College costs are high due to government regulations that reduce competition and prevent low-cost solutions!

An inexpensive, quality college education could be a reality if we could eliminate the barriers that prevent students from receiving accredited college degrees through independent study and testing out of all college courses.

Why isn’t a 100% self-study and test out degree offered at any accredited colleges or universities? Because state regulators and accreditation agencies prevent low-cost education through outdated physical location, library, and staff-to-student ratio requirements that drive up the cost of college.

Several non-profit organizations offer college credit by exam, allowing students to study on their own and test out of a significant number of college courses at most universities. Unfortunately, most universities limit the number of these non-traditional credits to 25% or less.

In today’s world, students can go online to watch the best lectures, read free textbooks, participate in group chats, receive one-on-one tutoring and take tests via online proctors. Earning a degree through online learning and testing out of college courses could cost less than 5% of the cost of a typical on-campus degree. In addition to these drastic savings, individuals who test out of college courses can graduate a year or two early, which makes the student more competitive in the job market and allows the student to start earning income earlier. The total economic benefit to the student over their lifetime could easily be more than $300,000. The self-motivation, dedication, and intelligence demonstrated by taking the initiative to graduate early and save money will set you apart from other graduates in a competitive job market.

We need to tell our state regulators to reduce regulations and requirements so that we can take advantage of the great improvements in technology to save both time and money while obtaining a college degree. You can find and contact your state representative by visiting https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/ .

For more information on testing out of college courses, visit Educate4Free.com, ModernStates.org, Saylor.org, and clep.collegeboard.org.