Statistics show that privately held colleges educate 13 percent more women and nearly 50 percent more minorities compared with public colleges. Privately held colleges have also welcomed non-traditional students, such as adults who cannot afford to drop their jobs or commute long distances to attend a community college. Career colleges offer unique flexible course schedules and online classes to meet the needs of adult learners - for instance, 30 percent of students at privately held colleges are single parents, a much higher percentage than other schools.  A proposed rule called "Gainful Employment" before the Department of Education threatens to change the availability of federal funding to programs at privately held colleges and universities.