Dive Brief:

• The largest for-profit college operator in the world is discussing a $1 billion initial public offering.
• EdSurge reports that Baltimore-based Laureate Education is in talks with banks for the IPO, which would value the company at about $5 billion.
• The IPO is not expected until 2016, edSurge reports.

Dive Insight:

Laureate Education runs 84 universities around the world, most of which are in Latin America and Europe. The United States is home to six Laureate International Universities. The company stands out as one of the better for-profit chains, contrasted with the embattled Corinthian Colleges brand, which just announced the closure of its remaining campuses after a protracted death spiral.

Former president Bill Clinton recently ended his role as an honorary chancellor of Laureate ahead — but allegedly not connected to — his wife’s presidential run. For-profit colleges have become a political cause and elected officials are being pressured to oppose them as a bloc.