CBE is self-paced, mastery-oriented programs that often include the use of technology. Students must master and demonstrate competency in various tasks and skills, to obtain their degree. CBE offers an alternative to traditional courses, whether held in-person or online, for a set amount of time with the goal of earning a passing grade and credit hours that apply toward graduation.

Though the programs have gained notoriety, they aren’t all eligible for federal financial aid, as the Department of Education doesn’t have appropriate measures in place for evaluating credentialing structures.

Developing entire CBE programs is labor and time intensive, as well as requires a large allocation of resources from a college or university. The question now becomes, is CBE a worthwhile investment? And is CBE as good as or even better than traditional higher education models?