A Breakthrough in Adult Education
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The SOAR™ app by Cornerstone University offers the nation’s first 100% smartphone-based degree programs, already bringing on-demand, fully accredited degrees to hundreds of students.
Cornerstone University President Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño discovered a sobering reality: more than 750 adults drop out of college every single day in the U.S. (WGVU News). Most don’t leave because of ability, but because of barriers — cost, rigid schedules, and life responsibilities.
Dr. Moreno-Riaño asked a bold question: What if we flipped the model? What if we built a degree as flexible and accessible as streaming a podcast?
Instead of asking busy adults to conform to traditional higher ed, the SOAR™ app was designed to meet them where they already live and work — on their smartphones. This is higher education re-engineered for the 21st century.
What makes the technology and experience of SOAR™ different?
- 100% mobile – A complete degree featuring relevant, in-demand skills on your phone, no laptop required.
- On-Demand Learning – Microlearning lessons designed for short bursts throughout the day through podcasts, videos and audiobooks and easy to access resources.
- Radically Affordable – Tuition is just $2,400 per 4-month term for undergraduate degrees and $3,750 per 4-month term for graduate degrees, with no extra textbook or tech fees required.
- High quality – Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the SOAR app currently offers three business degrees with more to come in the future.
As Yahoo Tech reported, SOAR™ represents a bold new category of higher ed — subscription-based, mobile-first, and radically affordable.
Built with West Michigan’s Workforce in Mind
With a wave of retirements ahead, SOAR™’s radically affordable, flexible degree helps employers and employees bridge the leadership gap.
This innovation wasn’t built in isolation. Grand Rapids and West Michigan business partners played a crucial role in the software development, testing, and launch of SOAR™, providing feedback, pilot support, and encouragement. Their collaboration ensured the platform was relevant to the real-world needs of today’s working adults.
Why does this matter? Because West Michigan is at a critical juncture. Over 1 in 5 Michigan workers are Baby Boomers — the largest generation in the labor force — and they are rapidly approaching retirement (TalentFirst).
That means employers face an urgent leadership gap — one that demands accessible, scalable, and affordable education solutions.
And affordability is where SOAR™ shines. For businesses, SOAR™’s radically lower tuition reduces the cost of upskilling employees while also making education a reachable goal for their families. It’s a workforce benefit that pays forward for generations.
We are deeply grateful to our local SOAR™ Business Partners for helping make SOAR™ possible. Their vision and support are why West Michigan is poised to become a national model for workforce development through ed tech innovation.
Through mobile technology, media-centered learning, and subscription-style tuition, the program redefines higher education — introducing degree streaming, a new model built around the realities of today’s adult learners.
Why SOAR™ Is a Game-Changer in EdTech
Globally, education technology is moving toward three big shifts:
- Mobile-first learning – With smartphone adoption nearing 90% and streaming services becoming a primary means for content consumption, convenience and flexibility are top of mind for those seeking education as well as entertainment.
- Microlearning & multimedia – Short, engaging lessons (video, audio, interactive formats) increase retention and fit into busy lives.
- Flexible financing models – Subscription-based tuition reflects the same accessibility that transformed media, music, and software.
The SOAR™ platform integrates all three — and adds something even more disruptive:
- SOAR™ offers the most affordable accredited degrees in the United States.
At just $2,400 (undergraduate level) or $3,750 (graduate level) per 4-month term with no additional fees for textbooks or technology, SOAR™ delivers a radically more accessible pathway to higher education. Combined with employer scholarships and financial aid, many students pay little to nothing out of pocket.
Voices of current SOAR™ students:
- “SOAR™ has reenergized my educational journey.”
- “The mobile platform is genius and has unmatched flexibility.” (WGVU News)
- “I enjoy listening to my SOAR™ podcasts and audiobooks while doing chores. I put in my AirPods and fold laundry or complete a grocery store shop.”
- “Now you can watch videos for education. It’s more natural. You take your phone out of your pocket and the content has a purpose instead of just entertainment.”
- “Audiobooks and podcasts allow me to study on the go.”
For adults who once believed a degree was out of reach, SOAR™ proves otherwise. For employers facing a looming talent gap, SOAR™ offers a solution. For higher ed as a whole, SOAR™ points to the future.
The future of education isn’t just about technology. It’s about people, possibility, and purpose. With SOAR™, that future has already begun.
About Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University is a leading private institution committed to making Christian higher education accessible and affordable for every stage of life. With multiple learning platforms — from traditional on-campus degrees to fully online programs, SOAR™ for working adults, and seminary training — Cornerstone prepares students to boldly live out their God-given purpose in every sphere of influence.
SOAR™ in the Media
To hear Dr. Moreno-Riaño’s vision in his own words:
- The Eric Metaxas Show – On the state of higher education and affordability.
- Main Street Matters – Navigating the future of higher education and the launch of SOAR™.
- Furthermore with Amanda Head – On innovation, dependency on government funding, and higher education reform.
