Higher education is facing several obstacles, one of which is the prolific rise in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). This article examines the history of online education and also provides a background of the current organizations that are competing in the MOOC industry. The success of MOOCs and the current hurdles they have to overcome are examined. The article also discusses the current and future potential impact of MOOCs on higher education. Finally, the authors make recommendations to schools of higher education on how to deal with this potential threat.