University of the People

What University of the People does

University of the People is a non-profit, tuition-free online university founded in 2009 and headquartered in Pasadena, California. It delivers accredited American degrees at the associate, bachelor's, and master's levels to a global student body drawn from more than 200 countries and territories, with cumulative enrollment exceeding 170,000 students worldwide. The institution targets working professionals, non-traditional learners, international students, transfer students, and underserved populations by removing the financial and geographic barriers typical of traditional higher education.

The university offers three master's programs (MBA, MSIT, M.Ed.), four bachelor's degrees (Business Administration, Computer Science, Health Science, General Studies), three associate degrees, and an expanding certificate catalog. All instruction is delivered through the proprietary UoPeople Online Campus, a 100% asynchronous learning platform with no live lectures or fixed class times; students access weekly course materials, assignments, and assessments on their own schedule through a browser-based interface. Academic leadership is staffed by deans and faculty drawn from institutions including NYU, Princeton, Harvard, the University of Edinburgh, and McGill, supporting the university's WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) accreditation and California BPPE approval — its primary regulatory credentials following the voluntary withdrawal of DEAC accreditation as of December 31, 2025.

UoPeople operates a tuition-free model in which students pay only per-course assessment fees ($180 for associate/bachelor's; $430–$490 for master's; $320 for certificates) and a one-time $60 application fee, bringing total program costs 6–11x below U.S. averages. Revenue is generated through these fees supplemented by philanthropic contributions and corporate partnerships (notably IBM SkillsBuild, which offers free professional certificates in Cybersecurity and Data Analytics that stack as college credit). All distribution is direct-to-consumer via the university website, supported by earned media in NYT, PBS, Inside Higher Ed, and Today Show, plus a multi-channel social presence across LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X.

Name

University of the People

Legal name

University of the People

Website

https://uopeople.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

University of the People is a non-profit online university offering accredited associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees through a tuition-free, 100% asynchronous learning platform with per-course assessment fees, serving working professionals, international students, and underserved populations across 200+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fully Online Universities (Online-First, Degree-Granting) (EDAHALAA), Online Graduate Schools (Master’s & Doctoral Programs) (EDAHALAD), Online Community Colleges (2-Year, Degree/Transfer) (EDAHALAC), Online Technology & Computer Science Universities (EDAHALAH)

Keywords

• Online higher education
• Tuition-free university
• Accredited degree programs
• Asynchronous online learning
• Distance education degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Assessment/Processing Fees: UoPeople charges minimal assessment fees per course rather than traditional tuition. Students pay as they go with no financial commitments upfront. Additional revenue comes from application fees, transfer credit evaluation fees, and proctored exam fees where applicable.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

University of the People is a non-profit, tuition-free, accredited American online university that delivers associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs as well as professional certificate programs through a 100% online asynchronous learning platform. Students pay only per-course assessment fees (plus a one-time $60 application fee) rather than tuition, accessing course materials, assignments, and exams via the UoPeople Online Campus.

Product overview

University of the People is an online education platform offering tuition-free, accredited degree programs across associate, bachelor's, and master's levels. The portfolio includes three master's programs (MBA, MSIT, M.Ed.), four bachelor's programs (Business Administration, Computer Science, Health Science, General Studies), three associate programs (Business Administration, Computer Science, Health Science), and certificate programs in IBM SkillsBuild (Cybersecurity, Data Analytics) and Game Design. All programs are 100% online with asynchronous learning, and the university operates on a tuition-free model with minimal assessment fees per course.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) A graduate-level business degree covering strategy, finance, marketing, operations, and management principles, designed for working professionals seeking leadership roles.
• Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) An advanced IT degree integrating technology and business coursework to prepare students for tech leadership roles and entrepreneurship.
• Master of Education in Advanced Teaching (M.Ed.) A graduate degree preparing students for teaching roles through advanced teaching skills, curriculum development, and classroom management training.
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) An undergraduate business degree covering accounting, management, marketing, economics, and finance, with transfer credit acceptance up to 75% of program requirements.
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BCS) An undergraduate computer science degree covering programming, software development, databases, AI, and machine learning fundamentals, with transfer credit acceptance up to 50% of program credits.
• Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BHS) An undergraduate health science degree covering biology, psychology, anatomy, physiology, and healthcare principles to prepare students for healthcare careers.
• Bachelor of Arts in General Studies An undergraduate general studies degree designed for students with prior college credits (minimum 60 transfer credits), offering concentrations in Project Management or Organizational Management.
• Associate of Science in Business Administration (ASBA) A foundational associate degree covering statistics, management, and accounting fundamentals as an introduction to business studies.
• Associate of Science in Computer Science (ACS) A foundational associate degree covering computer programming, databases, software, and operating systems for entry-level tech career preparation.
• Associate of Science in Health Science (AHS) A foundational associate degree covering disease prevention, psychology, global health, public healthcare, and wellness topics.
• IBM SkillsBuild Certificate in Cybersecurity A free professional certificate providing cybersecurity fundamentals including data security posture evaluation, vulnerability analysis, and secure network design.
• IBM SkillsBuild Certificate in Data Analytics A free professional certificate covering data analysis processes, data preparation, and data visualization for decision-making.
• Game Design Certificate A professional certificate covering game mechanics, storytelling, prototyping, and game engine development using Godot, Unity, and Unreal Engine platforms, completable in approximately 10 months.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of students proud to study at UoPeople (AY2025 survey)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Federal Academic AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative providing educational opportunities to federal employees and their families. Expands access to UoPeople programs within the federal sector.
• IBM SkillsBuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBM SkillsBuild partnership offers free professional-level certificates in Cybersecurity and Data Analytics. Students earn credentials and college credits toward UoPeople degrees at no cost. IBM provides industry expertise and curriculum development.
• GoogleminorOthersUoPeople graduates have been hired by Google, representing employment outcomes from the university's programs. No formal partnership structure mentioned.
• AppleminorOthersUoPeople graduates have been hired by Apple, representing employment outcomes from the university's programs. No formal partnership structure mentioned.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Western Governors University: Nonprofit, fully online university offering competency-based degrees at low cost. Closest direct peer to UoPeople in mission, target segment (working adults), and tuition structure.
• Southern New Hampshire University: Large nonprofit online university serving working adults and nontraditional learners. Competes head-to-head with UoPeople on affordable online degrees across business, IT, and healthcare.
• Liberty University Online: Nonprofit university with a large online division offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Competes with UoPeople on flexible, low-cost online higher education.
• Excelsior University: Nonprofit online college focused on adult learners and credit for prior learning. Comparable to UoPeople in serving nontraditional and underserved students seeking affordable accredited degrees.

Broad incumbents

• Purdue University Global: Online division of Purdue University offering affordable degrees to working adults and military-affiliated students. Backed by a major state university brand, competing with UoPeople in the same online adult-learner market.
• Arizona State University Online: Online arm of ASU, one of the largest and most recognized online university operations in the U.S. Competes with UoPeople for online learners but with much stronger brand and broader program portfolio.
• University of Maryland Global Campus: Nonprofit online university serving working adults, military, and global learners. Comparable to UoPeople in mission and online-first delivery, with deeper brand recognition and broader programs.

Emerging players

• Coursera: Online learning platform offering degrees from accredited universities as well as low-cost certificates. Adjacent competitor for UoPeople's working-adult and credential-seeking segments, especially on shorter, cheaper certificates.
• edX: Online education platform offering degrees from partner universities plus professional certificates. Comparable to UoPeople on accessible credentials and stackable credit, especially in technology and business.
• StraighterLine: Low-cost online provider of college-level courses that articulate into partner university degrees. Directly competes with UoPeople's transfer-credit, pay-as-you-go model for cost-sensitive learners starting their degree.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UoPeople
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UoPeople
• Facebookfacebook.com/UoPeople
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-the-people
• Instagraminstagram.com/uopeople.official
• TikToktiktok.com/@uopeople.official

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of the People