A new program aims to connect Kansas City students to Minerva’s model through scholarships, employer partnerships and mentorship.
SAN FRANCISCO — March 26, 2026 — Minerva University today announced a $350,000 grant from the Kauffman Foundation to launch a new Kansas City-based pathway program, designed to enroll local students at Minerva through scholarships and career-connected learning opportunities.
The one-year pilot will support an inaugural cohort of Kansas City students as degree-seeking Minerva students, with scholarships available based on financial need and academic merit. In parallel, Minerva will build partnerships with local schools, nonprofits and employers—laying the foundation for the program to grow in future years.
As employers increasingly seek graduates with real-world experience, many first-generation and lower-income students lack access to the networks and hands-on learning opportunities that translate education into careers. The Kansas City pathway program aims to bridge that gap by connecting students directly to both academic and professional experiences.
“This investment allows us to build something deeply rooted in Kansas City’s community—connecting talented students to transformative educational experiences and meaningful career pathways,” said President Mike Magee, Ph.D. “By working alongside local educators, employers and organizations, we’re creating a model that supports individual student success and strengthens the region’s long-term economic vitality.”
With this funding, Minerva will expand access to its model for students who might not otherwise have a pathway, while building long-term partnerships with local schools and employers. The program is designed as a test case for a scalable model that can connect more students to global education and career opportunities over time.
Over the next year, Minerva and its partners will engage local schools, establish internship and mentorship pathways and welcome the first cohort of Kansas City students to enroll at Minerva, with the goal of expanding the program in future years.
Minerva ultimately aims to expand cohort-based pathway programs to additional regions across the United States and internationally, building a global network of locally rooted student pathways.
Kansas City students interested in applying for the inaugural cohort are encouraged to contact Minerva's admissions team at admissions@minerva.edu to learn more.
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About Minerva University
Minerva University is redefining global higher education through a bold, outcomes-focused model designed to empower the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. Headquartered in San Francisco and operating across four continents, Minerva offers an intensive undergraduate experience that combines rigorous academics, real-world engagement, and a global rotation that immerses students in diverse cultural and professional contexts.
Minerva’s interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, creative problem-solving, effective communication, and global collaboration. Through fully active, discussion-based seminars and applied learning projects in major cities around the world, students develop the habits of mind and practical skills needed to address the most pressing challenges of our time.
The university has built a vibrant, international student body representing over 100 nations, and graduates have gone on to launch high-impact startups, lead civic initiatives, earn Rhodes, Schwarzman, and Knight-Hennessy scholarships, and pursue graduate study at institutions such as Oxford, Harvard, and Stanford.
Minerva also offers a graduate program focused on equipping working professionals with the tools to drive innovation and impact in their fields.
Ranked the #1 Most Innovative University for four consecutive years by the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), Minerva is pioneering a scalable, equitable, and transformative model of higher education for the 21st century.
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