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

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

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.

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 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.