Israeli Founder's Online University Becomes Largest in US
University of the People (UoPeople), an online academic institution founded by Israeli entrepreneur Shai Reshef, has become the largest university in the United States by student enrollment, with approximately 271,000 students from 216 countries and territories. Reshef, who previously had two successful exits in the education sector, founded UoPeople 18 years ago with the goal of making higher education accessible to everyone, regardless of financial, geographical, or political circumstances. The university's stated aim is to reach one million students.
UoPeople addresses the dual crises in higher education: declining enrollment and financial struggles in developed nations, and a lack of access for a growing youth population in developing countries. While developed nations face challenges like high costs and declining birth rates, sub-Saharan Africa, for example, has a rapidly growing youth population with less than 10% accessing university education. UoPeople offers low-cost or free tuition, with exam fees of around $180 per course, or $7,200 for a full degree recognized by U.S. authorities. A third of students pay these fees, while the rest receive scholarships.
The student body is diverse, including 15% Americans, 40,000 from Arab countries (15,000 Syrians), and nearly a quarter who are refugees or displaced persons. The university also serves over 7,000 Afghan women studying in secret, students from Yemen, Rohingya from Myanmar, Ukraine, South America, and Gaza. UoPeople is actively working with local organizations to reach students in conflict zones and underserved areas, including Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Venezuela, and Gaza.
Reshef views artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool rather than a threat, integrating it into teaching and administrative processes to save costs and enhance learning. UoPeople encourages students to use AI for research but emphasizes critical thinking to understand and verify AI-generated answers. The university offers degrees in business administration, computer science, and health sciences, along with professional certificates and electives, adapting its curriculum to diverse global perspectives while navigating challenges like teaching objective history.
Operating with a lean budget of $25 million for 170,000 students last year, UoPeople relies heavily on technology and volunteerism, including over 2,000 volunteer instructors who receive a nominal fee for expenses. Reshef himself, along with other senior staff, works on a voluntary basis. The university has received significant funding from major organizations like the Gates Foundation, Coca-Cola, Intel, and Pfizer. Reshef, who splits his time between New York and Tel Aviv, emphasizes that his work is for the global community and not affiliated with or endorsed by the Israeli government, which he believes would hinder his efforts.
