Higher Ed, Inc.: The Rise of the For-Profit University [Hardcover]

Mr. Richard S. Ruch PhD (Author), Professor George Keller (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 28, 2001

Among higher education institutions in the United States, for-profit colleges and universities have steadily captured a larger share of the student market. A recent trend at for-profit institutions is the coupling of job training with accredited academic programs that offer traditional baccalaureate, professional, and graduate degrees. Richard Ruch, with administrative experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors of higher education, takes us inside these new for-profit institutions, describing who teaches there, who enrolls and why, and how the for-profits are managed and by whom. He analyzes their different structures, services, and outlook on higher learning and training, and explains in detail how they make profits from tuition income.

In Higher Ed, Inc., Ruch opens up the discussion about for-profit higher education from the perspective of a participant-observer. Focusing on five providers—the Apollo Group (the University of Phoenix); Argosy Education Group (the American Schools of Professional Psychology); DeVry, Inc. (DeVry Institutes of Technology); Education Management Corporation (the Art Institutes International); and Strayer Education (Strayer University)—he conveys for the first time what it feels like to be inside this new kind of American institution. He is also candid about the less attractive aspects of the for-profit colleges, including what those who enroll may give up. As Ruch makes clear, the major for-profit colleges and universities offer a different approach to higher education—one that may be increasingly influential in the future.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

There are now over 700 for-profit, degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States, more than double the number of a decade ago. Having served as an administrator at both nonprofit and for-profit institutions, Ruch is able to provide an insider's comparison. Although clearly favoring for-profit institutions, he offers a balanced description of how and why they continue to attract growing enrollments, and his text will be useful for anyone who wants to understand this significant trend. For-profit schools emphasize the employability of their students and keep the curricula flexible so that they can adapt to the job market. This doesn't necessarily diminish their educational value, however, as they are subject to the same accreditation standards as traditional colleges. The author spotlights five top for-profits (including DeVry, where he is a dean), and the chapters about for-profit finance and academic culture are particularly insightful. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries. Will Hepfer, SUNY at Buffalo Libs.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Higher Ed, Inc. should appeal not just to scholars but to everyone interested in the debate about for-profit higher education." -- —William F. Massy, Stanford University, author of Endowment Perspectives, Policies, and Management

"This book is a marvelous description of a popular, innovative new force for advanced education in the United States..." -- —from the Foreword by George Keller, author of Academic Strategy: The Management Revolution in American Higher Education

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press (March 28, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801866782
• ISBN-13: 978-0801866784
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,381,922 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very insightful new book, July 28, 2001

By 

Robert Regner (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Higher Ed, Inc.: The Rise of the For-Profit University (Hardcover)

Although I've spent more than 20 years in higher education, I found this book to be very valuable -- it provides a balanced and thorough view of the for-profit education industry. The author takes a look at the five major players, talks about the differences and similarities between for-profit and traditional institutions, despels some of the myths about for-profit institutions, and illustrates how the for-profit institutions are serving the needs of today's students and employers. A must read for anyone who wants an in-depth look at higher education today.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book!, July 26, 2001

By 

Avery Sewell (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Higher Ed, Inc.: The Rise of the For-Profit University (Hardcover)

I work for a governor's office and found this book extremely helpful in understanding the new wave of for-profit institutions moving into higher education. I ordered copies for several other policy makers because the book presents a thoughtful and persuasive analysis of the key question: What constitutes a proper college education? Anyone concerned about the future of higher education in the United States needs to read this book.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars High Price for Higher Ed, July 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Higher Ed, Inc.: The Rise of the For-Profit University (Hardcover)

Since I am a faculty member at the University of Phoenix, I anticipated a good read with an excellent analysis. The book provided no more information than what is available on the web. In fact, the book is one long commercial announcement for DeVry Institute. The author goes on and on as to how well DeVry does things and how solid a college it is. ... way to much to pay for such a commerical point of view.