Name: An ultra-low-cost college degree
Uploaded: 2014-08-04T15:08:53Z
Duration: 10 min 38 s
Description: At the online University of the People, anyone with a high school diploma can take classes toward a degree in business administration or computer science — without standard tuition fees (though exams cost money). Founder Shai Reshef hopes that higher education is changing "from being a privilege for the few to a basic right, affordable and accessible for all."

Shai Reshef: An ultra-low-cost college degree

An ultra-low-cost college degree

At the online University of the People, anyone with a high school diploma can take classes toward a degree in business administration or computer science — without standard tuition fees (though exams cost money). Founder Shai Reshef hopes that higher education is changing "from being a privilege for the few to a basic right, affordable and accessible for all."

Millions of qualified and motivated people are shut out of college by financial, cultural, and logistical barriers. In some places, even passing entrance exams does not guarantee a seat, leaving 100 million students without access by 2025. A new online university model cuts costs by using open resources, volunteer professors, and peer learning, offering accredited degrees for as little as $1,000 per year. This approach aims to make higher education accessible to anyone with a high school diploma and an internet connection.