Modern States Alliance Secured $450,000 in Grant Funding

The organization received funding to expand free college credit programs for Ohio high school students.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Financial Aid

Bold vector editorial illustration of stacked academic journals and a graduation cap on a desk, representing college credit programs. — The Modern States Education Alliance secured $450,000 in grant funding to expand free college credit opportunities for Ohio high school students. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you believe high schools should prioritize programs that allow students to earn free college credit?

Modern States Education Alliance has received $450,000 in new grant funding to broaden access to free college credit opportunities. The initiative aims to help more students bypass tuition costs by earning credits through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP).

Why it matters

The funding addresses the rising costs of higher education by strengthening online course offerings and providing resources for schools to implement CLEP test preparation. This effort seeks to lower financial barriers for students pursuing post-secondary education.

The grants include $400,000 from the Cinelli Family Foundation and $50,000 from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation. Since 2017, the organization has helped 900,000 users pass nearly 35,000 CLEP tests in the past year alone.

The players

Modern States Education Alliance

This nonprofit organization provides free online courses to help students prepare for college credit examinations.

Cinelli Family Foundation

Based in Lawrence, Kansas, this philanthropic organization provided a $400,000 grant to support one year of programming.

Martha Holden Jennings Foundation

This Ohio-based foundation focuses on improving the academic achievement of students through a $50,000 grant.

The details

Modern States provides self-paced online courses designed to prepare students for CLEP exams, and the organization pays the test fees for those who complete the requirements. A new pilot program at Cleveland Heights High School will inform the development of a toolkit for other schools to adopt the model.

Modern States launched in 2017.
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation was established in 1959.
The Cinelli Family Foundation was established in 2021.
Modern States announced the new grant funding on September 23, 2026.

Culture Shift

The infusion of private capital into exam-based credit models reflects a broader societal move toward alternative pathways to bypass traditional college tuition debt. This shift signals a growing reliance on standardized testing platforms as primary vehicles for educational affordability.

Ohio students can expect increased access to test preparation materials that may lead to earning college credits at no cost. This could significantly reduce the out-of-pocket expenses for families managing high school and early college education budgets.

The takeaway

Students looking to reduce college expenses should investigate whether their school offers Modern States-supported CLEP preparation. Utilizing these free, self-paced resources can potentially save thousands in tuition by testing out of introductory university courses.