Afton Partners

UW Flex established a different revenue model: instead of charging by the credit hour, the program charges a set price for all students, based on a subscription period, during which students have “all-you-can-learn” access to the curriculum. This means that for those students who work through the online program quickly, a UW Flex degree will end up being substantially cheaper. For others, the cost may end up being equivalent to a traditional program.

Although warnings about the changing demographics of college-age students were first issued earlier this decade by the commission, many small colleges ignored the predictions. And now their lack of a strategy to diversify the enrollment pipeline is putting financial strain on the bottom line, especially in a student market where tuition prices continue to increase year after year as family incomes lag.

Some campuses are countering the rising cost trend in an unexpected way: adding more degree programs. Georgia Tech is among hundreds of schools looking to attract more students and invite more private support through the establishment of new academic offerings.

Kentucky: A proposed funding model for higher education in the state would reward progress in degree production and course completion while also offering funding for operational support.