Valuing Partnership Since Before Day One

The year before ACE offered its first course, prominent educators and business leaders gathered in concern regarding a shortage of educators and educational leaders as well as a large number of students who don’t finish college. The group believed that leveraging the power of technology and offering fully online degree programs would make education more accessible, but it wouldn’t be possible without intentional collaboration.

ACE built its first cohort of students through a partnership with one of the largest school districts in the country. The district sought a flexible and affordable way to invest in their educators, inspire retention and create a pipeline of skilled educational leaders. A handshake later, and the district’s educators had the accessible learning opportunities they deserved through ACE.

ACE cofounder Thomas Evans reflected, “It’s an honor to have been part of ACE’s founding, and our first school district partnership launched what would become 20 years of collaborative relationships with school districts, health systems, businesses and beyond. We had a strong desire to address educational crises by marrying the power of online learning with affordability – two components educators desperately needed, and still need, to earn degrees. It’s truly astonishing to think about how a group can come together with a mission and dream and then see the tremendous success of ACE and its graduates.”

Addressing Human Capital Shortages Through Partnerships

Fast forward to 2025, our partnership model has exponentially expanded and grown as we collaborate with over 2,500 partners. We’re now impacting areas in and beyond education as well as building more opportunities that benefit our partners. Thousands of students are experiencing accessible education, and ACE is committed to continuously expanding our efforts.

Solutions That Develop a Network of Credentialed Educators

Our educational partnerships with school districts and other education-focused organizations have supported various needs nationwide.

Temple Independent School District is one of many success stories as they sought to develop their paraprofessionals into licensed educators. Their Director of Employee Relations, Adrian Lopez, stated about their partnership with ACE, “We have seen many teachers excited about the opportunity to advance their careers from paraprofessionals to licensed educators. There is a sense of pride within the cohort of teachers in the program, and it’s terrific to see that. They want to succeed and contribute to the district meaningfully because they’re profoundly grateful that we are willing to support their career goals.”

Partnering with community colleges allows us to build bridges between their program offerings and ours, resulting in accessible and affordable opportunities for students seeking higher levels of education.

Rick Kemp, Dean of Instruction and Partnerships at Rio Salado College, said, “ACE has proven to be a valuable and responsive partner in providing both flexible and affordable content-specific graduate credit options for high school dual enrollment teachers. The graduate credit content area instruction and prior learning assessment options provided by ACE meet a critical need in providing viable pathways for dual enrollment teachers toward meeting their credentialing requirements.”

Pathways That Support Evolving Healthcare Needs

Educators are not alone in the threat of national shortages, as the global pandemic significantly impacted nursing and healthcare personnel numbers. As our program offerings expanded into these areas, we rolled up our sleeves and created accessible education pathways through partnerships with hospitals, nursing and healthcare organizations, businesses, community colleges and more.

Dr. Margi Schultz, Nursing Faculty Administrator for Maricopa Community Colleges, shared, “Working with the ACE team to create a seamless, efficient pathway for a concurrent enrollment program for the RN to BSN (Maricopa Nursing) to MSN with ACE was a wonderful collaborative experience. The ACE team is responsive and student-focused. We have had an amazing response from our students and look forward to our continued partnership.”

The ACE Partnership Model

ACE offers customized solutions through the power of partnership. Our model doesn’t take a uniform approach with presumable one-size-fits-all benefit options. Instead, we identify needs and collaborate on effective solutions.

Oftentimes, our partners fall into a few high-level buckets: K-12, higher education or healthcare and nursing. We pinpoint how ACE programs can build human capital pipelines that address staffing gaps with advanced degrees and/or certifications.

Within this process, we collaborate with partners on potential benefits to their employees (and students in higher education partnerships). Benefits could include tuition reduction, seamless transfer pathways from a program the partner offers to one of our programs, transcription of coursework the partner offers into academic credit and more. Our higher education partnerships are sometimes eligible for concurrent enrollment, where their students can simultaneously complete schoolwork at their college and ACE to expedite completion.

From before ACE began 20 years ago to today and beyond, we hold close to the legacy our founders laid upon us to make education accessible to as many students as possible. We are proud of the tremendous impact of our partnerships, and we are committed to continuing to make a difference as a solution-based, collaborative partner.

Learn more about partnership opportunities at ·¬ÇŃĘÓƵ.

Many metrics quantitatively define success in higher education, from retention to student satisfaction. Particularly, graduation or completion rates, when combined with high-quality and rigorous learning experiences, are key to determining a college’s value.

A graduation rate is among the most important statistics in higher education because of its powerful ability to gauge whether colleges are accomplishing their greatest mission – to see all enrolled students become alumni.

Unfortunately, today’s graduation rates at many colleges and universities are less than celebratory, but ·¬ÇŃĘÓƵ’s (ACE) unmatched student experience positions us as a positive outlier. We highly value graduation rates because we prioritize creating positive value for our students, most of whom are adults working full-time or teachers and nurses who need affordable options to quickly advance their careers.

ACE also prioritizes offering a world-class education and has proven that we provide college students with a positive return on investment. Our graduates pass state licensure exams at or above state averages and report improved professional skills (98%) and effective job preparation (96%). Plus, 96% of our graduates’ employers are satisfied with their performance. When institutions merge accessibility with return on investment and quality, we see higher graduation rates and a greater impact on society.

Let’s dive into graduation rates and how ACE has kept ours high.

An Overview of Online College Graduation Rates

Online college graduation rates sometimes have an because they lack uniformity with collection methods. Some institutions include part-time students, while others include hybrid students taking online and in-person courses. There are also different types of institutions – private nonprofit institutions, for-profit colleges, community colleges and more. In response, the Biden administration and the United States Department of Education requirements for online colleges that would take effect in 2027. It remains to be seen whether these efforts will still go forward.

While recent data indicate , online colleges seem to be coming up short. One recent study of exclusively online programming – among the only research of its kind – revealed that students enrolled in fully online programs were .

How Online Colleges Compare to Traditional Colleges

Online and traditional colleges have many commonalities. However, it’s more challenging regarding graduation rates and similar metrics. Traditional colleges encompass cohorts of full-time, part-time, in-person, online and hybrid students. Online college cohorts involve fewer variables that can influence data.

ACE’s Graduation Rates: A Closer Look

ACE boasts an 85% graduation rate for all degree programs combined, significantly exceeding the and the struggling graduation rates at other fully online institutions.

As a fully online college, we calculate graduation rates annually based on a student’s initial enrollment in a cohort, their anticipated completion date and the most current start cohort for reporting. While this formula generates a numeric value, it’s about more than metrics at ACE.

Several elements of the ACE student experience contribute to students completing our programs.

• Financial transparency: Not only are our total costs listed on our website, but our Enrollment Counselors take intentional steps to ensure students are aware upfront. They are not surprised with frivolous fees that aren’t related to academics. Additionally, we forego Title IV funding to offer a world-class education at an affordable cost.
• Flexible learning without sacrificing rigor: Our flexible course design allows students to study asynchronously, which means they can accomplish their career goals amid professional and personal commitments. This does not mean students aren’t expected to meet deadlines and participate in the rigor of earning a degree, as in traditional learning.
• Consistent course delivery: ACE courses are designed following a similar format, so students aren’t spending the first two weeks of a new course adjusting to a different instructor’s style. Students know what to expect after their first course, and from then on, they can focus solely on course material.
• Practitioner faculty: Our faculty are professionals actively working in their respective fields. They freely share their firsthand advice and experience with their students, giving our students access to the most up-to-date best practices they know they can apply to their jobs right away.
• Relevant coursework: Our students are busy professionals seeking practical skills and strategies to advance their careers. Our curriculum is built in-house by our faculty, who partner with curriculum designers. We also regularly consult employers for feedback on how we can better align learning outcomes with the skills they want to see from their employees.
• Uncomplicated processes: ACE believes that learning should take effort, but everything else about being a student should be simple. We uncomplicate the process by simplifying the operational and logistical things that can be hassling or confusing, such as automatically enrolling students in their next course.
• Robust student success systems: Student support systems are not a requirement but evidence of a student-first mentality. Once enrolled, ACE students are assigned to a Student Success Coach who supports them through graduation. Our team of coaches significantly contributes to our 85% retention rate and student success.
• Responsiveness to student satisfaction surveys: ACE’s 96% student satisfaction rate encompasses just that, students. We take their feedback seriously by evaluating their concerns and implementing action plans. Satisfied students complete their programs and often return for another or refer their friends and colleagues.

How to Choose the Right College

When choosing a college, graduation rate is often a metric that speaks volumes. The key is to dig deeper and discover why that college has a strong or weak rate. Consider their student support systems and approaches to academic success. Peruse alumni testimonials or complete a virtual open house where you can envision what the experience will look like and if it’s an environment that will equip you for successful completion.

FAQs

What is the average graduation rate for colleges?

The six-year completion rate – collected through longitudinal research that runs for six to eight years to allow time for students to complete their programs – for the fall 2017 cohort was 62.2%.

Why do graduation rates differ for online colleges?

Online colleges often have fewer variables that can skew data, like student statuses or course delivery options. Additionally, online colleges can allocate funds toward stronger student support and academic success systems that are not needed for parking, electricity, athletics and more.

What makes ACE’s graduation rates higher?

ACE’s student-first college and program design has contributed to our graduation rate. Our uncomplicated logistical processes, robust student support, low costs and commitment to constant improvement have helped us achieve student satisfaction while our practical coursework, flexible course design and practitioner faculty delivers on the high-quality college degree and academic experience our students deserve.

*Source: Internal research completed in June 2024

The stakes are high, as a degree from the right institution can facilitate career advancement. Regardless, many students are left paying off student debt for decades after graduation. At ·¬ÇŃĘÓƵ (ACE), we believe that our adult students deserve a world-class education that is largely debt-free.

Our unique and successful approach does not always catch the attention of the ever-popular college ranking sites that many students rely on to determine credibility. I believe that our unconventional model has sometimes thwarted these sites from properly assessing our value.

If you’re looking for an institution to advance your career through the power of education, I urge you to think critically and conduct extensive research as you decide where to go.

ACE: Unique Values That College Rankings Overlook

ACE is a regionally accredited, fully online college with a groundbreaking approach to providing working professionals with accessible degree programs and certifications. We eliminate barriers like cost, complicated admissions processes, confusing course designs and more to allow thousands of students to focus on (and pay for) one thing – their hard-earned education.

A Solution, Not a Contributor to Student Debt

Nearly 43 million individuals have incurred federal student loan debt, exceeding . Since our founding 20 years ago, ACE intentionally has not accepted Title IV funds, even though we’re eligible. This enables us to offer our programs at industry-low costs – master’s degrees under $10,000¹ and doctoral degrees under $24,000¹ â€“ that allow 86% of our students to graduate without debt.²

Additionally, we prioritize returns on student investment and share our proven approach transparently. Lightcast, a global leader in labor market analytics, calculated that for every $1 ACE students invest in their education, they receive $19.20 in future earnings. Similarly, our student survey results revealed that ACE graduates see an average pay increase of over $21,000. Our model works, and we confidently refuse to contribute to the federal loan debt crisis.

Key Drivers of the “ACE Way”

Affordability is undoubtedly important when considering where to complete a degree. Still, there are many other implications to think through that make a higher education institution valuable and unique – especially if you’re leaning solely on college ranking sites to determine inherent credibility or quality.

ACE offers a practical and relevant learning experience by employing a practitioner faculty model. Our faculty collaborate with seasoned curriculum designers to build what you learn, and the faculty are all experts with extensive experience, education and research in their respective fields. For example, students who are teachers may be taught by a superintendent of a school district.

We also put our students first. Your voice needs to be a priority when choosing where to study. ACE regularly and consistently conducts research and solicits feedback from students, alumni, faculty and employers to identify what students need and areas where we can better serve them. A few insights from our 2024 findings concluded that:

• 85% of our students graduate
• 95% of employers of our graduates are satisfied with their performance
• 92% of ACE students say they’re satisfied with their program experience
• 94% of ACE students feel their professional skills are stronger

Data Proves It, ACE Is a Leader

Comparison is one of the most powerful tools you can use when choosing an institution. College ranking sites may seem like the best place to do that, but is it really a true comparison when non-traditional colleges are missing from the list? For example, when measuring ACE next to our competitors, we prove we are leaders in higher education.

ACE vs. Higher Education vs. College Rankings

College rankings determine an institution’s value based on restrictive formulas that are everything but all-encompassing. While it’s virtually impossible to have a perfect approach to ranking, our unique model seldom fits within their measuring apparatuses and, thus, often doesn’t properly assess an institution like ACE.

For example, some ranking systems operate by surveying academic leaders, but they’re unlikely to be familiar with our model. Other systems rely on student surveys, but if students are ranking traditional higher education institutions, they miss the opportunity to consider alternative options – like those offered at ACE.

College ranking sites do a disservice to students when they fail to transparently unveil more options to students seeking a degree. This is especially disruptive when institutions like ACE offer a world-class education experience designed to suit today’s working professionals through our affordable, flexible and high-quality approach. Students deserve better, and college ranking systems have a great opportunity to expand their calculations to ensure a fair assessment. I encourage students to dig deeper in their research to discover their best fit and achieve their career goals.

¹All values shown are an estimated value of the cost of tuition and fees. Actual amounts may vary depending on the number of transfer credits applied to the selected program hours, the pace and satisfactory completion of the selected program, the receipt of scholarship or grant amounts, or adjustments to tuition or fees as described in the Catalog Right to Modify Tuition section. State sales and use tax will apply where required by law.

²Source: Internal research completed in June 2024

³Source: Internal calculations completed in 2024

Emphasizing innovation and maintaining a student-first mentality are among several intentional efforts that led to our 20th anniversary, where we have grown exponentially with no loss of momentum in sight. Marked by countless milestones, ACE’s success stems from its unique ability to stand out from the global, crowded sea of institutions by breaking through the proverbial college mold and doing higher education differently.

An Origin of Serving Students

Founded by educators seeking pre-K-12 reform, ACE originated with a mission to serve those who serve. Two years after our accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), we celebrated our first graduates, equipped for career advancement and making a difference in their communities. From this inaugural cohort of 24 students, ACE now boasts more than 12,000 students and 44,000 alumni.

ACE’s commitment to serving students reached significant heights in our first decade of operation. We officially became a fully online institution in 2009, an intentional decision that would allow global access to quality degree programs. Additionally, we started building what would become an extensive, diverse program portfolio to support more student career goals.

In ACE’s second decade of operation, we reaffirmed our HLC accreditation twice (in 2014 and again in 2024). We also obtained accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

During this time, ACE became a Certified B Corporation, solidifying our dedication to social responsibility and positively contributing to society. Our operational approach prioritizes social and environmental impact, and we also empower individual members of our community to give back within their diverse communities across the country. Since our first certification, ACE has been re-certified twice – in 2019 and 2022.

Building the ACE Model

ACE’s unique approach to higher education largely rests in our ability to offer a world-class education at an affordable cost. Accessibility is in our DNA, and it started with an intentional decision not to accept Title IV student loans, even though we’re eligible. This allows ACE to keep operational and tuition costs low to focus on student returns on investment – an uncommon priority throughout traditional higher education as infrastructural costs and fees take precedence.

The ACE model is based on real-world costs so students can progress in their careers without the shadow of student debt. It’s proven successful, as 86% of students graduate without debt¹ and tuition hasn’t increased since 2016. Additionally, recent research shows that our graduates get a return of $19.20 in higher future earnings for every dollar invested in their education at ACE.

Our commitment to accessibility doesn’t end there, as ACE has fully embraced the power of partnerships over the years. From our originating collaboration with a large school district, we have developed an ingrained, one-of-a-kind ability to support human capital pipelines through customized employment solutions nationwide. Including thousands of school district partnerships in the United States, ACE partnerships help attract, retain, upskill and reskill staff in ways that reflect current employment needs.

Partnerships further close higher education affordability gaps through tuition reduction benefits and seamless credit for prior learning (CPL) transfer pathways. ACE’s CPL approach and transfer-friendliness can decrease student tuition dollars by thousands and accelerate program completion time.

Growing a Diverse Program Portfolio

An evolving workforce requires higher education institutions to stay adept at equipping graduates to meet and exceed employer expectations. ACE has focused on this from the start, which has led to today’s 95% employer satisfaction rate. We capitalized on our success with education programs and launched programs in nursing, healthcare, business and leadership – all in our first decade of operation.

This growth is projected to continue as we closely monitor workforce trends to equip current and future leaders and employees with relevant, data-driven curricula taught by industry experts.

Since our humble beginning, ACE now offers more than 60 programs for students to pursue doctoral, master’s or bachelor’s degrees, along with graduate-level certificate programs. Our programs result in more than a piece of paper, but graduates who are empowered and equipped with skills, knowledge, research and data-driven practices that elevate their careers and enhance their futures.

Progressing With Modern Student Needs

Student needs have grown alongside ACE, and an integral part of both student and institutional success is a forward-thinking mentality. ACE uses student satisfaction surveys and data-driven insights to inform protocols that positively impact future growth. In fact, 92% of our students are satisfied with their experience at ACE. We take their feedback seriously and use it as a powerful tool to understand specific needs and prioritize actively meeting those needs.

It was ingrained in ACE’s identity to meet students where they are, and we are committed to keeping it this way. As an institution serving adult learners, we know that there are life implications to consider when enrolling in a degree or certification program – marriage, children, homeownership, health management, financial commitments and more. The list of life’s demands only continues.

It’s our priority to keep attuned to student needs beyond classroom expectations and outcomes so we can support students genuinely and holistically as they work toward their career goals.

The Best is Yet to Come

ACE is committed to reaching students far and wide to offer career advancement opportunities through higher education. Twenty years of serving students undoubtedly involves commitment, passion and hard work. Every employee at ACE plays an integral role in seeing every student successfully achieve their career goals as an ACE graduate.

Building a unique model, collaborating with partners, creating robust program portfolios and meeting student needs has led ACE’s incredible growth from 2005 to 2025. We’re proud to have redefined higher education and will continue to do higher education differently.

Experience how ACE is different by finding the right program for you to continue your educational journey. Explore our fully online degrees and certificates.

¹Source: Internal Research June 2024

The world looks a lot different now than it did in 2005, the year ACE was founded. But the motivation that drove our founders is largely the same as our motivation today – create a way for working adults to access truly affordable education that can move their careers forward. 

Back in 2005, our founders asked themselves, “How can we provide teachers with master’s degrees for less than $5,000?” It seemed like an impossible proposition. And yet, through intentional program design, a practical and tailored curriculum, and a school district partnership, we were able to make it happen. 

Our first cohort was just 24 students, all of them teachers looking to advance their careers. And when they started to get leadership positions, word of ACE’s master’s degree spread. We went from 24 students to 500, all looking for the same education and opportunities that ACE could provide. 

This was the first time we proved that higher education could be done differently from traditional colleges and universities. And since then, we have proved this over and over again. 

• While other institutions bank on the money student loans provide through Title IV funding, we deliberately choose not to participate in the program.Ěý

• While other institutions raise tuition, we haven’t done so since 2016, allowing 86% of our students to graduate without debt.Ěý

• While other institutions offer online coursework that are adaptations of their in-person programs, our courses are native to the online environment, designed digitally from the ground up to take advantage of all the tools online education has to offer.Ěý

ACE in 2025 looks a lot different than ACE in 2005. We now serve upwards of 11,000 active students, 44,000 alumni and provide over 60 programs at every academic level to professionals in a wide range of fields. But our core is still the same. We still design programs intentionally, with practical and relevant curriculum, and we still partner with school districts, businesses and organizations to create affordable continuing education opportunities. 

Most importantly, we are still working every day to provide a way for working adults to access truly affordable education that can move their careers forward. It’s perhaps even more important now than it was in 2005, considering United States student loan debt sits at a . ACE has always sought to be a solution to this problem by proving that higher education can and should be done differently, and we will continue to do so, lighting the way forward for not just our students but all students who deserve the opportunity that higher education provides. 

Experience how ACE is different by finding the right program for you to continue your educational journey. Explore our fully online degrees and certificates.