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In 2003, only 22 students were enrolled in classes at Bridgepoint Education. In less than four years, admission numbers have leapt to more than 6,150 online students of all ages from across the country as well as the 450 students - in the 18- to 21-year-old demographic - at the university's first "brick and mortar" campus in Iowa.
Because of a number of variables - like the rising costs of college tuition - Andrew Clark's idea of an affordable, quality university degree has expanded into a unique educational alternative.
"My vision was to come up with an educational model to allow people who might not otherwise go to college the chance," Clark said.
Unlike most universities that offer less than 75 transferable credits, Bridgepoint gives students - many who are single parents or who work full time - up to 99 transferred credits, allowing an accelerated process to graduation. To keep costs down, Clark created an admissions software program that saves three hours each day for each employee.
VITALS
Name: Andrew Clark.
Title: Chief Executive Officer.
Company: Bridgepoint Education.
Company address: 13500 Evening Creek Drive N., San Diego 92128.
Company phone: (858) 513-9240.
Year founded: 1999.
Prior business experience: Regional vice president for the midWest, University of Phoenix.
Average hours worked weekly: 60.