Nigerian-born entrepreneur Tade Oyerinde has successfully raised $46 million in Series B funding for his community college startup, Campus, a venture revolutionizing higher education accessibility in the United States. The funding round, led by General Catalyst, was announced on March 20, pushing Campus’ total funding beyond $100 million—a testament to growing interest in alternative, tech-driven educational models.
Campus: Making Higher Education Affordable and Accessible
Campus is on a mission to provide affordable, high-quality online education, offering associate degrees and certifications in fields such as business administration, medical assisting, and applied artificial intelligence. This approach directly addresses rising student debt and the increasing demand for job-ready skills.
Ken Chenault, chairman of General Catalyst, praised Campus for its ability to blend the rigor and tradition of American higher education with modern technology, making quality education more accessible and career-focused.
A Cost-Effective Alternative to Traditional Colleges
Founded in 2022, Campus delivers live, online courses leading to two-year associate degrees and certifications in disciplines such as:
Business Administration
Technical Support
Cosmetology
Medical Assisting
Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) – a field with job demand surging 70% in the last five years.
With an annual tuition of $7,200—fully covered by Pell Grants—Campus offers a far more affordable alternative to traditional colleges, where tuition costs range from $11,000 to $43,000 per year. Given that U.S. student loan debt has reached nearly $1.8 trillion, Campus presents a sustainable solution to the country’s growing education crisis.
Elite Professors and Strong Career Outcomes
Campus has built a high-caliber faculty of over 100 instructors, including professors from Princeton, Stanford, and Howard University. This ensures that students receive top-tier education from experts in their fields.
Graduates from Campus have successfully transferred to prestigious four-year institutions such as:
New York University
Penn State University
University of California, San Diego
Many students also enter the workforce immediately after graduation, equipped with in-demand skills that enhance their employability.
A Vision for Inclusive, High-Quality Education
Oyerinde’s mission is clear:
“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.”
Through Campus, he is democratizing higher education, providing students with the tools to pursue their dreams without the burden of crippling debt.
