[A student receives online tutoring. Photo Credit: Pexels]

As more selective colleges reinstate the SAT and ACT requirements, a free online learning program named Schoolhouse.world has partnered with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to create new academic opportunities for students nationwide. 

Carnegie Mellon University announced a new partnership with Schoolhouse.world during its 127th commencement ceremony on May 11, 2025. 

According to the CMU announcement, the collaboration aims to “broaden access to CMU” and create new tutoring opportunities for students on the Schoolhouse.world platform.

The CMU press release emphasized that Schoolhouse.world offers free peer tutoring for standardized tests such as the SAT, and also includes classes in algebra, calculus, statistics, computer science, and the sciences, while functioning independently from Khan Academy.

Schoolhouse.world is becoming increasingly significant at this moment by allowing students to have free access to educational tools as they prepare for college. 

Also, under the partnership, CMU will now consider a “Schoolhouse Portfolio,” which is a record of tutoring certifications and volunteer hours, as part of its holistic undergraduate admissions review process.

Schoolhouse offers free, live, and in small groups, SAT tutoring sessions to help close the gap in access to SAT preparation for those who do not have the means to purchase private test preparation.

This new partnership with Carnegie Mellon University aims to enhance equitable access to higher education, with CMU officials stating that the collaboration is to “advance access, opportunity and affordability.”

According to Schoolhouse.world, approximately 20,000 students were participating in over 8 million minutes of live learning by the time of a 2022 report.

Unlike other organizations of a similar vein, Schoolhouse.world has also established partnerships with state education departments to promote its tutoring services.

New Hampshire became the first state to partner with Schoolhouse.world; with New Hampshire Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut promoting Schoolhouse.world as a complementary SAT Prep Program.

Virginia then partnered with Schoolhouse.world and provided assistance to districts and families to learn about the tutoring program, without any financial exchange.

The boot camps run for 4 weeks, and meet twice a week for 75 minutes each meeting, with a maximum group size of ten students.

Most of the tutors are high school students who previously utilized the services as learners.

To become eligible to act as a tutor, a learner must score 700 or higher in either SAT Math or SAT Reading & Writing.

Upon acceptance to participate as a tutor, the students receive training, maintain a record of verified service hours, and receive their “Schoolhouse Portfolio” that may be submitted to colleges, therefore, providing an additional benefit for the tutors as well.

Along with CMU, over 50 other colleges recognize the portfolio, and some, such as MIT, Georgia Tech, Florida State University, and the University of Chicago, ask students applying to the institution if they acted as tutors through Schoolhouse.world.

With standardized testing regaining importance in admissions decisions, tutoring programs such as Schoolhouse.world could offer a chance for students to prepare for higher education at a lower cost. 

Partnerships like the one between Carnegie Mellon University and Schoolhouse.world highlight how institutions are exploring new ways to support students in their preparation for college. 

However, whether these collaborations will make a significant change to student preparation and access is yet to be seen, but they do reflect a growing trend toward including free digital learning tools within the college admissions process.  

As more universities and states continue to embrace such evolving partnerships, Schoolhouse.world’s role in college preparation may expand in conjunction with shifting college admissions policies.