Thousands of higher education institutions in the United States offer degree programs from associate to doctorate, and choosing the best fit can be daunting. Many of them are positioned in industry rankings, so it poses the question: How do today鈥檚 learners decide which college has the best value proposition? What鈥檚 the difference between one that ranks higher versus one toward the end of the list?
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 番茄视频 (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鈥檙e 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 鈥� 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鈥檙e eligible. This enables us to offer our programs at industry-low costs 鈥� master鈥檚 degrees under $10,0001 and doctoral degrees under $24,0001 鈥� 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 鈥淎CE Way鈥�
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 鈥� especially if you鈥檙e 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鈥檙e 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.
| Other Institutions | 番茄视频 | |
| in median cumulative graduate school debt (includes both federal and private loans) | $1,0603 | |
| of master鈥檚 degree programs fail the debt-to-earnings ratio | 0%3 | |
| of master鈥檚 degree students graduate from their programs | 86% |
ACE vs. Higher Education vs. College Rankings
College rankings determine an institution鈥檚 value based on restrictive formulas that are everything but all-encompassing. While it鈥檚 virtually impossible to have a perfect approach to ranking, our unique model seldom fits within their measuring apparatuses and, thus, often doesn鈥檛 properly assess an institution like ACE.
For example, some ranking systems operate by surveying academic leaders, but they鈥檙e 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 鈥� 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鈥檚 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
