Groupon Offers Discount On College Tuition

Groupon discounts can make certain events much cheaper (that is if you can find 6 other people that also want to attend a champagne tasting), but is it possible to use this model for tuition?

National Louis University in Chicago will be the first school to find out. In an effort to grow its graduate teaching program, the private institution will be offering a 60% discount for an introduction to teaching course this fall.

The Chicago-Tribune has more:

With the Groupon, prospective students can save nearly 60 percent on tuition for the single, three-credit course and earn credit toward a graduate degree, said Jocelyn Zivin, the vice president of marketing and communications for the Chicago-based, private university.

"There are all kinds of factors in the K-12 world that are really discouraging teachers and people seeking teaching degrees," Zivin said. "We'd like (potential students) to understand what the realities are, whether you are committed to this profession ... and see if you have what it takes."

Regular tuition for the course is $2,232, but with the Groupon discount, it drops to $950. The deal will go live on Tuesday, officials said.

"This is... an opportunity for our subscribers to take the first step toward what could be a new career," Julie Mossler, Groupon's communications director, told Mashable. "National Louis joins an innovative list of merchants who were the first in their industry to experiment with collective buying power, and do it on Groupon."

Comments

[lcr999]

02:57 PM on 09/07/2011

$950 more than it is worth

[armstrong st]

12:58 PM on 09/07/2011

Quite a nice deal. I'm sure Groupon will be offering more similar deals in the nearest future since they will definitely be popular.

Steve from www.essaytask.com

[Tara90]

06:14 AM on 09/07/2011

oops nevermind, just read the article again and i guess it's just for that one class. oh well....

[Tara90]

06:12 AM on 09/07/2011

Anyone know if this groupon is just for graduate classes or if it's also for undergrad classes? I start at National Louis in January so this would be perfect for me if it worked for undergrad classes

[Shmilfke]

02:36 PM on 09/06/2011

There is no college course worth $2000!!! That's a month's pay for many people - including kindergarten teachers.
This university is out of their minds. Even 950 is a TOTAL RIPOFF.

[Tolms]

02:45 PM on 09/06/2011

Unless your job doesn't require higher education your statement is false. Even if your job doesn't require it, what about learning for the sake of learning? To say that a relatively minor investment of $2,000.00 considering the payback of the course of one's life time isn't worth it is shortsighted a best.

[Aaron Doud]

04:32 PM on 09/06/2011

That is silly. Drive matters more than a college degree. Honestly most careers you can get in with four years of experience much better than four years of college. The exceptions being certain professionals like lawyers, doctors, and teachers. If you have a degree and your job doesn't require it in my opinion you wasted money.

My generation and those younger than me have been lied to about what a degree can bring them. This is one of the factors that has lead to college education skyrocketing in cost. Most people do not need a degree. I have managed many college grads making $10 or less per hour. And that is just sad. I was making the same as them out of High School and that was my first job.

Currently I make about $10,000 more than the average college educated worker. We have a service economy and while some positions do require an education most do not.

Also remember that when you compare the average incomes of people it is the drive and skills that cause this difference. The education level merely goes along with this. Those more driven are more likely to seek a higher education. But a driven individual without an education can go further with less debt if they plan to enter an industry that does not require a degree.

[cyoohoos]

05:45 PM on 09/07/2011

$2,000 - That's a F'ing rip off. You can go to community college and take MULTIPLE courses for WAY less than $950. It's it Intro to Teaching. It is not like you're going abroad for an international business course.

And what happens to your Intro to Teaching course? It's not like that will work on a resume for a teaching job. You need way more than one course for that.

[muvaphknmega]

04:52 PM on 09/06/2011

Compared to the tuition at the universitys I attended that's pratically a steal. Whether it's worth the money or not is dependent on what you do with your college degree. I do agree that the tuitions are extremely inflated, but $950 isn't exactly breaking the bank.

[cyoohoos]

05:46 PM on 09/07/2011

It's INTRO TO TEACHING. It's not like you're studying Chemical Engineering or something.

[Phillip Cohen]

02:29 PM on 09/06/2011

I know out here in California the price of a higher education went through the roof. I had a course at California State University at Northridge and it cost over $2,000. When I started at a State University in the 1970s my cost was about $67.
More recently I had a class at the University of California, Riverside. Through their Extension Program I saved a bundle by spending about $570. Warnings arrived earlier last month telling me to expect a large fee increase when I return. Groupon please work your magic in California on our public and private universities.

[gwix]

01:07 PM on 09/06/2011

While I like the idea, I do have to bear in mind that it is just for one 3-hour course.

[Bill Koerner]

01:05 PM on 09/06/2011

Over $2,000 for a 3-credit course???? Holy Crap, Batman!!!!

[tissa]

01:16 PM on 09/06/2011

My thoughts exactly...OMG

[Tolms]

02:45 PM on 09/06/2011

Went to state college, eh?

[Virginia Dobson]

09:47 PM on 09/06/2011

Don't discount state colleges - my "state school" does better than most "Ivy" or "exclusive" private schools.

[A ScottMiller]

12:52 PM on 09/06/2011

It won't help Groupon get out of the red, but it's a great idea!

[RudyHaugeneder]

12:24 PM on 09/06/2011

Is this the road to subprime education?

[MrUnlimited]

02:17 PM on 09/06/2011

I'll give you an answer AFTER I sell off all my Groupon stock...

[Kaylin MayhemSmith]

10:55 AM on 09/06/2011

That is awesome! I wish I got a discount on mine!!