Jeremy Rossmann of Make School on Income Share Agreements and the Future of College

TL;DR

Make School is a new accredited college in San Francisco offering a bachelor’s in applied computer science in two years on an intensive track, using project-based learning and a 40-hour school week. Students pay no upfront tuition; instead they sign an income share agreement (ISA) and only pay after getting a job.

Key insights

• Make School reverses typical debt: the school goes into debt when a student enrolls, and only gets paid if the student gets a job. This forces the school to prioritize career outcomes.
• The curriculum is structured like a work week (9:30 AM start, morning stand‑up with a coach, project‑based work all day) to prepare students for the workplace and accelerate degree completion.
• Faculty come from industry and act as live mentors/tutors rather than lecturers. The model is “flipped classroom ish” where written materials deliver information and faculty unblock students.