BYU-Idaho Offers Online Solution to Barriers of Bachelor Degrees

Rachel Jackman is a busy mom from Orem, Utah who knew she needed to go back to school, but didn’t quite know how to go about doing so. She has always wanted to study health care administration, but felt that affordable programs lacked in the area. When Jackman discovered Pathway, a step toward BYU-Idaho’s online degree program, she knew it was an answer to prayer.

“I heard my aunt say something about Pathway, so I looked on the website and found the degrees I could get after I completed the program,” Jackman told Utah Valley 360. “One of the dozen or so bachelor’s degrees they offer is health care administration. I was overcome by the Spirit and I knew that I had been completely led step by step. I remember just where I was sitting and the spirit I felt. I knew that was what I was supposed to do, without any doubt.”

Pathway is a year-long online program that allows students to complete 15 credits and combines online instruction with local gatherings. It has served more than 24,000 students in its five years of existence so far. Classes are $65 per credit and students communicate frequently with their professors via email. Students that perform in Pathway with a B-grade average are then eligible for BYU-Idaho’s online Bachelor degree program, which Jackman will begin this year without having to leave the comfort of her own home.

“Sometimes you need a bigger reason to get you to do something,” Jackman told Utah Valley 360. “There are just so many blessings that come out of this program.”