Startup Offers Inexpensive Online College Courses
November 3, 2010
StraighterLine Inc., a startup based in Baltimore, Maryland, is promoting a year of up to ten introductory college courses typically taken by freshmen for a mere $999.
The company offers online courses a la carte, including in mathematics, English, biology and business. Besides the low prices, it offers students flexibility--but no degrees. StraighterLine has already signed up 2000 students.
"There's a lot to be said for an immersive residential liberal arts experience, but it's also very expensive to deliver," noted Burck Smith, the company's founder and chief executive, who was interviewed by The Baltimore Sun. "StraighterLine is out there jostling to put a little pressure on the system. The reality is most students are nontraditional. They're not doing that expensive residential environment, but they're still being charged as if they are."
The catch is that StraighterLine is not accredited, which means that some institutions are reluctant to grant credit for its courses.
"It's just easier to do transfers with other accrediting institutions," said Joseph S. Wood, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at the University of Baltimore, who was quoted by the Sun. "The accreditation is was gives me the assurance of the integrity of the academic program."
But that might be changing, particularly as the demand for accessible and affordable higher education continues to rise. In fact, last month the company announced its 20th partnership with an accredited institution. Among the schools that have granted credit from the company's online courses are Ashford University, Potomac College, and the University of Akron.
"StraighterLine's list of articulating partners has grown five-fold since the beginning of 2010," says Smith in a press release. "With this many regionally accredited colleges awarding credit for StraighterLine’s courses and recommendations from the American Council on Education Credit service and others, there should be no doubt that StraighterLine's courses are equivalent to any other college's online courses."
In a related story, Inside Higher Ed reports that some community colleges are hiring for-profit companies to offer online remedial courses: Blackboard and K12, Inc. announced last month that they will be designing and providing instructors for community college remedial courses, and the schools will offer the courses through their general catalogs.
Compiled by BrainTrack.com Staff
Sources:
"Changing Course," Inside Higher Ed, October 22, 2010, Steve Kolowich
"20th Partner College Marks Milestone in StraighterLine's Growth," StraighterLine press release, October 4, 2010
"StraighterLine's Challenge to the Rising Cost of College," The Baltimore Sun, October 31, 2010, Gus G. Sentementes
