CEDAR CITY — Private football league organizer USA Collegiate is collaborating with Southern Utah University to provide educational pathways to careers for their players, many of whom have been negatively impacted by the wave of junior colleges terminating their football programs.
Through this agreement, players will be able to earn associate and bachelor’s degrees through SUU’s Speedway/ Bachelor of General Studies program, according to an SUU news release.
Speedway is a versatile, modular online degree program that costs $75 per credit, making it one of the lowest-cost, accredited degrees in the nation.
“We created USA Collegiate in an impassioned effort to provide hundreds of underserved student-athletes the opportunity to both play football and receive meaningful education through colleges and technical schools, with the additional support of professionals and mentors,” said Dave Arslanian, USA Collegiate founder and hall-of-fame football coach.
“Our teams will not only provide fresh competition to Utah’s junior college football scene, but also provide an outstanding student, workforce and leadership development program for the players,” Arslanian added.
The news release also said student-athletes will receive “robust support” from both organizations: USA Collegiate providing college preparation and ongoing academic coaching, and SUU Online providing its hallmark student-centric teaching and student services, such as tutoring and counseling.
“We are so impressed with USA Collegiate’s commitment to the preparation and success of their student-athletes for college and for their future,” SUU Online’s Director of Partnerships Lynn Kvamme said. “SUU’s Speedway program seems to be a perfect fit for this partnership. We are truly honored to be part of USA Collegiate’s vision.”
Speedway students earn their Bachelor of General Studies degree 100% online in as few as three years. Classes last seven weeks, and transfer credits are accepted. Financial barriers are removed thanks to federal financial aid, providing a path to an accredited education for students where, when, and how they need it.
About SUU Online
In its 125-year history as Utah’s first experiment in distance education, Southern Utah University’s Online Department offers to students across the globe affordable and flexible college degrees: 12 masters, 16 bachelor’s and two associates. This includes an affordable bachelor’s degree in the nation, Speedway/Bachelor of General Studies. SUU Online’s combination of affordability, flexibility and vast student success programs provide an extraordinary education, anytime, anywhere, the news release said. Click here to learn more about SUU’s online programs.
About USA Collegiate
According to the news release, USA Collegiate was founded by Hall of Fame football coaches Dave Arslanian and Larry Philpot when junior colleges started eliminating their football programs. Knowing what that opportunity meant to the lives of players, they set out to create an alternative for these displaced student-athletes.
USA Collegiate’s solution pairs privately-funded football leagues with academics via USA Collegiate’s own prep program and strategic collaborations with colleges and technical schools. This arrangement is designed to develop athletes – and a future workforce – with job, leadership, and life skills learned in a classroom and on the field.
USA Collegiate is based in St. George, Utah, and is a licensed, degree-granting post-secondary school. It developed the plan, consulted with, and established the academic support for privately funded junior college football clubs in Arizona, and is now committed to establishing junior college football clubs in Utah. Click here to learn more about USA Collegiate.