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This year, Shenandoah University launched new online MBA programs in cybersecurity and public health, University of Illinois Springfield began offering master’s certificates in business administration, and Benedictine University expanded its online bachelor’s degree programs in psychology and computer science.
The three examples have a common thread — they’ve all partnered with the for-profit company Risepoint, which helps universities launch and maintain online degree programs.
The company partners with universities to develop, launch, and grow online programs in nursing, teaching, business, and other high-demand sectors, and its website states they have launched over 25,000 courses since their formation in 2007.
Throughout 2025 the company continued to expand its partnerships as higher education evolves toward a more mobile, agile and technology-driven medium — and it seems to be a successful option, according to the results of a recently released survey commissioned by Risepoint.
The survey found 86 percent of Risepoint grads said their degree was worth the investment, 53 percent completed their education without loans, and the average payback period was only 18 months.
“Notably, graduates of Risepoint-supported programs benefited from low total tuition, significant salary increases one year after graduation, and a short tuition payback period,” Katelynn Dugan, Risepoint’s spokeswoman, told The College Fix in an interview this month.
“At a time when rising costs and student debt have many questioning whether college is still worth it,” this study “proves that high-value programs do exist, and they can deliver strong returns when designed around student needs,” she said.
The survey conducted by IPSOS on grads from Risepoint online programs found that among 4,470 working adults who completed their degrees in the past four years, 19 percent saw a salary increase one year after graduation, allowing most to pay off tuition in a year and a half.
Average total tuition was around $19,800 and 53 percent of students graduated debt-free. Nine in ten graduates, or 92 percent, credited the online format with allowing them to stay local without disrupting work or family life, according to the survey.
“Notably, graduates of Risepoint-supported programs benefited from low total tuition, significant salary increases one year after graduation, and a short tuition payback period,” Dugan told The Fix.
Dugan said the results point to a larger trend.
“One of the biggest shifts we continue to see is the evolving expectations of what we call the ‘modern learner,’” she said. “These students are asking for different things from their programs, like flexibility and real-world relevance.”
Risepoint’s survey comes amid several studies showing voters questioning the value of traditional brick-and-mortar higher education degrees.
As reported on by The College Fix, a November Overton Insights poll of 1,200 registered voters found only 14 percent believed a bachelor’s degree to be unequivocally worth its current cost, and a similar poll from NBC News found 63 percent of voters thought degrees were not worth the cost.
In the Risepoint study, 86 percent of respondents called their degree “worth the investment,” and 80 percent would recommend the program to a friend.
“Online and flexible formats, with occasional touchpoints on campus, are becoming increasingly essential to the modern learner, so Risepoint is helping university partners adapt their offerings with student-centered design and scalable academic support,” Dugan told The Fix.
“…The bottom line is online education can be an excellent choice when the program is affordable, high-quality, and aligned with a student’s goals. This study shows that when those pieces are in place, learners see real, measurable returns.”
Free market proponents argue against legislative and regulatory efforts that aim to restrict online for-profit programs such as Risepoint’s.
Online program managers “are a huge benefit to public and private colleges because they help colleges innovate and reach students anywhere in the world at a low cost. They should be treated that way,” according to center-right higher education expert Adam Kissel.
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