Jasmine Lee had finally found something she was happy with and wanted to pursue. She had been working as a medical assistant at an orthopedic center, and she was enjoying it. But she wanted more. So she figured she should check out the certificate program at Virginia College in Birmingham, where she works.

Thousands of students are reportedly left scrambling after Education Corp. of America (ECA), one of the country’s largest for-profit college chains, announced Wednesday that it would be abruptly closing more than 70 campuses across the United States.

Jasmin Cantú, a student at Brightwood College in Texas, said she was in the middle of taking a medical assistant certification exam Wednesday when a school official came into the classroom in tears, delivering a message Cantú never thought she would hear. The school was shutting down and the last day of classes would be Friday, she said.

At a recent conference on financial aid, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said that every school should help its students graduate with high-quality career prospects and little debt. Students should be equipped, she added, with information that allows them to be responsible consumers.

A major for-profit college chain shut down Wednesday, leaving roughly 20,000 students scrambling to figure out their next steps. Education Corporation of America, the parent company of schools like Virginia College and Brightwood Career Institute, closed its doors after several months of financial turmoil due in large part to declining enrollment.

One of the nation's largest for-profit college chains announced Wednesday that it was abruptly closing in dozens of locations nationwide, after its accrediting agency suspended approval. Birmingham, Alabama-based Education Corp. of America said it was closing schools operating as Virginia College, Brightwood College, Brightwood Career Institute, Ecotech Institute and Golf Academy of America in more than 70 locations in 21 states.

One of the nation's largest for-profit college chains announced Wednesday that it was abruptly closing in dozens of locations nationwide, after its accrediting agency suspended approval. Birmingham, Alabama-based Education Corp. of America said it was closing schools operating as Virginia College, Brightwood College, Brightwood Career Institute, Ecotech Institute and Golf Academy of America in more than 70 locations in 21 states.