How BYU-Pathway Worldwide Is Making Education Affordable Globally

by Presidents Forum | Aug 29, 2025 | Outcomes and Accountability, Underserved Communities, Working Learners

How BYU-Pathway Worldwide Is Making Education Affordable Globally

Why it matters:

BYU-Pathway Worldwide has reduced degree costs to as little as $300 in Africa, making higher education accessible to 80,000+ students globally, with 40% in Africa.

The big picture:

Traditional higher education models aren’t serving adult learners who need immediate career relevance and can’t afford high tuition.

How they did it:

Certificate-first model: Three certificates + general education = degree
Three-year degrees: Eliminated unnecessary elective credits
Peer mentoring: Hiring international students as mentors at locally appropriate wages

The bottom line:

BYU-Pathway shows that radical affordability in higher education is possible through structural innovation, even without the church subsidy that supports their lowest price points.

Matching Aptitude to Opportunity

by Presidents Forum | Aug 15, 2025 | Video, Working Learners

Matching Aptitude to Opportunity

The big picture:

Many working learners land in programs that don’t fit and stop out, sometimes multiple times.

Why it matters:

Aligning education with natural aptitudes boosts persistence, completion, and job readiness while filling talent gaps in tech, manufacturing, finance, engineering.

What’s needed:

Measure aptitudes early
Expand real-world exposure
Connect programs to careers
Honor prior learning
Show clear personal ROI

Bottom line:

When learners see a path that fits who they are, they stick, finish, and thrive.

How SAN Supports Online Education

by Presidents Forum | Jul 23, 2025 | Outcomes and Accountability, Working Learners

How SAN Supports Online Education

Why it matters:

The State Authorization Network (SAN) helps nearly 1,000 institutions navigate complex interstate regulatory requirements for online education, ensuring student consumer protections and educational access.

Key insights:

SAN provides analysis, training, and collaboration to help institutions develop compliance processes for state and federal regulations
New regulations require institutions to certify they meet educational requirements where students are located at enrollment time

Bottom line:

As online education continues expanding access, institutions must navigate increasingly complex regulatory environments while maintaining focus on student success and accountable innovation.

WCET: Future of EdTech

by Presidents Forum | Jul 21, 2025 | Innovation, Underserved Communities, Working Learners

WCET: Future of EdTech

Big thing:

AI will be a “game changer” for higher education, enabling highly personalized support throughout the student lifecycle while potentially reducing costs.

Why it matters:

The current disconnect between the cost and price of distance education prevents students from realizing savings from technology implementation.

The big picture:

Personalized, AI-enabled education has the potential to transform access, affordability, and completion rates—changing families’ lives for generations.

Military Education Benefits: Bridging the Gap Between Service and Success

by Presidents Forum | Jul 16, 2025 | Underserved Communities, Working Learners

Military Education Benefits: Bridging the Gap Between Service and Success

Big picture:

Military education benefits have stagnated while costs soar – creating a growing gap between service and educational opportunity. The recently passed reconciliation legislation allocates $100 million for military tuition assistance – a positive step, but comprehensive reform is still needed.

Why it matters:

Despite their sacrifice, service members face outdated support:

Tuition assistance has remained fixed at $250 per credit hour since 2002
College costs have increased by over 180% during this same period
The annual cap of $4,500 falls far short of actual educational expenses
Online students receive only half the standard housing allowance

What’s needed:

The Presidents Forum advocates for three critical changes:

Increasing per-credit-hour rates to match current costs
Raising the annual assistance cap
Eliminating the housing allowance penalty for online students

The bottom line:

Those who protect our freedom deserve the freedom to pursue education without financial barriers.

NC-SARA: Streamlining Distance Education

by Presidents Forum | Jul 15, 2025 | Outcomes and Accountability, Working Learners

NC-SARA: Streamlining Distance Education

Why it matters:

NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) facilitates smoother interstate distance education by reducing regulatory barriers for institutions and students.

Key benefits:

For students: Uninterrupted education when relocating, particularly beneficial for military families
For institutions: Streamlined compliance processes and ability to offer clinical placements/internships across state lines
For states: State-led agreement providing consistent regulatory framework

Looking ahead:

NC-SARA is focusing on:

Adapting to AI developments in education
Supporting data-driven policy decisions
Helping institutions navigate complex regulatory landscapes

The bottom line:

Re-education about NC-SARA’s value is needed as leadership turnover occurs in state governments and institutions.