A government report uncovered recruitment manipulation and fraud at 15 for-profit colleges. Who are the worst offenders? 

Investigators at the Government Accountability Office posed as prospective students to investigate the recruiting practices of for-profit schools like the University of Phoenix. They found deceptive practices and encouragement of financial aid fraud at all 15 colleges studied.

The investigation started because enrollment has grown to almost 1.8 million in the last few years for programs that cost far more than they would at equivalent community colleges.

For instance, a massage therapy certificate costing $14,000 at a for-profit school (a “good value,” the school claimed) cost only $520 at a local community college.

Other underhanded claims from recruiters:

• One applicant was told to increase the number of dependents in his household to qualify for more financial aid
• One recruiter lied that his college was accredited by the same organization that accredits Harvard and the University of Florida
• An admissions rep pushed a barber certification program by saying barbers can earn up to $250,000 a year (most make under $43,000), and
• One applicant was assured that no one would “come after” the student if he defaulted on his loans.

Check out the full report here, and let us know what you think in the comments section.

Tags: For-profit universities, Government Accountability Office, online colleges