About Us


The Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is a voluntary membership organization of accredited, postsecondary schools, institutes, colleges and universities that provide career-specific educational programs. CECU has about 500 member campuses that educate and support millions of students for employment in over 200 occupational fields. CECU member institutions provide the full range of higher education programs, including masters and doctorate degrees, two- and four-year associate and baccalaureate degree programs, and short-term certificate and diploma programs.

CECU member institutions cover the full gamut of postsecondary education: from short-term certificate and diploma programs, to two- and four-year associate and baccalaureate degrees, to master's and doctoral programs. Some of the occupational fields for which CECU institutions provide programs include: information technology; allied health; business administration; commercial art; radio and television broadcasting; and culinary and hospitality management.

Most CECU member institutions participate in federal student financial assistance programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. In order to participate, they must be licensed by the state in which they are located, accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body, and approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Many CECU member schools and colleges also participate in other federal, state and local education and workforce training programs.

Mission

Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) support the work of our members in providing access, opportunity and quality education to students seeking new or enhanced career skills. The association shall engage in advocacy, communications, professional development and research that advance the work of this sector.

Who We Are
  • Career education colleges and universities provide skills-based education opportunities to nontraditional students, particularly veterans, working mothers, and parents, to help them open doors and secure employment in today's workforce.
  • Career education colleges and universities equip millions of students from diverse social and economic backgrounds with access to career-focused learning and the job skills they need for a successful future. CECU members provide students who take different paths to higher education with opportunities unavailable to them at traditional colleges.

By The Numbers
  • Career education colleges and universities provide  millions of students annually with the education and skills necessary to compete for jobs in high-demand occupations. Graduates of two-year and other career education institutions have seen their average annual personal income increase by 54 percent, and graduates earning bachelor's degrees earn an additional $60,000 more in the first decade than those with a high school diploma.
  • Career education colleges and universities provide skills-based programs specifically designed to open doors for the nearly 8 million unemployed individuals in the United States. Unlike public institutions, career colleges and universities receive no direct taxpayer subsidies.