People who have watched Extreme Couponing on TLC probably fall into two categories: those who think that living by couponing is a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and those who think that coupons are part of the hierarchy of human needs. There may be a middle ground, however—particularly when coupons can help you get a great deal on your post-secondary education.
If you haven’t heard about Groupon yet, please, take a minute to Google it. It can turn even the strictest coupon skeptic into an all-out aficionado. Groupon is a website business that offers “deal-of-the-day” gift certificates at discount prices. Participating companies can include local businesses, huge corporations, and anything in between. The variation is awesome! While I’ve seen Groupon discounts for everything from laser hair removal to golfing packages, I had yet to ever come across a coupon for education. Thankfully for savvy, money-saving students everywhere, couponing may be bridging the gap into the education sector.
National Louis University in Chicago, Illinois, has decided to become a pioneer in the coupons for college game. On Tuesday, the school offered a Groupon discount for its graduate-level introduction to teaching course. The course counts as 3 of the 26 credits needed to earn a graduate degree in teaching—and while it’s only one course of many required to graduate, the amount prospective students can save is substantial. By purchasing this deal-of-the-day, tuition for the course was cut by 57%, taking the cost from $2,232 down to $950. The offer was available to students who hold an undergraduate degree, are interested in pursuing an education in teaching, and have not yet attended National Louis University.
This is the first time a Groupon has been offered for an academic university, and hopefully, it won’t be the last. Increasingly, trade schools, colleges, and universities are becoming more savvy to what catches the attention of current and potential students. Social media is a great means to attract and interest a wide range of people, so schools that have active Facebook and Twitter accounts are creating an edge for themselves in a competitive market. But, what I think is even edgier than “Facebooking” and Tweeting is appealing to potential students through an innovative means like Groupon! What better way to appeal to people than to offer them a way to save money while they pursue a great education?
I say, keep it up National Louis University! And, other schools take note—sometimes the way to a student’s heart is through their Groupon account.
