Better/Cheaper College

Book excerpt: Several excellent books have been written about higher education in recent years, so why read this one? This book is different in that it takes an entrepreneurial perspective. Where other books see an industry with huge problems, this book sees an industry with huge opportunities. Where other books propose ways to tweak the existing higher education business model, this book proposes innovative business models to revolutionize the industry. Where other books look to the education establishment to lead change, this book looks to the entrepreneur to drive change. Where other books are aimed at slowing the rate of growth in tuition, this book advocates a radical reduction. The Better/Cheaper College of this book provides a better quality education than is available anywhere today at a cost of under $8,000. Combined with existing levels of state and private philanthropic support, Better/Cheaper College would make a college education essentially tuition free. The book explains how colleges work today, focusing on the major internal barriers to implementation of the Better/Cheaper College at existing colleges. It then provides a guide to designing a Better/Cheaper College and concludes with suggestions for immediate action. An extensive appendix that details the operations and costs of a college operating under a Better/Cheaper model is included.