University of the People

What University of the People does

University of the People (UoPeople) is a non-profit, tuition-free, American-accredited online university founded in 2009 and headquartered in Pasadena, California. It offers bachelor's, master's, and associate's degree programs alongside professional certificates, delivered 100% asynchronously through a proprietary web-based "Online Campus" learning management system that requires no live lectures and supports desktop, laptop, and mobile browsers. The product portfolio spans Business Administration, Computer Science, Health Science, General Studies, Education, Information Technology, and shorter-form credentials including Game Design and IBM SkillsBuild certificates in Cybersecurity and Data Analytics. Programs are available in English, Spanish, French, German, and Arabic, and the institution holds full accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and approval from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.

The institution serves 170,126+ enrolled students across 200+ countries, primarily working adults and globally underserved populations seeking American-accredited credentials at a fraction of traditional cost. UoPeople generates revenue through a $60 one-time application fee plus per-course assessment fees ($180 for undergraduate courses, $430-$490 for graduate courses, $320 for certificates) on a pay-as-you-go basis, with need-based scholarships funded by charitable partners covering students who cannot pay. The go-to-market is exclusively direct-to-consumer and self-serve through the website, supplemented by community-led growth via student ambassadors, peer learning cohorts (UoPeople@Communities), and earned media coverage in the New York Times, PBS NewsHour, and NBC Today Show. Academic and corporate partnerships with NYU, University of Edinburgh, McGill University, International Baccalaureate, IBM, and the Federal Academic Alliance provide faculty expertise, curricular legitimacy, graduate pathways, and pipeline channels.

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

101–250 employees

Short description

University of the People is a non-profit, tuition-free, U.S.-accredited online university offering bachelor's, master's, associate's degrees and certificates to over 170,000 students across 200+ countries, delivered asynchronously through a proprietary learning platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

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

Keywords

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Assessment Fees: Primary revenue stream from per-course assessment fees charged when students complete each course. Fees vary by program level: $180/course for undergraduate programs, $430-$490/course for graduate programs, $320/course for certificates. Students pay as they go rather than upfront.
2. Application Fees: One-time $60 application fee charged to all applicants. This is the initial revenue touchpoint for student acquisition.
3. Transfer Credit Fees: Fee of $17 per course transferred for students who transfer credits from other accredited institutions toward their UoPeople degree.
4. Scholarships and Grants: Need-based scholarships and grants available for students who cannot afford fees. Funded by charitable partners to support the tuition-free mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

University of the People is a non-profit, tuition-free, American WASC-accredited online university that delivers associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree programs as well as professional certificates entirely online through its proprietary asynchronous Online Campus platform. The university charges no tuition for instruction; instead it collects a one-time $60 application fee and per-course assessment fees ($180 for undergraduate, $430-$490 for graduate, $320 for certificates), and is sustained by charitable donations and grants. Programs span Business Administration, Computer Science, Health Science, Education, Information Technology, General Studies, and certificates in Game Design and IBM SkillsBuild (Cybersecurity and Data Analytics).

Product overview

University of the People is a tuition-free, accredited, 100% online American university offering a comprehensive portfolio of degree programs and professional certificates. The core offering comprises three graduate degree programs (MBA, MSIT, M.Ed.), four bachelor's degree programs (Business Administration, Computer Science, Health Science, General Studies), three associate's degree programs (Business Administration, Computer Science, Health Science), and two certificate programs (IBM SkillsBuild in Cybersecurity and Data Analytics, Game Design). Programs are delivered asynchronously through the proprietary UoPeople Online Campus platform, with tuition-free pricing funded through assessment fees paid per course. The IBM SkillsBuild certificates are offered in partnership with IBM and provide free professional credentials with pathway credits toward degree programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) A 12-course graduate degree offering a hands-on approach to business strategy and team leadership, covering planning, operations management, and global business navigation. Tuition-free with $490 per-course assessment fee.
• Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) A 12-course graduate degree integrating IT and business courses, preparing students to analyze complex business needs, apply technological solutions, and drive growth as tech professionals or entrepreneurs. Tuition-free with $490 per-course assessment fee.
• Master of Education in Advanced Teaching (M.Ed.) A 13-course graduate degree preparing students as highly-skilled teachers with expertise in curriculum development, critical thinking, cultural competence, and assessments for student support. Tuition-free with $430 per-course assessment fee.
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) A 120-credit undergraduate degree (40 courses) covering accounting, management, marketing, economics, and finance, with specializations in project management or organizational management. Tuition-free with $180 per-course assessment fee.
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BCS) A 40-course undergraduate degree covering programming, software development, computing technology, database management, and AI/machine learning concepts using Java and Python. Tuition-free with $180 per-course assessment fee.
• Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BHS) A 39-course undergraduate degree focusing on biology, psychology, anatomy, and physiology, preparing students for healthcare careers with skills to analyze global health problems. Tuition-free with $180 per-course assessment fee.
• Bachelor of Arts in General Studies A degree completion program for students with prior college credit, offering concentrations in Project Management or Organizational Management, synthesizing communication, quantitative reasoning, technology, and ethical decision-making. Tuition-free with $180 per-course assessment fee.
• Associate of Science in Business Administration (ASBA) A 20-course foundational program introducing business disciplines such as statistics, management, and accounting, providing groundwork for a bachelor's degree or entry into the business world. Tuition-free with $180 per-course assessment fee.
• Associate of Science in Computer Science (ACS)

Quantifiable outcome

• 85%+ of UoPeople graduates are employed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• New York University (NYU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with NYU. UoPeople academic leadership includes scholars from NYU. Many UoPeople graduates continue their education at NYU and other top universities.
• University of EdinburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with the University of Edinburgh. UoPeople has collaborated on developing curriculum and academic standards.
• McGill UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with McGill University. UoPeople's academic leadership includes faculty from McGill.
• International Baccalaureate (IB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with International Baccalaureate. Academic leaders from IB serve on UoPeople advisory boards.
• Federal Academic AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal collaboration through the Federal Academic Alliance, providing educational opportunities for federal employees and affiliated individuals.
• IBM SkillsBuildcoreTechnology or IntegrationCorporate partnership offering IBM SkillsBuild Certificates in Cybersecurity and Data Analytics. Free professional credentials developed by IBM experts, with credits transferable toward UoPeople degrees. Complete in as little as 2 months.
• WASC Senior College and University CommissioncoreOthersAccrediting body for University of the People. UoPeople is fully accredited by WSCUC, 1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500, Alameda, CA 94501, 510-758-9001.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Global online learning platform partnering with universities to offer courses, certificates, and accredited degrees. Comparable in enabling affordable, accredited online degrees worldwide and serving similar price-sensitive learners.
• Arizona State University Online: The online arm of a major public research university offering hundreds of undergraduate and graduate programs globally. Comparable in serving online degree-seeking learners at scale, with broader program breadth and stronger traditional brand.
• Purdue University Global: Online-focused university (formerly Kaplan University) serving adult learners with career-oriented degree programs. Comparable in targeting working adults seeking flexible, affordable accredited online degrees, though for-profit in orientation.
• edX: Online education platform offering university-level courses and degree programs from global institutions. Comparable as a channel for affordable, accredited online credentials, including full degree pathways.
• University of Phoenix: Long-established online for-profit university serving adult and working professional learners with career-aligned programs. Comparable audience and online delivery model, though for-profit and with a more developed degree catalog.

Direct peers

• Liberty University Online: Large accredited U.S. university with a substantial online program offering affordable associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Comparable in mission of accessible online higher education and target learner base.
• Western Governors University: Non-profit, fully online, accredited U.S. university offering affordable competency-based degrees across a broad program catalog. Closest direct peer to UoPeople given shared nonprofit online mission and price-sensitive adult learner focus.
• Southern New Hampshire University: Large non-profit U.S. university with a dominant online program serving hundreds of thousands of adult and global learners. Directly comparable business model and target demographic to UoPeople.

Emerging players

• Minerva University: Small, innovative U.S. university offering a fully online global program with selective admissions and seminars. Comparable in mission-driven, tech-enabled, globally accessible higher education targeting ambitious learners.
• Khan Academy: Free global online education platform offering structured learning content across many subjects. Comparable in mission to provide free, high-quality education globally, though it focuses on K-12 and supplemental rather than accredited degrees.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 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

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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