As college costs rise, alternatives sought online

Free web-based courses might not help to land a job

WASHINGTON — Connor Mitchell’s university classes take place online, he doesn’t have any exams and he studies in a different country every year.

Is he looking into the future or taking a gamble?

With college costs rising and more courses available online for free, some observers are questioning the need for a traditional college education that may include lectures on Greek philosophy but burden students with massive debt.

Education startups are offering alternatives — from boot camps, to one- or two-year tracks, to accredited degree programs — and their founders say these options will give students a more relevant education in today’s job market, and at a lower price.

But some experts caution against betting on a narrow, practical education geared toward a specific field that is in demand today but could leave them unprepared for the jobs of tomorrow. They also say most applicants still need a college degree from an established institution to get a good job.

But some innovators say a college degree may be obsolete.

Mission U , which began accepting its first applications last month, offers a one-year nondegree program in data analytics and business intelligence without an upfront tuition. As part of an income-sharing agreement, Mission U students will give back 15 percent of their salary for three years after graduation if they earn at least $50,000 per year. So far, the school has received over 3,000 applications.

Students will be taking online courses taught by industry practitioners and completing real-life projects and assignments for various companies. Partner firms such as Spotify, Lyft, Warby Parker and others are advising Mission U on its curriculum and have agreed to consider its students for jobs without a college degree. The first group of students will be based in San Francisco. A highschool diploma will not be required for admission.

“Just because you can prepare well for a test doesn’t mean that you will necessarily thrive as a contributor to a great company,” said Mission U founder Adam Braun.

Braun, 33, decided to create Mission U after seeing his wife struggle to pay off more than $100,000 in student debt.

“I came to the firm belief that our college system is fundamentally broken and it’s not working for the majority of young people who are going to college to build a better life and career,” Braun said.