Harvard and MIT point to online future in higher ed

The expense of higher education has become a crippling burden on students and families — which is why it's encouraging that local institutions are exploring new approaches to lowering costs. Earlier this year, Mount Holyoke College froze its tuition. Now, MIT and Harvard have announced a collaboration called edX that will offer five online courses next year — for free. The classes don't count toward a traditional degree at either institution, and there may be some fees for students who want proof of completion.