New Mobile Degree Program at Cornerstone University
For those eager to earn a degree at their own pace, Cornerstone University has now made it possible to do so using just a mobile phone. This development comes as part of a customized business program designed to meet the needs of students who prefer a self-paced learning environment.
Addressing this innovation, Cornerstone University President Gerson Moreno-Riaño noted that they have launched the first mobile platform in the U.S. offering accredited bachelor’s and master’s degrees solely through mobile devices.
The initiative commenced in August and has already attracted around 250 students.
The program, called SOAR, allows participants to earn either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in strategic business management, or a master’s degree in organizational leadership.
Moreno-Riaño shared that the program boasts a monthly retention rate of 91%, indicating that students are staying engaged. Some enrolled students, who transferred in with previous credits, will be among the first to graduate this year.
The total cost for the SOAR bachelor’s degree is $24,000, while the master’s program is priced at $12,000. Interestingly, more than half of the current students benefit from scholarships and grants, resulting in no tuition costs for them.
“We see this as a chance to fill educational gaps in the country,” he mentioned, expressing concerns that the existing higher education system is often unfit for non-traditional students. He added that the system was originally designed for traditional college attendees.
Moreno-Riaño emphasized the importance of utilizing technology that everyone has access to, noting that, on average, adults spend over four hours a day on mobile devices.
After testing the mobile app with around 120 students for more than a year, the university adjusted its design based on the feedback received during this developmental phase.
Cornerstone is particularly focused on reaching out to non-traditional and disillusioned students—those who currently aren’t pursuing degrees or those who have had negative experiences with conventional college life.
When creating the program, Cornerstone recognized that the traditional 120 credit hours required for graduation wouldn’t easily fit into a mobile app format. Thus, they aimed to deliver courses as “bite-sized educational content.”
As Moreno-Riaño explained, the app features mini-lectures, podcasts, book reviews, and interviews, all with well-defined learning objectives. Some of these lectures are as brief as five to ten minutes.
Moreover, the program incorporates micro-assessments with instant grading and feedback.
Early graduates have reported that they often listen to lectures during commutes or while taking care of household tasks. This, he noted, showcases how learning can seamlessly fit into hectic schedules by repackaging and restructuring educational content while maintaining engagement standards.
