Dive Brief:
- For-profit massive open online course provider Udacity is making its nanodegree offering even more appealing with a new discount.
- The company announced on its blog that it would make a pilot program permanent, returning half of the cost of tuition for users who complete their nanodegree programs in one year.
- Besides the 12-month completion requirement, only students who are paying for the degrees out-of-pocket can apply for the reimbursement.
Dive Insight:
Udacity founder Sebastian Thrun left Stanford to create the online education company, first intending to offer university-level coursework to anyone around the globe who could connect to the Internet. Udacity has since shifted to career-focused courses. Its nanodegrees offer tech credentials through courses designed by industry leaders who have committed to recognizing them in hiring decisions.
Innovators in the higher education sphere like Thrun have provided fairly significant competition for traditional colleges and universities. Udacity offers courses online through a flexible timeline, charging students a flat monthly fee. Now, like many traditional institutions, Udacity will offer steeply discounted tuition to attract additional students.
