Free Online Courses Can Help Save Students $25,000 in Tuition
PHILADELPHIA – Peirce College is partnering with OnlineDegree.com, an education technology platform that provides free, online college-level courses, to increase access and affordability for adults interested in finishing a college degree.
The partnership connects students to 14 free online courses that have been evaluated and recommended for college credit by the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) and mapped to undergraduate degree programs at Peirce College. Peirce students can earn up to 42 credits via the free OnlineDegree.com courses and save more than $25,000 in tuition and fees.
“We recognize how important it is to expand access and affordability for adult students in Philadelphia and throughout our region,” said Dr. Mary Ellen Caro, president and CEO of Peirce College. “Partnering with OnlineDegree.com, we are reducing the cost of degree completion and helping more adults finish a degree they started earlier in life to prepare for career advancement.”
OnlineDegree.com courses, paired with Peirce College courses, prior learning assessment and other transfer credits, can significantly reduce degree completion costs for students and maximize education assistance programs offered by employers throughout the region.
“It’s innovative institutions like Peirce College that are solving our society’s problem of accessibility to affordable and high-quality education,” said Grant Aldrich, founder of OnlineDegree.com. “This partnership will help more adults achieve their dream of a college education at a leading institution with a rich 154-year history.”
According to a 2018 Pew Charitable Trust report, 17 percent of Philadelphians age 25 or older, about 176,000 people, have earned some credits toward an undergraduate degree but have not completed one. The report said that Philadelphia’s low percentage of adults with a college degree is often cited as a key factor contributing to the city’s lackluster economic performance over the past several decades, and that reducing the ranks of adults with some college credits but no degree could help address that.
Caro said OnlineDegree.com is an excellent example of how high-quality, open courses can expand access and drive down the cost of degree completion for adults in Philadelphia.
“Peirce is the only college or university in Philadelphia dedicated exclusively to serving adults, so we look a little different than most other institutions,” she said. “Our focus on creating more flexible and affordable pathways for our students is based on their needs as busy adults who want to advance their education – and their lives.”
About OnlineDegree.com
OnlineDegree.com is a rapidly growing education technology platform where students can receive college credit toward their degree…tuition-free. Created by startup veterans and leading academics to help more people go back to school, students can take a variety of online general education courses without the normal applications, entrance exams, or costs associated with traditional institutions. OnlineDegree.com prepares adults for higher education and works with participating accredited universities to award transfer credit for successful completion of the courses. Learn more at www.onlinedegree.com.
About Peirce College
Established in 1865, Peirce College is Philadelphia’s leading senior private, nonprofit college for adults and a pioneer in online education and leveraging technology in higher education. Today, Peirce continues its tradition of serving the unique needs of working adults through career-focused, online and on-campus programs that provide students with academic excellence, flexibility and personalized support. Peirce offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs taught by faculty who are leaders in their respective fields. Learn more at www.peirce.edu.
Media Contact:
Joe Guzzardo
215.670.9060
jguzzardo@peirce.edu