The Rise of Phoenix: For-Profit Colleges Shake Up the Academy

Documentary of the Week airs Friday night 9/14 at 8pm on Public Radio 89.5-1

For-profit colleges have deep roots in American history, but until recently they were a tiny part of the higher education landscape. Now they are big players. More than one in 10 college students attends a for-profit. This week, American RadioWorks examines the rapid rise of for-profit colleges, which has provoked heated debate and opened new conversations about the costs, quality and purpose of higher learning. ARW's Emily Hanford examines the history and influence of the for-profit University of Phoenix, exploring how it and other for-profits are shaping the future of college education.