For-profit colleges in the US appear to be more nimble than public schools in adjusting their course offerings to economic changes: A 1pc higher employment growth rate in occupations in a given field in a state is correlated with a 3.2-percentage-point increase in the number of students enrolled in for-profit colleges in related majors, a much greater responsiveness level than is seen in community colleges, says a team led by Gregory A. Gilpin of Montana State University. Despite having relatively high tuition and low graduation rates, for-profit colleges awarded 22pc of associate degrees in 2010-2011, up from 10pc 15 years earlier, the researchers say.

(Source: Economics of Education Review)

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, July 6th, 2015

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