And they are risky because we have allowed them to fill the gaps in our social policy when instead we should have invested in improving job quality, access to childcare, and low-cost workforce training. Instead, the real problem with for-profit colleges is that they are risky. That can be true of lots of not-for-profit traditional colleges, too. They are not just expensive and arguably low-quality. Figuring out why that is the case for millions of people doing everything right inspired my research.Ĭan you describe some problems with for-profit colleges?

There was not a good low-risk option available to her in the way she needed it. As one sister put it, “what the f*ck am I supposed to do?!” She was right. In particular, the frustration that students expressed over and over again at having to go to college even though they had work experience or little financial means to do so really stuck with me. All of my students inspired me to get the data and the story right. Later, I interviewed over 100 students as a researcher doing academic work on how and why for-profit colleges are so popular with some students. Yes, I worked with many students during my tenure as a recruiter in for-profit colleges.

Were there students that you encountered that inspired your research? If so, can you briefly explain their experience with for-profit colleges? We are always making the very best out of some very bad circumstances. Lower Ed is also about showing that black women, who are disproportionately enrolled in risky higher education programs, are not stupid for choosing them. That does not mean you are a failure or that you did not try hard but that the risks were always so great and your odds of overcoming them so low that the deck was stacked against you. The purpose of Lower Ed is to create with people a new language to talk about education in a way that does not assume “all school is good school.” Some education can leave you worse off than you began. Tressie Cottom: Lower Ed is about how we can do everything right - go to school, work hard, have high aspirations - and still not achieve the American dream. VIBE: What’s the message that you want to get across with Lower Ed? Cottom, who was once a recruiter at two for-profit colleges, for a brief discussion on Lower Ed.

Lower ed tressie