Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, Bloomberg News, Chronicle of Higher Education, Blumenstyk and Fuller

Number of post-secondary institutions newly accredited between 2005 and 2009:  483.

Percentage of post-secondary institutions newly accredited between 2005 and 2009 that were private for-profit institutions:  77%.

Percentage of total accredited post-secondary institutions in the U.S. that were private for-profit institutions in 2009:  26.2%.

Percentage of students in post-secondary institutions enrolled at private for-profit institutions in 2010:  9%.

Percentage increase in enrollments at private for-profit institutions between 2005 and 2009:  235%.

Percentage of federal student aid received by students attending private for-profit institutions in 2010:  36%.

Percentage of total revenues of the Apollo Group (University of Phoenix) generated by federal student aid in 2010:  88%.

Total enrollment with the Apollo Group (University of Phoenix) in 2010:  443,000.

Total revenues of the Apollo Group  (University of Phoenix) in 2010:  $4.1 billion.

Total net profit of the Apollo Group (University of Phoenix) in 2010:  $598 million.

Total enrollment with Education Management Corporation (Argosy University and Art Institutes) in 2010:  136,000.

Total enrollment with Career Education/Le Cordon Bleu and American InterContinental University:  113,900.

Total enrollment with Kaplan Higher Ed in 2010:  108,300.

Total enrollment with DeVry in 2010:  101,648.

Total enrollment with Corinthian Colleges in 2010:  93,493.

Total enrollment with ITT Educational Services in 2010:  79,208.

Total enrollment with American Public Education (American Military University) in 2010:  55,300.

Total enrollment with Bridgeport Education (Ashford University) in 2010:  54,894.

Total enrollment with Strayker Education in 2010:  54,317.

Total enrollment with Grand Canyon Education in 2010:  34,218.

Average tuition at two-year institutions in 2010:  public, $2,970; private not-for-profit, $10,266; and private for-profit, $14,280.

Median student debt for students graduating with a baccalaureate degree in 2007-2008:   public institutions, $7,960; private not-for-profit institutions, $17,040; and private for-profit institutions, $31,190.

Six-year graduation rates for baccalaureate students in 2007-2008:  public institutions, 55%; private not-for-profit institutions, 65%; private for-profit institutions, 22%.

Three-year student-loan default rates in 2008:  public institutions, 10.8%; private not-for-profit institutions, 7.6%; private for-profit institutions, 25%; Corinthian Colleges, 40.3%.