“New York’s Association of Proprietary Colleges represents 11 degree-granting colleges in New York which support the higher education and career pursuits of 26,000 students on their campuses across New York State.

We are disappointed that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a press release this week unfairly maligning 70 for-profit colleges for what they claim are “certain marketing activities in the for-profit education sector (that) are deceptive or unfair.” However, they go on to admit that the “notice is not an indication of any wrongdoing” on the part of the institutions named. 

The FTC’s actions were reckless and irresponsible, as they arbitrarily named 70 colleges as so-called “bad actors” and in the same breath noted that “A school’s presence on this list does not reflect any assessment as to whether they have engaged in deceptive or unfair conduct.”

The members of the Association of Proprietary Colleges meet the same rigorous standards imposed on all of New York’s higher education institutions, and have graduation rates that equal or exceeds those of public sector alternatives such as the SUNY and CUNY systems.

Until the playing field is leveled and the FTC holds all institutions of higher education to the same standards, it is very difficult to take announcements like this seriously.  Despite this distraction, our members will continue to work hard on behalf of their students.”  

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