CORINTHIAN COLLEGES INC. Santa Ana, California Health Care Focus Helps Educator Earn A's.(A)

Byline: NANCY GONDO

Economic stress is good for the education business.

When jobs are tough to come by, it never hurts to expand your skills and knowledge so you're in a better position to land that job you've had your eye on.

For-profit educators tend to benefit. But not everyone needs the help.

Corinthian Colleges Inc., which offers diploma and degree programs in a wide range of fields, has prospered in good times and bad, with 103% average annual earnings growth over the past five years.

It's not the only for-profit educator raking in the cash. Other successful players include Apollo Group Inc., Career Education Corp. and Education Management Corp.

But Corinthian …