When learners register for Modern States, they have the opportunity to ask questions or provide context to us through the open-ended question, “Anything else you want us to know?” This serves as a temperature check of how learners are feeling just before they start their Modern States journey.

While not every learner answers this question, roughly 10% do: more than 11,800 responses in 2025 alone. We recently reviewed those responses, and they revealed many insights and one clear pattern: learners are focused on using credit by exam to earn their degrees sooner and to spend less money on college.

The information below is shared in the aggregate to protect the privacy of any individual learners. Quotations are designed to capture sentiment and examples, without revealing anything that could identify any particular learner. 

Concrete Goals

Nearly one-third of the comments came from college students or adult learners pursuing a degree or a specific credit goal. Many described wanting to save time by testing out of general education requirements, completing prerequisites or finishing degrees they had started years earlier.

With responses such as “I’m taking CLEP English to graduate faster,” “I’m at a community college and trying to clear my gen eds,” and “I left school years ago and want to finish my bachelor’s,” learners are explicitly telling us they’re logged onto Modern States to achieve concrete goals – graduate sooner, avoid redundant classes, or save on tuition and fees. This is the core of our value proposition, and learners are using the program exactly as we intended.

Another 1,200+ comments connected Modern States directly to career goals. Learners reported using CLEP exams to qualify for nursing and medical programs, earn teacher endorsements or meet military advancement requirements. For many, using Modern States and CLEP can satisfy a program or credential requirement in weeks rather than months, helping accelerate the path to a promotion or new career.

The takeaway? Modern States is part of a very specific professional development plan for thousands of learners who are making instrumental decisions about time and money.

Starting Early

High school students and their families also see the value in getting a jump on college credit. More than 700 responses came from teenagers and their parents looking for ways to reduce future tuition costs.

These comments blended aspiration and anxiety: students want to “get ahead” or “start college with credits,” while families try to navigate a maze of AP, CLEP, dual enrollment, and local graduation requirements. Starting early means more time to earn credits in addition to saving on tuition. Because Modern States is direct-to-learner, students and families don’t have to wait for a school or district to opt in. They can explore courses, set their own pace and decide how and when to engage. For families seeking clarity and control in a complex system, our program offers a practical, self-directed path to achieving those goals.

Cost Concerns

Hundreds of comments referenced cost concerns or voucher eligibility, reinforcing that price and accessibility are primary drivers of interest in our free college credit program. We understand these worries. It’s why Modern States courses are completely free, and why we cover the cost of CLEP exams for all our learners.

Where Learners Get Stuck

In addition to positive and aspirational responses, many learners also offered neutral yet revealing comments, such as, “I’m not sure what a CLEP voucher is,” or “I hope this is legit.” Their comments highlight friction points in our own execution and communication. They suggest we still have work to do on:

• Reliability and usability of the platform
• Clear, step-by-step guidance from “sign up” → “finish the course” → “get voucher” → “schedule exam” → “send scores to my college”
• Building trust with learners who have good reason to be skeptical of “free” offerings

Very few individuals – less than 1% of respondents – indicated negatively toned, yet specific feedback, like a link not working, trouble logging in or accessing a course, or confusion about next steps after completing a course.

Put bluntly: the biggest risk is not that people dislike Modern States; it’s that they get lost in the process, or bounce off a technical issue, before they reach the exam.

Across nearly 12,000 responses from last year’s registrants, the message is consistent: learners want speed, affordability, clarity and a reliable pathway to college credit.

Your feedback matters to us. We see every response and consider them as we continuously improve our platform so it’s everything you need it to be. We hear you and are here to help you. Get started today.