MOOC provider Coursera is changing its business model in an attempt to increase profit margins, announcing it will begin charging $29 to $99 per course for students who want to submit assignments for grading. In a blog post announcing the change, the company said the new model would bring Coursera toward sustainability and “enable continued investment” as it continues its mission to change the world by providing universal access to learning experiences. The move comes after several years of declining revenue from online education providers like Udacity, which has been criticized for offering free courses that are not open to all students.
MOOC provider Coursera is changing its business model in an attempt to increase profit margins, announcing it will begin charging $29 to $99 per course for students who want to submit assignments for grading. In a blog post announcing the change, the company said the new model would bring Coursera toward sustainability and “enable continued investment” as it continues its mission to change the world by providing universal access to learning experiences. However, critics have stated that the move is a push for profits that doesn't align with its original mission; to provide universal access to education, and will move Coursera further away from non-profit MOOC provider edX, which has taken the opportunity to recommit to its free offerings.