University of the People: Affordable, Accessible, and Accredited Higher Education

The University of the People (UoPeople) stands out as a revolutionary institution in the realm of higher education. Founded in January 2009 by Shai Reshef, UoPeople is the world’s first tuition-free, non-profit, American-accredited, online university. Inspired by a previous attempt at building an online university in the Netherlands and his experience at Cramster, Reshef sought to create an accessible and affordable educational model for students worldwide.

A Tuition-Free Model with Minimal Fees

UoPeople is known as a "tuition-free" university because there is no cost for instruction, books, or traditional campus costs. This aligns with its mission to make higher education affordable and accessible to students globally. However, to sustain its operations and provide quality services, UoPeople asks students to pay a one-time application fee and minimal assessment fees per course.

Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay a one-time, non-refundable application fee of $60 for all programs, including the English as a Second Language program.

Course Assessment Fees

Certificates: For each certificate course, there is an assessment fee of $250 to be paid when registering for each course.
English as a Second Language: For each level/course, there is an assessment fee of $150, to be paid at the end of each level/course.
Undergraduate: For each undergraduate course, there is an assessment fee of $160, to be paid by the end of each course.
Graduate: For each graduate course, there is an assessment fee of $400 for M.Ed., and $450 for MBA/MSIT.

Total Costs for a Degree

The total approximate costs to earn a degree at UoPeople are as follows:

Associate Degree: $3,260
Bachelor’s Degree: $6,460
M.Ed.: $5,260
MBA: $5,460
MSIT: $5,460

Payment Methods

Payments for any of the fees can be made through online avenues, such as a PayPal account or as a guest for payments via credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express), Western Union, Western Union Global Pay, or cashier’s check.

Important Payment Information

Students pay for their Assessment Fees when the drop/withdrawal period is over. For M.Ed. students who saved their spot on or after January 19, 2025, payments for M.Ed. If the Assessment Fee has not been paid by the end of the University’s final examination period, a financial hold will be placed on the student’s file. When this occurs, course registrations for the upcoming term will be cancelled and the student will not be permitted to register for or to continue taking courses until all outstanding payments have been made and the hold is removed. If all outstanding balances for Assessment Fees are paid before the end of late registration, students may be able to register themselves for courses during late registration and continue with their studies. Students who paid but did not register themselves to courses will remain on hold until the next term. Students may be on a financial hold for up to five (5) terms; by the start of the sixth (6th) term if any outstanding payment is still due, the student will be administratively withdrawn from UoPeople. Students are encouraged to plan, anticipate, and budget for all Assessment Fee payments to avoid interruption of their academic schedule. Students unable to pay their Assessment Fees may request financial aid or be required to put their studies on hold while they secure additional funding. Students may review outstanding balances and payments due to the University. The Application Fee is nonrefundable except in instances when applicants withdraw their application for admission before an admissions decision is made. Applicants may write a formal request for a refund of the Application Fee to their personal advisor. Students who remain in their course beyond the course withdrawal deadline are not eligible for a refund of the Assessment Fee. Applicants residing in Wisconsin, USA may request a refund in accordance with Wis. Admin.

The University reserves the right to charge optional, special or increase fees, upon reasonable notice to students, in future terms. There are no optional or special fees for students at the graduate level at the present time. The costs reflected below are for those that saved their spot on or after June 8, 2025, for 2025-26 Academic Year. Business Administration - A.S. Business Administration - B.S. Computer Science - A.S. Computer Science - B.S. Health Science - A.S. Health Science - B.S. The University reserves the right to change the cost of the Application Fee, the transfer credit Evaluation Fee, and the Assessment Fee. The amount of the Assessment Fee will be reviewed annually, and changes to the fee amount may be made.

Academic Programs and Accreditation

The university offers two-year associate and four-year bachelor’s degree programs in business administration, computer science, and health science, as well as an MBA program and a Master of Education (M.Ed) in Advanced Teaching in collaboration with the International Baccalaureate. This new program started taking in students in 2019. IB started to offer 80 scholarships for eligible M.Ed.

In February 2025, UoPeople achieved a significant milestone by earning accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). WASC accreditation is a quality control check for a university, rating it on standards that include self-assessment, peer review, site visits, and continuous improvement plans. UoPeople received WASC Accreditation Eligibility in March 2020. Even after accreditation is granted, UoPeople is expected to undergo evaluations every five to ten years. The WASC accreditation assures students, parents, and employers of UoPeople’s credibility. The WASC accreditation also holds value if you want to seek professional licensing opportunities.

The Value of Accreditation

WASC accreditation signifies the quality and credibility of UoPeople's programs. It places UoPeople among the ranks of UC Berkeley, Stanford, and UCLA, assuring students, parents, and employers of the university’s credibility. The degrees are also valued by employers, other universities, and professional licensing boards. Around 80% of the graduates stated that their degree from UoPeople helped them develop the skills required for their career.

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If you look at the no-cost tuition and all-online learning aspects, you might doubt the quality of the program or the experience, or both. WASC accreditation is the answer to your doubts about the degree falling short. Rigorous degree programs with specializations in areas like finance, data science, and network security. Qualified faculty, including professors from renowned institutions like NYU, Columbia, the University of Edinburgh, and more. These include Dr. Personalized student support through a dedicated advisor assigned from the first day until graduation. Well-rounded assessments and evaluation systems based on peer and instructor feedback. Students review and grade each other’s work while being reviewed by three other classmates.

Open Education Resources and Volunteer Academics

The learning materials and textbooks at the University of the People are Open Education Resources (OER), which means they’re free. UoPeople relies on thousands of volunteer academics to help students. It has also focused on how UoPeople uses data to continuously improve its quality and education experience.

Partnerships and Support

The university has partnered with Yale ISP Law School for research and New York University, University of California Berkeley and the University of Edinburgh to accept students. The institution has also gained the widespread support of leading academics from renowned universities around the world.

A Global Reach and Commitment to Refugees

UoPeople enrolls students from all over the world and has a strong commitment to educating refugees. To date, UoPeople has educated around 18,000 refugees and has pledged to educate 35,000 refugee students by 2030.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Students unable to pay their Assessment Fees may request financial aid or be required to put their studies on hold while they secure additional funding. UoPeople collaborates with top corporations and organizations to provide grants and scholarships to students who need financial support to pay our fees. It is UoPeople’s aim that financial barriers will not restrict students from studying. Because we do not charge tuition, UoPeople does not receive Title IV funds and does not participate in federal or state financial aid programs.

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Admission Process and Deadlines

The admission process is administered in 5 terms annually. The next deadlines are 20 March 2025 for the term starting 10 April 2025 and 29 May 2024 for the term starting 19 June 2025.

Transfer Credits

It costs only $17 for each accepted course.

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