This CEO is creating a new elite college degree with Google and Microsoft - and offering it for only $10,000. The goal is to rival elite schools like Harvard and Stanford. Copied to clipboard Key takeaways. * Sal Khan is launching the Khan TED Institute to offer a low-cost, AI-focused alternative to elite universities, starting with a Bachelor's degree in Applied AI. * The program aims to secure academic accreditation, open within 12 to 24 months and keep total tuition under $10,000. * Big-name employers, including Google, Microsoft, McKinsey, Bain and Accenture, are involved as partners. Khan Academy founder and CEO Sal Khan is teaming up with Google, Microsoft and McKinsey to offer students a new option for higher education. Khan announced this week that he is launching the Khan TED Institute, a new joint venture with TED and testing giant ETS. The idea is to offer an affordable, AI-focused degree that can compete with elite schools like Harvard and Stanford. "We think there are many good reasons to go to a traditional university, but not everyone has access to those opportunities," Khan said in a video announcing the program. "On top of that, the world is changing very, very, very fast. We want to make sure that there are ways even for people with traditional degrees to continue to reskill." Khan expects to launch the Khan TED Institute within the next one to two years and plans to seek accreditation as a full degree program. He aims to have a degree cost less than $10,000 total - just a sliver of what students pay at top-tier universities, where tuition alone is headed toward over $68,000 per year at Stanford and nearly $65,000 per year at Harvard. Who the program targets. The Khan TED Institute's first degree offering will be a Bachelor's in Applied AI, with the offerings set to expand over time, per Fortune. The coursework will be online and asynchronous, so students can set their own schedules. The program targets students from all backgrounds, whether they are recent high school graduates or mid-career professionals. "We think there are a lot of folks with existing degrees who want to reskill, who want to make sure their skills are relevant in an AI age," Khan said in the video. "So there might be something like a second Bachelor's program, with opportunity for transferring a significant number of credits if you already have a Bachelor's." He said the program could also appeal to those already in college who want to pursue a second degree relevant to their careers. According to Khan, the "competency-based" program bases the degree on the skills students can prove they've mastered, not on how many hours they spend in class. "We know there are many folks in the world who don't either have access to quality higher education or the traditional pathway might not make sense for them," Khan said. "So a competency-based pathway like what we're offering could be very interesting." Gen Z has a strained relationship with higher education. For many young people, college is starting to feel like a shaky investment. Today, more than 42 million Americans carry federal student loans, and the average borrower owes nearly $40,000. At the same time, new grads are finding it harder to land solid roles. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the unemployment rate of recent college graduates is 5.6%. Meanwhile, 42.5% of recent college graduates are working in jobs that don't require college degrees. It's no surprise, then, that in one recent survey by Indeed, just over half of Gen Z graduates said they regret going to college in the first place. Khan says the new institute will close the gap between higher education and the skills needed to succeed in the workforce by building its courses in partnership with major employers like Google, Microsoft, Accenture, Bain and McKinsey. The goal is to make sure students learn the AI and technical skills companies want, alongside softer skills like collaborating with others. "This really could make a positive dent in what the world needs," Khan said in the video. "We can create a world where more people really do have access to their potential and access to opportunity." Sherin shibu - news reporter. Entrepreneur Staff

ETS, Khan Academy and TED announce new Institute to reimagine higher education for the AI age. Apr 14, 2026, 10:45 ET The new Khan TED Institute will expand access to worldclass learning and career pathways, developed in partnership with leading corporates including Google, Microsoft, Accenture, Bain & Company, McKinsey and Replit. VANCOUVER, BC, April 14, 2026 /CNW/ - Today at the TED conference in Vancouver, the nonprofit organizations ETS, Khan Academy and TED will announce a joint plan to launch the Khan TED Institute, a new higher education collaboration designed for an AI-driven era. The Khan TED Institute aims to prepare learners for the next generation of jobs while cultivating the uniquely human skills required to thrive in work, life, and society amid rapid technological change. Together, the three nonprofits bring complementary strengths - Khan Academy's world-class learning platform, TED's curated community of leading thinkers and transformative ideas, and ETS's trusted expertise in measuring skills - to pioneer a bold vision for the future of higher education. The Khan TED Institute plans to offer learning built for a fast-changing world, combining deep academic foundations, applied artificial intelligence, and development of the durable soft skills employers value most - skills that carry beyond the workplace into lifle. The intent of the program is to be as accessible as possible, at a cost under $10,000. Applications are expected to open in 12 to 18 months. "We're at a moment when education and the world are evolving quickly, and people need new ways to learn, build and demonstrate their capabilities," said Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy and TED Vision Steward. "Khan Academy's mission has always been to make world-class education accessible to all. The Khan TED Institute is an extension of that vision to higher education, creating new paths that help more people find meaningful ways to contribute to the world around them." Once enrolled, students will advance based on measures of real competency rather than seat time, enabling personalized pacing while ensuring every learner leaves with verified competencies. The inaugural program will be organized around three pillars: * Core knowledge in mathematics, statistics, economics, computer science, science, history, and writing. * Applied AI skills, including AI-assisted app development, financial modeling, building AI agents, and team-based deployment projects. * Communication and leadership, developed through structured collaboration, peer tutoring, dialogue sessions, and public speaking. "What's inspiring is learning that leads to real world opportunity," said Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS. "This collaboration helps open new pathways into the AI economy where skill-based measurement becomes the critical link between learning and livelihood." To ensure deep relevance with the rapidly changing nature of work, corporate partnerships are vital to the Khan TED Institute's design. Corporate thought partners including Google, Microsoft, Accenture, Bain & Company, McKinsey and Replit will help shape the program and competency signals - ensuring the program stays aligned with the skills employers value most. The Khan TED Institute also aims to bring together a global community of peers - including the millions of students and educators who already engage with TED's education initiative TED-Ed - with the broader TED network of thinkers and leaders. Through live talks, Q&A sessions, and community-based learning, students will connect ideas to real-world challenges and opportunities. "For nearly 40 years, TED has been connecting people with powerful ideas - and in the process, quietly educating millions," said Logan McClure Davda, CEO of TED. "At a time when learning is changing quickly, we now need new ways to help people engage with ideas, develop judgment, and apply what they learn. The Khan TED Institute is an effort to expand what education can look like in the age of AI." To learn more about the Khan TED Institute and express interest as a student, corporate partner, educator or philanthropist, please visit Khan TED Institute and join us in building something transformative. About ETS ETS is a global education and talent solutions organization enabling lifelong learners to be future ready. Our mission - advancing the science of measurement to power human progress - ensures our focus to enable everyone, everywhere, to demonstrate their skills and chart their path to future readiness for life. We are committed to readying 100M+ people for the next generation of jobs by 2035. We deliver on this commitment through trusted assessments and skills solutions - including TOEFL, TOEIC, GRE, Praxis and Futurenav - and groundbreaking initiatives powered by our Research Institute. With a robust global footprint, including subsidiaries (PSI), offices and operations in more than 200 countries and territories, we help over 50 million individuals each year measure their proficiency and unlock new opportunities. Discover how we expand our worldwide impact: www.ets.org About Khan Academy Khan Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Since 2008, Khan Academy has provided an education safety net for the world, a free platform designed to provide global access to high-quality learning for students and resources for teachers. Khan Academy partners with school districts in the United States and works with school systems in countries around the world, providing tools that personalize education. Khan Academy is at the forefront of using AI in education to support students while ensuring teachers remain at the heart of the classroom. Worldwide, more than 200 million registered learners have used Khan Academy in 190 countries and more than 50 languages. For more information, see research findings about Khan Academy and our press center. About TED TED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to discovering, debating and spreading ideas that spark conversation, deepen understanding and drive meaningful change. The organization is devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge - without an agenda. TED began in 1984 as a conference about Technology, Entertainment and Design, and today it spans worldwide communities and initiatives exploring everything from science and business to education, arts and global issues. TED's format has expanded to include podcasts, short video series, animated educational lessons (TED-Ed), independently run TEDx events, the multi-billion dollar collaborative philanthropic initiative The Audacious Project; and the climate solution initiative, Countdown. View a full list of TED's programs and initiatives. SOURCE ETS Kristen Mitchell | [email protected]

ETS, Khan Academy and TED announce new Institute to reimagine higher education for the AI age. The new Khan TED Institute will expand access to worldclass learning and career pathways, developed in partnership with leading corporates including Google, Microsoft, Accenture, Bain & Company, McKinsey and Replit. VANCOUVER, BC, April 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Today at the TED conference in Vancouver, the nonprofit organizations ETS, Khan Academy and TED will announce a joint plan to launch the Khan TED Institute, a new higher education collaboration designed for an AI-driven era. The Khan TED Institute aims to prepare learners for the next generation of jobs while cultivating the uniquely human skills required to thrive in work, life, and society amid rapid technological change. Together, the three nonprofits bring complementary strengths - Khan Academy's world-class learning platform, TED's curated community of leading thinkers and transformative ideas, and ETS's trusted expertise in measuring skills - to pioneer a bold vision for the future of higher education. The Khan TED Institute plans to offer learning built for a fast-changing world, combining deep academic foundations, applied artificial intelligence, and development of the durable soft skills employers value most - skills that carry beyond the workplace into lifle. The intent of the program is to be as accessible as possible, at a cost under $10,000. Applications are expected to open in 12 to 18 months. "We're at a moment when education and the world are evolving quickly, and people need new ways to learn, build and demonstrate their capabilities," said Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy and TED Vision Steward. "Khan Academy's mission has always been to make world-class education accessible to all. The Khan TED Institute is an extension of that vision to higher education, creating new paths that help more people find meaningful ways to contribute to the world around them." Once enrolled, students will advance based on measures of real competency rather than seat time, enabling personalized pacing while ensuring every learner leaves with verified competencies. The inaugural program will be organized around three pillars: * Core knowledge in mathematics, statistics, economics, computer science, science, history, and writing. * Applied AI skills, including AI-assisted app development, financial modeling, building AI agents, and team-based deployment projects. * Communication and leadership, developed through structured collaboration, peer tutoring, dialogue sessions, and public speaking. "What's inspiring is learning that leads to real world opportunity," said Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS. "This collaboration helps open new pathways into the AI economy where skill-based measurement becomes the critical link between learning and livelihood." To ensure deep relevance with the rapidly changing nature of work, corporate partnerships are vital to the Khan TED Institute's design. Corporate thought partners including Google, Microsoft, Accenture, Bain & Company, McKinsey and Replit will help shape the program and competency signals - ensuring the program stays aligned with the skills employers value most. The Khan TED Institute also aims to bring together a global community of peers - including the millions of students and educators who already engage with TED's education initiative TED-Ed - with the broader TED network of thinkers and leaders. Through live talks, Q&A sessions, and community-based learning, students will connect ideas to real-world challenges and opportunities. "For nearly 40 years, TED has been connecting people with powerful ideas - and in the process, quietly educating millions," said Logan McClure Davda, CEO of TED. "At a time when learning is changing quickly, we now need new ways to help people engage with ideas, develop judgment, and apply what they learn. The Khan TED Institute is an effort to expand what education can look like in the age of AI." To learn more about the Khan TED Institute and express interest as a student, corporate partner, educator or philanthropist, please visit Khan TED Institute and join Biz RapidX in building something transformative. About ETS ETS is a global education and talent solutions organization enabling lifelong learners to be future ready. Its mission - advancing the science of measurement to power human progress - ensures its focus to enable everyone, everywhere, to demonstrate their skills and chart their path to future readiness for life. Biz RapidX is committed to readying 100M+ people for the next generation of jobs by 2035. Biz RapidX deliver on this commitment through trusted assessments and skills solutions - including TOEFL, TOEIC, GRE, Praxis and Futurenav - and groundbreaking initiatives powered by its Research Institute. With a robust global footprint, including subsidiaries (PSI), offices and operations in more than 200 countries and territories, Biz RapidX help over 50 million individuals each year measure their proficiency and unlock new opportunities. Discover how Biz RapidX expand its worldwide impact: www.ets.org About Khan Academy Khan Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Since 2008, Khan Academy has provided an education safety net for the world, a free platform designed to provide global access to high-quality learning for students and resources for teachers. Khan Academy partners with school districts in the United States and works with school systems in countries around the world, providing tools that personalize education. Khan Academy is at the forefront of using AI in education to support students while ensuring teachers remain at the heart of the classroom. Worldwide, more than 200 million registered learners have used Khan Academy in 190 countries and more than 50 languages. For more information, see research findings about Khan Academy and its press center. About TED TED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to discovering, debating and spreading ideas that spark conversation, deepen understanding and drive meaningful change. The organization is devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge - without an agenda. TED began in 1984 as a conference about Technology, Entertainment and Design, and today it spans worldwide communities and initiatives exploring everything from science and business to education, arts and global issues. TED's format has expanded to include podcasts, short video series, animated educational lessons (TED-Ed), independently run TEDx events, the multi-billion dollar collaborative philanthropic initiative The Audacious Project; and the climate solution initiative, Countdown. View a full list of TED's programs and initiatives. Follow TED on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook and X. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ets-khan-academy-and-ted-announce-new-institute-to-reimagine-higher-education-for-the-ai-age-302741913.html