In recent years, the world of for-profit colleges has become a point of contention for politicians and the public alike. Two figures who have taken a strong stance on this issue are former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, albeit from vastly different perspectives. For both, for-profit colleges are more than just a policy debate—they represent personal experiences that have shaped their views.
Donald Trump, once the owner of a for-profit institution named Trump University, found himself at the center of controversy when the college was accused of failing to deliver on its promises. Trump University, which was in operation between 2005 and 2010, advertised itself as a way for students to learn valuable real estate strategies directly from Trump himself. However, after numerous complaints from students alleging that the institution offered little in terms of genuine education, Trump faced a wave of lawsuits. In 2016, Trump agreed to pay $25 million to settle these lawsuits, with many students claiming they had been misled and had wasted significant amounts of money on subpar education.
On the other side of the debate is Kamala Harris, who, during her time as California’s attorney general, took a hardline stance against for-profit colleges. In 2013, Harris targeted Corinthian Colleges, a large for-profit educational institution accused of deceptive marketing and predatory lending practices. Corinthian was notorious for misleading students, claiming exaggerated job placement rates and leaving many graduates saddled with debt and no clear career path. Harris’ lawsuit resulted in a landmark $1.2 billion victory, a move that was hailed by consumer rights advocates. Her actions against Corinthian were part of a broader crackdown on the for-profit college industry, which had come under increasing scrutiny for exploiting vulnerable students.
The juxtaposition of Trump and Harris’ experiences with for-profit colleges highlights the broader debate over the role and regulation of such institutions in America. Advocates argue that for-profit colleges provide flexibility and vocational training to students who may not have access to traditional higher education. However, critics point to the high cost, questionable quality of education, and the burden of student debt that often accompanies these schools.
As the conversation about higher education reform continues, for-profit colleges remain a divisive issue. Trump’s personal involvement and Harris’ legal battles have positioned them as prominent figures in this debate, each embodying a different side of a contentious issue that affects millions of Americans.