Because most private higher education institutions in the US (and elsewhere) are nonprofit, they face a different incentive structure.

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Ten miles from there, Oberlin College, one of the great private institutions of higher learning in this country -- at Oberlin College, there was a building built there seven or eight years ago, fully powered by solar panels.

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Although branding has traditionally been associated with the private sector, more and more higher education institutions are recognizing its value and adopting it.

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The discounts at many private institutions are now at 50% or higher, so net tuition revenue is less than half the sticker price.

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Money is pouring into hedge funds and private equity firms as pension managers and other institutions chase higher-yielding investments.

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The Council, which will be administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will be comprised of no more than 12 individuals from a variety of sectors outside the Federal Government, including, among others, institutions of higher education, non-profit and philanthropic organizations, civil society, and private industry.

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