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August 22, 2025

Shaquille O'Neal, Campus launch young entrepreneurs scholarship

Campus, the modern two-year college built for the next generation of creators, entrepreneurs, and leaders, today announced Shaquille O'Neal's support for its new scholarship program for talented young people eager to chart their own path.

Students selected as a "Shaq Scholar"—part of the Campus Merit Scholars program—will receive a full-tuition scholarship to earn their Associate of Arts in Business Administration or IT from Campus, along with a laptop, Wi-Fi, and two years of learning and experiences designed to unlock their potential. This includes mentorship from industry leaders in Silicon Valley, personal coaching, and a curriculum taught by top business faculty from leading institutions like Stanford, Princeton, and Howard.

"I've always believed in hard work, grit, and surrounding yourself with the right people," said Shaquille O'Neal, entrepreneur and Campus investor. "This is about building confidence, creating opportunity, and helping students turn potential into power. I can't wait to meet this year's class of scholars."

The Merit Scholars program will identify talented students who are ready to build something—whether that's a business, creative brand, or better future for their families and communities. Scholars will be part of a tight-knit cohort and participate in career workshops, networking and mentorship, and experiential learning.

Founded by entrepreneur Tade Oyerinde, Campus has attracted backing from leading entrepreneurs and investors including Sam Altman, Peter Thiel, Joe Lonsdale, Jason Citron, and Dylan Field. Its mission is to make a world-class education accessible, practical, and personal.

"Maximizing access to world-class education has always been the name of the game," said Chancellor Oyerinde. "It's obviously super exciting that legends like Shaq are contributing to that."

Campus' accredited A.A. in Business Administration and A.A. in IT are offered through live, online classes and include the option to specialize in Applied AI. Every student has access to dedicated academic advisors, on-demand tutoring, and career coaching. The school's model is based on a research-backed framework that has been shown to double two-year college graduation rates. Campus graduates have already been accepted at schools like NYU, Penn State, and Temple University.

Campus is governed by a board of trustees composed of nationally-recognized education leaders, including:

Dr. John S. Wilson, former president of Morehouse College
Dr. Gail O. Mellow, former president of LaGuardia Community College
Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President Emeritus of Miami Dade College
Dr. Joe May, Chancellor Emeritus at Dallas College
Dr. Arthur Levine, President Emeritus at Teachers College, Columbia University

Applications for Shaq Scholars are now open. To apply, visit: Shaqscholars.campus.edu.

About Campus
Campus is a new way to go to college, built for students looking for a lower-cost, faster launchpad into a career—or a four-year degree. Campus delivers live, online classes taught by professors who also teach at leading universities like Princeton, Stanford, and Howard University. The college's unique approach is grounded in a pioneering technology platform and a heavily-researched student success model that offers students dedicated advisors and on-demand tutoring and coaching to ensure their academic access. Campus was named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2024. Learn more at campus.edu.