Competency-Based Education: How Does It Work?

Many accredited institutions give students the option of a competency-based education (CBE) learning format to increase graduation rates and provide students with the flexibility they need to complete an educational program.

Competency-based education has become a way of learning for many adults returning to college to earn their degree or completing college for the first time. It is a way for people with other obligations to meet their educational goals and focus on building a successful career.

The rest of this page provides more information on competency-based education learning and how it differs from other learning formats. Also, examples of institutions that provide CBE programs are below.

What Is Competency Based Education?

Competency-based education is a type of learning format that involves completing coursework on a specific topic until feeling ready for an assessment that proves an understanding of the material.

CBE learning requires students to demonstrate skills to proceed through a curriculum. Students can move faster or slower depending on how comfortable they are with a subject.

What are the Requirements for Competency Based Education Programs?

Admission requirements for CBE programs depend on the institution. Typical requirements may include:

• high school diploma
• transfer credits
• acceptable GPA
• age requirement

Prospective students interested in a CBE college program must still meet admission requirements for the school and specific degree program.

How Is Competency Based Education Different from Other Learning Formats?

CBE learning is different from other learning formats in college because it is the only learning format that allows students to move through a program's curriculum through assessments.

Traditional learning involves scheduled campus classes and deadlines for coursework and completing quizzes and tests. It is not as flexible as online or hybrid learning formats.

A hybrid learning format is a combination of campus and online course requirements with deadlines for completing coursework. Online learning includes asynchronous, synchronous, and CBE formats.

Asynchronous online learning allows students to complete required coursework on their own time without deadlines or online class sessions. Asynchronous learning is different from CBE learning because it requires you to complete course material.

Synchronous online learning includes scheduled class sessions and deadlines for coursework. CBE online learning is the most flexible learning format.

What Are the Benefits of Competency Based Education?

Competency-based education has multiple benefits. It can save students time and money toward earning a college degree.

CBE learning can also give working students the flexibility they require to balance work, personal, and student life. The main benefit of CBE learning is that students can move at their own pace.

How Long Does It Take To Complete a Degree Using Competency Based Education?

How long it takes to complete a degree through a CBE program depends on an individual's educational background and academic behaviors and the program.

It can take one to four years or more to complete a bachelor's degree program and less than one year to three years or more to complete a master's degree program.

Transferring credits from a regionally accredited institution can save students money and time in a CBE program. Also, great academic behaviors such as determination and maintaining great study habits can help students earn a degree faster.

What Is the Cost of Competency Based Education Programs?

The cost of competency-based education programs is a fixed amount per certain period. Typical billing periods are three to six months.

Tuition for CBE programs depends on the accredited institution and program. The cost is typically less expensive than completing a degree using another learning format.

The total cost of tuition depends on tuition, mandatory fees, optional fees, and how long it takes to complete competencies.

The Best Colleges for Competency Based Education

The accredited institutions below provide some of the best online degree programs that students can complete using a competency-based education learning format.

1. Capella University

Capella University offers online CBE programs to help students graduate and prepare for a career or advanced educational studies. Admission requirements differ depending on an individual's educational background.

Students interested in CBE programs at Capella must be at least 24 years old or have 45 to 100 transfer credits. Other requirements may apply.

The cost of tuition for a bachelor's degree is $2,500 to $3,370 per 12-week billing session depending on the program.

2. Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University offers five online degree programs that students can complete using its CBE learning format. Students can choose an Associate of Arts in general studies or healthcare management degree.

There are three Bachelor of Arts degree CBE programs. Bachelor's CBE programs include:

• communication
• healthcare management
• management

SNHU requires students to gain 60 competencies before earning a degree. Students can complete as many competencies as possible within a 16-week term.

3. University of Phoenix

There are four CBE programs available at the University of Phoenix. CBE programs at the University of Phoenix require students to take three to four courses for a 16-week period. CBE programs include:

• Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Health Administration
• Master of Information Systems

The cost of tuition for CBE programs is $300 per credit hour. Financial aid is available to help reduce tuition costs.

4. Walden University

Walden University offers CBE learning through its tempo learning degree programs. There are tempo learning programs in business, education, nursing, and more.

The CBE tempo learning programs cost $1,550 to $3,450 depending on the bachelor's degree program. Other tempo learning areas of study at Walden include:

• criminal justice
• healthcare
• psychology

5. Western Governors University

All online degree programs at Western Governors University use a flexible CBE learning format. WGU offers the CBE learning programs in the following areas of study:

• business
• education
• health and nursing
• technology

The cost of tuition depends on the program and degree level. Tuition is $3,575 to $6,625 per six-month subscription.