Research Proposal

Working title: Follow the Money

Topic: I will explore student debt and student loans as an idea that drives for-profit colleges.

Research question: Has higher education become a sweet business for those who are able to invest in (FPU)? Who benefits from increased prices of colleges? Why has the burden of paying for college fallen so heavily on the student when the government advocates so positively for educating its people?  Are current tuition prices presented to keep the lower class the lower class?

Theoretical frame: I will use information from sources to prove true that higher education, in particular (FPU) are becoming a lucrative business in many aspects. Here, education is no longer about educating, it is about the margin. The more students these colleges get to enroll equals more revenue and in addition, you will see how (FPU) keep educational costs down. One theory I will keep in my head while writing is how (FPU) are similar to fast food joints. Very low cost of production, extremely convenient and being able to cater to hundreds of thousands of people.

Research plan:

The article, "Globalization And The Emergence Of For-Profit Higher Education." Tells how society is gearing itself to the system (FPU) implements. (FPU) are very convenient because many classes are online and about 90% of those who apply get accepted. The magazine article “The Law-School Scam” answers the question, has higher education become a sweet business? The article highlights one (FPU) that was founded by a private equity firm. When recruiting students to their law school, they promised there will be jobs for them after graduation and they simply were not there. A documentary about (FPU), College, inc. interviews an entrepreneur who invests in (FPU) so he can make millions. Also, they interview a former head of University of Phoenix and in his interview he states I some way that he made more money than he ever could have imagined.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Belfield, Clive. "Student Loans And Repayment Rates: The Role Of For-Profit Colleges." Research 

Campos, Paul. "The Law-School Scam." TheAtlantic.com. 13 Aug. 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://www.theatlantic.com>.

In Higher Education 54.1 (2013): 1-29. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 Oct. 2014.

 

Morey, Ann I. "Globalization And The Emergence Of For-Profit Higher Education." Higher Education 48.1 (2004): 131-150. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Oct. 2014.

Tierney, W., & Hentschke, G. (2007). New Players, Different Game: Understanding the rise of for-profit colleges and Universities. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Schade, Sarah Ann. "Reining In The Predatory Nature Of For-Profit Colleges." Arizona Law Review 56.1 (2014): 317-340. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 Oct. 2014.