For-Profit College Heads at Luxurious Retreat

Around 60 executives from for-profit schools across the nation just attended a lxurious retreat at Lake Tahoe resort in California. For a decade, they have spent millions lobbying Congress to stop regulations aimed at their industry. These proposed laws seek to punish schools that saddle students with loans they cannot pay back. One of this industry's chief lobbyists trying to shelter this industry from new regulations is former Senate Majority leader Trent Lott, who attended the retreat as a noted guest and gave them a presentation on legislative updates. These schools help worsen income inequality as the executives make lavish salaries with luxurious perks like this while students get loans they often cannot repay and no guarantee of a job after they earn their degrees. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/17/for-profit-college-chiefs-lake-tahoe_n_1283331.html

Tuition for Four Years Could One Day Cost $420K+ (For 1/16/12)

The 4-year total tuition to attend one of the U.S.'s most prestigious colleges will rise to $422,320 in 2034, if current trends continue for children born this year. Public universities will average $81,000 by comparison. Students will pay off debt to attend college for the rest of their lives. The main reward for taking on student loans to get a college degree is a higher-paying job. Manufacturing job losses have shrunk income and benefits for Americans without college degrees. Minimum wage has not kept pace with inflation because of Republican policies. Without reform, only students from households of the Top 1% will be able to afford college. http://www.alternet.org/story/153788/%24422%2C320_for_a_college_degree_with_tuition_skyrocketing%2C_it_is_time_to_rethink_high

Community College Funding Cuts Drive Students To For-Profit Schools (for 12/30/11)

When community colleges lack the funding to offer courses students want, they end up taking classes at for-profit schools, which charge much higher tuitions. These private schools that currently profiteer off of poor students currently face investigations from at least 20 state attorneys general. Many students that graduate wind up unemployed and unable to pay their loans. Eighty percent of students at for-profit colleges borrow to attend, but only 20% of community college students need financial assistance. California has most students in higher education, but its community colleges will reject 200,000 potential students due to budget problems. Students from for-profit schools account for 45% of those unable to repay their loans. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/30/community-college-for-profit-college_n_1174243.html