Georgia career colleges get scant oversight

As enrollment has mushroomed at for-profit colleges in recent years, they have come under increased criticism. Among the concerns are default rates on federally insured student loans; dropout and graduation rates; recruiting tactics; and the truthfulness of claims about job-placement success.

Dozens of state attorneys general are examining the proprietary schools, and several federal agencies also have launched investigations. But in the past five years, the Georgia agency responsible for regulating the schools has not issued a subpoena or referred a single case to the attorney general for investigation.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporters discovered an agency that has allowed for-profit schools to operate with impunity in Georgia. Their findings, available on MyAJC.com, already have prompted action. Also on the subscriber website are videos of students telling their experiences at the schools and detailed information on the schools' dropout and graduation rates, student defaults and tuition.