Can a tuition-free university truly democratize higher education for students worldwide?

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 2009 by Shai Reshef, the University of the People operates as an online, tuition-free institution designed to bypass the financial barriers of traditional colleges. By leveraging an asynchronous learning model, it now serves approximately 50,000 refugees, aiming to provide accessible degree paths to those previously excluded from higher education.

The University of the People emerged from Shai Reshef’s earlier experiences with online education in the Netherlands and his work at Cramster. Launched in January 2009, the institution was built on the premise that tuition costs should not prevent qualified students from pursuing degrees. While the university is tuition-free, it is not entirely cost-free; students are required to pay administrative fees to cover the costs of course assessments. The school does not participate in federal financial aid programs, though it does provide some scholarship opportunities to assist students.

The institution operates entirely online with no physical campus, though it maintains an admissions office in Pasadena, California. Its academic offerings have expanded significantly since its first classes in September 2009, which focused on business administration and computer science. By 2016, the university introduced an MBA program, and in 2019, it launched a Master of Education in Advanced Teaching in collaboration with the International Baccalaureate. Furthermore, in 2020, the university launched an Arabic-language program, which removes the requirement for English proficiency, broadening its reach to a diverse global student body.

Accreditation has been a central focus for the institution's development. In 2012, the Gates Foundation provided a grant of $613,282 to support the university's efforts to achieve national accreditation. The school was accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission in 2014, though it voluntarily ended this relationship effective December 31, 2025. Currently, the university holds accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission, having achieved candidate status in June 2021 and full accreditation in February 2025. Through strategic partnerships, such as the 2017 collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, the school continues to integrate its graduates into broader academic ecosystems.

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