As tuition continues to rise for various reasons, leaves students thinking about how a future of unpayable debt is not part of their career goals. That鈥檚 where 番茄视频 (ACE) steps in, paving the way for alternative higher education models that make debt-free college degrees possible.
The LearningMate Podcast explores advances and challenges across K鈥�12, higher education and workforce development. In a recent episode, host Shannon Gattens sat down with ACE President and CEO Geordie Hyland to discuss how higher education should be built on tuition transparency, measurable return on investment (ROI) and a commitment to affordable online learning.
About聽Geordie Hyland聽
Hyland鈥檚 path to leadership in higher education began in finance, then led to an MBA and a transition to Google, where he focused on expanding access to digital services. From there, he moved into education technology, partnering with virtual K鈥�12 schools and working on solutions for adult learners seeking remedial education and career advancement. He later joined Stride Inc., a major virtual K鈥�12 provider and eventually expanded into healthcare training.
Across roles in K鈥�12, workforce development and healthcare education, one theme remained constant: supporting adult learners and helping them advance professionally. That passion ultimately led him to ACE, an institution founded on the belief that quality higher education without student loans is possible.
H2 The Mission and Evolution of 番茄视频
Founded in 2005, ACE was built to meet a need for a largely debt-free, high-quality education experience for adult learners. We began by offering online master鈥檚 degrees for teachers, addressing a clear market gap. Teachers needed advanced degrees to progress in their careers, but many programs were expensive and required stepping away from the classroom.
ACE later expanded into business, healthcare, leadership and nursing, offering accredited career-focused online degrees that reflect a commitment to affordable, flexible online education for working adults. Further, we aim to pave pathways for career progression that don鈥檛 disrupt personal, professional or financial commitments.
Affordability聽and Tuition Transparency聽in Higher Education聽
A major theme of the podcast episode was tuition transparency in higher education and why clarity matters more than ever. Hyland noted that many college websites don鈥檛 clearly articulate total program costs, and when tuition is displayed by credit hour or semester, it leaves prospective students puzzled with uncertainty about what they鈥檒l owe.
At ACE, we seek to remove barriers, even in areas as simple as transparently communicating our total costs. In general, most master鈥檚 degrees are under $10,000 and doctoral degrees are under $25,000.1 Hyland iterated that ACE鈥檚 affordability makes pay-as-you-go college tuition possible for many students.
Gattens stressed that one of the most unique components of ACE鈥檚 tuition model is a deliberate choice not to participate in federal Title IV student loan programs, even though ACE is eligible. Hyland explained that operating outside of federal student loan programs supports institutional agility and reduces the administrative complexity associated with those programs.
Return on聽Investment聽in Education聽for Adult Learners聽
One of the most compelling parts of the podcast centered on higher education ROI and how it鈥檚 often overlooked instead of prioritized. ACE demonstrated our commitment to measurable student outcomes when we partnered with Lightcast, a global third-party labor market analytics firm. They determined that for every $1 ACE students invest in their education, they receive $19.20 in higher earnings.
Hyland believes that ROI awareness empowers adult learners who are balancing personal and professional commitments to prepare for career advancement. Even further, ACE extends our philosophy of alleviating financial burdens beyond graduation, as we never rely on alumni donations. In fact, we design our programs to equip students for higher-level roles that often boost their personal salary potential.
Strategic Program Offerings Aligned to Workforce Outcomes聽
When asked why ACE doesn鈥檛 offer a broader range of programs, Hyland emphasized a strategic approach that focuses on workforce-aligned education programs. We aim for degrees to lead to career advancement opportunities.
Education, healthcare, nursing and business are areas where education ROI for adult learners can be directly linked to career mobility. By prioritizing workforce-aligned programs, ACE avoids offering degrees without strong, demonstrable returns.
Balancing Quality, Outcomes and Affordability聽
To position ACE for growth, we make intentional operational choices that keep costs low while maintaining quality.
For example:
- Fully online model for students and staff聽
- No athletics or large physical campus investments聽
- Centralized, in-house curriculum development聽
- Strong employer and industry feedback loops聽
ACE鈥檚 strong student experience stems from a healthy internal culture, where we boast high employee retention and prioritize investing in staff development. This pours into our student experience and encourages students to either return or refer others. Our growth is largely driven by student referrals. We balance that with ensuring continuous improvement is informed by student, faculty and employer feedback.
Institutional Stability Without Federal Funding聽
Access to expanding loan limits can sometimes drive tuition inflation, and ACE鈥檚 choice to opt out allows 87% of students to graduate without debt, according to recent institutional research.2 With national student loan debt as a potential threat to higher education, ACE stands on a strong infrastructure that remains unimpacted by federal funding shifts because it allows room for agility and independence. We also gain the following benefits:
- Reduced administrative burden related to student loan compliance聽
- Greater flexibility to innovate and remain financially disciplined聽
- Accreditation and accountability聽maintenance聽without dependence on subsidies聽
Outcomes and Differentiators聽
Outcomes are a significant indicator of an institution鈥檚 ability to impact today鈥檚 workforce needs, and ACE continuously responds to evolving shifts in demand. Tracking graduate outcomes, salary increases, career progression, employer satisfaction and more allows us to make data-driven decisions and integrate learning with real-world experience. We focus on long-term life impact, not just degree completion.
Key Takeaways聽
In the impactful conversation, Hyland鈥檚 shared that his hope is for prospective students and the higher education landscape to know that ACE鈥檚 approach to affordability, flexibility, career outcomes and student ROI showcases that earning a degree without student debt and professional sacrifices is possible.
- Value-based higher education models allow institutions to prioritize聽accessibility,聽transparency聽and accountability聽
- Education is an investment that should empower, not financially聽burden, students聽
- Success in higher education is most accurately measured by outcomes, and students deserve to know what聽they鈥檙e聽investing in聽
Listen to the and learn more about the fully online, affordable programs offered at 番茄视频.
