Choosing the right online university isn't just about getting a degree-it's about investing in your future without breaking the bank. Two names keep popping up in conversations about affordable, accessible online education: Nexford University and University of the People (UoPeople).

Both promise flexibility. Both claim affordability. Both offer U.S.-accredited degrees. But here's the truth: they're built on fundamentally different models, and understanding these differences could save you thousands of dollars and years of frustration.

This comparison cuts through the marketing noise to give you the facts you need to make an informed decision about your education in 2026.

What Makes Each University Unique?

Nexford University: The Tech-Driven Disruptor

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., Nexford University operates like a tech startup merged with a university. Think of it as education reimagined for the digital age-no legacy systems, no outdated traditions, just pure innovation built for how people actually learn today.

Key Features:

• 100% online, designed from the ground up for distance learning
• Monthly subscription model for graduate programs, per-course pricing for undergraduate degrees
• Competency-based curriculum focused on real-world skills employers actually need
• Self-paced learning with no rigid semester schedules-you control the timeline
• American university - serves learners from 100+ countries
• Career Success Coach from day one to guide your journey

Nexford doesn't follow traditional semester cycles because you're not a traditional student. You start when you're ready, move at your own pace, and pay only for the time you're enrolled.

The faster you complete your degree, the less you pay. It's education that adapts to your life, not the other way around.

University of the People: The Assessment Fee Model

Launched in 2009 by entrepreneur, Shai Reshef, University of the People (UoPeople) markets itself as "tuition-free", though students pay assessment fees for every course they complete.

Key Features:

• No traditional tuition charges (assessment fees per course apply)
• $160 assessment fees per undergraduate course, $450 per MBA course, $400 per M.Ed. course
• Over 170,000 students from 213 countries and territories
• Volunteer faculty model with modest honorariums
• 9-week term structure with up to 3 courses per term

UoPeople doesn't charge traditional "tuition," but students pay assessment fees for each course upon completion. The university's model relies on volunteer instructors who receive modest honorariums and open educational resources to keep costs lower than traditional universities.

Accreditation: How Do They Stack Up?

This matters more than you think. Accreditation determines whether employers and other universities will recognize your degree.

Nexford University Accreditation

Nexford holds institutional accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Additional Recognition:

• Licensed in Washington D.C. by the Higher Education Licensure Commission (HELC)
• MBA program holds specialized accreditation from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) - granted July 2025
• Member of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

Learn more about Nexford's accreditation status.

DEAC accreditation is national accreditation specifically designed for distance education institutions. It's legitimate and federally recognized.

What sets DEAC apart is its focus specifically on online learning quality-these standards were created for digital education, not retrofitted from traditional campus models.

UoPeople Accreditation

UoPeople made headlines in February 2025 when it achieved regional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)-the same accrediting body that oversees Stanford, UC Berkeley, and UCLA.

Accreditation Status:

• WASC Senior College and University Commission (regional accreditation) - achieved 2024, announced February 2025
• Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) as well

Regional accreditation is typically viewed as the traditional gold standard for campus-based universities and can make credit transfers smoother with conventional institutions.

The Real Cost Breakdown

Let's talk money—because that's probably why you're considering these schools in the first place.

Nexford University Costs

Nexford uses a pay-as-you-go model with transparent pricing—no surprises, no hidden fees, just straightforward costs you can plan around:

Undergraduate Programs (BBA):

• $120-$250 per course depending on your country
• 40 courses required to complete the degree
• 24 months // $120 x 40 = $4,800 total [1]
• 24 months // $250 x 40 = $10,000 total [1]
• Pricing varies by country to maintain affordability globally
• $25 application fee

Graduate Programs (MBA):

• $275-$450 per month depending on your country (pricing adjusted to local economic factors)
• Standard completion time: 18 months
• 18 months // $275 x 18 = $4,950 total [2]
• 18 months // $450 x 18 = $8,100 total [2]
• Complete faster = pay significantly less - Accelerated MBA can be completed in 9 months.

The Nexford Advantage: Total cost transparency from day one. No hidden fees. No surprise charges. You know exactly what you'll pay before you start. And here's the kicker—if you can accelerate your learning, you directly cut your costs. Your motivation literally saves you money.

See complete tuition details for your country.

University of the People Costs

UoPeople doesn't charge traditional tuition, but requires payment of assessment fees for each course:

Undergraduate Programs:

• $60 application fee (one-time) [3]
• $160 assessment fee per course (paid at course completion) [3]
• Associate degree (20 courses): $3,260 total ($60 + 20 × $160) [3]
• Bachelor's degree (40 courses): $6,460 total ($60 + 40 × $160) [3]

Graduate Programs (MBA, M.Ed., MSIT):

• $60 application fee (one-time) [4]
• $450 assessment fee per MBA course (12 courses) [4]
• $400 assessment fee per M.Ed. course (12 courses) [4]
• MBA total: $5,460 ($60 + 12 × $450) [4]
• M.Ed. total: $5,260 ($60 + 13 × $400) [4]

While UoPeople uses "tuition-free" messaging, students still pay thousands in fees to complete their degrees.

Cost Comparison: The Bottom Line

Bachelor's Degree:

• Nexford: $5,600–$10,000 (varies by country)
• UoPeople: $6,460

MBA:

• Nexford Standard (18 months avg.): $4,950–$8,100 depending on country
  $275–$450/month (pricing adjusted to local economic factors)
• Nexford Accelerated (9 months): $2,475–$4,050 depending on country
  Same monthly rate, half the time
• UoPeople: $5,460

The Reality:

Cost comparison depends heavily on your location and completion speed.

For Bachelor's Degrees:

For learners in select global markets, Nexford's BBA at $5,600 costs $860 less than UoPeople's $6,460—and you get professional faculty, true self-paced flexibility, and integrated career coaching from day one. For U.S. learners, Nexford's BBA at $10,000 is $3,540 higher than UoPeople's assessment fees.

For MBA Programs:

Nexford offers competitive pricing with unmatched flexibility. The standard 18-month program costs $4,950–$8,100 depending on your country. However, highly motivated professionals can complete the same degree in just 9 months through Nexford's accelerated track—cutting the total cost in half to $2,475–$4,050.

This means accelerated Nexford MBA students in many global markets pay less than UoPeople's $5,460 while getting professional faculty, integrated career coaching, and true self-paced flexibility. The faster you complete your degree, the more you save.

Winner:

The best value depends on your location and what you prioritize. For MBA students who can accelerate, Nexford offers superior value in most global markets—costing less than UoPeople while providing dramatically better support and flexibility.

Even at the standard pace, Nexford's professional faculty and career coaching justify the investment in many markets. For bachelor's degrees, UoPeople has a lower sticker price for U.S. students, but Nexford offers better value in select global markets with career coaching and flexibility that UoPeople lacks.

Programs Offered

Nexford University Programs

Undergraduate Degrees:

• Bachelor of Business Administration (with 8 specializations including):
  • BBA with Specialization in Digital Marketing
  • BBA with Specialization in Entrepreneurship
  • BBA with Specialization in AI & Automation
  • BBA with Specialization in Business Analytics

• Associate of Applied Science in Business

Graduate Degrees:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) (with specializations including):
  • MBA with Specialization in AI
  • MBA with Specialization in Sustainability
  • MBA with Specialization in International Business
  • MBA with Specialization in E-Commerce
  • MBA with Specialization in Cybersecurity

Certificate Programs:

• Mini-MBA Certificate
• Operations Management Certificate
• Professional Sales Certificate

Focus: Future-ready skills in business and technology that employers are actively hiring for right now. Every program is designed with input from industry leaders to ensure you're learning what matters.

University of the People Programs

Undergraduate:

• Associate and Bachelor's degrees in Business Administration
• Associate and Bachelor's degrees in Computer Science
• Associate and Bachelor's degrees in Health Science

Graduate:

• MBA (Master of Business Administration)
• Master of Education (M.Ed.)
• Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT)

Focus: Traditional academic programs with limited specialization options. Broader range of fields but less depth in emerging business skills.

Learning Experience & Flexibility

Nexford: Ultra-Flexible, Self-Paced

Nexford built its platform around working professionals who need maximum flexibility-and then took it further than anyone else.

What You Get:

• Start courses at the beginning of any month-no waiting for fall semester
• Complete at your own pace (accelerate or slow down based on your life)
• Competency-based learning focused on real-world application, not memorization
• Project-based assessments using case studies from companies like Tesla, Amazon, and 3M
• Career Success Coach assigned from day one-not just when you're about to graduate
• No traditional semesters or rigid deadlines that don't respect your schedule
• Modern, mobile-optimized learning platform built for 2025, not 1995

Why This Works: Real life doesn't follow a semester schedule. Projects at work don't pause for finals week. Nexford recognizes that and gives you complete control.

Have a light month at work? Push through two courses. Busy season hitting hard? Scale back without penalty. This isn't just flexibility-it's education that actually fits your life.

The Reality: This level of freedom demands self-discipline. You won't have weekly deadlines forcing you to stay on track-which is either liberating or terrifying depending on your work style. But if you're reading this comparison, you're probably the kind of person who can handle that responsibility.

Explore how Nexford's flexible learning works in detail.

UoPeople: Limited Flexibility with Term Constraints

UoPeople follows a traditional term-based schedule that limits your pace and control.

What You Get:

• 9-week terms, 5 terms per year (fixed schedule)
• Take 1-3 courses per term (can't accelerate beyond this)
• Weekly deadlines within each term
• Discussion forums and peer-to-peer learning
• Personal Program Advisor for academic guidance only
• No career coaching or professional development support

The Limitation: You're locked into their term calendar. Want to power through your degree in 12 months? Can't do it.

Need to pause because of a work crisis? You'll still pay assessment fees for incomplete courses. This is flexibility in name only-you're still constrained by an institutional schedule that doesn't care about your life.

Support Services & Student Experience

Nexford Support

• Career Success Coach assigned to each student from enrollment-not just career services when you graduate
• Success Advisors to help with learning strategies and keep you on track
• Global mentorship program (Global Grid) connecting you with professionals worldwide
• Digital badges from IBM's Digital Nation Africa and LinkedIn Learning
• Community of learners from 100+ countries
• Modern, responsive support team that actually gets back to you quickly

The Difference: Nexford's Career Success Coach isn't just someone you email once or twice. They're your strategic partner throughout your degree, helping you align your learning with your career goals from day one. This proactive approach means you're building your career while you're earning your degree, not waiting until after.

UoPeople Support

• Personal Program Advisor
• Volunteer faculty model (instructors receive modest honorariums but not full-time salaries)
• Peer-to-peer learning community
• Access to Open Educational Resources (OER) for all course materials

The Reality: Volunteer faculty with modest honorariums means instructors aren't compensated at traditional salary levels, which can impact response times and availability. There's no dedicated career coaching-just academic advising.

Career Outcomes & Recognition

Nexford Graduates Work At:

• Google
• Microsoft
• Uber
• IBM
• Major corporations across 85+ countries

Nexford doesn't just hand you a degree and wish you luck. The Career Success Coach model means you're making strategic career moves throughout your studies, not scrambling after graduation.

UoPeople Graduates Work At:

• Various companies including some recognizable tech firms

The Difference: Without integrated career coaching, UoPeople graduates are on their own to translate their degree into career advancement. You get a degree, but not the strategic career support that makes it count.

Employer Recognition: Both institutions report successful job placements. However, your mileage will vary depending on your location, industry, and how you present your degree.

The Truth: Your degree's perceived value often depends less on the institution and more on:

• Your experience and skills
• How you leverage your education
• The specific employer and region
• Your ability to demonstrate competency

Nexford's competency-based, project-focused approach gives you tangible work samples to show employers-not just a transcript with grades.

Who Should Choose Nexford University?

Nexford works best if you:

• Want maximum flexibility and self-paced learning that respects your time
• Can stay motivated without rigid deadlines (and want to be rewarded for that with lower costs)
• Want to potentially save significant money by accelerating your studies
• Value competency-based, skills-focused education over theoretical academics
• Prefer project-based learning you can actually show employers
• Are a working professional who needs to fit education around an unpredictable schedule
• Want career coaching integrated throughout your degree, not just at the end
• Appreciate modern technology and a platform built for today's learners
• Care about getting the most value for your money

Best For: Self-starters, working professionals, entrepreneurs, career-changers, and learners who value speed, practical skills, and genuine flexibility over traditional academic structure.

Who Should Choose University of the People?

UoPeople might work if you:

• Need programs outside business/technology (health science, education) that Nexford doesn't offer
• Prefer rigid term schedules with weekly deadlines to stay on track
• Are a U.S.-based student seeking the lowest sticker price for a bachelor's degree
• Don't need career coaching or professional development support
• Are comfortable with volunteer faculty who receive modest honorariums

Best For: Students seeking non-business degrees in fields like health science or education, or U.S.-based students prioritizing the absolute lowest cost bachelor's degree who can manage without career support.

The Verdict: Nexford Delivers Superior Value

Let's cut through the noise: for working professionals seeking business or technology degrees, Nexford is the clear winner. Not by a small margin-by a significant one.

Choose Nexford because:

• Lower costs for most global learners: Save significantly on MBA programs and bachelor's degrees in many markets
• True flexibility: Complete on your timeline, not some arbitrary term schedule
• Career advantage: Integrated Career Success Coach from day one, not just when you graduate
• Faster completion: Motivated students finish in half the time, paying even less
• Modern platform: Built for 2025, not retrofitted from campus-based models
• Practical learning: Real company case studies and project-based work you can show employers
• Compensated faculty: Professional instructors, not volunteers with limited compensation
• Transparent pricing: Know exactly what you'll pay upfront, no misleading marketing

Nexford's Decisive Edge: Everything about Nexford is designed for your success-competitive total costs in most global markets, genuine flexibility that respects your life, proactive career support, and a learning experience that prioritizes what employers actually need. You're not just getting a degree; you're getting a career advantage.

Consider UoPeople only if:

• You need a program Nexford doesn't offer (health science, education)
• You're a U.S. student seeking the absolute lowest-cost bachelor's degree and don't need career support
• You absolutely require rigid term structures because you can't self-pace
• You're willing to accept limited flexibility for a longer completion timeline

Final Thoughts

Both Nexford University and University of the People offer online degrees, but that's where the similarities end.

Nexford was built specifically for working professionals who refuse to compromise. Competitive costs in most global markets, complete flexibility, integrated career coaching, and genuinely modern technology create an experience that delivers real value-not just a degree, but a career advantage.

UoPeople's "tuition-free" marketing sounds appealing until you calculate their assessment fees and realize they total $6,460 for a bachelor's degree and $5,460 for an MBA. Add in rigid term schedules, volunteer faculty with modest compensation, and no career coaching, and the choice becomes clear.

For working professionals seeking business or technology degrees, Nexford isn't just better-it's in a different league entirely.

Stop settling for outdated models dressed up as innovation. If you're ready for genuine flexibility, competitive pricing, professional faculty, and a degree that propels your career forward while you're earning it-Nexford is the obvious choice.

The question isn't Nexford vs. UoPeople. It's whether you're ready to invest in the education you deserve at a price that makes sense.

Ready to Get Started?

Don't let another year pass wishing you had started. Nexford makes it easy to begin your journey to a better career—on your schedule, at a price that works for you.

Apply to Nexford Today - Start your application in minutes. $25 application fee, and you could be in class by the 1st of next month.

Not sure which program is right for you? Request information and speak with an enrollment advisor who can answer your questions and help you choose the perfect program for your career goals.

Your future is waiting. Start building it today with Nexford University.

References

[1] https://www.nexford.edu/bba
[2] https://www.nexford.edu/mba
[3] Total Estimated Fees” for undergraduate programs at UoPeople. 
[4] Total Estimated Fees” for graduate programs at UoPeople.