OT: Purdue buys for-profit Kaplan University, 32k students
This is fascinating. Purdue buys a troubled, for-profit university to get access to the adult education market and to expand the student base. I guess the assumption is that you buy capability that already knows how to reach and deliver into this segment since Purdue would take too long to build the capability internally. Granted, it can be debated how effective Kaplan was in actually educating its students, I would hope Purdue would bring more rigor. I am intrigued with how this may affect Purdue's brand or if they are able to tier their offering without brand dilution.
If they are successful, does that spur other collegiate M&A? What would be the best college merger in terms of awesomeness?
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-prestigious-public-university-wants-…
1) There is a big difference between 27 and 60.
2) This is part of why I would not refer to USNWR on my own. I only used it as a response to your use of it asan authority; sorta measuring with your ruler.
3) I would consider Michigan prestigious, but it is really in the 1B category"of prestige, not 1A. If you look at some of the world rankings which are entirely based on reputation in academia and actual academic output (publications, journal citations, field prizes, etc.) Michigan is generally top 25 or better in the world. I think that is prestigious.
4) According to a quick googling, Purdue has 40,000 students and engineering has just under 10,000. So, the answer to your question is that a clear majority (75%) of the people who attend Purdue do so for something other than engineering.
So, the OP title definitely makes it sound like Purdue purchased 32,000 people.
Interesting. It's an out-of-the-box move and a bold gamble, that's for sure.
I assume that they'll leverage Kaplan's relationships and infrastructure but phase out all use of the Kaplan brand.
I have a Purdue degree in physics. I have serious questions about President Daniels move to buy Kaplan University. As long the rigor and admission standards are still there in the STEM fields and business, I approve of this move. It allows Purdue to compete with the likes of Penn State, Arizona St., and Nebraska who have very powerful online campuses.
Now the liberal arts fields at Purdue...yikes...Purdue lets in anyone with a pulse to major in the liberal arts fields.