Synopsis

The American higher education system, a $400 billion industry sustained by public funds, is undergoing a profound transformation. While proponents tout innovation and expanded access, critics argue that the cost yields a worthless degree and crippling debt. FRONTLINE investigates, tracing the flow of capital to expose how Wall Street and a burgeoning network of for-profit universities are reshaping the very notion of a college education. What, ultimately, do students receive in return?