Kristi, Career colleges have been in existence since the industrial revolution and gained momentum in the early 20th century. For years they have attracted the non-traditional student who prefers to work with their hands as opposed to learning more about theoretical events. They are profiled as you mentioned "they have not been in school for several years, work full time, displaced worker, etc." However, with the evolution of the career college and the changes in the socioeconomic culture we are seeing more "traditional" students looking for a more defined education that will allow them to learn a skill and move into the workplace much faster. Cindy Bryant