Education Dept Approves Conversion of For-Profit Colleges to Nonprofits

The Education Department will reportedly allow two for-profit colleges to convert to nonprofit colleges.

The sales of the schools—Kaplan University and the Art Institutes—were approved by the Education Department, according to emails obtained by BuzzFeed News.

Kaplan is being bought by Purdue University in a deal brought about by former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R), who now serves as Purdue's president.

The Art Institutes, which is owned by EDMC, is being purchased by the Dream Center, a nonprofit with Christian roots, according to BuzzFeed.

The Education Department said "it does not see any impediment to EDMC's request for approval of the change in ownership or its request for approval of nonprofit institution status."