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Why Choose BYU–Pathway Worldwide?
President Russell M. Nelson has said, “For us as Latter-day Saints, gaining an education is not just a privilege; it is a religious responsibility.” Many Saints dream of getting an education but are unable to do so because of cost, time constraints, limited options where they live, or the inability to travel to pursue education elsewhere.
With flexible, low-cost online courses available through BYU-Pathway Worldwide, obtaining an education is possible for more people than ever, including Samantha Winterdal.
Samantha, from the Dominican Republic, always planned to go to university, but her plans didn’t work out the way she envisioned. After high school, she got a job but felt like something was missing. “Every year that passed, I saw my schoolmates graduating, and I was just working,” Samantha said. “I thought, ‘What am I doing with my life?’”
She decided to pray for guidance. One Sunday, a sister from church mentioned BYU–Pathway to her. Samantha registered and began her first course. Although she couldn’t complete it at that time, she returned to BYU–Pathway years later to resume her studies.
In 2014, a pilot program of BYU–Pathway was launched in the Caribbean with 17 students. Since that first pilot, 3,786 students in the Caribbean Area have enrolled, gaining skills to improve their job prospects and better serve their families, Church, and communities.
Meeting the needs of many
So why BYU–Pathway? It provides access to online courses so students can earn certificates and degrees from Brigham Young University–Idaho and Ensign College. Nearly 75,000 students in 180 countries study through BYU–Pathway each year. All students receive significantly reduced tuition (tuition varies by country) and guaranteed scholarships. The Heber J. Grant Tuition Discount gives a 10–50 percent discount (amount based on need), and recently returned missionaries receive an extra 25 percent discount. BYU–Pathway is designed to remove barriers, including time and money, that prevent students like Samantha from pursuing a degree.
Bachelor’s degrees offered through BYU–Pathway can be completed in three years. Each degree is made up of three professional certificates that help students gain marketable skills and a better job before graduating.
When Samantha was ready to start classes again during the COVID-19 pandemic, she enrolled at a local university. However, the school wasn’t designed to run online and wasn’t accommodating of her schedule, so she left. With the encouragement of her husband, Mario, she decided to go back to BYU–Pathway—she loved it so much that Mario enrolled too!
“We love the flexibility of BYU–Pathway because it allows us to work and take care of my 94-year-old grandfather, who has cancer,” Samantha said. “I know that I will continue to climb to the work level I want, and it will also help me with my own business.”
BYU–Pathway was also an important part of Kimika Blake’s journey to a degree. A university education in her home country of Jamaica is expensive, so she was excited to learn about BYU–Pathway’s low-cost tuition and enrolled. “There were many challenges along the way,” she said. “However, I am grateful for the lessons I have learned about finding joy in the journey and enduring well.”
Kimika graduated with a bachelor’s degree in applied business management in 2022 and looks forward to pursuing a master’s degree and entrepreneurship in the future. “I am a better disciple of Jesus Christ,” she said. “As I go forth with faith, I know many doors will be opened.”
Finding hope through faith-based courses
BYU–Pathway’s curriculum is designed to help students grow as disciples of Jesus Christ and to build hope and confidence through faith-based academic courses and religion courses. Brian K. Ashton, president of BYU–Pathway, said, “Jesus Christ is at the center of all we do at BYU–Pathway. Whether it’s to help students get a better job or learn skills, drawing closer to Christ helps students improve their circumstances and reach their potential.”
At the end of his mission, Edward Angeles’s mission president encouraged him to pursue higher education when he returned to the Dominican Republic.
“I started BYU–Pathway right after I got home, and it was without a doubt one of the best decisions of my life,” he said. “I am on my first certificate in web and computer programming. I already had a job as a web developer. I got a salary increase, and I have been offered jobs at many other companies.”
Allison Caicedo, a wife and mother from Venezuela, said that studying at BYU–Pathway has helped her grow by overcoming her limits and fears. “I realized many of the things I considered to be my weaknesses turned out to be my strengths as I worked on them in the Lord’s way,” she said. “BYU–Pathway has made me a better wife, daughter, mother, friend, member of the Church, and above all, a better daughter of God.”
Elder Clark G. Gilbert, Commissioner of the Church Educational System, said, “BYU–Pathway is one of the resources the Lord has prepared for His great gathering ahead of His return to the Earth. One of the ways this will happen is by helping students all across the Church deepen their discipleship so they can, in turn, build others and build the Church.”
Learn more about BYU–Pathway Worldwide at byupathway.edu.
Want to improve your English skills?
BYU–Pathway’s courses are currently offered in English. For those who need it, EnglishConnect is a three-course program that helps you learn English and prepare for future education opportunities through BYU–Pathway.
Lafague Augustin, a friend of the Church from Haiti, took EnglishConnect 3 after losing his job because he couldn’t speak English. The service missionaries at his gathering place encouraged him to continue with BYU–Pathway, attend church, and read and listen to the Book of Mormon. In return, they promised he would feel the power of God and his English would significantly improve.
As promised, Lafague has seen the blessings. He was able to get a job as an interpreter with his new English skills. “EnglishConnect blessed my life so much. It allowed me to enroll in BYU–Pathway Worldwide, which has helped my confidence when speaking with native English speakers.”
He added, “In church, I feel peace, love, and respect. As I pray, read the scriptures, and study the gospel with the missionaries, I’m becoming closer to Jesus Christ.”
Learn more at EnglishConnect.org.