For-profit education in the United States (known as
for-profit college or
proprietary education in some instances) refers to
higher education educational institutions operated by private,
profit-seeking
businesses. Historically, most colleges and universities in the US have been
non-profit, but for-profit institutions rapidly grew in number and size in the late twentieth century. Although supporters of for-profit higher education have argued that the
profit motive encourages efficiency, the for-profit educational industry has received severe negative criticism because of its sales techniques, high costs, and poor student outcomes. In some cases operators of for-profit colleges have faced criminal charges or other legal sanctions.