PERDOCEO EDUCATION CORP
PRDO
Consumer Staples
3
exclusion reasons
2 themes
PERDOCEO EDUCATION CORP is screened out under 3 exclusion reasons spanning 2 issue categories.
This page is part of our public exclusion list — a transparency tool that shows which companies we screen out and why. It is not investment advice, and it is not an accusation. It is a statement of values.
Perdoceo Education Corporation, operating through its subsidiaries Colorado Technical University and American InterContinental University, has a business model centered on recruiting and enrolling students into for-profit degree programs. This model has generated extensive allegations of exploiting students, particularly military veterans and servicemembers, for federal financial aid revenue. The company has been the subject of over 500 complaints from military-connected students detailing deceptive recruiting and financial aid practices.
The Federal Trade Commission sent nearly $30 million in refunds to people deceived by agents working on behalf of Perdoceo’s predecessor, Career Education Corporation. The U.S. Department of Education has initiated a fact-finding process into “several thousand” Borrower Defense claims against Perdoceo schools, indicating a pattern of alleged misconduct that could result in false claims for payment. In 2022, the Department of Education deepened its probe following indictments from former employees regarding consistent misconduct in deceptive recruiting and financial aid administration.
Perdoceo Education Corporation operates for-profit colleges, including Colorado Technical University and American InterContinental University, which derive revenue from federal financial aid programs. The company’s business model has been cited for exploiting vulnerable populations, including veterans and service members, through aggressive marketing and recruitment practices that target individuals during periods of economic uncertainty. Legal advocacy groups have described these students as a “gravy train” for some of the worst schools, indicating a pattern of prioritizing aid capture over educational outcomes. While the company itself is not an entertainment product, its operational model aligns with the exclusion criteria for exploiting vulnerable populations through predatory financial practices dressed as educational services.
Research Sources
13 organizations
Related Exclusions
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Companies appear on our exclusion list based on our investment judgment — not because they've done anything illegal. This is a difference of values and opinion, not an accusation of wrongdoing. Exclusion does not constitute a recommendation against investing in any company, and absence from the list does not constitute a recommendation to invest.
This information is provided for educational and transparency purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice. Data is drawn from independent watchdogs, NGOs, government registries, and Ethical Capital's ongoing research — see Research Sources for the full list.
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