BYU-Idaho & BYU-Pathway Worldwide FAQ's

The BYU-Pathway Worldwide website includes helpful information about the one-year PathwayConnect program and includes details about how to begin the application process.

Yes. BYU-Idaho is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), and all the programs it offers are accredited. This means that BYU-Idaho maintains high standards for its educational programs. Earning a degree from an accredited university shows employers that you received a high-quality education.
Accreditation explanation
BYU-Idaho ensures a high-quality educational experience by requiring all courses, certificates, and programs to be vetted and reviewed to ensure educational quality. Each program also receives feedback from industry experts to ensure alignment with essential job skills. All faculty, online instructors, and other support staff are also vetted to ensure they meet the academic qualifications for their respective positions. These efforts, among many others, ensure that students receive a high-quality education from BYU-Idaho.

If you are a new online student, we highly encourage you to complete PathwayConnect. It takes three blocks (less than six months) to complete, and all the courses count toward your bachelor’s degree. PathwayConnect will teach you life skills, professional skills, and university skills to help you be successful. You can learn more about PathwayConnect on the BYU-Pathway Worldwide website. BYU-Pathway Website
Students with prior university experience are also encouraged to complete PathwayConnect but may pursue the “advanced path” to be directly admitted into an online degree program. However, advanced path students pay a higher tuition rate.
Learn more about the advanced path

We’ve made it very easy to matriculate into a BYU-Idaho online degree program simply by successfully completing the PathwayConnect program. This approach eliminates the need for online students to take common entrance tests such as the SAT, ACT, or TOEFL.

No. BYU-Idaho offers a limited number of online degrees, which are only available through BYU-Pathway Worldwide. BYU-Idaho’s online degrees are available in several high-interest areas such as business, health, technology, human services, professional studies, and family history research.
You can learn more about BYU-Idaho’s online programs on the BYU-Pathway Worldwide website as well as from the BYU-Pathway Worldwide Academic Catalog

BYU-Idaho’s online programs are designed to help you quickly get a better job. Starting your degree with a certificate can help you find better employment more quickly. It also gives you something meaningful to show employers about your education if you take a break or stop taking courses without graduating.

You will still complete general education courses throughout your educational experience, but these are primarily taken toward the end of your academic program.

All BYU-Idaho online courses offered through BYU-Pathway Worldwide are transitioning to being offered as 7-week courses. This will allow you to take more courses in less time and earn a bachelor’s degree more quickly. Early testing has shown this approach to be more helpful for online student success.

BYU-Pathway Worldwide was created to help support the needs of online students. Through BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s website and student portal, you can apply to be an online student, register for courses, pay tuition, and receive help from student mentors and academic advisors. All the services you need to be successful as an online student are provided by BYU-Pathway Worldwide.

No. BYU-Idaho’s online degree programs offered through BYU-Pathway Worldwide are not eligible for students to receive federal loans, Pell Grants, VA benefits, and some third-party scholarships.
However, online students served by BYU-Pathway Worldwide pay a reduced tuition rate and may be eligible for need-based tuition reduction benefits. BYU-Pathway Scholarship