Can For-Profit Education Be Excellent? It Can and It Is.

Despite ongoing criticisms and misconceptions, for-profit institutions are providing vital services, particularly in underserved communities. From healthcare to technology, these schools are helping solve critical societal challenges like the nursing shortage and expanding educational access for non-traditional students (Photo Provided). By Steve Beard Every industry has bad actors.& In the last few years we’ve seen scandals plague major banks, airplane manufacturers, social media and more, yet business continues to maintain the highest levels of trust. Why then, do politicians perpetuate outdated perceptions of wholecloth industries that are just as diverse as those that are regularly in the news for breaches of that trust? Former President Obama highlighted for-profit education as one of these bad actors in his speech at the DNC. This is just one of many examples of for-profit institutions being lumped into the category of “America’s Villain.”& Undoubtedly, this industry has its share of rotten apples, just like so many others. But instead of maligning the entire sector, we should look at individual companies on their merits and judge each on their contributions to society. Let’s take for-profit healthcare education as an example.& Students at institutions like Chamberlain University take the same tests, complete the same training and...