University of the People Partners with Rural Community College Alliance to Expand Access to Affordable Online Education

[Pasadena, CA, May 19, 2025] – University of the People (UoPeople), the world’s first tuition-free, American accredited online university, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the Rural Community College Alliance (RCCA). This partnership will provide greater access to higher education for students in rural America, including tribal communities, by offering a seamless and affordable transfer pathway to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Through this transfer agreement, RCCA’s network of over 300 colleges serving 3.4 million students can now take advantage of an easy, streamlined process to transfer associate degrees into UoPeople’s tuition-free bachelor’s programs. Students can complete their four-year degree for just $2,800—without the burden of taking on student loans or the need to relocate.

“Many students in rural America live in ‘education deserts,’ often 50 to 100 miles from the nearest college,” said UoPeople President Shai Reshef. “UoPeople’s partnership with RCCA removes barriers, offering these students an accessible, affordable, and flexible pathway to a bachelor’s degree—without uprooting their lives.”

By eliminating the need for individual transfer agreements, RCCA member colleges can now seamlessly connect their students with UoPeople’s accredited, 100% online degree programs. Without FAFSA requirements or tuition fees, this initiative ensures that students—especially those in underserved communities—will have the opportunity to advance their education without financial hardship.

“This partnership expands affordable options for rural and tribal students, many of whom juggle jobs, family, and long travel distances,” said Chris Breitmeyer, President of RCCA and Clatsop Community College. “With University of the People, they can complete a four-year degree without leaving their community—no FAFSA, no debt, just opportunity.”

Click here for additional information on this partnership and how students can benefit.

About UoPeople

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. UoPeople is accredited by both the WASC Senior College and University Commission and the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. 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.

About RCCA:

The Rural Community College Alliance (RCCA) helps its member institutions serve the 89.3 million people who reside in rural America. We seek to promote a more economically, culturally, and civically vibrant rural America through advocacy, convening, leveraging resources, and serving as a clearinghouse for innovative practice, policy, and research. Learn more at www.ruralccalliance.org.