University of the People: Accessible and Accredited Online Education

University of the People (UoPeople) is a tuition-free, non-profit, American-accredited online university committed to making higher education accessible to qualified students worldwide. Founded in 2009 and accredited in 2014, UoPeople offers associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, as well as certificate programs, through distance learning. The university believes that education at a minimal cost is a basic right for all qualified applicants, not just a privileged few.

Accreditation and Recognition

UoPeople holds accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency. This accreditation signifies that UoPeople meets rigorous standards of quality and academic excellence.

Programs Offered

UoPeople offers a range of programs in high-demand fields:

Associate's and Bachelor's Degrees: Business Administration, Computer Science, and Health Science (with a focus on public health and policy).
Master's Degrees: MBA program.
Certificates: Business Administration certificates are available in Finance, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing and Strategy. Computer Science certificates are available in Data Science and Network and Application Security.

These programs provide students with a solid foundation in their chosen field and prepare them for professional success. For example, the Business Administration program exposes students to topics like statistics, management, and accounting.

Tuition-Free Model and Fees

UoPeople's unique "tuition-free" model sets it apart from other universities. Unlike traditional institutions, UoPeople does not charge students for taking courses, enrolling, accessing books or course materials, or for campus fees. Students are only required to pay an assessment fee at the end of each course ($120 for undergraduate and $240 for graduate studies). This affordable model makes higher education accessible to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds around the world.

Asynchronous Learning Environment

UoPeople utilizes an asynchronous learning model, allowing students to learn on their own schedule. Through the UoPeople Online Campus, students can access assignments, lectures, and other learning materials at their convenience. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for students with work, family, or other commitments.

Student Support Services

UoPeople provides comprehensive support services to help students succeed:

Program Advisors: Each student is connected with a personal Program Advisor at the commencement of their studies, who remains with them until graduation. Program Advisors act as the students’ personal support system throughout their studies, offering guidance and assistance.
Career Service Center: The Career Service Center offers career guidance and advising for professional discovery and success during and after the completion of a UoPeople degree. Services include resume building and cover letter writing, job searching skills, interviewing techniques, professional networking skills, and career planning in the area of one’s major (i.e. business, computer science). The Career Service Center is accessible to students throughout the course of their studies, as well as after they become graduates.
Office of Student Services: The Office of Student Services assists students throughout their studies with personal attention and tools to successfully complete their degree programs. Student services provides students with both administrative and academic guidance including: university policies and procedures, course registration, as well as all other general information related to the student and university to enhance student experiences.
Online Student Portal: Via the online Student Portal, students are able to access all student records, forms and transcripts, graduation deadlines and logistics, referrals to other offices along with the UoPeople Student Handbook.
Library Services: The University of the People Library and Resource Center (ULRC) provides students and faculty access to various collections of quality academic resources and services to support the University’s academic programs. Students and faculty have access to subscriptions via Library and Information Resources Network, a collection of over 60 million proprietary resources.
Student Clubs: The Office of Student Services provides a unique addition to traditional online universities, as gain a feeling of support and guidance as well as organization while smoothly and successfully completing their online degree and beyond.

These services are designed to enhance the student experience and ensure that students have the resources they need to thrive. Classes at UoPeople are small and highly qualified instructors are available to answer students’ questions and offer support.

Transfer Credits

UoPeople simplifies the process of transferring credits from other institutions. Prospective students can upload their transcripts in the UoPeople Portal, and the university's team will evaluate them for transfer credit at no charge. Students can also search the UoPeople database to find courses that have previously been approved for transfer credit.

Research Opportunities

Every student is required to conduct research in their academic careers at one point or another. A good research paper not only requires a great deal of time, but it also requires complex skills. Research skills include the ability to organize, evaluate, locate, and extract relevant information.

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Partnerships and Support

UoPeople has established partnerships with leading academic institutions, including 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. IBM SkillsBuild offers industry-recognized credentials from the experts at IBM, completely free.

Admission Information

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

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