MarylandOnline

What MarylandOnline does

MarylandOnline (MOL) is a nonprofit consortium founded in 1999 and headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland that supports online learning across the state through a portfolio of collaborative services. It serves 19 member institutions — all 16 Maryland community colleges plus three four-year universities (Morgan State University, Stevenson University, and University of Maryland Global Campus) — operating under three primary roles of Expertise, Networking, and Advocacy. Its core products include the Seat Bank (a cross-institutional course-sharing platform that has facilitated 300,000+ shared credits), the MOLLI leadership institute, the DOLLI searchable knowledge database, the CPEX noncredit program exchange, a complimentary Quality Matters subscription, a Professional Development webinar series, and a Resources & Advocacy function covering topics such as accessibility, AI, microcredentials, and open education.

The consortium does not sell proprietary technology; instead it builds operational services and shared platforms that leverage collaboration among members. Quality Matters (QM), spun up by MOL in 2003 with a U.S. Department of Education grant, now operates independently as an internationally recognized quality-assurance organization serving 1,500+ institutions globally. MOL is led by an Executive Director (Wendy Gilbert) supported by a 4-person staff (with a broader 11–50 headcount range reported) and governed by a Board of Directors comprising representatives from each member institution. The organization maintains advocacy partnerships with bodies such as the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), NC-SARA, EDUCAUSE, OLC, USDLA, WCET, and Instructional Technology Council.

MarylandOnline's revenue model combines membership dues from its 19 member institutions, grants (historically from MHEC and the U.S. Department of Education), and fees from professional-development webinars, events, and training programs. Specific dues amounts and total revenue are not publicly disclosed. The organization pursues a community-led go-to-market model in which membership is open to any public or private Maryland higher-education institution licensed by MHEC and accredited by federally recognized accrediting commissions, making the addressable customer base structurally capped at Maryland's higher-education sector.

Name

MarylandOnline

Legal name

MarylandOnline

Website

https://marylandonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MarylandOnline is a 1999-founded nonprofit consortium serving all 19 Maryland higher-education institutions through collaborative online-learning services including course sharing, leadership training, professional development, and quality assurance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Consortium Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

Keywords

• Online education consortium
• Higher education collaboration
• Course sharing platform
• Faculty professional development
• ELearning support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Annapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: MarylandOnline operates as a nonprofit consortium funded through membership dues from its 19 member Maryland colleges and universities. Additional revenue comes from grants and professional development services.
2. Grants and Funded Programs: Historically funded by grants from Maryland Higher Education Commission and U.S. Department of Education. Created Quality Matters (QM) in 2003 with federal grant funding.
3. Professional Development Services: Revenue generated through professional development webinars, events, and training programs for online educators, with many offerings open to the public.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MarylandOnline is a nonprofit consortium that delivers collaborative online education services to 19 Maryland higher education institutions. Its core offerings include cross-institutional course sharing (Seat Bank), a leadership institute (MOLLI), a knowledge database (DOLLI), a noncredit program exchange (CPEX), an enhanced Quality Matters subscription, and a professional development webinar series, all supporting member institutions' online faculty, students, courses, and programs.

Product overview

MarylandOnline is a nonprofit consortium founded in 1999 that supports online learning across Maryland through a portfolio of collaborative products and services. The organization offers a unified platform of educational support services including the Seat Bank (course-sharing platform), MOLLI (leadership institute), DOLLI (knowledge database), CPEX (professional education exchange), Quality Matters subscription, Professional Development Series, and Resources & Advocacy. These services work together to support member institutions' online faculty, students, courses, and programs through the three primary roles of Expertise, Networking, and Advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Seat Bank A course-sharing platform that allows member institutions to share seats in online courses, enabling students from other colleges to fill low-enrollment courses and expanding course options for students whose home institutions may not offer the desired class. Used by 19 Maryland higher education member institutions and has facilitated 300,000+ credit exchanges.
• MOLLI (MarylandOnline Leadership Institute) A leadership development program serving emerging and mid-career distance education leaders and practitioners in Maryland, providing opportunities to enhance leadership skills, develop professional networks, and apply knowledge to benefit member institutions. Delivered through webinars and in-person events.
• DOLLI (Database of Online Learning Information) An easy-to-use, searchable database of general online information about member institutions including guidelines and best practices in online learning.
• CPEX (Continuing and Professional Education Exchange) A shared platform to help schools increase enrollments in high-need, noncredit programs and expand Maryland student access to certification and program completion offerings.
• Quality Matters Subscription An enhanced subscription to Quality Matters (QM) quality assurance program for online education, available complimentary to MarylandOnline member institutions as founders of QM, including rubrics and course design licenses. QM now serves 1,500+ member institutions in the U.S. and internationally.
• Professional Development Series Virtual professional development series providing workshops and sessions on topics including instructional design, technology, accessibility, inclusive practices, and other areas related to teaching and learning in online education. Many offerings are open to the public.
• Resources & Advocacy Resources and advocacy services supporting online education through participation in statewide and national initiatives, engagement with consortium policies, and sharing of information related to accessibility, AI, microcredentials, and open education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000+ online faculty trained in grant-funded train-the-trainer program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, moderate and core.

• Maryland Distance Learning Association (MDLA)minorOthersMaryland-based professional organization for distance learning professionals; MOL participates in this organization for networking and resource sharing on statewide issues and policies impacting online education.
• Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC)minorOthersStatewide organization representing Maryland community colleges; MOL engages with MACC on issues and policies relevant to online learning in the community college sector.
• University System of Maryland (USM)minorOthersConsortium of Maryland public universities; MOL collaborates with USM on online education initiatives and policy advocacy at the state level.
• Maryland Education Enterprise Consortium (MEEC)minorOthersMaryland consortium for educational resources; MOL participates in MEEC for resource sharing and collaborative initiatives in higher education.
• Maryland Independent College and University Association (MICUA)minorOthersAssociation representing Maryland independent colleges and universities; MOL engages with MICUA on shared interests in online education quality and accessibility.
• Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC)moderateOthersState agency for higher education in Maryland; MOL received grant funding from MHEC and collaborates on policy initiatives supporting online education across the state.
• Quality Matters (QM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOL created Quality Matters in 2003 with U.S. Department of Education funding. QM is now an internationally recognized organization for online education quality assurance. MOL member institutions receive complimentary enhanced subscription to QM with additional benefits including rubrics and course design licenses.
• EDUCAUSEminorOthersNational organization focused on IT in higher education; MOL participates to keep abreast of national issues and policies impacting member institutions.
• Instructional Technology Council (ITC)minorOthersNational organization for instructional technology professionals; MOL engages with ITC for professional development and policy advocacy resources.
• WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET)minorOthersWestern Interstate Commission for Higher Education initiative focused on educational technologies; MOL participates to access resources on accessibility and technology best practices.
• Online Learning Consortium (OLC)minorOthersNational organization dedicated to online learning; MOL engages with OLC for professional development resources and industry best practices.
• United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)minorOthersNational organization for distance learning professionals; MOL participates to stay informed on national distance learning developments.
• National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)minorOthersOrganization facilitating state authorization for distance education; MOL engages with NC-SARA on state reciprocity policies affecting member institutions.
• Open Education Global (OEGlobal)minorOthersInternational organization promoting open education; MOL participates to access open educational resources and advocate for affordable instructional materials.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Instructional Technology Council (ITC): National organization for instructional technology professionals in higher education. ITC is a listed MarylandOnline partner and provides overlapping professional development and policy advocacy on e-learning topics.
• Online Learning Consortium (OLC): National nonprofit dedicated to advancing online learning at colleges and universities. OLC is a direct peer in mission (expertise, networking, advocacy for online higher ed) and overlaps with MarylandOnline's professional development and quality assurance offerings.
• WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET): Initiative of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education focused on educational technology policy and practice. WCET is explicitly listed as one of MarylandOnline's national partners and addresses the same online learning and state authorization issues for member institutions.
• United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA): National nonprofit membership organization for distance learning professionals. USDLA covers similar expertise, networking, and advocacy territory as MarylandOnline at a national level.

Regional players

• Southern Regional Education Board (SREB): Regional compact that facilitates cooperation among southern U.S. states on higher education policy and programs. SREB is analogous to MarylandOnline at a multi-state regional scale and operates similar cross-institutional and policy-coordination functions.
• Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC): Statewide organization representing Maryland's 16 community colleges on policy and funding. MACC is a listed MarylandOnline partner and serves a closely overlapping member base, making it an adjacent peer for community-college-facing services.
• New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE): Regional compact serving New England states with higher education policy, programs, and interstate tuition initiatives. NEBHE parallels MarylandOnline's consortium coordination role but at a multi-state level.

Broad incumbents

• EDUCAUSE: Large national nonprofit association for IT leadership in higher education. EDUCAUSE is a listed MarylandOnline partner and provides overlapping professional development, resources, and policy advocacy across the higher-ed technology stack, with a much broader scope.

Emerging players

• Quality Matters (QM): Internationally recognized nonprofit for online education quality assurance, originally created by MarylandOnline in 2003. QM now operates independently and serves 1,500+ institutions, making it both a peer and a spinoff of the subject company.

Others

• NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements): Nonprofit that facilitates state-level reciprocity for distance education authorization. NC-SARA is a listed MarylandOnline partner and is comparable as a higher-ed regulatory and policy coordination body that affects online program delivery across state lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OnlineMaryland
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCt7zNQeosXk9jrWtZvl9i4Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marylandonline

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MarylandOnline