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StraighterLine's $99 Model Offers Affordable Alternative to Rising College Costs

The College Board said average tuition and fees for a four-year, private liberal arts college in the U.S. rose 5.9 percent this year to $25,143. The increase was about 0.3 percent more than the increase in the Consumer Price Index, a standard gauge of inflation. At the average four-year state university in the U.S., average tuition rose 6.4 percent to $6,585 for in-state students, an increase 0.7 percent higher than the increase in inflation. For out-of-state students attending state universities, the average increase was even more -- 5.2 percent to $17,452.

In contrast to these high figures, StraighterLine offers two ways -- enroll in each of its introductory courses for $399 for a six-month period of online access, or take part a monthly subscription style process. The latter, known as the "StraighterLine for $99" program, allows students to access all StraighterLine courses for only $99 per month, with no start-up costs and no minimum or maximum time limit for course completion. Students can select any one StraighterLine course at a time. Upon completing a course, students may begin a new course with no additional costs.

Students who complete a StraighterLine course can choose to receive credit from one of StraighterLine's six regionally accredited partner colleges. Student-earned credits may also be transferable to non-partner colleges that recognize StraighterLine's partner's courses as equivalent programs. The combined costs of either approach will save students thousands of dollars as compared the current estimates the College Board provided for both public and private colleges and universities.

StraighterLine is a division of SMARTHINKING (www.smarthinking.com). The company was recently listed in BusinessWeek Magazine as a "disruptive education technology" and has received media coverage from The Chronicle for Higher Education, eSchoolNews and the Washington Business Journal, among others.

Additional information on the StraighterLine program can be found at www.straighterline.com or by calling 202-507-7020 or 1-877-str8erline (1-877-787-8375).

    Media Contact:
    Ryal Curtis
    MMI Associates, Inc.
    (919) 233-6600
    ryal@mmimarketing.com

SOURCE StraighterLine