At a moment when a four-year degree from a top US university can cost nearly $400,000, Sal Khan, the Bangladeshi-American founder of Khan Academy, is proposing a radical rethink of higher education.
Speaking at the Leading with AI event in San Francisco, Khan unveiled his vision for a new program that could provide the equivalent of a Harvard or Stanford degree – for just $5,000.
“If someone completes this program, you can consider them equivalent to a student who has graduated from Harvard or Stanford,” Khan said.
The idea is not merely to offer an affordable credential but to create a system that combines academic rigour with practical workplace skills, while opening doors to employment at top-tier global companies. Students completing the program could gain direct access to recruitment opportunities at organisations such as Google, McKinsey & Company, and Goldman Sachs.
The curriculum is still under development, but Khan suggests it will mix virtual classes, AI-driven learning, self-guided study, and in-person sessions.
He emphasises that teachers will continue to play a central role, even as technology transforms the learning experience: “As technology advances, the importance of educators will not diminish,” he said.
Khan’s vision comes amid major shifts in global education and employment trends. Many students are turning away from traditional four-year degrees, driven by skyrocketing tuition, mounting debt, and the changing nature of work due to artificial intelligence and automation. While the cost of degrees rises, the return on investment – measured in job readiness – has often declined. Yet, elite universities retain outsized influence: a 2025 survey found that 26 per cent of employers hired exclusively from specific universities, up from 17 per cent in 2022. For many talented students, admission to these schools is both a symbol of prestige and a practical necessity to compete for high-profile jobs.
Harvard and Stanford have historically low acceptance rates, below 4 per cent. Even students who are admitted often graduate with crushing debt and sometimes lack the practical skills to succeed in the workplace. Khan’s new program seeks to address both problems: making elite-level education accessible while ensuring graduates acquire skills directly relevant to employers.
The program also reflects a broader shift in higher education toward competency-based learning, where what students can do matters more than the name on their diploma. Khan’s model could become a blueprint for the future, blending affordability, accessibility, and employability – something even the world’s most prestigious universities have struggled to achieve.
“This is about building a global institution where anyone capable of learning can participate,” Khan said in a podcast. “If you are capable, we will have enough space for you.” The model challenges the traditional hierarchy of higher education, suggesting that a student’s skills and knowledge, rather than the exclusivity of their institution, could define success.
Khan’s vision also taps into the growing trend of lifelong learning. With workplaces evolving rapidly and AI reshaping industries, continuous skills development is becoming more critical than ever. By linking education directly to career opportunities and reducing financial barriers, the program could democratize access to the same kinds of professional pathways historically reserved for graduates of elite schools.
While details on launch dates, certifications, and course structure are still emerging, the ambition is clear: a transformative system that makes world-class education attainable for anyone with talent and drive. Sal Khan’s proposal raises a fundamental question for the 21st century: in a world where knowledge is widely accessible, what will define true educational prestige – degrees, or skills?
In the coming years, the success of this initiative could signal a major shift in global education, challenging centuries-old hierarchies and redefining the pathway from classroom to career.