CostByCollegePrivate nonprofit, 4-year institution
How much does University of the People cost
University of the People is in Pasadena, CA. Total enrollment is 42,867 students, with 36,386 undergraduates.
The total cost for one year at University of the People is $3,601 for in state students, living off campus and not with family. Tuition and fees alone come to $1,200 of that total.
The cost breakdown
This school does not publish a complete on campus cost, so the total below uses the off campus figures for room, board, and other expenses, for a student who is not living with family. Each total is the sum of the rows above it, with nothing added and nothing left out.
| Item | Cost for one year |
|---|---|
| Tuition, in state | $0 |
| Required fees, in state | $1,200 |
| Books and supplies | $0 |
| Room and board, off campus | $2,001 |
| Other expenses, off campus | $400 |
| Total cost for one year, in state | $3,601 |
Average net price
The average net price at University of the People is $1,639 for one year. Net price is the total cost minus grant and scholarship aid, averaged across full time, first time students who were awarded grant or scholarship aid, for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. It is an average, not a quote. A particular student can pay far less or close to the full published total, depending on family income and the aid the school offers.
That average net price is $16,365 below the average of $18,004 across the pilot schools on this site that publish a net price.
Cost weighed against outcomes
The graduation rate is 37%. It measures the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
How this school compares
Against its state: That is $38,026 below the California pilot school average of $41,627.
Against the country: That is $39,062 below the national pilot school average of $42,663.
State and national averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a total cost, 49 schools in California and 293 schools nationwide on this site. They describe the schools listed on this site, not every college in the state or the country.
Admissions at a glance
No acceptance rate or application count is published for University of the People in the federal admissions data used here, so none is shown and there is no acceptance rate page for this school on this site.
Similar schools to compare
- Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, California. Total cost $18,720 for one year.
- California State University-Fresno, Fresno, California. Total cost $23,750 for one year.
- California State University-Northridge, Northridge, California. Total cost $24,271 for one year.
- California State University-San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California. Total cost $25,197 for one year.
- Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Total cost $27,746 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
How much does University of the People cost per year?
The total cost for one year at University of the People is $3,601 for in state students, living off campus and not with family. It counts tuition, required fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses.
What is the average net price at University of the People?
The average net price at University of the People is $1,639 for one year, for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. Net price is the total cost minus grant and scholarship aid, averaged across the students described on this page.
What is the graduation rate at University of the People?
The graduation rate at University of the People is 37%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
Is University of the People public or private?
University of the People is a private nonprofit, 4-year institution in Pasadena, California. Total enrollment is 42,867 students.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard, United States Department of Education. Tuition and cost figures are for the 2023 to 2024 academic year. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. Average net price figures are for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. Earnings and debt figures come from the College Scorecard file dated June 10, 2026. See the methodology page for full detail.