinformationaboutschools (searchbylocation,program-type,typeofschoolandmore).

•	Whatistheaveragestartingsalaryinyourchosencareerfield?

•	Doestheschoolprovidecareerplacementservicesand/or counseling?

•	Whatotherresources(e.g.,tutoriallabs,libraries,training facilities,guidancecounseling,veteranservices)areavailableat theschooltosupportyoureducationalexperience?

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) – www.consumerfinance.gov/paying-for-college TheCFPBprovidesgeneralinformationaboutfinancialaid, comparingcollegecosts,choosingaloan,andguidanceon repayingstudentdebt.

The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS) – www.ticas.org TICASprovidesavarietyofresourcesonstudentloans, defaultrates,andmore.

•	Isthereanactivealumninetwork?CanIspeaktosomerecent alumniwhoareworkinginmychosenfield?

Source:“For-ProfitColleges:BeforeyouEnrollChecklist,”OfficeoftheAttorney GeneralofMassachusetts,2014

1050 N. Highland Street Phone: 703/836-2222 Suite 400 800/822-6285
Arlington, VA 22201 Fax: 703/243-9375 www.nacacnet.org

Know Your Options

When looking into options for higher education, you’ll come across three broad categories of colleges: public schools (state schools and community colleges), private non-profit schools, and for-profit schools (career colleges, often online universities).

Colleges and the programs they offer vary widely in terms of size, student population, location, tuition costs, course offerings, specializations, teaching method, and other factors. There are a lot of things to consider with respect to your college options, among them affordability and quality of the program. While there are many schools that can offer you a quality degree or certificate, unfortunately some for-profit schools engage in aggressive and misleading recruitment practices that overstate program quality and graduation and job
placement rates, leaving students with a lot of debt, underemployment and economic hardship. Be aware that some for-profit colleges may not have your best interests in mind.

This guide includes a set of questions that can help you avoid the misleading tactics of some for-profit college representatives and ensure you consider your options before enrolling in any school.

How much does it cost?	Does the recruiter make any promises Mostfor-profitcollegeschargehighertuitionthancomparable	about future income or jobs?

programsatcommunitycollegesandstatepublicuniversities.
associatedegreeprogramsaveragedfourtimesthecostofdegree
inflated—ifaschoolrepresentativetellsyouhowmuchmoneyyou
potentialemployers.
Onaverage,bachelor’sdegreeprogramsaveraged20percentmore	Jobplacementnumbersfromfor-profitschoolsmaybedeceptiveor thanthecostofsimilarprogramsatflagshippublicuniversities;	canearnaftercompletingtheirprogram,donotrelyontheirclaimsor programsatcomparablecommunitycolleges;andcertificateprograms	theschool’sstatisticsalone—lookatjobpostingsonlineandtalkto similarlyaveragedfourandahalftimesthecostofsuchprogramsat
comparablecommunitycolleges. Andstudentsatfor-profitcollegesend upwithsignificantlymoredebtthanstudentsatnon-profitcolleges. Tuitionatfor-profitcollegesisoftenincreasedtosatisfycompany profitgoals,andthehighcosthaslittleornoconnectiontoacademic orinstructionalquality.Comparisonshopbeforeyouenrollatany collegeandconsidercommunitycollegesandpublicschoolsthat areoftenmoreaffordable,equallyasaccessibleandmayoffer greaterflexibilityinthelongrunthanfor-profitschools.

Is there pressure to enroll? Is a recruiter rushing you to commit?

Ifaschoolispressuringyoutoenroll,beware.Somefor-profit collegestraintheiremployeestocreateafalsesenseofurgency toenrollanddoanythingittakestoenrollasmanystudents aspossible.Areputableschoolwillallowtimeforyoutoweigh options,readthefineprintandtalktoaschoolcounselor, financialaidadvisororsomeoneelseyoutrust.Beforeyoudecide onaprogram,readthematerials,getinformationinwriting,and takethetimetohaveallyourquestionsanswered.

Will a degree/certificate from this school be recognized? Is the school accredited? Can I transfer credit I earn at this school to other schools?

Bewareadegreethatseemseasytoobtain—insomecases, suchdegreesarenotrecognizedbyemployersorotherprograms. Findoutabouttheschool’s/program’saccreditationstatus.Ifa schoolisaccredited,ithasundergoneanevaluationandmeets certainrequirements.Inthevastmajorityofcases,acollegeand/ orprogramshouldbeaccreditedbyoneoftheregionalaccrediting agencies,notnationallyaccredited.Doyourownresearchto determinewhethertheaccreditationfitsyourcareergoals.Ifyou’re preparingforajobinnursing,forexample,makesuretheprogram satisfiesthespecializedaccreditingrequirements.Tworeliable sourcesofinformationonaccreditationaretheUSDepartmentof Education’sDatabaseofAccreditedPostsecondaryInstitutionsand Programs(ope.ed.gov/accreditation)andtheCouncilforHigher Accreditationdatabase(www.chea.org).

Thesamegoesfortransfercredits—determineinadvancewhether yourcreditswilltransfertoothercollegesshouldyouwishto transfertoanotherprogramorschool.Manytimespubliccolleges andnon-profitcollegeswillnotacceptcreditsearnedatfor-profits, requiringyoutoretakethoseclassesatanadditionalexpense.

Does the college provide any support services?

Manyfor-profitschoolsclaimtoprovidesupport andcareerservices—howdotheyback
thatup?Isthereaccesstoacademic andcareersupport?Medical services?Istherehelp
navigatingtheuniversity andcourseoptions?Many
for-profitcollegesfailtomake thenecessaryinvestments instudentsupportservices thathavebeenshownto
helpstudentssucceedin schoolandafterwards,a deficiencythatundoubtedly
contributestohigh withdrawalrates.