MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --SOPHIA, the online education platform that currently offers 25,000 free tutorials to teachers and students, is launching a new college-level online learning program that will enable students to complete their college degree sooner at a fraction of the cost of traditional higher education fees.

The program was created to expand access to post secondary education and provide affordable options, which is particularly important due to the fact that student debt now totals more than $1 trillion, surpassing credit card debt for the first time in our nation's history.

SOPHIA Pathways for College Credit (SPCC) is a 60-day, assessment-based program that can be started at any time. By successfully demonstrating college-level mastery, students may earn college credit with partnering higher education institutions.

SPCC initially will be offered in College Algebra, Psychology, Human Biology, Statistics and Sociology. Four additional pathways will be added by February 2013. Capella University is the first university to partner with SOPHIA to offer SPCC.

Students enrolled in SPCC learn at their own pace from any Internet connection on a computer, tablet or smart phone. Concepts within each pathway are taught by multiple teachers using a variety of multimedia elements, providing students with many ways to learn. All instruction materials are included online, which further increases the affordability of SPCC.

SPCC was developed by SOPHIA.org, a first-of-its-kind social education platform that offers students many ways to learn by providing 25,000 free academic tutorials taught in a variety of ways, by a multitude of teachers and education enthusiasts. SPCC is the latest innovation by SOPHIA, which is focused on making credible academic tools available to students at the college level and in the years leading up to post-secondary education.

"SOPHIA currently delivers free online educational content that is unlike anything on the market today," said Allison Gage, Senior Vice President, Business Strategy for SOPHIA. "In addition to providing students with many ways to learn by offering multiple tutorials on the same topic taught by different teachers, we have further expanded opportunities to earn college credit at a fraction of the cost of traditional programs. SPCC furthers our goal of making high quality education at all levels accessible and affordable."

Capella University first to offer SPCC

Capella University, an accredited online university* that has built its reputation by providing high quality online degree programs for working adults, is currently offering an articulation for five SPCC pathways at a cost of $329 per pathway. Students who successfully complete an SPCC pathway will earn six college-level quarter credits through Capella's prior learning assessment process.

"Considering that the average college graduate has $27,000 in student loan debt, it is imperative that we develop affordable options that will enable students to earn their college degree," said Scott Kinney, president of Capella University. "SPCC will significantly reduce the cost of higher education. In fact, students who complete the full nine courses through our program will save up to $10,000."

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SOPHIA Introduces Pathways For College Credit Making Higher Education Flexible And Affordable