University of the People is one university whose online programs receive good ratings and reviews. Knowing that some University of the People online degrees are tuition-free is even more interesting.
Hence, this article compiles all free online degrees at the University of People. In addition, it gives information on the various program types available at this online university.
University of the People is the first to be an online, tuition-free university! The non-profit’s purpose is to provide an accredited choice for higher education for those otherwise unable to attend a brick-and-mortar school.
UoPeople offers three Associate and Bachelor’s degree programs in Business Administration, Health Science, and Computer Science, as well as a one-year MBA program. Their accreditation is provided by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) since the first quarter of 2014.
Table of contents
About the University of the People
The University of the People is located in Pasadena, California. And, it provides free tuition to thousands around the world. Students are responsible for paying a registration fee of 60$ and a 100$ processing fee for each exam taken per student.
An associate’s degree requires around 20 exams and 40 exams to obtain a Bachelor’s degree. If you can’t pay, scholarships are available to apply for these costs.
Is UoPeople a real university?
Yes, UoPeople is a real university. It is a private non-profit, distance education university with an office in Pasadena, California.
Students can enroll in any of the available programs online. Upon completion of the study year, a certificate duly recognized by most international universities and employers of labor is issued.
The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities in July ranked the University of the People-5 822. The ranking factor was based on their web presence’s volume, visibility, and impact.
READ ALSO: 20 Masters Scholarships for Indonesia 2023
What Programs are Available at the University of the People?
University of the People offers seven associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees:
University of the People Undergraduate Degree
- Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.) in Business Administration
- Associate of Science Degree (A.S.) in Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.) in Computer Science
- Associate of Science Degree (A.S.) in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.) in Health Studies
- Associate of Science Degree (A.S.) in Health Studies
University of the People Graduate Degree
- Master of Business Administration Degree (M.B.A.)
UoPeople students must meet three criteria to gain admission: a high school diploma, English proficiency, and 18 years or older.
Each course consists of individual homework assignments and online discussions, both of which are peer-reviewed. Class sizes usually comprise 20-30 students from around the world.
READ ALSO: Rutherford County Schools Review 2023| Admission Requirements, Tuition, Scholarship
What is University of the People Tuition?
The University of the People bills itself as “tuition-free”. Nevertheless, there are costs that a student must pay:
- Registration fee of $60 so to register a student at the University of the People
- An exam administration fee of $100-$200 for each exam a student takes
To complete an associate degree (A.S.), a student must take 20 exams and 40 exams for a bachelor’s degree, which cost $2,060 and $4,060, respectively.
For the MBA, a student has to pay a $200 exam fee per course for 12 courses, which brings the total cost to $2460.
Are there UoPeople Scholarships for Students?
For individuals who are unable to afford even these minimal fees, UoPeople offers a variety of scholarship funds to cover all, or part, of the processing fees.
These funds are designed to meet its students’ unique and diverse needs.
Some of the scholarships can be found below:
- Emergency Refugee Assistance Scholarship Fund – open to all students
- Foundation Hoffmann Scholarship – open to all students
- UoPeople General Scholarship – open to all students
- Vietnamese Scholarship Fund – students from Vietnam
- To see all available scholarships
READ ALSO: 20 Masters Scholarships for Indonesia 2023
Is UoPeople In Partnership With Some Universities?
With a convenient virtual web address, the University of the People is accessible anytime, anywhere with an internet connection.
UoPeople academic leadership comes from top universities such as Harvard, Yale, NYU, Cambridge, Oxford, and many more. UoPeople partners with the following universities:
#1. UC Berkeley
In April 2016, UoPeople partnered with University of California, Berkeley. Under the terms of the partnership, UoPeople students who complete an associate degree can apply to Berkeley to complete their bachelor’s degree. However, there is no guarantee that UC Berkeley will accept them.
UoPeople President Shai Reshef praised the agreement as “the ultimate endorsement of the value of our degrees.” Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks (a member of the UoPeople President’s Council) said, “UoPeople’s mission is closely aligned with the mission of Berkeley, to open the gates to a quality higher education to every deserving student.
#2. Yale Law School Information Society Project
University of the People and Yale Law School ISP (Information Society Project) announced a digital education research partnership in 2009. Jack Balkin, Yale ISP Director and Knight Professor of Constitutional Law and the First Amendment at Yale Law School, serves on the Arts and Science Advisory Board of the University of the People.
READ ALSO: Cherokee Nation Scholarships 2023| Indian Students
#3. New York University
In June 2011, New York University (NYU) announced a collaborative agreement with the University of the People to identify those UoPeople students eligible for admission to New York University’s Abu Dhabi campus.
Recognizing that many of UoPeople’s students are economically disadvantaged youth, eligible students who qualify for admittance to NYU Abu Dhabi and qualify for financial aid may receive generous financial aid to afford attendance at NYU Abu Dhabi.
John Sexton is the chairman of the University’s Council of Presidents, and all three UoPeople deans hail from NYU.
#4. Microsoft4Afrika
Through the Microsoft4Afrika scholarship program, Microsoft has pledged to sponsor African students to study at UoPeople. Scholarship recipients will further enhance their skills and experience through participation in additional support programs, including professional training from Microsoft, mentorship by Microsoft employees, internships, and job opportunities with Microsoft and their affiliates in Africa.
The university plans to replicate this partnership with further corporations in the future.
#5. Hewlett Packard (HP)
University of the People and Hewlett Packard (HP) announced a partnership in June 2011 to open up virtual research internships for UoPeople students as part of HP’s Catalyst Initiative—a global network of consortia that brings together educational institutions and non-governmental organizations.
Additionally, Hewlett-Packard was the first corporate sponsor of the University of the People Women Scholarship Fund, with a donation of $200,000 to sponsor 100 women towards the attainment of their associate degrees.
HP also gave the University a 200,000 general donation and donated computers to the University’s learning center in Haiti.
SEE ALSO: The University of Kansas Scholarships 2023
#6. United Nations
Working under the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, GAID was approved by the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2006 in recognition that ICT must be effectively integrated into development activities if internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, are to be achieved within the agreed time frame.
On May 19, 2009, UN-GAID announced the launch of the University of the People at a press conference in New York reporters, and its President, Shai Reshef, was named as a high-profile advisor to UN GAID.
In November 2014, the university announced a partnership with UNHCR to offer higher education to refugees and asylum seekers.
#7. Clinton Global Initiative
Clinton Global Initiative Advances University of the People Pledge to Democratize Higher Education in Haiti. In August 2010, UoPeople was invited to join the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and announced its commitment to Haiti.
UoPeople is committed to accepting 250 qualified Haitian youth to study at the university for free, helping them access education and develop the skills needed to rebuild their country. The commitment was fulfilled in May 2014.
In 2012, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donated $500,000 to the University of the People, helping its work toward accreditation.
#8. OpenCourseWare Consortium
OpenCourseWare is a free and open digital publication of high-quality educational materials organized as courses.
The OpenCourseWare Consortium (OCWC) is a collaboration of more than 200 higher education institutions and associated organizations from around the world creating a broad and deep body of open educational content using a shared model.
As a member of OCWC, UoPeople strengthens its commitment to advancing the current education system via the Internet.
SEE ALSO: Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarship at the University of Zambia | 2023
#9. Asal Technologies
University of the People moved its IT development to Ramallah via a technology partnership with Asal Technologies, as announced on March 7, 2012. One of the primary drivers behind this move is that the University states it is determined to provide not only educational opportunities but also job opportunities to regions in need of them.
Palestine is one such region. Since opening the center, part of the university’s student and financial support services have also relocated to Ramallah.
University of the People also announced it is currently considering moving a large part of its back-office operations to Ramallah, to provide additional jobs.
#10. Ashoka
Ashoka is the largest network of social entrepreneurs worldwide, with nearly 3,000 Ashoka Fellows in 70 countries putting their system-changing ideas into practice globally.
In recognition of his revolutionary venture, UoPeople President Shai Reshef was elected an Ashoka Fellow in December 2009.
The program lends Reshef professional support, including access to a global network of two thousand peers worldwide.
We Also Recommend
- Study in University Of The People: ADMISSION, TUITION FEES, SCHOLARSHIPS, COURSES AND RANKING
- 20 Undergraduate Scholarships For Algerians
- Study in the United States: Tuition Fees, Admission Requirements and Scholarships
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Taking a Year Off from College
- APPLY Little People of America Scholarship
- IT Fellowship Program at the University of Liechtenstein
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.
2 comments
Comments are closed.