New Degree Completion Pathways Help Adults Finish a Bachelor’s for as Low as $11,000
PHILADELPHIA – Peirce College is collaborating with Study.com, an online education platform that serves millions of students, teachers and working professionals, to create more affordable degree completion pathways that expand access for adult students.
The partnership, one of a handful the college has developed in the past year aimed at expanding access and affordability, connects students to more than 150 Study.com courses that have been evaluated and recommended for college credit by the American Council on Education (ACE) and mapped to undergraduate degree programs at Peirce College. Through transfer credits, Study.com courses and Peirce courses, the college has created pathways to finishing a bachelor’s degree for as low as $11,000.
“Increasing access and affordability for adult students in Philadelphia and across our region is critical,” said Dr. Mary Ellen Caro, president and CEO of Peirce College. “We believe our partnership with Study.com can increase degree attainment in our city to help fuel the regional economy and reduce cost and time to degree completion for adult learners.”
Study.com courses, paired with Peirce College courses, can significantly reduce degree completion costs for students and maximize education assistance programs offered by employers throughout the region.
“We’re excited to partner with Peirce because through this relationship we’re able to remove the three main challenges many students face with higher education – cost, time, and lack of flexibility,” said Adrian Ridner, co-founder and CEO of Study.com. “By offering students a low cost degree pathway that is online, students are able to reduce the time that it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree.”
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 Study.com was one of the first organizations outside of higher education institutions to realize that most adults were looking for something different than what traditional higher education typically offers.
“One of the most significant changes in serving adult students today is the unbundling of higher education,” she said. “Most adults have unique needs that do not fit the traditional higher education model. Students coming back to finish their bachelor’s degree need a different path.”
About Study.com
Study.com is an online education platform that helps learners of all ages excel academically and close skills gaps. From test prep and homework help to earning low-cost college credit and developing workplace skills, Study.com’s online courses, short animated video lessons and study tools have made learning simple for over 30 million students, teachers and working professionals. Study.com was founded in 2002 and is a privately-held company located in Mountain View, Calif. Learn more at www.study.com or download the mobile app from the iOS app store or Google Play.
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.
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CONTACT:
Peirce College
Amanda Hill (215) 670-9476
amhill@peirce.edu