University of the People (UoPeople) is a private, nonprofit online university based in Pasadena, California, founded in 2009 to offer a tuition-free alternative to traditional college. It had 41,961 students in fall 2024, most of them adults and many outside the United States. Its pros are an extremely low cost, fully online study and WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) accreditation; its cons are that it does not take federal financial aid, has modest completion rates and offers no campus experience.
Below are the pros and cons in detail, with cost, outcome and accreditation figures from the federal College Navigator database, so you can judge whether University of the People is legit and a good school for you.
University of the People at a Glance
- Type: private not-for-profit online university.
- Base: admissions office in Pasadena, California; there is no campus.
- Founded: 2009; the first students began classes in September 2009 in business administration and computer science.
- Programs: associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, including an online MBA (from 2016) and a Master of Education developed with the International Baccalaureate.
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 41,961 total, 36,901 undergraduate; 73% of undergraduates are 25 or older.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 28 to 1.
Pros: What University of the People Does Well
- Almost free. UoPeople charges no tuition. Students pay administrative fees to cover course assessments; College Navigator lists tuition and fees of $1,400 for 2024-2025 and an average net price of $1,575 for 2023-2024.
- No student loans. None of its full-time first-time students took federal student loans in 2023-2024, and 74% received a grant or scholarship from the university.
- Accredited. UoPeople is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, the regional accreditor for California. It held national accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission from 2014 until it ended that accreditation at the end of 2025.
- Study from anywhere. All students study online, using an asynchronous model with no set class times, and 43% of first-time undergraduates came from outside the U.S.
- Academic partnerships. The University of Edinburgh partnered with UoPeople so that its health science graduates can complete a bachelor’s at Edinburgh, and the International Baccalaureate has funded M.Ed. scholarships.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at University of the People
- No federal financial aid. UoPeople does not participate in federal financial aid programs, so U.S. students cannot use Pell Grants or federal loans for the assessment fees.
- Modest completion. Of first-time bachelor’s students who began in 2018-19, 17% finished in four years and 29% in six. The overall graduation rate was 34%.
- Retention. 61% of part-time first-time students returned for a second year.
- Regional accreditation is recent. WSCUC accreditation is new, so a few employers or graduate schools may still be unfamiliar with it; confirm acceptance if you plan further study.
- Self-study and no campus life. There is no campus, and the asynchronous model demands discipline and reliable internet access.
What University of the People Costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees (assessment fees), 2024-2025 | $1,400 |
| Total estimated cost living off campus (not with family), 2024-2025 | $3,801 |
| Average net price, 2023-2024 | $1,575 |
| Average institutional grant for first-time students, 2023-2024 | $1,026 |
The cost of a degree depends mainly on how many courses you take, because fees are charged per course assessment. The university offers some scholarships for students who cannot pay the fees.
Is University of the People a Good School? What the Numbers Say
For a motivated student anywhere in the world who needs an accredited degree at almost no cost, University of the People is a legitimate, useful option. It is especially useful for adults and international students who would otherwise have no access to a U.S. degree.
The trade-off is completion: fewer than a third of first-time bachelor’s students finish within six years, and there is little of the support structure of a traditional college. Treat it as a serious commitment rather than an easy path.
Who Accredits University of the People?
University of the People is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. It received candidate status in June 2021 and full accreditation afterwards; College Navigator lists the next review for 2031. It was previously accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission from 2014 to 2025.
Who University of the People Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: self-motivated adults, international students, and anyone who needs an accredited business, computer science, health science or education degree without debt.
Worth comparing alternatives if: you need federal financial aid, want a campus experience, or need close faculty support to stay on track.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is University of the People really free? It charges no tuition, but students pay assessment fees for each course.
- Is University of the People accredited? Yes, by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
- Can I use FAFSA at University of the People? No. It does not participate in federal financial aid programs.
- Is University of the People nonprofit? Yes. College Navigator lists it as private not-for-profit.