According to an article in USA Today, a recent analysis conducted by the Associated Press has found that for-profit schools such as Kaplan, the University of Phoenix and Devry are all benefiting from the billions of dollars that the Federal Government is pumping into higher education. Why? Simply put, many of the low-income students who are receiving government educational assistance are choosing to spend their dollars at for-profit schools, ranging from large publicly traded chains to local career colleges.

The Associated Press analysis found that the five institutions to receive the most federal Pell Grant dollars were all for-profits. In fact, among those five schools, more than $1 billions worth of Pell Grant dollars was dispersed. This figure reflects a growth of two and a half times what those schools received in aid just two years ago. Furthermore, this trend appears to be continuing. In fact, while Washington provided 45% more funding during the first quarter after the maximum funding was increased last July, for-profit schools saw an increase of 67%.

Supporters of for-profit schools are not surprised to learn that they are taking in such a large proportion of Pell Grant funding. Not only do these schools offer more space than community colleges, which are currently having a difficult time accommodating all of their students, but they also offer a career-focused curriculum as well as convenience. Critics, on the other hand, maintain that for-profit colleges and universities prey on low-income families.

Currently, for-profit schools still represent a relatively low portion of the overall number of enrolled students. During the 2007-2008 school year, for example, for-profits enrolled about 2.7 million students. While this represents only about 10% of the total number of students enrolled in post-secondary schools, it is still about 2 million more than the number of students enrolled in for-profits just ten years ago.

The bottom line is simple: for-profit schools can be a great match for some people, but may not be the right option for others. Therefore, it is important to explore all of your options before you decide which school is right for you. And, regardless of the school you choose to attend, be certain to look into your Pell Grant opportunities. After all, any help you can get with paying for college is certainly a good thing!