Hildegard College launched in Fall of 2023 with a small cohort of courageous and ambitious young adults. But its work began long before then.

For over a decade, cofounder and Dean of Entrepreneurship, Jeff Tanner, had been leading incubation lab and business accelerator programs for mission-driven startups in southern California. His method focused on formation: a venture will only be as successful as the fortitude and faithfulness of its leaders. 

During these years, I was part of a group of Christian academics seeking to offer students a deeper and more formative education in the classics. But we didn’t want to stop there — we wanted to equip these young adults of extraordinary learning and virtue to address the economic, social, and moral challenges that we face as a society. 

When these two groups joined up, Hildegard College was born. Our mission was immediately clear: to form entrepreneurially minded young adults to solve our future’s most critical problems. 

To achieve this required a different model for college. Our impact would be through the lives of our students and graduates. And we knew that the typical university model would only get in their way. So we designed Hildegard’s undergraduate program around deep learning in the classics of the Christian tradition and mentorship in entrepreneurial thought — two things that had never before been combined in higher education. 

We also committed to giving all students a realistic opportunity to graduate totally debt-free, regardless of their socioeconomic background. Many thought that our annual tuition of $16,000 (75% less than peer schools) was unfeasible. But God has provided through the belief and generosity of our supporters. 

Hildegard has gained a reputation as a disrupter in the rigid industry of higher education. But this is only the result of our laser focus on the intellectual, spiritual, and professional development of our students. Through their work, we’re building a legacy of innovation and a radical commitment to pursuing what is true and beautiful. 

You have an opportunity not just to contribute to this legacy but to join us as a cofounder. Every gift has an impact on our ability to invite more bright and brave young people into our community. And we are confident that with each term that passes in these early years of Hildegard College, our impact will grow tenfold, as our students touch the lives of their communities through their service, creativity, and faithfulness.