Founders of Apple and Netflix Think Higher Education Needs to Be Rewired

High Point University, the #1 Best-Run College in the country, is redefining higher education with real-world experience, life skills, and 99 percent job placement—plus a free master’s degree for every admitted student.

For many families, the traditional promise of college is breaking down. Tuition keeps climbing, student debt is at record levels, and too many graduates are struggling to turn diplomas into careers. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently questioned whether college is “preparing people for the jobs that they need to have today,” noting that students “graduate, and you’re in debt,” often without clear pathways into work.

Employers are equally skeptical. A national survey by General Assembly found that fewer than half of workers—just 48 percent—and only 12 percent of mid-level executives believe today’s entry-level employees are well-prepared for their jobs. One in four executives say they would hesitate to hire recent graduates at all, citing gaps in communication, problem-solving, and basic professional behavior.

Some companies are responding by bypassing college entirely. Palantir Technologies, for example, launched a “Meritocracy Fellowship” that hires high school graduates into paid roles, offering them $5,400 a month to “skip the debt, skip the degree” and gain real-world experience instead—arguing that many universities are “no longer a reliable training ground” for skilled workers.

Against this backdrop, High Point University is rewriting the rules of higher education. The university—ranked the #1 Best-Run College in the nation—has become one of the fastest-growing and most innovative schools in America, combining academic excellence with real-world experience, mentorship, and career preparation.

It’s a model that’s caught the attention of some of the world’s most successful innovators. Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, serves as the school’s Innovator in Residence, and Marc Randolph, co-founder of Netflix, is its Entrepreneur in Residence. Both have been personally involved in mentoring students and helping the university reimagine what higher education should look like in a world defined by rapid change, automation, and opportunity.

At High Point, theory takes a back seat to practice. Students are guided by personal success coaches and industry mentors. Every student is guaranteed an internship, and every admitted undergraduate is eligible for a tuition-free master’s degree. It’s an institution that places outcomes first—boasting a 99 percent job placement rate within 180 days of graduation (14 points above the national average based on the National Association of Colleges and Employers).

The school’s mission, says university president Dr. Nido Qubein, is to “teach students not what to think, but how to think.” It attracts students from across the country and around the world—young people from a wide range of backgrounds, faiths, and cultures who come to High Point united by one ambition: to live extraordinary lives. The university gives more scholarships than most private schools its size and reinvests every dollar into programs, facilities, and people that prepare students for a rapidly evolving job market.

“AI can now automate most of what traditional schools are teaching,” says Steve Wozniak. “Students today need to be in innovative environments that promote creativity so they can avoid being displaced by automation—places that expand their minds, teach them to solve problems, and develop an entrepreneurial spirit.”

In that sense, High Point represents a middle path between skipping college to join a company like Palantir and following a traditional four-year route that may not deliver practical skills. It offers the degree, but builds a curriculum and campus around internships, coaching, and real-world experience—the very attributes employers say they value most.

A UNIVERSITY BUILT ON PURPOSE

Located in North Carolina, High Point University has grown more than 1,600 percent over the past decade. Its 550-acre campus blends traditional architecture with cutting-edge design. There’s a $170 million Qubein Arena, a state-of-the-art Soccer and Lacrosse Complex, and a 50-foot Culp Planetarium that doubles as a media and science lab. A full-size airplane fuselage classroom helps students practice professional networking in real-life travel settings.

The university’s three fine-dining restaurants—1924 PRIME, Alo, and Kazoku—are life-skills learning classrooms disguised as food locations. Here, students learn professional etiquette, teamwork, communication, and confidence. “Most universities teach theory,” said Dr. Daniel Hall, Dean of the Phillips School of Business. “At High Point, every space teaches experience.”

Athletics are another cornerstone of the High Point experience. The men’s basketball team recently made its first NCAA March Madness appearance, and the soccer and lacrosse teams compete at nationally recognized levels. With more than 240 clubs and organizations, students find purpose not only in academics but also in leadership, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship.

WHY WALL STREET IS WATCHING

The school’s extraordinary transformation has made it a topic of national attention. The Wall Street Journal published a feature-length profile on High Point University, describing it as “a meticulously designed environment where students learn how to live and work with purpose.” The article noted that “half of Wall Street sends their kids to this school” and called it “the best-run college in the country.”

The Journal observed that what might appear to outsiders as “luxury amenities” are actually learning environments—from etiquette labs and innovation centers to outdoor gardens, music-filled walkways, and an airplane cabin where students rehearse professional conversations. “Every feature of the campus,” the Journal wrote, “is designed with purpose—to elevate students’ habits, confidence, and understanding of how the professional world operates.”

The publication also pointed to High Point’s growth during a period when many universities are downsizing, calling it “a rare example of a college expanding intelligently while others contract.”

That growth has attracted top-performing students across academics, athletics, and service. For example, Madison Crowell earned national attention after she was accepted into 231 colleges and universities across the country and earned nearly $15 million in scholarships.

“Choosing to attend High Point University is something that I believe to be one of the best decisions of my life,” said Crowell, an exercise science major from Hinesville, Georgia. “The atmosphere that HPU had when I stepped on campus for the first time was unmatched. I felt that I was at home and could spend the next four years of my life happily getting an amazing education.”

ATTRACTING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST

Janet Wozniak, wife of Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, summed it up well: “We’ve met several students who were accepted to Harvard and Stanford but chose High Point instead because of its personal coaching, practical life-skills programs, and mentorship from real-world experts. They see that this university is preparing them for life—not just a degree.”

Andrew Corcoran, a D1 basketball prospect from Paoli, Pennsylvania, with a 4.3 GPA, agrees. “My dad went to Villanova and my uncle went to Georgetown—both great schools,” Andrew said. “But High Point is better in every other area. Everyone here has a zeal to get better, and you feel it the moment you arrive on campus. The basketball team’s incredible, but the energy across the university is what sold me.”

Isabella Wolfington, a 3.9 GPA student from Miami, Florida, mirrors that same sense of purpose. Accepted with an academic scholarship, she founded HeartsandHands.us, a nonprofit that has raised tens of thousands of dollars for orphanages in South Florida and Guatemala, where she has volunteered since her freshman year of high school.

“Beyond it being the most beautiful campus I’ve ever seen, I love that they teach real-world skills,” Isabella said. “You’re learning from people who’ve actually built businesses and created opportunities. The exposure to real leaders is what drew me in.”

This is what defines the new generation of High Point students—purpose-driven, high-achieving, and grounded in faith, gratitude, and excellence.

EXPERIENCE OVER THEORY

High Point’s City Program connects students directly with industry leaders across New York, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. Students visit J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, NBCUniversal, and other companies where they gain exposure to real-world business operations. On one recent visit to New York, a junior secured a job offer before graduation.

“High Point University has played a significant role in preparing me for my future career, particularly by equipping me with strong networking skills and professional development opportunities,” said Mark Epstein, a marketing and music major from Novato, California, who interned with Morgan Stanley. “One of the most valuable aspects of my experience at HPU has been the emphasis on building relationships with business professionals, which has allowed me to develop confidence in professional interactions.”

The university guarantees every student an internship and provides mentorship from leading professionals in nearly every field. These relationships are reinforced through HPU’s Access to Innovators program, where leaders like Wozniak, Randolph, and Cynt Marshall offer hands-on guidance.

Marc Randolph, the co-founder of Netflix and HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence, shares, “High Point has done a great job of focusing attention on life skills—which is encouraging students to operate their lives with an entrepreneurial or growth mindset.”

ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY

High Point’s growth is not exclusive. The university gives more scholarships than most in its class, ensuring that access accompanies excellence. It now offers a tuition-free master’s degree for all admitted undergraduates—an initiative that helps students compete in the global marketplace and reduces long-term debt.

One example is Alfred Baafi, a junior from Guyana who earned a full scholarship for academics and athletics.

“In Guyana, there’s a lot of poverty, and I’m so grateful to be in an environment where everyone is choosing to be extraordinary,” Alfred said. “I’m not perfect, but the culture here is about getting better every day, and I like that. I could have never dreamed of a place like this—where everyone is so positive and kind.”

He added, “I never imagined I could get a master’s degree, let alone for free. I’ll be the first in my family to graduate from college and earn a master’s. My mom is so proud. My whole family is proud.”

A FOUNDER’S VISION

The driving force behind High Point University’s transformation is Dr. Nido Qubein—an immigrant who came to the United States with $50, limited English, and a belief that anything is possible. Over decades, he built multiple businesses, advised Fortune 500 companies, and ultimately dedicated himself to reimagining higher education.

“The secret,” Qubein said, “is to surround students with extraordinary people, places, and experiences so they can see firsthand what excellence looks like and choose to be extraordinary themselves.”

His philosophy is simple: create a world-class environment that blends faith, leadership, and personal growth with real-world readiness. “When you see what extraordinary looks like and are surrounded by extraordinary people and places, you become extraordinary,” Qubein said.

According to Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report, High Point delivers extraordinary results—including a 99 percent employment rate within two months of graduation.

“HPU doesn’t just prepare students for the real world,” said Qubein, with quiet conviction. “It prepares them to lead it.”