University of the People

About University of the People

University of the People operates as an independent, private nonprofit institution rather than as a department or online division of another university. WSCUC lists it as accredited, with its first WSCUC accreditation in 2024 and a most recent commission action dated March 24, 2026. The accreditor also records an active main headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware. The university’s official accreditation page states that it is approved by California’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education to operate and award degrees. Its former relationship with the Distance Education Accrediting Commission ended voluntarily on December 31, 2025, so prospective students should rely on the current WSCUC status rather than older references to DEAC accreditation. Founded in 2009, the institution was designed around low-cost, online access for students who may face financial, geographic, or scheduling barriers. It has no physical teaching campus: instruction, coursework, academic communication, and student support are delivered online. The 2026–2027 calendar contains five terms beginning in September, November, January, April, and June, giving applicants several possible entry points during the year. The university describes itself as tuition-free, meaning it does not charge for instruction, textbooks, or annual enrollment. Students still pay application and per-course assessment fees. This distinction matters when comparing it with conventional tuition-based universities. It also does not distribute US federal financial aid. Applicants should evaluate the complete program fee, their access to reliable technology, and whether asynchronous online study fits their learning habits.

Undergraduate applicants must be at least 16 years old and demonstrate completion of high school or an accepted equivalent. The application process begins online and requires a non-refundable application fee. Applicants to English-language programs who are not native English speakers and did not complete prior education in English must provide an accepted form of English-proficiency evidence. The university publishes accepted examinations and minimum scores, including an IELTS Academic score of 6.0 and TOEFL iBT score of 61 as of the current admissions information. Arabic-language programs have different language arrangements. Graduate entry is distinct from undergraduate admission. Applicants must be at least 18 and hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited US institution or an equivalent credential from an accredited international institution. English-language graduate applicants must meet the applicable English requirement. The information-technology master’s also requires evidence of working knowledge of at least one programming language. Graduate students begin with foundation courses before progressing to degree-student status under the university’s staged admissions model. For 2026–2027, the university lists five application deadlines: August 13 and October 22, 2026, followed by January 7, March 18, and May 27, 2027. Corresponding terms begin September 3 and November 12, 2026, and January 28, April 8, and June 17, 2027. Late applications may be processed, but the university does not guarantee entry into the upcoming term. Applicants should use the official calendar for document and save-your-spot deadlines rather than treating the institution as continuously rolling.

The active degree portfolio verified by WSCUC spans the bachelor’s and master’s levels, alongside associate degrees and non-degree study. Bachelor’s options listed by the university include business administration, computer science, health science, and general studies. Current master’s options are the Master of Business Administration, Master of Education in Advanced Teaching, and Master of Science in Information Technology. WSCUC also lists associate programs in business administration, computer science, and health-related study. No doctoral program appears in the accreditor’s current program inventory. Courses are delivered through an online campus and do not require students to attend live lectures at fixed times. Students complete scheduled weekly work within each course, including readings, written assignments, discussion activities, quizzes, and final examinations or projects. The learning model combines instructor guidance with discussion forums and peer review. Grades may therefore draw on instructor-graded work, peer-assessed work, quizzes, and a final assessment. This approach can build written communication and evaluation skills, but students should be comfortable giving and receiving structured feedback from classmates. Open educational resources and other digital course materials are provided without a textbook charge. Program advisors support students from the beginning of study through graduation, while instructors facilitate individual courses. The model offers location and scheduling flexibility, but it is structured study rather than self-paced enrollment: weekly participation and term deadlines still apply. Prospective students should review the catalog for their chosen program’s course sequence, prerequisites, transfer-credit rules, and graduation requirements before committing.

Key Highlights

• Accredited by WSCUC, with a March 24, 2026 commission action
• Independent private nonprofit institution with no related sponsoring entity
• Entirely online, with five scheduled terms in the 2026–2027 academic year
• Established in 2009
• Does not participate in US federal or state financial-aid programs

Student Life & Environment

Student life takes place online rather than around residence halls, athletics, or a physical student center. The university states that courses have no mandatory live lectures, allowing students to arrange weekly work around employment, caregiving, and different time zones. That flexibility also places substantial responsibility on students to maintain a study routine, meet deadlines, and participate consistently without the external structure of daily campus attendance. Interaction is built into academic work through online discussions, peer review, and communication with instructors. Students are assigned program-advising support, and the student-experience site also points to Ask a Student and UoPeople@Communities as ways to connect with current students, graduates, and local networks. The value of these opportunities will depend on active participation; the experience is unlikely to resemble the spontaneous social environment of a residential university. Career-development resources are available through the student portal and learning platform. They include help with résumés, cover letters, job-search strategy, interviews, networking, and career planning. The Career Service Center is available during study and after graduation. Students seeking disability accommodations, academic assistance, or other support should confirm the relevant procedures and response times before enrolling, especially if they will study across international time zones.

Location & Surroundings

Although the database places the institution in Pasadena, University of the People is not a Pasadena teaching campus. WSCUC currently records its active main headquarters at The Mill Wilmington, 221 W. 10th Street, #109, Wilmington, Delaware. The university’s own FAQ makes clear that it is an online university without a physical campus. Students should not plan to relocate to Pasadena or Wilmington for classes, housing, laboratories, libraries, or campus activities. For practical purposes, a student’s study location is wherever they have dependable internet access and a suitable device. This removes a daily commute and lets international students remain in their home country, but it also means the university does not provide a residential setting or campus room and board. Learners must arrange their own workspace, connectivity, technology, and local living costs. Location flexibility is one of the institution’s defining features, particularly for working adults and students far from conventional universities. Applicants should nevertheless consider local internet reliability, time-zone differences when contacting support, and whether their home environment offers enough quiet time for recurring weekly assignments and examinations.

Costs & Career Outcomes

University of the People charges no tuition for instruction and provides required textbooks and course materials without charge. Students nevertheless pay a one-time, non-refundable $60 application fee and an assessment fee for each course. For students who saved their place on or after June 7, 2026, the published 2026–2027 undergraduate assessment fee is $180 per course. Estimated complete-program fees are $3,660 for the listed associate degrees, $7,260 for bachelor’s programs in business administration, computer science, and general studies, and $7,080 for the bachelor’s in health science. The 2026–2027 graduate catalog lists assessment fees of $440 per course for the Master of Education in Advanced Teaching and $490 for the MBA and MSIT. Estimated totals are $5,780 for the M.Ed. and $5,940 for either the MBA or MSIT. These figures assume successful completion without repeated courses and exclude possible third-party evaluation costs. Fees can change with notice, so current students should confirm the amount in their portal. Scholarships and university grants may help eligible students with fees, but the institution does not participate in US federal or state financial-aid programs. There is no university housing or campus room-and-board charge because study is fully online. Students must budget separately for internet service, a suitable computer, their own living expenses, and any payment or credential-evaluation charges. Career services provide résumé and cover-letter support, interview preparation, job-search and networking guidance, and major-related career planning. These services support preparation but do not constitute a placement or salary guarantee.