By Bryan Newman, CEO – Studio Enterprise
It’s time to say goodbye to Online Program Managers (OPMs). For years, colleges and universities were sold a dream: a one-stop solution to take their online programs to new heights. OPMs swooped in, promising to handle everything from marketing to course design. But now, that dream has turned into a nightmare for many institutions—one filled with financial strain, loss of control, and cookie-cutter solutions that don’t fit the diverse needs of higher education.
The reality is that OPMs have been holding schools back, profiting off their hard-earned tuition dollars while locking them into rigid, long-term contracts. But there’s good news: the OPM era is ending, and the future of education lies in a more flexible, transparent, and sustainable solution—Education Services Platforms (ESPs).
At the forefront of this revolution is Studio Enterprise, an ESP that didn’t just stumble upon a better model; it saw the OPM cracks forming years ago. Studio Enterprise was ahead of the curve when it transitioned to the ESP model over five years ago, and today, it’s leading the charge in reshaping how institutions manage shared services that support their online programs. Let’s break down exactly why OPMs are on their way out—and why Studio Enterprise’s ESP model is the future.
OPMs: The Problem No One Talks About
OPMs have built a reputation for making grand promises to colleges and universities. They’ll increase enrollment, boost revenue, and handle all the heavy lifting, right? But what’s left out of the glossy sales pitch is how detrimental these partnerships can be for schools.
1. OPMs are Money Pits
Let’s be brutally honest: OPMs make their money by siphoning off yours. Most OPMs operate on revenue-sharing agreements, often pocketing up to 50% of your tuition revenue. Yes, half of every dollar students pay to your institution goes straight to the OPM’s bank account. Think of what your school could do with those millions of dollars—hire more faculty, expand programs, enhance facilities—but instead, those funds are going to a third-party vendor whose primary interest is making money off your students.
With Studio Enterprise’s ESP model, you don’t have to worry about revenue sharing. Instead, Studio offers a transparent, service-based pricing model, so you pay for what you need without sacrificing your revenue. Your dollars stay where they belong—invested in your institution.
2. Loss of Control: Who’s Really Running the Show?
OPMs don’t just take your money; they take your control. When you sign on with an OPM, you’re handing over significant control of your online programs, marketing, and even student interactions. Sure, they’ll make your courses look shiny, but at what cost? Your institution’s identity becomes diluted as OPMs use the same cookie-cutter approach for every school they work with. What makes your school unique gets lost in their one-size-fits-all machine.
Studio Enterprise flipped this narrative. As an ESP, Studio believes that your institution’s brand should stay in your hands. The ESP model works with your vision, not against it, ensuring that your school’s values and individuality shine through every course, every campaign, and every student experience.
3. Locked Into Long-Term Contracts
OPMs are notorious for locking schools into long-term contracts, sometimes spanning a decade or more. That might have seemed like a good deal when online programs were in their infancy, but the landscape is rapidly changing. Technology evolves, student expectations shift, and the needs of your institution change. But if you’re shackled to a 10-year agreement with an OPM, there’s no easy way out. You’re stuck with outdated solutions and an unresponsive partner who’s just coasting on that contract.
On the other hand, Studio Enterprise’s ESP model offers flexibility. Schools can scale shared services up or down as their needs evolve. No one is stuck in an antiquated agreement. Studio specializes in higher education functions and was purpose built to be agile – and that’s what higher education needs today.
Studio Enterprise’s ESP: Leading the Charge in a New Era
If you’re still wondering whether Studio Enterprise got it right by switching to the ESP model five years ago, let’s make it clear: they did. Studio Enterprise’s forward-thinking approach has proven time and again that ESPs are the future, offering schools what OPMs can’t—true partnership, transparency, and control.
1. Ahead of the Curve
While most OPMs were riding the wave of outdated business models, Studio Enterprise saw the future and embraced it. Recognizing the pitfalls of OPMs long before others, Studio shifted to an ESP model that puts schools first. They didn’t just react to change—they anticipated it. By doing so, Studio positioned itself as a leader in the education space, helping institutions thrive rather than merely survive.
2. Customized Solutions, Not Cookie-Cutter Services
Every institution is unique, and Studio Enterprise knows that. The ESP model is built around tailoring services to meet the specific needs of each school. Whether your institution needs help with marketing, technology, or student engagement, Studio Enterprise works with you to create customized solutions. No more being boxed into a generic set of services. Instead, Studio empowers schools to take control of their online education strategies while providing expert shared services every step of the way.
3. A Better Financial Model
Say goodbye to revenue-sharing models that drain your institution’s resources. With Studio’s ESP, you pay for the services you need, period. This approach allows schools to keep more of their tuition revenue, which can then be reinvested in what really matters—student success, faculty development, and institutional growth. Studio Enterprise’s transparent pricing structure ensures you’re not stuck in a financially draining arrangement that benefits the OPM more than it benefits your school.
The Writing is on the Wall: The OPM Model is Dying
The OPM model is crumbling under its own weight. More and more institutions are waking up to the fact that these partnerships are expensive, limiting, and ultimately unsustainable. Schools are seeking alternatives, and they’re finding that Education Services Platforms like Studio Enterprise offer a smarter, more flexible way forward.
Schools are waking up and moving away from OPMs at record speed, leaving even the largest OPMs struggling to adapt and even leading to major bankruptcy filings.
OPMs have had their time, but that time is coming to an end. The education landscape is shifting, and schools are no longer willing to be held hostage by outdated models that prioritize profit over partnership. Studio Enterprise saw this shift coming over five years ago, and their transition to an ESP model has positioned them as the leader in this new era.
Final Thoughts
The OPM era is over, and good riddance. For too long, these third-party providers have drained institutions of their resources while offering little in return. As higher education moves into a new chapter, schools are demanding more—more control, more flexibility, and more value. And they’re finding all of that in Education Services Platforms like Studio Enterprise.
If your institution is coming to the end of a long-term OPM contract, Studio Enterprise can help. If you’re ready to take back the lifeblood of your institution and begin to manage your own online education offerings, it may be time to consider an ESP. Studio Enterprise will take the mystery and fear away from shared services such as marketing, compliance, technology and many other administrative functions that your current OPM delivers as part of the agreement. By out-sourcing shared services, you will be able to take back control of your curriculum, faculty, and student interactions. The future is here, and it’s time to take control.
About Bryan Newman
Bryan Newman is the dynamic CEO of Studio Enterprise, a leading education services platform providing shared services to colleges and universities. With over 25 years of extensive experience in higher education and strategic business operations, Bryan has a proven track record of driving innovation, growth and transformation across various educational institutions and companies.