Corinthian Colleges, Inc., formerly traded under OTCMKTS:COCOQ, was a for-profit post‐secondary education company headquartered in Santa Ana, California. Through its core brands—Everest College, Heald College and Wyotech—it offered career‐oriented diploma and degree programs in fields such as healthcare, business, information technology, skilled trades and hospitality services. The company’s curriculum was designed to combine classroom instruction with hands-on training, aiming to prepare students for immediate entry into the workforce.
Founded in 1995, Corinthian expanded rapidly through both organic growth and acquisitions, establishing more than 100 campuses across the United States and Canada at its peak. The company emphasized flexible scheduling options, including evening and weekend classes, to accommodate working adults and nontraditional students seeking to upgrade their skills or pursue new career paths. Its program offerings ranged from one-year certificate programs to two-year associate degrees, supplemented by career services such as job placement assistance and résumé workshops.
In the early 2010s, Corinthian attracted regulatory scrutiny related to its recruiting practices, student loan default rates and accreditation compliance. Following investigations by the U.S. Department of Education and several state attorneys general, the company faced restrictions on access to federal student aid and mounting legal challenges. In 2015, Corinthian Colleges ceased operations and initiated bankruptcy proceedings, resulting in the closure of its campuses and the transfer of certain student assets to other institutions. The company remains a notable example of the regulatory and operational risks associated with the for-profit education sector.
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