John Katzman's online program company has become an alternative to online degree enablers. Now it wants to similarly challenge major providers of free and low-cost non-degree courses and credentials. Noodle says it can give its existing university partners (and others it thinks it can woo) a better platform for distributing online courses, certificates and other credentials to their alumni and other learners looking for the best option to help them reach their goals, professionally or personally. Second, Noodle vows that it will take a smaller share of the tuition revenue (a maximum of 35 percent) than the half to two-thirds that Coursera and 2U keep for themselves in non-degree programs. Noodle plans to charge institutions 15 percent of tuition revenue for use of its platform to stage the courses, and 20 percent more if the university chooses to have Noodle market the programs, too. (Universities will keep the 20 percent for themselves if they bring in students on their own.)
