Every August, millions of people begin or continue their education journey in college, university, or technical school. But that won’t be the case for all students who want to receive an education at a career college. That is because the Department of Education (DOE) is actively working to shut down these schools and take away options for students. It’s an unfortunate situation that must be reversed.
Career colleges serve a unique purpose in the education landscape by helping people learn skills in a specific industry. These institutions equip students with hands-on experience and training so they can graduate and be ready to enter the workforce ready to succeed. Many of these schools cater to students who have an interest in healthcare, technology, and trades—often filling workforce development gaps. Veterans, working parents, people from underserved communities, and a variety of non-traditional students often choose these institutions.
A degree or certificate from a technical college can also be completed faster than a four-year degree at less cost. These schools are a more affordable alternative to four-year colleges that have become cost prohibitive for many low-and middle-income families.
The DOE, however, is actively working to coerce the closure of career colleges. For years now, they have used tactics such as ending financial aid, enhanced enforcement actions, and a messaging campaign aimed at tarnishing the reputation of career colleges. Their goal appears to be driven by ideology rather than fact.
Most recently, in April the DOE cut the federal student aid program at Florida Career College, an institution that specializes in short-term healthcare and trades certifications. Beginning next year, students might not be able to use funds to go to FCC, even if the school was their first choice. Taking away this funding makes it less affordable for people to attend and threatens the school’s existence.
This is not the first time the Department has gone after career colleges. In 2020, it leveraged a lawsuit to deny students of their student loan payments at the Center for Excellence in Higher Education and their affiliated schools: including CollegeAmerica, Stevens-Henager College, and Independence University. While the courts eventually overturned the lawsuit, the damage had been done and resulted in these schools closing their doors.
A college degree and certificate have never been more valuable. It’s time for the Biden administration to recognize the value all schools bring when it comes to developing skills for students to have a successful career and add to our economy. Students deserve to attend the schools they want to – without having to worry about the DOE locking them out of the classroom. Our country needs more educational options for people from a wide range of backgrounds, not less.
