Not long ago I presented at a conference for leaders of proprietary, or for-profit, colleges. I went with the notion that such schools were still relatively small, with limited courses, outdated facilities, small budgets and questionable reputations. Boy was I wrong.

For-profit schools have shed those stereotypes and now compete quite well with "traditional" colleges and universities. By catering primarily to working adults, these institutions have established a strong and permanent foothold on the landscape of American higher education. Many combine face-to-face classes with online instruction, offering maximum flexibility.

If you're busy with a job and family, want to complete your degree, and can't find programs that meet your schedule and particular needs, don't fret. Visit the following sites and request more information. Your career will thank you.

The National College of Business & Technology, with campuses ranging from Virginia to Tennessee to Kentucky, offers programs in business, technology, health care, paralegal studies, hospitality management and broadcasting.

The Katherine Gibbs School, whose storied history dates back to 1911, has nine campuses throughout the Northeast. At the Philadelphia campus, for example, you can study design, business and technology.

The Chubb Institute gives students the skills necessary to become information technology professionals. Campuses are located throughout New York and New Jersey, and in Chicago, Arlington, VA, and Alpharetta, GA.

DeVry University has emerged as one of the nation's leading for-profit institutions, with campus locations across the nation. You'll find Associate Degree programs in electronics and health information, and Bachelor Degree programs in fields ranging from biomedical engineering to business to IT. DeVry also features the Keller Graduate School of Management, with Master Degree programs in accounting, human resources, and information systems, among others, as well as graduate certificate programs.

Herzing College, with campuses in Atlanta, Birmingham, Madison (WI), Minneapolis, New Orleans and Orlando, and across Canada, offers instruction in IT and business administration.

Colorado Technical University operates campuses in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Sioux Falls, SD, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates in business and information technology.

Sanford Brown College has campuses in Missouri, Illinois and Ohio, with a curriculum featuring business, technology and health care.

Vatterott College offers a wide array of programs in management, design, health care and information technology. Campuses are located throughout the Midwest.

Westwood College of Technology has campuses in California, Texas, Colorado and Illinois, and offers aviation programs in Houston, L.A. and Denver.

And of course, the nation's largest university, the University of Phoenix, also features campus locations nationwide and overseas. You can join the other 135,000 students from around the world studying business, technology, education, nursing, health care, counseling and criminal justice.