University of the People

The University of the People (UoPeople) is a private distance education university, in the United States, based in California. Founded by Shai Reshef in 2009, it is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission and by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. Most of its students study business administration.

University of the People

Type	Private online university
Established	February 2009; 16 years ago (February 2009)
Accreditation	WASC Senior College and University Commission, [1] DEAC[2][3]
President	Shai Reshef
Administrative staff	57[4]
Students	28,000[5]
Location	Pasadena , California , United States
Website	uopeople.edu

History

University of the People President Shai Reshef and Provost Emeritus David Cohen

Shai Reshef started the University of the People in January 2009.^[6] The university has no campus due to its online distance learning nature; it uses a shared office in Pasadena, California as an office of admission.^[7][8]

The first UoPeople students began classes in September 2009, studying for associate and bachelor's degrees in business administration and computer science.^{[citation needed]}

In 2016, the university began offering an online MBA.^[9]

In 2017, the University of Edinburgh partnered with the school so that Health Science graduates of the University of the People could complete a bachelor's at UE.^[10]

In 2018, the university announced the new online Master of Education in Advanced Teaching in collaboration with the International Baccalaureate.^[11] This new program started taking in students in 2019. IB started to offer 80 scholarships for eligible M.Ed. students in 2020.^[12]

UoPeople in Arabic, announced in the World Economic Forum^[13] in April 2019, launched in September 2020 with its website in Arabic; it uses a different website in Arabic and does not require proof of English knowledge.^[14][15]

Accreditation

Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)

In February 2012, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded the University of the People a grant of $613,282 for the purpose of helping the university earn national accreditation.^[16] Two years later, the university was accredited for degree-granting programs through the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).^[2][3]

WASC Senior College and University Commission

University of the People received "candidate" status in June 2021 with WASC Senior College and University Commission.^[17]

In late February 2025, University of the People received "Accredited" status.^[18]

Facilities

The "main campus" of the university is a facility in Pasadena, California.^[19]

University of the People Education Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary^[20] which provides support services to the institution.^[21] The subsidiary is registered with the Israeli Corporations Authority^[22] and maintains an office in Tel Aviv, Israel.^[23]

Fees

According to the University of the People, the university charges no tuition fees but students must pay some administrative fees to cover course assessments, ranging from $2,460 for an associate's degree (two years) to $4,860 for a bachelor's degree (four years).^[24] These include processing fees for applications.^{[citation needed]}

The university does not participate in federal financial aid programs,^[25] but it does offer scholarships to eligible students.^[26][27][28]