NEW YORK , Nov. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Modern States Education Alliance, a philanthropy dedicated to making a college degree more affordable and accessible, today announced a key milestone: the registration of 100,000 students. The "Freshman Year for Free" initiative, which aspires to be a practical “on-ramp” into the traditional college system, enables learners of any age and background to earn academic credits at more than 2,900 major colleges and universities in the United States. Taught by professors from leading universities, Modern States' free online courses prepare students for the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam offered by the College Board.
“Having over 100,000 learners registered on ModernStates.org is a significant milestone for our organization and is particularly meaningful to me as I believe access to education is a fundamental right,” said Steve Klinsky, founder and CEO of Modern States. “Total student debt in America now exceeds $1.4 trillion dollars. With higher education playing a key role in the strength of our country, now and in the future, educating people on the cost-saving resources available to them is imperative.”
ModernStates.org classes are high-tech recorded sessions taught by professors from schools such as Johns Hopkins University, Rutgers University and George Washington University, and prepare learners to pass a CLEP exam. Course materials include free online textbooks and readings, plus practice questions from the College Board. Students can study each course at their own pace and take the CLEP exam when they feel ready.
There are no fees or costs of any kind to access the materials, and each CLEP exam costs just $87. As part of its philanthropic commitment, Modern States is paying the CLEP exam fee for the first 10,000 people who take a course.
“Whether someone takes one of our courses or enough credits to fulfill their freshman year requirements, it’s rewarding to provide a path to college for many types of students,” said Klinsky.
From active duty and retired members of the military to single moms and current high school and college students, thousands of learners are already using Modern States to save time and minimize debt.
In the long term, Modern States aspires to help over one million learners earn credit at no tuition cost, saving students and taxpayers approximately $1,000 per course and over $1 billion in total.
Registering for Modern States courses is free and easy. Sign up here.
About Modern States
The Modern States Education Alliance is a NYC-based philanthropy dedicated to making a college degree more affordable and accessible for everyone. Its first initiative is “Freshman Year for Free”, which offers more than 30 tuition-free, online college courses for credit from top university professors. The program is available to anyone with an Internet connection. Students can use these courses to earn college credits by preparing for and taking AP and CLEP exams, as offered by the College Board. Modern States is also paying for the first 10,000 exam fees. Learn more at ModernStates.org.