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Boy hugs mom who is graduating
Boy hugs mom who is graduating

BYU-Pathway Worldwide improves lives through access to spiritually based, online affordable higher education. Its mission is to develop disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their homes, the Church, and their communities.

The organization does this by:

  • Yellow heart icon

    Getting the gospel down into the students’ hearts
  • Capable learners icon

    Helping students become capable learners
  • Family icon

    Preparing students to lead and support families
Eyring Inauguration
Prophetic Statements
The beginning
Our story begins 50 years ago when Henry B. Eyring was inaugurated as the president of what was then called Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho). He stated then that Ricks College would "find direct ways to move the blessing of education ... from this campus out into the lives of men and women everywhere."
Bednar Inauguration

Nearly 30 years later in 1998, David A. Bednar made similar comments in his inaugural address as president of Ricks College.

"It will be necessary for us ... to serve ever better the thousands of students we have on campus while simultaneously reaching out to bless the lives of tens of thousands of young Latter-day Saints throughout the world."

A New Opportunity

Fulfilling prophecy

In 2009, the fulfillment of Henry B. Eyring and David A. Bednar's words came to be when BYU-Idaho launched Pathway (also called PathwayConnect) — a one-year, reduced-cost, online program offered to students wherever they lived, with no need to ever come to a university campus.

Three students looking at laptop Students in a religion class

Pathway grew rapidly, from serving 50 students in the United States in 2009 to serving more than 14,000 in over 60 countries in 2016.

Then in 2017, Pathway was forever changed when the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the creation of a new church-wide higher education organization to be called BYU-Pathway Worldwide:

This organization will have responsibility for all online certificates and degree programs offered within the Church Educational System.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Expanding Access

Continued growth

As of 2022, BYU-Pathway Worldwide serves more than 61,000 students annually from more than 180 countries. Certificates and degrees are offered in partnership with BYU-Idaho and Ensign College. BYU-Pathway is truly reaching into the world, providing the blessing of education "into the lives of men and women everywhere." 1
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Henry B. Eyring, "Inaugural Address," Ricks College, 1971
Hope & Opportunity Through Higher Education

Our Story

Pathway Through the Years

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  • 2009
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