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alumni as much or more than they respond

DeVry offers undergraduate, graduate, and

to the demands of current students. That

"lifelong" learning programs to 38,000 full- and

part-time students on 16 campuses.7 6 DeVry's

may make change less likely.

To meet the demands of the 6.1 million

students can obtain bachelor's degrees in elec-

adult students, for-profit companies are creat-

tronics engineering technology, computer

ing programs and services that cater to those

information systems, telecommunications

students' lifestyles.7 3 Although the for-profit

management, accounting, technical manage-

ment, and business administration.

segment of the postsecondary education mar-

DeVry differs from typical providers of

ket accounts for just $5 billion, or less than 2

percent of the total industry,7 4 it is rapidly

postsecondary education in its emphasis on

providing career-oriented training. DeVry

expanding and becoming increasingly impor-

contrasts its faculty with professional experi-

tant to the knowledge economy. In particular,

ence, lab sessions with modern technologies,

the shortage of technology workers has led

and classes focusing on "hands-on applica-

many adult students to seek additional tech-

tion" with traditional programs in which

nical training. The following is an overview of

professors, often without related profession-

for-profit postsecondary education providers

al experience, focus on theory.7 7

and distance-education services.

DeVry measures

Unlike traditional postsecondary institu-

its results by job-

Postsecondary Education Providers

tions, which often measure their results by

There are numerous for-profit companies

the caliber of students they attract, DeVry

placement rates.

providing postsecondary educational pro-

measures its results by job-placement rates.

More than 90 per-

grams for adults. The subjects, degrees, and

DeVry offers an employment assistance pro-

cent of its gradu-

programs offered vary; however, for-profit

gram for its graduates and boasts that more

postsecondary education providers generally

than 90 percent of its graduates who pursue

ates who pursue

differ from traditional colleges and universi-

employment have a job within 180 days of

employment

graduation.78 DeVry also structures its

ties in three important ways:

schedule to take into account the priorities

have a job

· Flexible, worker-friendly schedules:

of adult students. Courses are available at

within 180 days

night and during the summer, making it

For-profit postsecondary institutions

of graduation.

possible for a full-time student seeking a

try to make it possible for a student to

bachelor's degree to obtain one in three

work and pursue education by schedul-

years; a part-time student can obtain one in

ing classes in the evenings and during

five years. (See Appendix, Table A.5.)

the summer.

· Job-related skills: Most programs

DeVry is only one of a growing number of

companies offering adult postsecondary edu-

offered by for-profit postsecondary

cational programs. On 11 campuses in the

institutions are specifically designed to

District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland,

help students acquire skills that will

Strayer Education, Inc., serves 10,000 stu-

directly improve the students' career

dents who seek degrees in business and infor-

prospects. There is much less focus on

mation technology.7 9 ITT Educational

liberal arts, humanities, or even basic

sciences than in traditional colleges.

Services, Inc., operates 67 technical institutes

· Success is measured through the job

in 27 states serving roughly 25,000 students

seeking skills in technology-related fields.8 0

market: For-profit schools attract stu-

dents by emphasizing the job-place-

Education Management Corporation

ment rates of former students.

offers associate's and bachelor's degree pro-

grams and nondegree programs in design,

For instance, DeVry, Inc., first began offer-

media arts, culinary arts, and fashion. At 18

ing technology training courses in radio, televi-

schools in 16 cities, in 1998 Education

sion, and sound systems in 1931.7 5 Today

Management served more than 21,000 stu-

12