13 percent of undergraduates attend for-profit institutions

The percentage of undergraduates attending for-profit institutions more than doubled between 1995-96 and 2011-12, from 5 percent to 13 percent overall, according to a new report. Furthermore, the percentage of students in 4-year institutions who attended for-profit institutions increased from 1 percent in 1995–96 to 17 percent in 2011–12.

The National Center for Education Statistics released a new Statistics in Brief report today (February 28), entitled A Profile of the Enrollment Patterns and Demographic Characteristics of Undergraduates at For-Profit Institutions. The report examines demographic, background, and enrollment characteristics of students attending for-profit less-than-2-year, 2-year, and 4-year institutions in 2012.

Key findings include:

•    Undergraduates attending for-profit institutions enrolled in certificate programs at a higher rate (29 percent vs. 5 percent) and associate’s degree programs at a lower rate (31 percent vs. 52 percent) than did their counterparts at public institutions;

•    Below the 4-year level, undergraduates at for-profit institutions attended full time at a higher rate than their counterparts in public institutions (82-85 percent vs. 40 percent). In contrast, at the 4-year level, students in nonprofit institutions attended full time at a higher rate (81 percent) than did those at for-profit and public colleges (73 percent for each);

•    Women constituted 60-76 percent of undergraduates attending for-profit institutions, compared with 54-57 percent of students at public or nonprofit institutions; and

•    Black students constituted 22-27 percent of students at for-profit institutions, compared with 13-16 percent at public and nonprofit institutions.