Fox Business Features SOAR's Radical Affordability

May 6, 2026 - 00:17

A Michigan university is gaining attention for a radical approach to cutting the cost of higher education. Cornerstone University, a private Christian school in Grand Rapids, has introduced a series of aggressive affordability measures that recently landed it a feature on Fox Business. The plan includes a two-year tuition freeze and a new "smartphone degree" option that allows students to earn a full associate degree using only their mobile devices.

The smartphone degree program is designed for students who cannot commit to a traditional classroom schedule or afford the associated costs of campus life. By delivering coursework entirely through a mobile app, the university eliminates the need for textbooks, commuting, and physical classroom space. The total cost for the degree is significantly lower than a standard on-campus program.

Alongside this digital option, the university has frozen undergraduate tuition for the next two academic years. This move is intended to provide financial predictability for families struggling with rising costs elsewhere in the economy. University leaders argue that traditional higher education pricing models are no longer sustainable, and that institutions must innovate to survive.

The Fox Business segment highlighted Cornerstone's efforts as a potential model for other private colleges facing enrollment declines and public skepticism about the value of a degree. While some critics question whether a smartphone-based education can match the depth of a residential experience, the university reports strong initial interest from working adults and first-generation college students. For now, Cornerstone is betting that radical affordability is the key to its future.