"Pathway tuition, which varies by area, is set by local LDS authorities to make it an "affordable stretch," Griffith said.
In Mexico, students pay $35 per credit hour, while students in Ghana pay $20. The cost can be kept so low because Pathway is a branch of online education at BYU-I, which is self-sustaining, says Griffith. It's also because buildings used for Pathway are already owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, professors are already employed by BYU-I, senior mentor couples serve unpaid and no marketing is needed thanks to word-of-mouth and ecclesiastical leader referrals.
"Part of the blessing of this program is it's not about the church or BYU-Idaho making money … it's about providing an education," Griffith said."