Moving Beyond College: Rethinking Higher Education Regulation for an Unbundled World

Abstract

In the face of increasing costs and lackluster outcomes, traditional higher education is under increasing pressure to prove its value proposition. Meanwhile, new providers have “unbundled” the components of a postsecondary degree or certificate, offering stand-alone courses or sequences of courses, targeted job training, and assessments and certifications, often at much lower cost than existing institutions. These models cannot deliver all of what a traditional college or university does, but they can provide affordable, flexible, and customizable opportunities to learn. This report outlines potential regulatory approaches and tools—many of which would work well in combination—that policymakers could use to facilitate access to this unbundled market while protecting consumers and taxpayers.