Champlain College Online Puts Career-Focused Education in Reach for More Adult Learners, Cuts Tuition by Half

BURLINGTON, VT (04/10/2018) Champlain College Online, a leader in career-focused adult higher education, today announced that it will reduce its online undergraduate tuition by 50 percent to $318 per credit, effective Fall 2018. The not-for-profit college's decision to reduce tuition was driven in part by data from a survey it commissioned in November 2017. The Champlain survey found that a significant majority-60 percent-of U.S. adults ages 23 to 55 without a bachelor's degree have considered returning to school, but costs and student debt remain their biggest deterrents.

"Champlain's new online undergraduate tuition rate represents our commitment to serve more of the 120 million prospective adult students in the U.S, as estimated by U.S. Census Bureau"

"We have been listening to current and prospective adult students, and we want to help them overcome affordability barriers, so we can empower more of them to accomplish their goals," said Donald J. Laackman, president of Champlain College. "We understand the sacrifices they're making in going back to school, and it's our responsibility as a higher education institution to do everything we can to enable their success. The bold decision to reduce our tuition builds on our long history of innovation, and will make it possible for more adults who want to earn a Champlain College Online undergraduate degree to do so affordably and with less debt."

Current and prospective Champlain College Online undergraduate students will be eligible for the new undergraduate tuition rate beginning in Fall 2018. Graduate online tuition rates will remain the same. The institution charges no technology or distance learning fees to online students. The change does not affect Champlain's traditional undergraduate tuition.

Champlain's tuition reduction is a natural next step in the expansion of the institution's online programs-a longstanding priority for the College's leadership-and its reputation for innovation. Champlain founded its truED© workforce development program in 2013, and now offers discounted tuition to employees of over 60 alliance organizations across the United States (including the Federal Government, AT&T, and MetLife). Through truED©, Champlain has developed a scalable, sustainable online learning model that has enabled the institution to quadruple enrollment over five years while maintaining its commitment to a high-quality, personalized academic experience for adult learners.

Champlain College Online's distinctive learning approach begins with conversations in admissions designed to help prospective students forge "a plan for success" while an online student; admission essays that assess an individual's grit and resilience; quality assurance practices that ensure meaningful engagement in the online classroom; a personalized, high-touch academic advising model focused on helping adult students complete their degrees; rigorous curricula developed in-house by experienced educators; a career-focused portfolio of programs in in-demand fields such as cybersecurity, healthcare administration, business, and human resource management; and merit bonuses to reward exceptional teaching from expert-practitioner faculty.

"Champlain College Online has developed an innovative model that enables them to actually reduce the cost of education while improving graduation rates for students. Innovations like this will be critical as small, private, non-profit institutions seek financially sustainable ways to expand access for working adults," said David Attis, managing director of strategic research at EAB.

"Champlain's new online undergraduate tuition rate represents our commitment to serve more of the 120 million prospective adult students in the U.S, as estimated by U.S. Census Bureau," said Dr. Laurie Quinn, provost and senior vice president for academics at Champlain College. "Adult learners who don't yet have their degree are a reservoir of untapped, unrealized workforce potential. They hope to build better lives and more meaningful careers, but need colleges to prioritize affordability without compromising the high-quality education they deserve."

About Champlain College Online

At the forefront of one of the most innovative, regionally accredited, not-for-profit colleges in the nation, Champlain College Online prides itself on a long history of providing career-focused education to adult learners. One of the oldest online institutions in the United States, Champlain College Online was established in 1993 by Champlain College, a non-profit private college founded in 1878 and offering a campus undergraduate experience in Burlington, Vermont.

Today, Champlain College Online is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a leader in online higher education and serves more than 3,000 students through more than 60 online undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates in high-growth fields like cybersecurity, healthcare administration and human resource management. Through the strategic alliance program known as truED, Champlain College Online has pioneered a bold reimagining of workforce development to create additional opportunities for adults to further their education in Champlain College's award-winning online academic programs aligned to needs in government and industry. For more information, visit Champlain.edu/online.

Contacts

• Stephen Mease, Champlain College Director of Public Information and News 802-865-6432 | smease@champlain.edu

Posted Tuesday April 10, 2018 at 12:28 pm by Champlain College
Last Updated Tuesday April 10, 2018 at 12:28 pm