A for-profit college is an educational institution that operates as a business, aiming to generate profit for its owners or shareholders. These colleges often offer vocational training, associate degrees, and bachelor's degrees in various fields. They typically charge tuition fees that can be higher than those at public colleges, and they may rely heavily on federal student aid programs. Many for-profit colleges use aggressive marketing strategies to attract students, sometimes promising high job placement rates. However, they have faced criticism for their high student loan default rates and lower graduation rates compared to non-profit institutions. This has led to increased scrutiny and regulation from the government.