The pilot phase of Peer 2 Peer University (P2PU), a "grassroots" open educational project aimed at creating a new model for lifelong learning is now underway. Billing itself as an institution which promotes "learning for everyone, by everyone, about almost anything", P2PU is seeking to provide high-quality, low-cost educational opportunities by making educational materials openly available online. With a goal to eventually become a platform for collaborative learning--whereby anyone can use P2PU to organise, design and offer courses--the online venture is striving to offer an innovative alternative to more "traditional" higher education institutions. So too, is StraighterLine, an initiative offering prospective students a chance to complete accredited higher education courses online "for less--less money, less time, and less hassle". By supplying "no frills" courses designed by former professors at "cut-rate" prices, the team behind StraighterLine is positioning itself to test the cross-over appeal of an educational model typically embraced more by "non-traditional" learners. Detractors are questioning the value proposition of these ventures, but the educational entrepreneurs behind them suggest that the time may finally be right for such models to take root. What is P2PU, and what is the inspiration behind it? Is the development of StraighterLine demonstrative of an emerging trend towards "cut-price" higher education delivery and if so, why?