How Universities Are Taking Back Control of Online Learning

Higher Ed’s Shift Away from OPM

Over the past decade, many universities turned to online program management (OPM) providers to launch and scale their online programs. These partnerships promised to expand access, streamline course development, and drive enrollment growth—often through revenue-sharing agreements. 

But as institutions gained experience with online learning, they began reevaluating the trade-offs. Concerns around cost, control, and data ownership have led to a decisive shift. In fact, new OPM partnerships declined in 2024 to the lowest level since 2016–2017, and fee-for-service models have overtaken revenue-sharing agreements, according to Inside Higher Ed. 

Today, more universities are opting for unbundled, faculty-driven solutions that give them greater flexibility, financial transparency, and academic freedom. But what does a successful post-OPM transition actually look like? 

Why Institutions Are Moving Beyond OPM Models

While OPMs played a critical role in helping many institutions go online quickly, today’s institutions are seeking more modular, mission-aligned models. Additionally, the long-term implications are increasingly hard to ignore: 

Revenue Sharing Can Limit Reinvestment in Institutional Flexibility
OPM contracts often take 30–50% of tuition revenue, making it difficult for institutions to reinvest in their own programs. 

Shared Control Over Curriculum and Branding Can Limit Institutional Flexibility
Universities frequently lose decision-making power over curriculum, design, and branding. 

Limited Access to Data
Student and enrollment data often resides with the OPM, limiting a school’s ability to make evidence-based improvements. 

Long-Term Lock-In
Many OPM agreements last 5–10 years, creating rigidity in a time of fast-changing learner needs. 

As EducationDynamics notes, “The shift away from OPMs towards unbundling services in higher education is driven by a desire for greater control over marketing and enrollment management strategies, financial considerations, and ownership of the academic process in online programs.” 

What Does an OPM Provide, and What Can You Unbundle? 

Traditional OPMs offer a full suite of services, including: 

• Market research 
• Marketing and student recruitment 
• Enrollment management 
• Online course development 
• Student support and advising 
• Tech platforms and analytics 

Today, universities are moving toward a modular model, choosing best-in-class partners to support specific needs. Institutions are turning to firms like Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) for enrollment strategy, Tyton Partners for strategic planning, and Huron for operational consulting while partnering with Six Red Marbles for content and course development. 

This shift empowers institutions to control quality and spend while avoiding the one-size-fits-all limitations of legacy OPMs. 

The Better Alternative: Faculty-First, Custom Course Development 

At Six Red Marbles, we support institutions making the transition away from OPMs with solutions that prioritize academic leadership and student success. 

We offer: 

✅ Custom Course Design
Courses tailored to your institution’s goals, faculty expertise, and brand identity.  

✅ Flexible Service Models
Tiered pricing and scalable support with no long-term contracts required. 

✅ AI + Human Expertise
A powerful blend of expert instructional design and AI-generated content for engaging, accessible learning. 

✅ Full Data and Content Ownership
Complete control over your content, data, and future iterations.  

Case in Point: Designing for Equity Without an OPM 

Landmark College, a national leader in serving students who learn differently, sought to improve its LC Online programs while maintaining control over pedagogy and accessibility—without the constraints of a traditional OPM model. 

Six Red Marbles partnered with Landmark to apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), focusing on: 

• Streamlined LMS navigation with built-in accessibility tools 
• Multimodal learning content delivered through text, video, and audio
• Scaffolded course design with clear, consistent milestones 
• Engaging course interactions including discussions and guided weekly overviews 

The result? Faculty and student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the clarity, consistency, and inclusive design of LC Online courses. The college has strengthened its leadership position in accessible online learning—without relying on an OPM. 

“The Six Red team consistently delivered high-quality course content, meeting or exceeding expectations across all projects.” —Denise Jaffe, Landmark College 

Making the Transition: What’s Next for Your Institution? 

Whether you’re reevaluating your current OPM relationship or starting from scratch, the time is right to rethink your approach to online learning. 

Six Red Marbles can help you: 

✔ Build high-quality online courses that reflect your academic standards
✔ Avoid revenue sharing or rigid contracts
✔ Support faculty with expert instructional design, without giving up control 

Let’s talk about how you can take back control of your online learning strategy—on your terms. Connect with our team to explore what comes next, post-OPM.