A new model for Degree Seekers

Reader comment on: Harvard Isn't Worth It

Submitted by Lyle (United States), Mar 22, 2011 10:12

Read an article in Business Week on Western Governors University a private school that is fully accredited that does only distance learning, has no tenured faculty, and as a result a 4 year degree costs around 24k in total. Note that it hearkens back to the way a lot of post secondary education used to be in the US before every school decided that it wanted to be a comprehensive university (recall normal schools/teachers colleges, and Agriculture and Mechanics schools). It offers degrees in subjects like nursing and teaching and IT tech. No degrees in humanities, social sciences, or natural science. By dispensing with tenured faculty and the research model, as well as not needing to build the amenities of a campus, a lot of money can be saved. If students want a health club they can join their local one, rather than paying those dues thru their tuition. (As an example of an amenity)

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