Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs)
Who is Academic Partnerships?
Academic Partnerships (“AP”) helps regional public universities and small colleges launch and grow their high-quality, low-tuition, workforce-relevant online degree programs so that more students can access affordable education, advance their careers, and meet employer and community needs.
When was AP founded?
2007. Since then, AP has helped partner universities launch more than 1,000 online degree programs, empowering 380,000+ students and alumni with new opportunities.
How does AP work with its university partners?
AP provides potential student outreach, marketing, technology, and student retention services for online programs. Our university partners maintain responsibility for curriculum, teaching, admissions, tuition, financial aid, accreditation, and all other academic and instruction-related functions and decisions.
Who teaches the online programs that are supported by AP?
Online degree programs supported by AP are taught by the university partner’s faculty and instructors.
Who develops the curriculum for online programs that are supported by AP?
The curriculum is developed and owned by the university partner.
What percentage of AP partners are regional public universities?
About 85% of AP partners are regional public universities. Regional publics are important economic engines for their communities – they are significant local employers, they provide access to high-quality, low-tuition degrees, and they are a source of nurses, teachers and other professionals who often stay in the area.
What types of students are enrolled in AP-supported programs?
Approximately 95% of students in AP-supported programs are working adults like nurses and teachers, which reflects our focus on workforce-relevant programs in healthcare, business, education, and technology. Supporting the success of working adults throughout their student journey is at the heart of all we do.
What is the average tuition of AP-supported programs?
The average weighted tuition across AP-supported programs is less than $16,000*.
Why are online degree programs an important offering?
Many Americans have jobs and family responsibilities that limit their ability to attend traditional on-campus degree programs. Making affordable, high-quality degrees available in a flexible, online format allows students to pursue academic goals while continuing to work and meeting their responsibilities.
How is AP different from its competitors?
From its inception over a decade ago, AP was intentionally designed to partner with universities that focus on affordability and have low-tuition, high-value degree programs that provide a strong return on investment such as in nursing, teaching, and business. A recent Ipsos study revealed that the average tuition payback period of AP-supported programs is just 1.2 years.
Where is AP headquartered?
AP is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has staff across the country.
How many employees does AP have?
Over 750. More than 80 percent of our employees have college degrees, over 40 percent hold advanced degrees, and 1 in 3 are first generation college graduates. Find out more about who we are here.
How is AP compensated for its services?
AP offers two business models – a fee-for-persistence (revenue-share) model and a fee-for-service model.
What is a fee-for-persistence model?
AP’s fee-for-persistence model is centered around and dependent upon student success. In the fee-for-persistence (revenue-share) model, AP receives no upfront or ongoing guaranteed payment. The university partner only begins to compensate AP once students enter into and begin progressing through the programs AP supports. That compensation is calculated on a per-student, per-course basis. If a student stops progressing, AP stops receiving payment from the university for that student. This means helping a university partner serve, retain, and support students all the way through degree completion is AP’s focus.
Why would a university choose a fee-for-persistence model?
The fee-for-persistence model ensures that there is an aligned focus on student success, which is consistent with universities’ missions and values. Many universities do not have the resources to develop and sustain online degree programs. In the fee-for-persistence model, AP provides the expertise and significant upfront investment to convert existing on-campus degree programs into high-quality online programs and to identify, retain, and support students through program completion.
*Weighted average tuition price includes all AP-supported programs at university partners as of January 31, 2023. Tuition prices are weighted based on enrollments in programs.