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As steep declines in state revenue force colleges in California to cut back, the California Community Colleges are essentially outsourcing some of their students to for-profit Kaplan University. 

Under a memorandum of understanding between Kaplan and the California Community Colleges, some students will be able to take select online courses at a steep discount and have the credits transfer back to their home college.

While students will receive a steep discount off Kaplan’s normal tuition rates, they’ll still pay far more than they would at their community college.  A course that would normally cost them $78 will cost $645 through Kaplan.  For a student normally enrolled with Kaplan, the same course costs $1,113. 

College officials expect few students, mainly those putting the highest premium on completing their degrees in a timely manner; will take advantage of the program. 

Faculty members caution that while the students will be guaranteed the credits will count at their community college, the California State University and University of California systems may still not accept them.  Each of the three college systems determines which courses will count at their institutions. 

The California Community Colleges decision comes after reports showing high profits at schools like Kaplan, built largely off Pell Grants and federal loans to low income students. 

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