Zero Tuition for College Students

Birmingham, Ala. - Andrew Jackson University has introduced a sponsored tuition program that eliminates tuition, the major component of costs borne by students. Early response to this zero tuition program has been overwhelming, prompting the university to limit the number of applicants to one hundred per month. University president Don Kassner stated the monthly applicant limit will increase gradually.

Andrew Jackson University administrators were attempting to keep the zero tuition program quiet until social network styled strategy and technology were in place. But online detective work by a potential student uncovered the beta test of the zero tuition program and posted comments on an Internet discussion board.

Participants on the discussion board tried to figure out what “the catch” was, and some contacted the university directly with probing questions. Satisfied the sponsored tuition program was legitimate, they were further surprised to learn that the total cost, excluding books, for the first semester - three graduate courses – topped out at $615. This caused quite a stir, and prompted questions like “How can you do this?” and “Are undergraduate courses less expensive?”

Mr. Kassner explained Andrew Jackson University’s zero tuition program by saying, “Most universities spend a tremendous amount of money to recruit students. Many spend as much as thirty-five percent of their revenue on marketing and advertising. They have to keep their tuition high to recover these costs. We eliminated these costs by structuring relationships with strategic partners that refer potential students to us. Therefore, we can operate a quality, degree granting institution without the escalating tuition and excessive fees deemed necessary by many schools.”

In 1997, educator and management guru Peter Drucker, commenting in Forbes, said, “Do you realize that the cost of higher education has risen as fast as the cost of health care? Such totally uncontrollable expenditures, without any visible improvement in either the content or the quality of education, means that the system is rapidly becoming untenable” Andrew Jackson University’s innovative strategy of containing costs while passing the savings on to students would likely meet with Drucker’s approval today.

About Andrew Jackson University (AJU)
Founded in 1994 and first accredited in 1998, AJU offers three masters, three bachelors and five associate degree programs, all online. See www.aju.edu or call 800-429-9300, ext. 1.

Contact Information

Don Kassner

President

Andrew Jackson University

Contact via E-mail