Gateway U is a New Jersey non-profit that helps you earn your bachelor’s degree at your own pace and an affordable cost. Keep working while earning your degree with a flexible schedule and one-on-one support the entire way.
Tell us about yourself to begin your Gateway U + SNHU enrollment.

From tutoring to time management. Your dedicated coach will help you achieve your goals.
Expert support to help you access financial aid
— plus financing options you’ll only find at Gateway U.
Join a community of learners at Gateway U. Build relationships with other students in your neighborhood.
Access our comfortable student center for you to get work done. Wi-Fi, software, tech support...We’ve got you.
Our program works around your schedule, whether you want to take your time or finish as soon as possible.
Access hands-on career coaching and resources to help you find and get the job you want.
Here’s what Gateway U students and partners are saying.


Univisión interviewed one of our founders, Eli Bildner. Hear about a scholarship program we supported enabling Bay Area Dreamers to earn a tuition-free bachelor’s degree.


Have you ever heard of a college program with no tests or required attendance that lets you gain a degree on your own time and in your own way? The Standard dropped by an open house for Rivet School last weekend, held at the Leadership Public Schools on Bissell Avenue, and discovered a group looking to help turn the traditional learning model on its head.


As a single parent who worked full-time as a teacher’s aide, Tamea Bishop was determined to improve her economic prospects by pursuing postsecondary education. Because of her busy work schedule and child care needs, it was hard for Tamea to find classes she could attend. Online learning seemed to be her best bet, but she didn’t own a computer and lacked some basic computer skills. But Tamea was fortunate. Through her employer in Richmond, California she learned of a new college program designed specifically to support working adults.


It sounds too good to be true: Start with a flexible online education—one that allows adult students to speed through the material they already know rather than plod through prerequisites semester by semester. Then, combine that with all the real-world supports that online degrees don’t offer, including a community of fellow students, a coach who meets with you face to face, a quiet study space, and maybe even a free lunch. All with a sticker price that is mostly covered by the federal Pell Grant for low-income students.


We’re also keeping an eye on hybrid colleges, including Da Vinci Extension, Concourse Education, Match Beyond and PelotonU, that provide access to accredited programs while providing intensive wraparound student support, digital learning (often competency based) and funding models that mitigate student debt.


Hybrid college is built to fit your life. The days of conventional classroom schedules — especially in the age of COVID-19 — just do not work for many young adults anymore. A blended format gets at the root causes for college stop-out.




I think a roadblock that every student worries about along their college journey is possibly falling short toward a payment for their term bill. This is a fear that I've allowed to get in the way of me pursuing school for so many years. This fear almost stopped me from applying to Gateway U. If you are a student like me and affording college is a fear of yours. Apply anyway! You really have to face your fears. I did and Gateway U helped me every step of the way. If I needed support with FAFSA or if I needed to apply for other scholarships. I never felt alone. Saymah would always say, we're going to figure it out.




My experience with Gateway U has been amazing. Saymah and the coach are all motivating and super authentic. The work can be challenging and you're going to need to manage your time wisely to get your work done. However, you have a great support team backing you, helping you, and putting in a lot of time to make sure you succeed.




Gateway U has exceeded my expectations so far. Saymah and Karen truly care about my success and mastering my projects. They provide me with resources that help me better understand the processes behind the course work. Overall 10/10! I've tried other schools before and the support I get from those two women just doesn't compare.




At first I was kind of skeptical of the program at Gateway U but after talking with my KIPP counselor Mr. Santana and getting to know Ms. Nah ( Executive Director of Gateway U) I warmed up to the idea. I just didn't believe the “make your own schedule”. Now the flexibility is actually my favorite part of the program. Going to college and playing football was always apart of my plan but the pandemic kind of changed those plans. Because of Gateway U, I was able to gain credits during the pandemic and practice full time to get ready for tryouts.




Gateway U's program with SNHU is really a flexible online school. I am on my second term and I'm having the best time of my life. I love my cohort and I get to meet new people in my city. It's also very affordable. I also love my coaches! They are the most compassionate and knowledgeable professionals I've ever met. They really do care about you as a person, a student, and a professional.
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I think a roadblock that every student worries about along their college journey is possibly falling short toward a payment for their term bill. This is a fear that I've allowed to get in the way of me pursuing school for so many years. This fear almost stopped me from applying to Gateway U. If you are a student like me and affording college is a fear of yours. Apply anyway! You really have to face your fears. I did and Gateway U helped me every step of the way. If I needed support with FAFSA or if I needed to apply for other scholarships. I never felt alone. Saymah would always say, we're going to figure it out.




My experience with Gateway U has been amazing. Saymah and the coach are all motivating and super authentic. The work can be challenging and you're going to need to manage your time wisely to get your work done. However, you have a great support team backing you, helping you, and putting in a lot of time to make sure you succeed.




Gateway U has exceeded my expectations so far. Saymah and Karen truly care about my success and mastering my projects. They provide me with resources that help me better understand the processes behind the course work. Overall 10/10! I've tried other schools before and the support I get from those two women just doesn't compare.




At first I was kind of skeptical of the program at Gateway U but after talking with my KIPP counselor Mr. Santana and getting to know Ms. Nah ( Executive Director of Gateway U) I warmed up to the idea. I just didn't believe the “make your own schedule”. Now the flexibility is actually my favorite part of the program. Going to college and playing football was always apart of my plan but the pandemic kind of changed those plans. Because of Gateway U, I was able to gain credits during the pandemic and practice full time to get ready for tryouts.




Gateway U's program with SNHU is really a flexible online school. I am on my second term and I'm having the best time of my life. I love my cohort and I get to meet new people in my city. It's also very affordable. I also love my coaches! They are the most compassionate and knowledgeable professionals I've ever met. They really do care about you as a person, a student, and a professional.
People are talking about GatewayU and a change in higher education.


Univisión interviewed one of our founders, Eli Bildner. Hear about a scholarship program we supported enabling Bay Area Dreamers to earn a tuition-free bachelor’s degree.


Have you ever heard of a college program with no tests or required attendance that lets you gain a degree on your own time and in your own way? The Standard dropped by an open house for Rivet School last weekend, held at the Leadership Public Schools on Bissell Avenue, and discovered a group looking to help turn the traditional learning model on its head.


As a single parent who worked full-time as a teacher’s aide, Tamea Bishop was determined to improve her economic prospects by pursuing postsecondary education. Because of her busy work schedule and child care needs, it was hard for Tamea to find classes she could attend. Online learning seemed to be her best bet, but she didn’t own a computer and lacked some basic computer skills. But Tamea was fortunate. Through her employer in Richmond, California she learned of a new college program designed specifically to support working adults.


It sounds too good to be true: Start with a flexible online education—one that allows adult students to speed through the material they already know rather than plod through prerequisites semester by semester. Then, combine that with all the real-world supports that online degrees don’t offer, including a community of fellow students, a coach who meets with you face to face, a quiet study space, and maybe even a free lunch. All with a sticker price that is mostly covered by the federal Pell Grant for low-income students.


We’re also keeping an eye on hybrid colleges, including Da Vinci Extension, Concourse Education, Match Beyond and PelotonU, that provide access to accredited programs while providing intensive wraparound student support, digital learning (often competency based) and funding models that mitigate student debt.


Hybrid college is built to fit your life. The days of conventional classroom schedules — especially in the age of COVID-19 — just do not work for many young adults anymore. A blended format gets at the root causes for college stop-out.




Many of our students have expressed to our KIPP Through College & Career team a desire for more flexibility, affordability, and a more personalized approach in higher education. We also know the importance of high-quality AA/BA programs that are committed to closing our nationwide degree attainment gap. We are thrilled to work with their team and offer another option to our alumni that will help them achieve their goals.





Gateway U is uplifting children and families by giving them access to quality schools from cradle to college and career. By offering a flexible, affordable education, they are preparing our families for meaningful careers. Essentially, Gateway U is creating a brighter future for Newark’s young people and SWPN is here to support them as they do so.
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The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically increased the number of opportunity youth - 16-24 year olds that are disconnected from school and the workforce - in Newark and throughout the country, having post-secondary pathways like GatewayU that are affordable, flexible, and directly connected to jobs will ensure that all young people have the chance to be successful.





Student loans debt is a contributing factor to the growing racial wealth gap in the US. NJISJ recently reported that New Jersey is among the highest student debt levels in the nation. No to low-cost tuition equates to better economic footing and the ability for Newark residents to start their careers with a clean financial slate. Debt-free graduates will have more money to build an emergency fund, save and invest. We believe that hybrid college programs like Gateway U, which minimizes the cost of tuition and increases access to post-secondary education, play a vital role in urban communities,”

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Many of our students have expressed to our KIPP Through College & Career team a desire for more flexibility, affordability, and a more personalized approach in higher education. We also know the importance of high-quality AA/BA programs that are committed to closing our nationwide degree attainment gap. We are thrilled to work with their team and offer another option to our alumni that will help them achieve their goals.





Gateway U is uplifting children and families by giving them access to quality schools from cradle to college and career. By offering a flexible, affordable education, they are preparing our families for meaningful careers. Essentially, Gateway U is creating a brighter future for Newark’s young people and SWPN is here to support them as they do so.
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The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically increased the number of opportunity youth - 16-24 year olds that are disconnected from school and the workforce - in Newark and throughout the country, having post-secondary pathways like GatewayU that are affordable, flexible, and directly connected to jobs will ensure that all young people have the chance to be successful.





Student loans debt is a contributing factor to the growing racial wealth gap in the US. NJISJ recently reported that New Jersey is among the highest student debt levels in the nation. No to low-cost tuition equates to better economic footing and the ability for Newark residents to start their careers with a clean financial slate. Debt-free graduates will have more money to build an emergency fund, save and invest. We believe that hybrid college programs like Gateway U, which minimizes the cost of tuition and increases access to post-secondary education, play a vital role in urban communities,”


At Gateway U, we help you earn a degree with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and coach you through it all. SNHU is a private, nonprofit institution with an 89-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults. Now serving more than 150,000 learners worldwide, SNHU’s offerings extend beyond its on-campus courses to include an exclusive competency-based online program available through partners like Gateway U. SNHU has been recognized as the “Most Innovative” regional university by U.S. News & World Report and one of the fastest-growing universities in the country.
Reach out to learn more, talk to an advisor, and get started with Gateway U.
