Newlane University

One

Education should be available & accessible to every person on earth. Making quality education inaccessible or exclusive is immoral. 
Education belongs in the same category as shelter, clean water, and basic food.

Two

Education should be disconnected from geography. Students should be able to learn anything from anywhere on earth. 
With few exceptions, tying education to geography is a form of exclusion.

Three

Education should be disconnected from a schedule. The most effective time to learn something is when the student is ready, not when the teacher or institution is available.

Four

Education shouldn’t be admission- or permission-based, but freely available upon the asking. The current admission-based system is a vestige of a scarcity model that could only fit a limited number of seats in a classroom. No one should have to be admitted or ask permission to learn a subject.

Five

Education should not have a prescribed completion time. The amount of time it takes to learn something shouldn’t be decided before hand; some students can learn something in minutes that will take others days or years to learn.

Six

Education should not be set to a specific time period in a person’s life. It should be a process like eating, drinking, and exercise: continual, habitual, and evolving. Students should not be categorized or limited by what they have studied or learned to date.

Seven

Education should not be competitive or judged by other students’ achievements. Students should only be assessed on whether they have mastered the stated objective or ‘not yet’. Removing competition decreases the incentive for cheating or cutting corners.

Eight

Educational records, including learning achievements, grades, transcripts, credentials & degrees should be owned & managed by the student rather than an institution. Students should be able to move freely among any learning institution or organization at anytime or for any reason.

Nine

Educational records should include universally understandable, useful, and verifiable documentation of student mastery of explicit learning objectives, rather than an institutional stamp attesting to completion of a vague curriculum.

Ten

Education should not have a prescribed way of teaching, Prevalent teaching approaches are often culturally, gender or socio-economically biased. While clear and explicit learning objectives can be universally agreed upon, the manner in which these are achieved should be as diverse as the student body.

Eleven

Educational learning paths should be personalized and as varied and diverse as the students pursuing them.

Twelve

Education should not be at the service of institutions, but at the service of learning. Organizing education around institutional timelines, schedules, expertise, records, and convenience is efficient for institutions, but limits the student, and by extension humanity’s potential.

Just to be clear, I’m not advertising Newlane for anyone—I’m just sharing my experience as a new student who believes in its model and finds it interesting as an up-and-coming school.

Everyone should do their own research before choosing a college, since what works for one person may not work for another. I’m talking about Newlane because there’s very little information out there, and I think some people might find it an affordable and flexible option worth looking into.

As I continue my studies, I’ll be sharing my honest thoughts—including both pros and cons—to help others get a clearer picture of what the school is really like.

I became a student of this school several days ago after doing a lot of research. I even had a video chat with founder Josh Stanely. Love the idea, love the energy.

If for some reason it turns out to be a scam or something, I'll note that too and this will quickly turn into an anti-Newlane University. haha

But so far I've really enjoyed my interactions and I'm in process of transferring my previous college credits over. I'll let everyone know how that worked.

Newlane University: A Different Kind of Higher Education

Newlane University is an accredited online school designed for people who want an affordable, flexible way to earn a degree. Instead of the usual college experience with set schedules and high costs, Newlane lets students move at their own pace and pay a flat-rate tuition that keeps costs low. The university offers degrees in Philosophy, Liberal Arts (with Business and Psychology concentrations), and General Studies, making it a solid choice for students looking for a broad, well-rounded education.

How It Started & What It Stands For

Newlane was founded by Ben Blair and Josh Stanley, two educators who wanted to create a better way for people to access college-level education. Their goal was simple: make higher education affordable, flexible, and available to anyone who wants it. Instead of following the traditional model that limits access based on cost, location, or admissions barriers, they built a system that puts learning first.

How It Works

Newlane follows a competency-based model, which means students move forward by proving they understand the material rather than just sitting through a set number of credit hours. This setup is great for independent learners who want to work at their own speed—whether that means finishing quickly or taking time to really absorb the material. Instead of letter grades, progress is measured by mastering concepts through assessments.

Accreditation & Recognition

Newlane is nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. While it’s not regionally accredited (which some traditional schools require for credit transfers), it’s a legitimate, recognized school that has been evaluated for quality and standards. I would prefer it be regionally accredited, but DEAC works for me as it's recognized as legit.

Why Students Choose Newlane

Newlane attracts students who want a low-cost, no-frills way to earn a degree without going into debt. The university reports high levels of student satisfaction, with many praising its clear course objectives, flexible structure, and focus on real learning. Some students use Newlane as a stepping stone for graduate programs or career advancement, while others enroll simply because they enjoy learning.

A Fresh Approach to Education

Newlane operates on a few simple beliefs:

Education should be available to everyone, not just those who can afford traditional college.

You should be able to learn from anywhere, without needing to relocate or attend in-person classes.

School should fit your schedule, not the other way around.

If you can prove you’ve mastered a subject, you should move forward—no unnecessary hoops.

The Bottom Line

Newlane University may be a good fit for self-motivated learners who want an affordable, flexible way to get a degree. While it doesn’t follow the traditional college path, it offers a solid, accredited education for those who value knowledge and independence. Whether you’re looking to advance your career, prepare for grad school, or just challenge yourself, Newlane is carving out a new lane in higher education.

But again, do your own research! I'm just a retired idiot on Lemmy who likes the idea of inexpensive college.