University of the People (UoPeople), a fully online, tuition-free and accredited American university, has given hope to more than 6,000 Ghanaian students and over 170,000 learners worldwide, opening doors to higher education for people who would otherwise be shut out due to financial, geographic or political barriers.
For 27-year-old Emmanuel Agyekum a Ghanaian student based in Kumasi, the institution has been nothing short of life-changing. After dropping out of KNUST due to financial and health difficulties, Emmanuel’s dream of earning a degree seemed completely shattered. “Life was really knocking me down,” he recalls. “I had no hope of continuing my education… I didn’t know where to start all over from.”
Scrolling on Instagram one night, Emmanuel stumbled upon an advertisement for the University of the People—an American, tuition-free, accredited online university designed to expand higher education opportunities globally. Curious but cautious, he tried reaching out to the school. Although he initially struggled to provide a transcript, he was stunned when an email landed in his inbox months later, offering him a scholarship.
“It felt impossible,” he said, still amazed by the memory. “I was extremely happy because I had been given another opportunity to get that degree. This time, it was far better than what I was trying to get from my former institution.”
Today, Emmanuel is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with UoPeople and has just completed his first year. He describes the journey as a “turning point” in his life. “I was depressed, stranded, and idle for almost nine months,” he says. “But now every week I’m learning something new. It has shaped my life tremendously.”
While he expected more virtual, live-teaching sessions, Emmanuel says the academic rigor keeps him motivated. “You always have to read, take quizzes, be active. If you miss class, you’re behind. It pushes you to stay consistent.”
He is now combining his studies with remote work for a U.S. tech company, where his boss is encouraging him toward a future in data analysis. “My dream to work in a tech company keeps me going,” he notes. “This degree is giving me the foundation.”
For Emmanuel, UoPeople has restored not just his education, but his confidence:
“I felt like a failure… but this gave me hope again. It’s one of the best initiatives anyone can benefit from getting educated without paying school fees. Truly, it’s a second chance.”
Why UoPeople is Expanding Rapidly in Ghana
According to Shai Reshef, President of the University of the People, the institution was built with students like Emmanuel in mind.
“There are so many people around the world who finish high school but cannot afford higher education,” he explains. “Higher education is the most important ingredient for a successful life. We believe it should be a basic right, not a privilege.”
UoPeople uses the power of the internet to reach learners who cannot access university due to financial, geographic, political, or personal limitations. Although tuition is free, students pay $160 per course for assessments, bringing a full bachelor’s degree to about $6,400, a fraction of the cost of any American university. Scholarships are available for those who cannot afford even that.
In Ghana alone, the university currently hosts over 6,000 students, a number rising steadily. Reshef attributes this to several factors: free senior high school creating a surge in applicants, limited space in public universities, and the high cost of private institutions.
“We are inexpensive even by Ghanaian standards,” he said. “And our accreditation is the same as Berkeley, Stanford, and UCLA. We provide high-quality American education and flexibility students can work and study at their own pace.”
He emphasized that UoPeople graduates have secured employment with top global companies like Google, Amazon, Apple, IBM, and HP, evidence of the institution’s credibility.
Maintaining Quality While Staying Affordable
Reshef dismissed assumptions that free or tuition-free education compromises quality.
“We are accredited by WASC, he highest accreditation in the U.S.,” he said. “We also have advisory boards made up of professors from NYU, Yale, Duke, Carnegie Mellon, and practitioners from leading companies. They ensure we teach what the industry needs.”
UoPeople professors are professionals who also teach in other universities, and the school’s track record speaks for itself. Some graduates have continued their studies at MIT and Carnegie Mellon.
Support systems are built into the model despite its low-cost structure. Every student is placed in a small class of 20–30 people, taught by a professor and supported by a program advisor who guides them from enrollment to graduation.
“Many of our students come from very difficult backgrounds,” Reshef said. “We try to give them hope. For many, it’s us or nothing.”
Expanding Opportunities for African Students
Africa is one of the university’s fastest-growing student populations, with 80,000 learners currently enrolled. UoPeople is actively working with corporations and governments to expand opportunities.
Through a partnership with IBM, students including those in Ghana can now earn free certificates in cybersecurity or data analytics, gaining market-ready skills while earning academic credit toward their degrees.
The university has also received $800,000 from Coca-Cola to sponsor first-generation students—those whose families have never had access to higher education.
“We have room for everyone,” Reshef said. “Nobody needs to stand at the back of a lecture hall. If Ghanaian authorities are open, we would love to work with the government to offer opportunities to all.”
For Emmanuel, that opportunity has already reshaped his life. And for thousands more across Ghana and beyond, the University of the People is proving that hope, dignity, and education can be restored even in the most difficult circumstances.
