Mastery Over Minutes: Modernizing Federal Aid for Today’s Learners

Why it matters:

Higher education still measures learning by time—the Carnegie Unit. But “seat time” doesn’t reflect what students actually know or can do.

The shift:

Competency-Based Education (CBE) measures mastery, not minutes. It’s built for working parents, service members, and adults balancing school, work, and life.

The fix:

Federal policy must recognize CBE as a valid pathway, modernize Title IV aid rules, and fund Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) so students don’t pay twice for what they’ve already mastered.

The result:

A system that values learning over time—expanding access, reducing cost, and aligning education with today’s workforce.