Only 19 percent of students enrolled in traditional degree programs finish their studies within the expected four years, and many student accumulate loan debt without a earning a degree. Today students are looking for alternatives -- a way to acquire core employment skills without obtaining a traditional degree, something faster and less expensive. MissionU aspired to fill this education gap by providing an intensive one-year program with a career-focused curriculum, featuring real-time collaboration and real-world projects. The innovative blend of online and city-based learning was designed to be an “education for the 21st century."