How Shai Reshef Built the World's Largest Online University for the Masses
Shai Reshef's University of the People has become the largest US university with 271,000 students, offering affordable online degrees to refugees, conflict zones, and underserved global populations.
Shai Reshef sits down and shares his grand vision with a spark of mischief and genuine enthusiasm. While many speak about changing the world with solemn faces, Reshef approaches it with the energy of someone about to jump out of his chair. Nearly 18 years ago, after two successful exits in the educational sector, Reshef founded University of the People (UoPeople), an American online higher education institution designed to bypass economic, geographical, and political barriers.
Scaling Higher Education Globally
Last week, UoPeople kicked off its academic year with approximately 271,000 students hailing from 216 countries and territories, making it the largest university in the United States by student enrollment. According to UNESCO estimates, there are roughly 270 million students globally, meaning approximately one out of every one thousand students worldwide is enrolled at UoPeople. While developed nations grapple with declining student populations, rising tuition costs, and political chaos, developing regions face a massive surge in youth populations paired with a severe lack of academic infrastructure.
UoPeople bridges this gap by offering low-cost and tuition-free degree programs. While instruction is entirely free, students pay modest assessment fees per course, totaling around $7,200 for a full bachelor's degree—though roughly two-thirds of the student body receive full scholarships. This inclusive model attracts diverse demographics, including 15% American students, 40,000 students from the Arab world, nearly 50,000 refugees and displaced persons, and tens of thousands from sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, the university supports over 7,000 Afghan women studying in secret, as well as students in active conflict zones such as Gaza.
"We tell students: Here is the question, go to AI to get the answer, but we want you to be able to explain why it is the correct answer and what its sources are. Banning students from using AI is a lost and hopeless battle. The point is to use it correctly."
Leveraging Technology and AI
Operating with minimal physical overhead, UoPeople utilizes a global network of over 2,000 volunteer instructors, administrators, and technological infrastructure. The university relies heavily on artificial intelligence to streamline operations, maintain academic integrity, and scale support systems. Rather than fighting technological advancements, Reshef embraces AI as an essential educational tool that democratizes learning further and reduces administrative overhead, allowing funds to be directed straight to student support.
Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Reshef highlights how his early ventures in Israel—such as Kidum and subsequent international e-learning initiatives—paved the way for this philanthropic endeavor. Funded in part by major global philanthropies and corporations like the Gates Foundation, Intel, and Microsoft, UoPeople continues to expand its reach. Reshef remains driven by a singular purpose: ensuring that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, has access to quality higher education and the opportunity to build a better future.
