Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Higher Ed, Inc.: The Rise of the For-Profit University is well written, Ruch has worked in both profit and non-profit universities. This is a good source on the topic. The Ruch book was a resource for an MBA presentation paper about for-profit universities. I also found Gary Berg's,Lessons from the Edge: For-Profit and Nontraditional Higher Education in America (ACE/Praeger Series on Higher Education) useful. Other's in this category are Declining by Degrees (about the decline of quality in non-profits)by Merrow and Hersch and Rebel with a cause: The entrepreneur who created the University of Phoenix and the for-profit revolution in higher education by John Sperling.

Fascinating reading--as with most things the message in the popular press does not tell the whole story. Be sure to read both sides of the story, Merrow (also a PBS DocumentaryDeclining by Degrees: Higher Education at Risk) does a good job (perhaps unintentionally) of showing how money is the driving force in the non-profit state schools too. The documentary interviews students, professors, and leadership at two state run institutions.

The fact is both profit and nonprofit schools are about the mammon. Jon Hanson, author of Good Debt, Bad Debt Good Debt, Bad Debt: Knowing the Difference Can Save Your Financial Life

Definitely about For-Profit. I was hoping for more comparisons between Non-Profit and For-Profit.

As mentioned in the other reviews, Ruch provides a balanced comparison between the traditional (tax-exempt) university and the non-traditional (for-profit) university. The book was very readable and showed the outcome is similar, but the perspective and approach is different.

The most enlightening is that the "for-profit" university is not a new idea, as Ruch traces early examples back into the early days of America and in Europe.

Also enlightening is the new trend of traditional universities using extension services to bring in money to the university as a for-profit branch of the school.

I did notice at least one error in the information. When discussing the faculty salary at one of the for-profits, I found that we overstated it by about $400-500. As a faculty member of over six years for the school, I can vouch that we have never made that much, not even with a doctorate degree.

Overall, I would recommend reading this just to see that the schools are not as different as they think they are.

Ruch's well-crafted book breaks new ground in books about higher education. Not only that, but I found it a delight to read. The author's anecdotes from both non-profit and for-profit institutions are right on target. This book changed my views about higher education institutions in America. Highly recommended.

And it's name is "Money." Higher Ed, Inc., breaks down the innovation of "For Profit" education and takes you inside its corridors. An excellent book for those looking to enter "For Profit" education as a business person. Higher Ed, Inc. actually influenced me to re-think my business plan. My institute will become a bigger "For Profit" within supplementary education, because of this book.

Edward Brown
Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute, Inc.

Ruch's well-crafted book breaks new ground in books about higher education. Not only that, but I found it a delight to read. The author's anecdotes from both non-profit and for-profit institutions are right on target. This book changed my views about higher education institutions in America. Highly recommended.

I liked this book. It does read a bit like a text book, but I found the subject interesting, and I thought it was well-researched.