Colleges you need to avoid...

Shane Hummus
8 Sept 202105:51
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this video, Shane advises viewers on which types of colleges to avoid. He cautions against enrolling in online for-profit universities, overpriced liberal arts colleges, and private universities, as well as institutions with poor reputations. He highlights issues such as unrecognized degrees, excessive costs, and delayed graduation times. Shane emphasizes the importance of choosing accredited schools and using resources like CollegeScorecard.ed.gov to evaluate a college’s value. He concludes by encouraging viewers to research thoroughly before making educational decisions.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Avoid online for-profit universities as they may not provide degrees that are respected by employers.
  • 🔍 Check if a school is accredited by the US Department of Education, but accreditation is just the minimum requirement to ensure its legitimacy.
  • 💰 Be wary of overpriced liberal arts colleges and private universities, as they may not offer better returns on investment compared to public or state schools.
  • ⏳ Watch out for colleges with a bad reputation that may intentionally make it difficult for students to graduate on time, thus increasing their profits.
  • 💼 Consider the support provided by colleges for student career development, including the quality of their career centers.
  • 📈 Use resources like College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov) to evaluate the value and performance of colleges based on various metrics.
  • 🎓 Look at graduation rates as an indicator of a college's performance; a high rate suggests better outcomes for students.
  • 💼 Consider the average annual cost of attendance, which can be a significant factor in the overall value of a college education.
  • 🏛 Compare the potential earnings by field of study to understand the return on investment for different degrees.
  • 🗂️ Understand the difference between block rate and credit rate pricing for tuition, as this can impact the total cost depending on the number of credits taken.
  • 🗣️ Engage in thorough research and talk to alumni to get a better sense of the college experience and its potential value.
Q & A
  • What is the main purpose of the video?

    -The main purpose of the video is to inform viewers about which types of colleges they should avoid and why, focusing on the potential drawbacks of certain institutions.

  • Why does the speaker avoid naming specific colleges?

    -The speaker avoids naming specific colleges to avoid legal issues, such as being sued, and instead encourages viewers to research online for information about 'sketchy' online for-profit schools.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on online for-profit university mills?

    -The speaker believes that online for-profit university mills provide degrees that are not respected by hiring managers or business owners, and that obtaining such a degree could be worse than not having a degree at all.

  • What should students ensure about a school before enrolling, according to the speaker?

    -Students should ensure that the school is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education, although the speaker notes that accreditation alone is not always a guarantee of a school's legitimacy or value.

  • What are the speaker's concerns about overpriced liberal arts colleges?

    -The speaker is concerned that overpriced liberal arts colleges are often more expensive than Ivy League schools and may not provide a good return on investment for the average student.

  • What is the speaker's advice regarding private universities?

    -The speaker advises caution with private universities, noting that they tend to be much more expensive than public or state schools, and the return on investment may not justify the higher cost.

  • How does the speaker describe colleges with a bad reputation?

    -Colleges with a bad reputation, according to the speaker, may make it unnecessarily difficult for students to graduate on time, sometimes extending a four-year degree program to six or seven years, often for financial gain.

  • What is the difference between a block rate and a credit rate, according to the speaker?

    -A block rate charges a fixed amount for a semester regardless of the number of credits taken, while a credit rate charges per credit, which can become more expensive if a student takes extra credits.

  • What resources does the speaker recommend for evaluating colleges?

    -The speaker recommends using the College Scorecard website (collegescorecard.ed.gov) to evaluate colleges based on various metrics, including graduation rates and average annual costs.

  • What additional steps does the speaker suggest for researching a college?

    -The speaker suggests doing thorough online research, consulting college rankings, and speaking with alumni to get a better understanding of the college's value and support systems for students.

Outlines
00:00
🎓 Warning Against Online For-Profit Universities

Shane warns viewers about the risks of attending online for-profit universities, which often lead to degrees that are not respected by employers. He emphasizes that these institutions, despite being accredited, may not provide valuable education and can be expensive. He advises viewers to verify accreditation and offers a reliable resource at the end of the video to assess the value of a college.

05:02
💸 Avoid Overpriced Liberal Arts and Private Colleges

Shane discusses the drawbacks of attending overpriced liberal arts and private colleges, highlighting their high costs compared to state schools. He argues that the return on investment (ROI) is often low, as graduates from these institutions do not necessarily earn significantly more than those from more affordable state schools. He also mentions the inflated costs due to the private university status, which does not guarantee better outcomes.

⏳ Beware of Colleges with Bad Reputations and Hidden Costs

Shane cautions against colleges with poor reputations, noting that some institutions intentionally delay graduation to profit from extended enrollment. He advises researching a school's graduation rates and cost structures, such as block rates versus credit rates. He emphasizes the importance of finding colleges that genuinely support their students, particularly in career services, and suggests using the College Scorecard website to evaluate schools.

📝 Using College Scorecard for Informed Decision-Making

Shane introduces the College Scorecard, a government-created website that helps evaluate colleges based on various metrics like graduation rates and costs. He uses the University of Washington as an example, praising its high graduation rate and reasonable cost. Shane encourages viewers to use this tool to compare schools and make informed decisions about their education. He concludes by prompting viewers to engage with his content and share their thoughts.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Online for-profit university mills
Online for-profit university mills are educational institutions that operate primarily to make a profit rather than focusing on the quality of education. The video warns viewers to avoid these types of colleges because their degrees are often not respected by employers, making it difficult for graduates to find jobs. The speaker emphasizes that even though some of these schools may be accredited, they can still be scams.
💡Accreditation
Accreditation is the process by which an educational institution is officially recognized and deemed to meet certain standards. The video advises viewers to ensure that any school they consider is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. However, the speaker cautions that accreditation alone does not guarantee the school's legitimacy or value, as some accredited institutions have been exposed as scams.
💡Overpriced liberal arts colleges
Overpriced liberal arts colleges are institutions that charge high tuition fees for programs that may not offer a strong return on investment. The speaker argues that these colleges, despite their claims of providing a strong alumni network, often do not deliver sufficient value for the cost. The video suggests that students should be cautious about enrolling in these schools due to their high expenses compared to the benefits.
💡Return on investment (ROI)
Return on investment (ROI) in the context of education refers to the financial return a student can expect from their degree relative to the cost of obtaining it. The video discusses how some colleges, particularly private and liberal arts institutions, may have a low ROI, meaning that graduates do not earn enough to justify the high cost of their education. This concept is central to the video’s message about choosing a college wisely.
💡Bad reputation
A bad reputation in the context of colleges refers to schools that are known for poor practices, such as making it difficult for students to graduate on time or overcharging for credits. The speaker mentions that some colleges intentionally delay students' progress to make more money, which can lead to students taking six to seven years to complete a degree that should take four years. Such colleges can harm a student's career prospects.
💡Block rate vs. credit rate
Block rate and credit rate refer to different tuition fee structures used by colleges. A block rate charges a fixed amount per semester, allowing students to take a range of credits without paying extra. In contrast, a credit rate charges per credit, which can increase costs for students taking more classes. The video suggests that schools with a block rate may be more cost-effective, especially for students who want to take additional credits.
💡Career support
Career support refers to the services and resources a college provides to help students find jobs after graduation. The video highlights the importance of attending a college with strong career support, such as a good career center, to improve post-graduation job prospects. Colleges that lack these resources are less likely to help students secure employment, which can be a significant drawback.
💡College Scorecard
The College Scorecard is a government-created website that provides data on various metrics related to colleges, such as graduation rates, costs, and potential earnings by field of study. The speaker recommends using this resource to evaluate whether a college is a good value and to make informed decisions about where to enroll. The College Scorecard is presented as a reliable tool for comparing schools.
💡Graduation rate
Graduation rate is the percentage of students who complete their degree programs within a specified time frame, usually four years. The video uses this metric to assess the quality of colleges, noting that a high graduation rate is a positive indicator of a school’s effectiveness. For example, the University of Washington is mentioned as having a high graduation rate of 83%, which is considered excellent.
💡Overpriced private universities
Overpriced private universities are institutions that charge significantly higher tuition fees compared to public or state schools. The video argues that the additional cost of attending these universities does not typically result in better career outcomes, making them a poor investment for many students. The speaker advises viewers to be cautious of these schools, as they may not offer a strong return on investment.
Highlights

Avoid online for-profit university mills as their degrees are often not respected by employers.

Accreditation by the U.S. Department of Education is the bare minimum to consider, but it doesn’t guarantee the school's quality.

Even accredited schools can be scams, so be cautious and do thorough research.

Overpriced liberal arts colleges are often not worth the investment, as they may not provide a good return on investment.

Overpriced private universities charge significantly more than public schools but may not offer a substantial increase in future earnings.

Colleges with a bad reputation may prolong graduation times unnecessarily to increase their revenue.

Some schools intentionally make it difficult to graduate on time, requiring students to take extra classes and extend their studies.

It's better to choose a school that offers a block rate for tuition rather than a credit rate to avoid excessive costs for taking extra credits.

Colleges that do not provide strong career support or have a poor career center should be avoided.

Researching colleges online, including checking rankings and talking to alumni, is essential before making a decision.

The College Scorecard website by the U.S. government is a valuable resource for evaluating colleges based on various metrics.

University of Washington scores highly on the College Scorecard with an 83% graduation rate and an affordable average annual cost.

Some colleges have alarmingly low graduation rates, such as 20% or 30%, which is a red flag.

College Scorecard allows users to compare earnings by field of study, such as comparing astrology to architecture or engineering degrees.

Engage with the content by liking, subscribing, and commenting to support the channel and stay informed.

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