What Is the Best Online College — and Why You Should Take a Closer Look at University of the People

When you ask “What is the best online college?”, the real question is: which online college best fits your needs — academic quality, cost, flexibility, and long-term outcomes. For many students, especially working adults or those abroad, UoPeople offers compelling advantages. Here’s a current, balanced look at why that is — and when other institutions might make more sense.

What Defines a “Best” Online College?

“Best” depends on what matters most to you. Common criteria include:

• Accreditation and academic quality — Will your degree be recognized by employers or other institutions?
• Affordability — Can you get a degree without accumulating unmanageable debt?
• Flexibility — Can you study at your own pace, balancing work, family, or location constraints?
• Outcomes — Do graduates get jobs, promotions, or are accepted into further studies?

Different priorities lead to different “best” answers. A busy professional might prioritize low-cost flexibility; someone else might prefer a program with high prestige and strong alumni networks.

Why Have Online Colleges Become Mainstream Now?

Online education is no longer fringe. According to recent data, over half of U.S. college students took at least one distance-education course in 2022–23.

• As of fall 2022, about 10 million students were enrolled in at least one distance-education class.
• Roughly 26–28 % of all students took all courses online in that period.

This dramatic growth means there are many online options — from fully online institutions to hybrid and public university online programs. But it also means prospective students need to carefully vet each option — not all “online colleges” are equal.

Why Is UoPeople a Top Choice for Online College?

If your priorities are affordability, accessibility, and recognized credentials, UoPeople stands out. Here’s how:

What accreditation does UoPeople have — and why does that matter?

As of February 2025, UoPeople is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), making it regionally accredited — a strong signal of academic quality and institutional standards in the U.S. This accreditation enhances credibility and increases the odds that employers or other universities will accept its degrees — especially important for international students or those transferring credits.

How Much Does UoPeople Cost, and How Does It Compare to Other Colleges?

Unlike many traditional colleges, UoPeople operates a tuition-free model: students do not pay tuition. Instead, they pay only minimal fees: application fees and exam/assessment fees.

That dramatically reduces out-of-pocket costs. For many prospective students — especially those constrained by budget or for whom paying full tuition is not feasible — UoPeople’s model significantly lowers barriers to a degree.

Who Enrolls at UoPeople, and How Global Is the Student Community?

UoPeople serves a highly international student body. The fully online model allows learners from around the world to enroll, study asynchronously, and earn an American-accredited degree wherever they are.

It also offers flexible online programs in fields such as Business Administration, Computer Science, Health Science, Education, and advanced degrees like MBA or M.Ed — useful if you’re studying from outside the U.S. or balancing other commitments.

Those aspects make UoPeople particularly attractive to international students, working professionals, or learners for whom traditional college is inaccessible.

When Should You Choose a Traditional Online Program, and How Do You Pick the Best Online College?

If your goals lean toward specialized professional pipelines or if you prefer on-campus modes of learning, large traditional institutions might still be better suited. Many established state universities or well-resourced private colleges now offer robust online degree programs, with deep resources, career services, and reputations built over decades.

Here’s a simple decision framework when evaluating any online college:

• Is the college accredited — and by whom? Regional accreditation (like WSCUC) tends to carry more weight than less-known accreditors.
• What is the total cost — including hidden fees? Don’t just look at “tuition,” but also application, assessment, and graduation fees. UoPeople’s model shows how fees can be radically lower than traditional institutions.
• Does the program offer the flexibility you need? Asynchronous courses, self-paced learning, international student support, etc.
• What are the expected outcomes? Graduate employment rate, recognition, transferability, and further-study acceptance. Ask for data where possible.
• Will your degree be accepted in your region or field? This is especially important for international students or for fields with licensing or certification requirements.

For many — particularly international students, working adults, or those seeking affordability — UoPeople checks many of these boxes.

Is UoPeople the Best Online College, and What Makes It a Top Option?

If “best” means affordable, accessible, globally oriented, and backed by credible U.S. accreditation, UoPeople stands out as one of the strongest online college options available today. Its model is built around high-quality, asynchronous learning that supports students from over 200 countries — many of whom balance work, family, military service, or caregiving responsibilities.

UoPeople has also developed a solid reputation for academic rigor, transparent policies, and partnerships with respected institutions. These collaborations, along with consistent recognition from global education organizations, further strengthen its standing as a trusted online university.

Student and alumni experiences are a major part of this reputation. Many graduates highlight the supportive peer community, the practical curriculum, and the life-changing flexibility that allowed them to earn a U.S.-accredited degree while working or managing family responsibilities. From first-generation learners to career shifters and international professionals, UoPeople alumni consistently report that the programs helped them build confidence, expand career opportunities, and access education they once thought was out of reach.

For students who need flexibility, lower cost, and respected credentials — especially those outside the U.S. — UoPeople offers a compelling, modern alternative to conventional institutions, and a pathway that genuinely changes lives.