Digital Delights

More than four years ago, a report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education and Public Agenda noted: "In the view of many college and university presidents, the three main factors in higher education—cost, quality, and access—exist in what we call an iron triangle. These factors are linked in an unbreakable reciprocal relationship, such that any change in one will inevitably impact the others."1 In other words, every positive improvement comes with an equal, but negative, trade-off. Unfortunately, that "iron triangle" remains strong, encapsulating a challenge that continues to face higher education today.

Fortunately, the resolve and creativity of higher education innovators are producing a set of solutions that have the potential to break the "iron triangle." These solutions are not theoretical; they are reaching hundreds of thousands of students today. The detailed results are still emerging, but the initial results suggest we may be able to deliver high-quality education at an affordable price without sacrificing access. I refer to the three categories of innovations as Bigfoot, Goldilocks, and Moonshots—and will explain each of them below.