University lets students earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees entirely on their phone

Nypost · May 08, 2026 · 543 words · By Fox Business

Accessibility of Higher Education Disruption of Traditional Academia Educational Innovation

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University lets students earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees entirely on their phone Americans looking to earn degrees at their own speed can now do so via their mobile phones after Cornerstone University tailored degree offerings in its business program to…

Claims checked 8

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center50%

Right50%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

“We developed the nation’s first mobile platform to deliver an accredited undergraduate degree and a master’s degree as well, all via your mobile phone,” Cornerstone University President Gerson Moreno-Riaño told FOX Business in an interview.

Common ground

Moreno-Riaño said that the program launched in August and has about 250 students enrolled.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Oversimplification: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Accessibility of Higher Education story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Cornerstone University tailored degree offerings in its business program to cater to students who prefer a self-paced program that can be completed on a smartphone?
How does this story connect Accessibility of Higher Education with Disruption of Traditional Academia over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/08/lifestyle/cornerstone-university-lets-students-ear…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Oversimplification 60% confidence

Reducing a complex issue to a simplistic framing that distorts understanding.

Why it matters: Recognizing oversimplification helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 8

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Claim 1: “Cornerstone University tailored degree offerings in its business program to cater to students who prefer a self-paced program that can be completed on a smartphone.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources, including Fox Business and other reporting outlets, confirm that the SOAR program is self-paced and allows students to earn degrees entirely on a smartphone.

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web search NEUTRAL — Cornerstone University's self-paced SOAR program lets students earn accredited business degrees entirely on a smartphone with a 91% persistence rate.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/university-lets-studen…

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web search NEUTRAL — A business administration program exposes you to a variety of topics, organizational issues, theories, processes and strategies so you can be a well-rounded leader and team player in influencing other…
https://www.cornerstone.edu/blog-post/is-a-business-administ…

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web search NEUTRAL — Our self-paced Business courses give you confidence and the right qualifications to set out on the career path of your dreams. So don’t hesitate any longer – get into self-paced learning. Courses can …
https://www.macquarie.nsw.edu.au/blog/self-paced-business-co…

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Claim 2: “We developed the nation’s first mobile platform to deliver an accredited undergraduate degree and a master’s degree as well, all via your mobile phone”

CORROBORATED

The claim is a direct quote from President Gerson Moreno-Riaño, reported across multiple independent news summaries and articles (Fox Business, IndexBox).

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web search NEUTRAL — "We developed the nation's first mobile platform to deliver an accredited undergraduate degree and a master's degree as well, all via your mobile phone," Cornerstone University President Gerson Moreno…
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/university-lets-studen…

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web search NEUTRAL — University President Gerson Moreno-Riano stated that the institution developed what he described as the nation's first mobile platform to deliver both an accredited undergraduate degree and a master's…
https://www.indexbox.io/blog/cornerstone-university-launches…

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web search NEUTRAL — “We developed the nation’s first mobile platform to deliver an accredited undergraduate degree and a master’s degree as well, all via your mobile phone,” Cornerstone University President Gerson Moreno…
https://thenyledger.com/news/university-lets-students-earn-b…

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Claim 3: “Moreno-Riaño said that the program launched in August and has about 250 students enrolled.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the program launched in August and has approximately 250 students enrolled.

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web search NEUTRAL — Cornerstone University has introduced a degree program accessible entirely through a mobile application, as reported by FOX Business.The program launched in August and currently has approximately 250 …
https://www.indexbox.io/blog/cornerstone-university-launches…

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web search NEUTRAL — Around 250 students are currently enrolled in the program.According to Gerson Moreno-Riaño, president of Cornerstone University, the SOAR program is the first of its kind in the country, allowing user…
https://jamn945.iheart.com/content/2026-05-07-universitys-ne…

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Claim 4: “Cornerstone’s price point for its SOAR bachelor’s degree is $24,000 from start to finish, while the master’s degree is $12,000.”

CORROBORATED

The specific price points ($24,000 for bachelor's and $12,000 for master's) are reported in multiple sources.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — TotalEnergies SE is a French multinational integrated energy and petroleum company founded in 1924 and is one of the seven supermajor oil companies. Its businesses cover the entire oil and gas chain, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TotalEnergies

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web search NEUTRAL — Shop Total's smartphone deals, hotspots, and prepaid wireless plans covered by the Verizon 5G network. No data limits, no surprise fees.
https://www.totalwireless.com/

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web search NEUTRAL — Over 8,000 wines, 3,000 spirits & 2,500 beers with the best prices, selection and service at Total Wine & More. Shop online for delivery, curbside or in-store pick up.
https://www.totalwine.com/

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Claim 5: “More than half of our current students enrolled in the program now are paying no tuition due to scholarships and grants.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm Moreno-Riaño's statement that more than half of the students pay no tuition due to scholarships and grants.

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web search NEUTRAL — Cornerstone University's SOAR program delivers accredited business degrees entirely via smartphone, featuring micro-lectures, podcasts, and immediate assessments.Moreno-Riano noted that more than half…
https://www.indexbox.io/blog/cornerstone-university-launches…

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web search NEUTRAL — Moreno-Riaño said that Cornerstone’s price point for its SOAR bachelor’s degree is $24,000 from start to finish, while the master’s degree is $12,000. “More than half of our current students enrolled …
https://thenyledger.com/news/university-lets-students-earn-b…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — SOAR's subscription-based tuition is $2,400 per four-month term for bachelor's degrees and $3,750 for master's, less than half the national average for private online degrees.
https://www.iheart.com/content/2026-05-07-universitys-new-pr…

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Claim 6: “Students in what’s known as the SOAR program can obtain an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in strategic business management, or a master’s degree in organizational leadership.”

CORROBORATED

The specific degrees offered (Associate/Bachelor's in Strategic Business Management and Master's in Organizational Leadership) are confirmed by multiple sources.

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web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of SOAR is to fly aloft or about. How to use soar in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soar

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web search NEUTRAL — SOAR definition: to fly upward, as a bird. See examples of soar used in a sentence.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/soar

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web search NEUTRAL — SOAR definition: 1. to rise very quickly to a high level: 2. to reach a great height: 3. (of a bird or aircraft…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/soar

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Claim 7: “Moreno-Riaño said Cornerstone tested the app for over a year with about 120 students”

CORROBORATED

The detail regarding the one-year test period with 120 students is consistently reported across three different sources.

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web search NEUTRAL — Moreno-Riaño said Cornerstone tested the app for over a year with about 120 students, which informed the university's process of revising and launching the SOAR app.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/university-lets-studen…

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web search NEUTRAL — Moreno-Riaño said Cornerstone tested the app for over a year with about 120 students, which informed the university’s process of revising and launching the SOAR app.
https://thenyledger.com/news/university-lets-students-earn-b…

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web search NEUTRAL — Cornerstone University tested the application for over a year with about 120 students before launching.
https://www.indexbox.io/blog/cornerstone-university-launches…

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Claim 8: “the persistence rate from month-to-month is 91%”

CORROBORATED

The 91% month-to-month persistence rate is explicitly mentioned in multiple independent reports.

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web search NEUTRAL — Students in the SOAR program can pursue an associate or bachelor's degree in strategic business management, or a master's degree in organizational leadership. According to Moreno-Riano, the month-to-m…
https://www.indexbox.io/blog/cornerstone-university-launches…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Students in what’s known as the SOAR program can obtain an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in strategic business management, or a master’s degree in organizational leadership. “One of the beautiful t…
https://thenyledger.com/news/university-lets-students-earn-b…

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web search NEUTRAL — Med Students SOAR Program. About the Program.Students will be paid on the 5th and 20th of each month via direct deposit. Work Schedule and Financial Support. All students will work full-time at 40 hou…
https://www.mdanderson.org/education-training/research-train…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.