---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're going after these for-profit…"
description: "\"We're going after these for-profit institutions preying on first-generation college kids and putting them in debt. And they don't even have the income ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/miguel-cardona-5641_college_we-re-going-after-these-for-profit-insti_3072264.jpg"
---

#  We're going after these for-profit institutions preying on…

![“We're going after these for-profit institutions preying on first-generation college kids and putting them in debt. And they don't even have the income after because those programs are not worth the paper the diploma's written on.” quote by Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/miguel-cardona-5641_college_we-re-going-after-these-for-profit-insti_3072264.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/miguel-cardona-5641_college_we-re-going-after-these-for-profit-insti_3072264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/miguel-cardona-5641_college_we-re-going-after-these-for-profit-insti_3072264.jpg)

> “We're going after these for-profit institutions preying on first-generation college kids and putting them in debt. And they don't even have the income after because those programs are not worth the paper the diploma's written on.”

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Critique of for‑profit colleges exploiting first‑generation students, leaving them with debt and low‑value degrees.

**In simple terms:** For‑profit schools can trap vulnerable students in debt with worthless diplomas.

Key Takeaway

Advocate for affordable, value‑based education.

Themes

education equity debt policy first‑generation

Mood

concerned determined critical

Type

advocacy analysis

When to use this quote

- College counseling
- policy reform
- student loan advice
- public awareness campaigns

Key Concepts

Consumer protection financial exploitation social justice

Questions to Reflect On

- How can students verify a program’s value before enrolling?
- What policies could protect first‑generation learners?

A Different Perspective

The quote may overgeneralize; not all for‑profit schools are predatory.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-kids-253829/) [Debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Generation College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation-college-976621/) [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Income Programs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income-programs-5203544/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Institutions Preying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions-preying-5203543/) [Profit Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit-institutions-3410321/) [Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth/)

## Related quotes

> [As a first-generation college graduate, I know I would not have been able to open all the doors Morehouse College provided for me if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-warnock/as-a-first-generation-college-graduate-i-know-i-would-not-have-been/)

[Raphael Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-warnock/)

> [“The “non-profit” institution neither supplies goods or services nor controls. Its “product” is neither a pair of shoes nor an effective regulation. Its product…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-non-profit-institution-neither-supplies-goods-or-services-nor/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I was a first-generation college student. This was supposed to be the ticket to prosperity. But it wasn't. I left college with a mountain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-owens/i-was-a-first-generation-college-student-this-was-supposed-to-be-the/)

[Candace Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-owens/)

> [As a first-generation college student, I know the hurdles that far too many people face in accessing quality, affordable higher education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-padilla/as-a-first-generation-college-student-i-know-the-hurdles-that-far-too/)

[Alex Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-padilla/)

> [I began to understand the challenges that first-generation college students and students of color have in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-a-hrabowski-iii/i-began-to-understand-the-challenges-that-first-generation-college/)

[Freeman A. Hrabowski III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-a-hrabowski-iii/)

> [Education is an incredibly personal issue for me. If you're the first generation to go to college, sometimes you don't realize your potential until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priscilla-chan/education-is-an-incredibly-personal-issue-for-me-if-you-re-the-first/)

[Priscilla Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priscilla-chan/)

> [“That's the problem with college kids. I blame Hollywood for skewing their perspective. Life is just a big romantic comedy to them, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/that-s-the-problem-with-college-kids-i-blame-hollywood-for-skewing/)

[Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/)

> [“have to start taking things mildly seriously, now! Ugh! Just the word sends shivers down my spine. Serious. Seeeerious. Cereal-ous. Trix are for kids.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-wolf/have-to-start-taking-things-mildly-seriously-now-ugh-just-the-word/)

[Sara Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-wolf/)

> [I got hooked into folk music by accident, because that's what white college kids liked when I was a child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/i-got-hooked-into-folk-music-by-accident-because-that-s-what-white/)

[Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/)

> [The saving of empty beer and liquor bottles is a strange college phenomenon. I bet most of you college students reading this right now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-karo/the-saving-of-empty-beer-and-liquor-bottles-is-a-strange-college/)

[Aaron Karo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-karo/)

> [The college kids are recruiting each other. When they go to a school, they start recruiting each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/the-college-kids-are-recruiting-each-other-when-they-go-to-a-school/)

[Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/)

> [College kids want to be coached. They want to be taught. They might resist it a little bit early on, but the more you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/college-kids-want-to-be-coached-they-want-to-be-taught-they-might/)

[Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/)

> [“College kids seem to look younger with every passing year. It’s one of the hazards of growing older.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-jance/college-kids-seem-to-look-younger-with-every-passing-year-it-s-one-of/)

[J.A. Jance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-jance/)

> [To the college kids no scholarships, starting your semester Unpacking your suitcases filling up your dresser Enjoy it while you got it, after that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole/to-the-college-kids-no-scholarships-starting-your-semester-unpacking/)

[J Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole/)

> [Because of YouTube, I'm getting fan mail from 10-year-olds and teenagers and college kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/because-of-youtube-i-m-getting-fan-mail-from-10-year-olds-and/)

[Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/)

## More by Miguel Cardona

> [There's nothing valuable about being ripped off or sold on a worthless degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/there-s-nothing-valuable-about-being-ripped-off-or-sold-on-a/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [Let's turn the universities that walk the walk on equity into household names.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/let-s-turn-the-universities-that-walk-the-walk-on-equity-into/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [You know, I haven't met an educator that doesn't agree that students learn best in school, and they really want our students to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/you-know-i-haven-t-met-an-educator-that-doesn-t-agree-that-students/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [Participating in athletics gives all students an opportunity to learn about themselves, to compete, to negotiate with a team and learn skills that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/participating-in-athletics-gives-all-students-an-opportunity-to-learn/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [If we look at the data, and we see that some children are achieving more than other children, it's incumbent upon us to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/if-we-look-at-the-data-and-we-see-that-some-children-are-achieving/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [We won't stop fighting to deliver more relief and open doors of opportunity to more Americans more quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/we-won-t-stop-fighting-to-deliver-more-relief-and-open-doors-of/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [I think all schools should be supporting students who are struggling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/i-think-all-schools-should-be-supporting-students-who-are-struggling/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [In Connecticut, I started an effort called 'Learn Together, Grow Together CT' where we elevated schools using innovative solutions to solve common problems -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/in-connecticut-i-started-an-effort-called-learn-together-grow/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [Especially as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, structural racism and other deep challenges that affect students' educational experience, our Office for Civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/especially-as-the-nation-grapples-with-the-covid-19-pandemic/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [With the American Rescue Plan funds, schools can develop crucial summer and afterschool programming, as well as extended learning and enrichment programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/with-the-american-rescue-plan-funds-schools-can-develop-crucial/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [I urge state, local, and elected officials to make sure classroom teachers have a voice in your plans and efforts to reimagine education; second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/i-urge-state-local-and-elected-officials-to-make-sure-classroom/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [I grew up in a working-class community. I was the first in my family to attend college, thanks in large part to financial aid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/i-grew-up-in-a-working-class-community-i-was-the-first-in-my-family/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [Community schools, mental health access, enough reading teachers, enough professional staff, a competitive salary. Those are the things that keep schools going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/community-schools-mental-health-access-enough-reading-teachers-enough/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [A college degree can change the trajectory of a student's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/a-college-degree-can-change-the-trajectory-of-a-student-s-life/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

> [In this country, we're okay with taking into account wealth and lineage and legacy status, but to look at racial balance in school, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/in-this-country-we-re-okay-with-taking-into-account-wealth-and/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

[Explore all 100 Miguel Cardona quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

## More College quotes

> [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/)

[Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/)

> [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/)

[Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/)

> [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/)

[Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/)

> [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/)

[Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/)

> [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/)

[John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/)

> [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/)

[Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/)

> [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/)

[K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/)

> [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/)

[Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/)

> [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/)

[Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/)

> [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/)

[Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/)

> [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/)

[Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/)

> [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/)

[Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/)

> [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/)

[Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/)

[Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We're going after these for-profit institutions preying on first-generation college kids and putting them in debt. And they don't even have the income after because those programs are not worth the paper the diploma's written on.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Miguel Cardona"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/we-re-going-after-these-for-profit-institutions-preying-on-first/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "College"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/we-re-going-after-these-for-profit-institutions-preying-on-first/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/miguel-cardona-5641_college_we-re-going-after-these-for-profit-insti_3072264.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/miguel-cardona-5641_college_we-re-going-after-these-for-profit-insti_3072264.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/miguel-cardona-5641_college_we-re-going-after-these-for-profit-insti_3072264.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We're going after these for-profit institutions preying on first-generation college kids and putting them in…” — Miguel Cardona",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Miguel Cardona",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We're going after these for-profit institutions...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/we-re-going-after-these-for-profit-institutions-preying-on-first/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/we-re-going-after-these-for-profit-institutions-preying-on-first/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
