The online programs management industry of $ 5 billion, which helps universities to develop and manage online programs, undergoes a major change, according to the last OPM market information report by validated ideas. The study reveals a sharp drop in new OPM partnerships and an increasing evolution towards acts for acts, changes that could reshape the way in which higher education institutions expand their online programs.
Between 2021 and 2024, New OPM partnerships fell by 47.4%, with a drop of 42.1% since 2023, according to the report. Meanwhile, launches of the program supported by OPM fell 43.4% in 2024, returning to levels for the last time in 2015. These declines suggest that universities are re -evaluating their dependence on external providers for the development of online programs.
Key trends in the OPM market:
- The new OPM partners has decreased considerably, with only 81 new partnerships formed in 2024, a level not seen since 2016-2017.
- Other universities go to acts for acts, paying specific OPM services instead of sharing the income for tuition fees. These agreements represented only 12% of new partnerships in 2014, but by 2024, they represented 58%, making it the dominant model on the market.
- Consolidation of the market continues. The 10 largest OPMs now represent 51% of partnerships and 69% of the programs supported by OPM.
- RisePoint (formerly university partnerships) is now the largest OPM supplier, managing 11.9% of active partnerships and 30.5% of active programs supported by OPM.
The report underlines that remuneration for remuneration has become the standard model for OPM partnerships. This change can allow institutions more flexibility but also forces them to assume a higher financial and operational responsibility. For higher education leaders, these changes highlight the urgency of rethinking the way they develop and support online programs.
With less large -scale OPM partnerships, institutions may need:
- Strengthen internal capacities by investing in marketing, registration and educational design teams.
- Look for specialized service providers who offer targeted support rather than counting a single full OPM.
- Stay ahead of the development of regulations to ensure compliance with federal directives on third -party service providers.
Regulatory surveillance is an increasing concern. Although the industry has avoided the main legal challenges, the recent directives of the United States Ministry of Education warn the colleges could face penalties if OPMS distorts admission policies or the details of the program.
The report describes three key restrictions for institutions working with third -party service providers. First, representatives of the admission of external providers cannot say that they work for the institution. Second, they cannot qualify as “university advisers” or “advisers”, which clearly indicates that they are not part of the school faculty or staff. Finally, institutions cannot market their online programs as identical to their offers in person, guaranteeing transparency for students.
As regulatory control increases, the report stresses that universities must adopt a proactive approach to ensure compliance and avoid potential risks.
