Since its inception in 2020, AdvanceEDU has been promoting economic mobility and providing better career opportunities for all Coloradans. As a hybrid support organization for college students, AdvanceEDU is committed to overcoming the systemic barriers that have prevented so many people from completing their degrees and finding meaningful, well-paying careers.
To this end, AdvanceEDU works closely with accredited universities to offer quality online degrees and certificates in some of the highest demand fields. Students benefit from the flexibility of online classes while receiving a variety of supportive services in person, including a success coach.
AdvanceEDU’s success coaches offer a level of support beyond what students typically receive at traditional colleges. At many colleges, one coach might serve hundreds of students, if coaching is offered at all. Moreover, the onus is usually on the student to reach out to their coach. In practice, this means that many students spend their entire time in college without meeting with a coach.
At AdvanceEDU, each success coach works with just 50 students, and coaches are accountable for results. They aren’t just academic advisors—they’re life coaches who can offer insight, guidance, and inspiration to help each student succeed personally, academically, and professionally.
Beyond success coaches, students have access to childcare, career development opportunities, work-based learning, meals, and technology services. They can also get financial aid, scholarships, and other funding through The Advancer Fund to pay for their education. The vast majority of students will graduate without debt.
Each of AdvanceEDU’s degree pathways allows students to pursue their education at their own pace while acquiring the core skills and knowledge they need for a successful career in their chosen field. Here’s a closer look at the four degree pathways that students can follow at AdvanceEDU:
Healthcare Leadership
AdvanceEDU has collaborated with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) to offer students with both degree and certificate options in healthcare management. Whether they’re looking to work at a hospital or pharmaceutical company, this pathway positions students for a future as healthcare industry leaders.
With an associate degree in healthcare management, students will cultivate the skills needed to serve and support patients. Graduates from this degree program can go into one of several career areas, including patient advocacy and case management. These individuals play a crucial role on medical teams, leveraging their knowledge to satisfy patient needs and improve outcomes at the clinical level.
AdvanceEDU students can also work towards a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management, which is ideal for those who want to work in healthcare administration. This program focuses on key topics such as business management and healthcare human resources. As such, students graduate with the knowledge needed to serve on the management teams at government agencies, hospitals, insurance companies, or private clinics.
For those already working in a non-clinical healthcare setting, AdvanceEDU can help them work toward a certificate in healthcare management. This program, which focuses on skill-building with the intent of improving patient service, is ideal for individuals who have careers in medical records and medical office services.
Business
The business pathway at AdvanceEDU gives students the opportunity to study at either SNHU or Colorado State University (CSU) Global. With more than a dozen degree and certificate options to choose from, students can find the right program to help them pursue their dream careers in finance, accounting, marketing, HR, and more.
Through SNHU, individuals can earn a bachelor of arts in communication, which provides a grounding in the skills necessary for team leadership, public relations, and marketing. These graduates often move into careers as sales managers and marketing managers. SNHU also offers a bachelor of arts in management, a degree program that’s ideal for those who want to advance their capabilities in finance and business performance and prepare for future roles in operations and business analytics.
CSU Global also provides a wide array of business degree programs and certificates. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in organization leadership, for example, may go on to work in training and development or as an operations manager. Concurrently, CSU Global offers certificate programs that allow for career development in digital marketing, fundraising, business administration, and project management.
Technology
Through university collaborators CSU Global and Western Governors University (WGU), students at AdvanceEDU can earn certificates and degrees that will prepare them for highly in-demand tech industry jobs. Via CSU Global’s certificate programs, IT professionals—or anyone looking to break into the field—can enhance their skills in computer programming, cybersecurity, data analysis, web application development, and other core specialties. Bachelor’s degrees in computer science, IT, and cybersecurity at CSU Global prepare students for careers as programmers, information security analysts, systems analysts, and similar roles.
WGU also hosts a similar array of technology degree programs for AdvanceEDU students, including bachelor’s degrees in IT, data management, and network operations and security, which provide the fundamentals for a career as a data scientist, automation architect, QA analyst, computer systems manager, and adjacent roles. Meanwhile, WGU’s cybersecurity and information assurance bachelor’s degree program includes more than a dozen certifications students can earn to augment their skills and start earning more before they even complete their degree.
Education
The education pathway at AdvanceEDU provides students with a supportive route to a career as a teacher at the early childhood, elementary, or secondary level. Students begin their journey by choosing any bachelor’s degree program at one of AdvanceEDU’s partner universities. While earning their degree, students can find paid support positions at local schools with help from their AdvanceEDU success coach.
After earning their degree, graduates receive preferential admission to a teacher training program administered by the nonprofit Public Education & Business Coalition (PEBC). PEBC’s Teacher Residency program gives students a year of hands-on experience in a classroom under the tutelage of a mentor teacher. Graduates of the program not only obtain their teaching license, but also receive additional opportunities for professional development during their first five years in the classroom.
Choices, Flexibility, and Support
AdvanceEDU combines the flexibility and affordability of online degree programs with the in-person support and community found at traditional universities. With dozens of in-demand degrees and certificates to choose from, AdvanceEDU students can build the foundation they need for the career of their dreams.
The education pathway at AdvanceEDU provides students with a supportive route to a career as a teacher at the early childhood, elementary, or secondary level. Students begin their journey by choosing any bachelor’s degree program at one of AdvanceEDU’s partner universities. While earning their degree, students can find paid support positions at local schools with help from their AdvanceEDU success coach.
After earning their degree, graduates receive preferential admission to a teacher training program administered by the nonprofit Public Education & Business Coalition (PEBC). PEBC’s Teacher Residency program gives students a year of hands-on experience in a classroom under the tutelage of a mentor teacher. Graduates of the program not only obtain their teaching license, but also receive additional opportunities for professional development during their first five years in the classroom.
Choices, Flexibility, and Support
AdvanceEDU combines the flexibility and affordability of online degree programs with the in-person support and community found at traditional universities. With dozens of in-demand degrees and certificates to choose from, AdvanceEDU students can build the foundation they need for the career of their dreams.
