Education Commons^™

A Comparison Of For-Profit And Community Colleges’ Admissions Practices, Constance Iloh, William G. Tierney

Constance Iloh

College choice has been an area of inquiry in higher education research for decades. While this scholarship has evolved, it has yet to incorporate the fastest-growing sector of higher education: for-profit colleges and universities. The authors investigate the admissions and recruitment conditions that would lead students— particularly those from low-income backgrounds—to consider a for-profit college over a community college. Specifically, the paper considers information provided to prospective students by several for-profit and community colleges in an urban city. On the basis of this research, conclusions and future directions for college choice theory and organizational practice are developed.