Counter to the stereotypical image of private colleges, Oregon's independent institutions are not reserved for the privileged. Nor do they exist solely to serve the majority. Quite to the contrary, an education at one of Oregon's independent colleges or universities is available to all those with the ability to benefit from the experience -- not just to an elite few.
Ameritas, launched last week, blends for-profit and nonprofit elements and has a singular focus on Latinos who are working adults. It is part of Brandman University, a private, nonprofit institution with 26 campuses in California and Washington.
Private sector colleges and universities offer unique opportunities for millions of men and women, particularly young professionals, military veterans and working parents. For our schools, the first-time, full-time student right out of high school is the rare exception rather than the norm. These institutions have enabled millions of Americans to obtain specialized degrees in a wide variety of fields. If that’s not advancing the public good, I don’t know what is.
While public colleges and universities are hiking tuition to make up for dramatic reductions to state higher-education funding, private colleges – which usually receive no state funding – have greater latitude to cut costs.
Recently, another small college closed its doors. It was located in New England, the region of the country with the most rapid decline in youth and most rapid growth in aging populations. It was a college focused on creative writing, the arts and humanities.
Brown University agreed to a deal with the city of Providence, R.I., that would double the amount the Ivy League college currently pays to the financially troubled city.
The volume of federally guaranteed student loans to students at so-called proprietary colleges — the ones that intend to operate at a profit and get nearly all their revenue from the government — continues to grow.
Un nuevo reporte de la agencia de noticias Reuters confirma lo que muchos estudiantes universitarios ya sabían y que parece difícil de creer: Los de las universidades públicas se están graduando con más deudas que los de las privadas.