Why Simone Biles Chose Online College Over UCLA

Simone Biles thought going to college was an impossible dream. Biles told Forbes that she was torn between her full-time “gymnastics dreams” and studying at UCLA. The Olympic gold medalist didn’t want to give up gymnastics, so she dropped out of UCLA.

But that all changed last year when Biles started studying at People’s University (UoPeople), a fully accredited, tuition-free online university. “The University of the People opened up an opportunity for me that didn’t exist otherwise, providing the flexibility I needed to integrate my college education into my career,” she recalls.

Additionally, Biles was named a global ambassador for UoPeople, speaking passionately about its mission to provide free and accessible education to students around the world, including “those who have been told they aren’t rich enough.” ; those who were told that women had no place in the classroom; and those who were told there were no options in their part of the world.

How can UoPeople afford to educate 20,000 people with the intention of continuing to double enrollment each year? Founder and Chairman Shai Reshef says operations are “sustainable” thanks to exam fees ($100 for undergraduate; $200 for MBA) because there is no physical space for the university and only a few paid staff and 6,000 volunteers.

“The MBA price is so expensive that the majority cannot afford it, so what we offer is really needed,” Reshef says of the decision to expand into MBA studies last year. Entrance to the MBA requires an undergraduate degree and the successful completion of two foundational courses (the pass rate is approximately 50%). This structure is designed to maintain the quality of the program while ensuring that MBA studies are relevant.

While acknowledging the role of online programs in improving access, Sameer Kamat, founder of Crystal Ball MBA, takes a conservative view in recommending them, especially for those looking for a career change. “It’s important for universities to be transparent and honest about the limitations of online degrees.” Kamat notes that MBA candidates value employability more than any other factor when choosing an MBA program, followed by an elite mark.

Biles also notes the challenge of studying online, especially when it comes to balancing a busy work schedule with school work, “It’s a juggling act and you have to stay focused and engaged.”

A free online program aimed at facilitating career transitions and establishing elite status is the Smartly MBA, founded by Pedago in 2016 and led by former Rosetta Stone CEO Tom Adams. Smartly is the “first mobile-focused MBA program,” according to Adams, where employers pay a fee to hire new Smartly graduates. Affiliate recruiting organizations already include Square, Capital One, and smaller startups like Door Dash.

Although the university is not accredited (it pursues accreditation), it boasts an acceptance rate of 6%. The lack of accreditation may worry some as some universities face accreditation issues due to poor behavior. For example, at Northwest Suburban College, there is alleged Title IV fraud (related to student aid)and at Ashford University there are reports that the university misled students about placement rates and reimbursable fees. But young entrepreneurs, like Forbes 30 Under 30 winners Kaitlyn Yang and Mary Iafelice, report that Smartly’s lack of accreditation outweighs the opportunities offered by the free MBA program.

In 2015, the global e-learning industry represented a $107 billion in market value and is expected to reach $331 billion by 2025. Although online learning is a faster and cheaper way for students to acquire knowledge (and degrees), with increased deregulationstudents should be on the lookout for predatory organizations that attempt to profit without concern for student learning and graduate employment.

John Sexton, President Emeritus of NYU and one of 6,000 UoPeople volunteers, encourages entrepreneurs and traditional universities to join them in supporting accessible, affordable and quality online education. “To realize our brightest visions of the future, we need a well-educated population.”

The expansion of online education also requires a leap of faith, Sexton says. “It takes a lot of courage and faith to build such a bold model.”