University of the People Awarded WASC Accreditation

Cementing its Role as a Global Leader in Accessible Higher Education

PASADENA, Calif., Feb. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- University of the People (UoPeople) announced today that it is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. This recognition places UoPeople among the ranks of the world's most respected institutions of higher learning, including UC Berkeley, Stanford, and UCLA.

UoPeople is the world's first non-profit, tuition-free, American accredited online university. This milestone represents a significant achievement in UoPeople's mission to democratize education and make it accessible to all qualified students around the globe. With WASC accreditation, UoPeople reinforces its commitment to providing high-quality, innovative, and flexible higher education programs that empower students to succeed academically and professionally.

"Receiving WASC accreditation is a historic moment for University of the People and a validation of our mission to provide affordable, high-quality education to those who need it most around the world," said UoPeople President Shai Reshef. "This achievement is a testament to our dedication to academic excellence and innovation, and it opens new doors for our students to gain global recognition for their degrees and enhance their career opportunities. Together, we are reshaping the future of higher education."

WASC is recognized as an institutional accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education. It accredits institutions within the United States and all around the world. WASC accreditation is a vital indicator of academic quality and is important for the following reasons:

1. Quality Assurance: WASC accreditation signifies that a university meets rigorous academic standards in teaching, learning, and student outcomes. This assures students, parents, and employers of the institution's credibility.
   
   
2. Recognized Credential: Degrees from WASC-accredited institutions are widely accepted by employers and other universities, particularly for transferring credits or pursuing further education.
   
   
3. Global Recognition: WASC is a respected accrediting body, and its endorsement adds international credibility to the institution, benefiting students who wish to work or study abroad.
   
   
4. Continuous Improvement: WASC accreditation requires periodic evaluations, ensuring that the university remains accountable and continually enhances its programs and services.

Since its inception, UoPeople has broken barriers by offering tuition-free degree programs in business administration, computer science, health science, and education. With a student body of 153,000 learners from 209 countries and territories, including more than 18,500 refugees, UoPeople continues to be a pioneer in making education accessible to all.

In addition to WASC accreditation, UoPeople is also accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), a national educational accreditation agency in the U.S. specializing in distance education institutions. The DEAC is recognized as an accreditor by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

About University of the People
University of the People (UoPeople) is the first non-profit, tuition-free, American-accredited online university. Currently, there are 153,000 students from 209 countries and territories enrolled at the university. Designed to open access to higher education globally, UoPeople helps qualified high school graduates overcome financial, geographic, political, and personal constraints keeping them from collegiate studies. The university offers certificate, associate, and bachelor's degree programs in business administration, computer science, and health science, as well as MBA, MSIT, and M.Ed. programs. Graduates of UoPeople can be found working at such companies as Deloitte, Amazon, Apple, Pfizer, Google, Microsoft, and IBM. UoPeople collaborates with world class institutions, including McGill University and the University of Edinburgh. In addition, it has been supported by foundations such as the Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Hewlett Foundation. UoPeople President Shai Reshef recently received the Yidan Prize for Educational Development, known as the "Nobel Prize" of higher ed. Learn more at www.uopeople.edu.

SOURCE University of the People