Traditional higher education has historically done a lackluster job of offering vocationally-oriented education programs and meeting the needs of non-traditional students.
Initiatives like the ED-X partnership between Harvard and MIT promise to give non-traditional students elements of a world-class education online, and for free.
"The proportion of non-traditional students in universities has rocketed over the last few years, and I celebrate that achievement, " said its chief executive, Diana Warwick.