Students from for-profit institutions exceed peers from traditional schools

 

A new report issued by the Council for Aid to Education suggests that for-profit schools are as proficient at preparing students as their nonprofit counterparts. The Council used their Collegiate Learning Assessment tool to give participants from both traditional and for-profit institutions two tests. The tests consisted of a written response for solving a real world scenario, and a questionnaire requiring answers given from provided materials. In both cases, students from both types of institutions received similar scores. In some cases, seniors at for-profit institutions even scored higher than seniors at traditional institutions.

This study does have some limiting factors. For example, it may accurately measure students’ ability to complete assessments that measure practical problem solving and studying skills, but it does not address professional training of any specific kind. Also, it does not take into account how highly employers will regard credentials awarded by for-profit institutions. Many employers are shying away from these schools and boot camps, which offer students vocational skills and training concepts.

The study should help leaders of colleges recognize that employers are looking for workers who can problem-solve, consider how to maximize profits and productivity, and can be innovative in their field of study. These same schools should pioneer the assessment tools which showcase this capacity of recent graduates, and those over a certain period to show the lasting impact of higher education.

Source: EducationDive