What is your perception of for profit colleges and universities?

What are your goals?  If you just want points for civilian education, and you do not care if you actually get a degree and/or you don't plan to actually use the degree as anything other than a credential, there is probably little distinction.  Understand that you are not really getting a college education.

I caution that this is shortsighted.  I met with quite a few transitioning service members who were very disappointed to find that there is no academic credit for "life experience" or that they cannot count their 15X AIT toward a degree in accounting, even if some other for-profit said they would accept it.  Moreover, credit "earned" at many of these for-profit schools will not transfer and you cannot use their degrees toward starting a Master's program at a traditional non-profit.  In short, you may start out thinking, "I just want the promotion points," but if you change your mind, you won't have as many options.

I never attended a for profit school, but when one of my Soldier's had a problem with a course while we were down range I accompanied him to the school's office on Camp Liberty.  While, yes, I wanted to eat at the good DFAC, I also knew I could speak the academic lingo and get the situation straightened out.  For months the "school" harassed me to agree to teach for them.  I kept trying to explain that we've got this war going on and I had a couple things on my mind.  They kept trying to reassure me how easy it would be and what little time I would really have to put into it.  Ridiculous.  

I would stay away.  There are enough fully recognized, properly accredited, online programs given by traditional non-profit schools, that you can get a degree from a school with an established reputation and strong alumni program, etc.

I absolutely do not mean to offend people who have chosen to get a degree from a for-profit program and who feel they were well served.  If that is your experience, good on you.