Campus Raises $46M To Expand Disruptive Educational Model

News

Published by Stephen Oluwadara at March 24, 2025

Campus’s Disruptive Educational Model

Founded in 2021 by entrepreneur Tade Oyerinde, Campus offers associate degrees through online instruction and in-person learning hubs, focusing on career-aligned education. Tuition is approximately $7,000 annually, significantly lower than the national average of about $11,000 to $43,000 annually.

“Campus has created a model that is rooted in the rigor and legacy of American higher education with the benefit of technology and innovation that students will require to thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy,” said Ken Chenault, chairman of General Catalyst, in a press release.

This funding comes when the U.S. higher education system is under increasing financial strain and scrutiny, with student loan debt soaring nearly $1.8 trillion. Sam Altman, who co-led a $29 million funding round for Campus in 2023, has previously warned that America’s higher education model is on the brink of collapse due to its unsustainable costs.

The edtech startup offers live, online courses that lead to two-year associate degrees and certifications in fields such as business administration, technical support, cosmetology, and medical assisting. Campus employs over 100 educators, many of whom also teach at prestigious institutions like Princeton, Stanford, and Howard University.

In addition to reducing the cost of tuition for high school juniors, senior students, and recent graduates, the program allows them to earn free college credit by taking a course over the summer.

How The Platform is Setup

“It’s really simple – in America, we should have elite education for everyone – everyone should be able to learn from the top professors in the country, develop useful skills, and then go on to use those skills to create a great life for themselves,” Oyerinde said in a news release. “And this should all be possible without going into debt – that’s what we’re building here at Campus.”

Upon completion, Campus students can take business and AI skills learned in the program directly into the workforce. They can also transfer to many four-year institutions that have already accepted Campus grads, including NYU, Penn State, Temple University, University of California, San Diego, and Butler University.

An accredited institution, Campus has a unique governance model composed of a board of trustees led by renowned college leaders: John Wilson, former president of Morehouse College; Dr. Gail O. Mellow, former president of LaGuardia Community College; Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President Emeritus of Miami Dade College; Dr. Joe May, Chancellor Emeritus at Dallas College; and Dr. Arthur Levine, President Emeritus at Columbia University Teacher’s College.

How Campus’s New Funding Will Be Deployed

This new raise brings Campus’s total funding to over $100 million. In 2023, the platform raised $29 million in a Series A round led by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Discord Founder Jason Citron. Furthermore, it secured a $23 million Series A extension in 2024, spearheaded by the Founders Fund.

Other supporters of this new funding include Figma founder Dylan Field, Max Altman, Joe Lonsdale, Jason Citron, Shaquille O’Neal, and Notion founder Akshay Kothari.

Campus will use the new funding to expand its academic offerings, grow its faculty network, and enhance student support services. The company aims to establish additional physical learning sites in major cities across the U.S., broadening its reach to provide more students with access to affordable education.

By focusing on low-cost, high-quality education, Campus positions itself as part of a broader wave of education reform aimed at closing the opportunity gap and rethinking how students enter the workforce.

Image Credits:Tade Oyerinde, Campus founder and CEO