Career Education Corporation (CEC) is an on-campus provider of private, for-profit, post-secondary education. CEC's Colleges, Schools and Universities Group operates 78 campuses in the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. It offers doctoral degree, master's degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree and diploma programs in the career-oriented disciplines of visual communication and design technologies, information technology (IT), business studies, culinary arts and health education. The Online Education Group operates American InterContinental Online and Colorado Technical University Online, and offers a variety of degrees in IT, business, visual communication and education. (50.48, down .64)
So my background on this is that it’s a place where rich kids that don’t qualify for a good school can go away to school….at the cost of a private-school education. A coworker’s child, for example, is going to one of these after barely making it to high-school graduation…and should be going to a community college at best for a couple of years. Still…there’s plenty of folks that have money that are willing to spend it. A school built with a solid business plan can be a good hit. It’s in the Nasdaq-100 as of last month too, so it might be a good time to get in…though it also means you’ve likely missed their hottest opportunities.
Education Management Corporation (EDMC) is in the business of providing private post-secondary education in North America. EDMC provides career-oriented education. Its education institutions have over 150,000 alumni. The Company's Art Institutes education institutions offer programs in the media arts, design, fashion and culinary arts. As of June 30, 2003, The Art Institutes consisted of 29 schools in cities throughout North America. In December 2001, EDMC acquired Argosy Education Group, Inc., which owns and operates Argosy University, Western State University College of Law and Argosy Professional Services. Argosy offers programs in the behavioral sciences, health sciences, education, business and law. Argosy operates 13 Argosy University campuses and six extension sites in 11 states, as well as Western State University College of Law in California. (34.17, down .56)
Seems much smaller than CEC, but interesting that they have a law school under their belt and are only in North America. This was the lowest priced stock of all listed I think their focuses are good for a more interesting world, but not necessarily in the biggest career –growth arenas. I vote no.
University of Phoenix Online is the computerized, digital delivery system of the University of Phoenix. It is a provider of accessible, accredited educational programs for working adults. It began operations in 1989 by modifying courses developed by University of Phoenix' physical campuses for delivery via modem to students worldwide. University of Phoenix Online offers accredited degree programs in business, education, information technology and nursing. A student can participate in University of Phoenix Online's classes through a Pentium-class personal computer, a 56.6K modem and an Internet service provider. Students retrieve lectures, questions and assignments from instructors then review them offline. They also have access to online research libraries and services, as well as other professionals with whom they can share ideas, debate issues and learn from each other's experience. University of Phoenix is part of Apollo Group, Inc., the parent company of University of Phoenix. (77.19, down .35)
This was the highest priced and probably the most well-known. My first, and biggest, reservation about it is that I’ve actually only heard bad reviews from people that have gone there. To me it’s almost like a community college that is well-known….you can get out with a degree, but not as reputable of a degree as even a state school. Still, they are well known and young enough that they have the power to turn that image around into a more serious, developed school.
Apollo Group, Inc. provides higher education to working adults. The Company operates through its subsidiaries, The University of Phoenix, Inc., University of Phoenix Online, Institute for Professional Development, The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corporation and Western International University, Inc. The Company offers its programs and services at 71 campuses and 121 learning centers in 37 states, Puerto Rico and Vancouver, British Columbia. Combined degree enrollment was 200,052 as of August 31, 2003. (72.57, down .87)
Everything I read said their current growth was based on University of Phoenix. Why go through something holding the winner and the things bringing it down instead of just Univ. of Phoenix? Seriously.
ESI - ITT Educational Services, Inc. is a provider of technology-oriented postsecondary degree programs in the United States. The Company offers associate, bachelor and master degree programs and non-degree diploma programs to more than 33,000 students. The Company has 74 institutes located in 28 states. Each of its institutes is authorized by the applicable education authorities of the states in which they operate and recruit, and accredited by an accrediting commission recognized by the United States Department of Education. As of December 31, 2002, the Company was offering 17 degree programs and several diploma programs in various fields of study. All of its institutes were offering degree or diploma programs involving information technology and electronics, and 68 institutes were offering a degree or diploma program involving design (56.10, up 1.44)
It seems so three years ago. And a hard industry to invest in right now. Of course, computers are important, but I think we’re finding that people are getting a core foundation in regular curriculum’s which eliminates the needs for such an extreme focus. I was able to view a graph on their site that showed the stock doing well over the past 5 years, but I think that’s because of this desire folks had to go back to school and get a more formal education…but I predict it will soon
Corinthian Colleges, Inc. is a for-profit, post-secondary education company operating in the United States. The Company had more than 43,200 students enrolled as of June 30, 2003. At year-end 2003, the Company operated 69 colleges and two training centers in 21 states, including 18 in California and 12 in Florida, and serves the segment of the population that seeks to acquire career-oriented education. All of the Company's schools are accredited and grant either associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees or diplomas and offer educational opportunities from a diverse curricula library with an emphasis on four primary concentrations: allied health, business, technology and criminal justice. (64.5, up 1.27)
A party school for those suffering from burn-out? C’mon…half their schools are in Florida or California! From what I grasped they’re offering an education in areas where folks traditionally have relied on experience. I’m not sure experience can be beat. Everyone wants to skip it. Though I don’t really agree with that as a concept, I think it’s something that society will adopt. We can be more productive, so we can educate folks more. Go for it. Really.
The order that I would buy them:
COCO
UOPX
CECO
ESI
APOL
EDMC
Partly this is what areas I think will really grow from the job seeker / employee perspectives and what markets I think will most quickly be exhausted….
