Brandwave

How popular isUniversity of the People?

In October 2026, people searched for University of the People by name about 135,000 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 6.2% of all global university online degree searches, placing University of the People sixth out of 14 brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about university online degrees, University of the People appeared in one of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the 14.

Search and AI answers in October 2026

University of the People is the sixth most searched of 14 competitors and the fifth most recommended in the AI answers we collected.

  1. University of PhoenixShare of searches 25.4%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  2. Open UniversityShare of searches 20.8%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. Western Governors UniversityShare of searches 13.9%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. SNHUShare of searches 7.6%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  5. University of the PeopleShare of searches 6.2%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th

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Top university online degrees in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, University of the People was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. University of the People is the fifth most recommended of the 14.

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

+4 more

See every answer about university online degrees

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

How often do people search for University of the People compared with other university online degrees worldwide?

University of the People against university online degrees worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for University of Phoenix, Open University, Western Governors University, SNHU, Capella University, University of the People, Walden University, Arden University, Purdue Global, Strayer University. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthUniversity of PhoenixOpen UniversityWestern Governors UniversitySNHUCapella UniversityUniversity of the PeopleWalden UniversityArden UniversityPurdue GlobalStrayer UniversityArizona State University OnlineUniversity of Florida OnlineCourseraedX
Nov 202522.3%22.3%14.9%8.2%5.5%6.7%6.7%5.5%3%3%1.3%0.4%0.22%0.03%
Dec 202520.2%16.5%20.2%9.1%6%6%7.4%5%4.1%3.3%1.5%0.44%0.21%0.03%
Jan 202622.4%18.3%18.3%10%5.5%5.5%6.7%4.5%3.7%3%1.3%0.49%0.12%0.02%
Feb 202621.9%17.9%17.9%9.8%6.6%5.4%6.6%5.4%3.6%2.9%1.3%0.59%0.13%0.03%
Mar 202624.5%16.4%16.4%9%6%4.9%7.4%6%4%2.7%1.5%0.99%0.12%0.02%
Apr 202625.3%16.9%16.9%9.2%5.1%6.2%6.2%5.1%4.2%2.8%1.5%0.56%0.1%0.02%
May 202624.2%16.2%16.2%8.8%5.9%7.3%7.3%4.8%4%2.7%1.8%0.65%0.11%0.02%
Jun 202626%14.2%17.4%9.5%5.2%7.8%6.4%5.2%3.5%2.9%1.6%0.38%0.08%0.02%
Jul 202624.5%20%16.4%8.9%4.9%6%6%4.9%3.3%3.3%1.5%0.29%0.07%0.02%
Aug 202624.9%16.7%16.7%9.1%6.1%6.1%7.5%4.1%4.1%2.7%1.5%0.37%0.08%0.02%
Sep 202624.4%20%16.3%8.9%4.9%6%6%6%3.3%2.7%1.2%0.29%0.08%0.02%
Oct 202625.4%20.8%13.9%7.6%6.2%6.2%6.2%5.1%3.4%3.4%1.3%0.25%0.12%0.01%

  1. 1.University of Phoenix

    25.4%

    Held 1st. 550K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  2. 2.Open University

    20.8%

    Held 2nd. 450K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  3. 3.Western Governors University

    13.9%

    Held 3rd. 301K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -2.4 points.

  4. 4.SNHU

    7.6%

    Held 4th. 165K estimated branded searches, -17.9% vs prior month. Share -1.3 points.

  5. 5.Capella University

    6.2%

    Moved from 8th to 5th. 135K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share +1.4 points.

  6. 6.University of the People

    6.2%

    Held 6th. 135K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  7. 7.Walden University

    6.2%

    Held 7th. 135K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  8. 8.Arden University

    5.1%

    Moved from 5th to 8th. 110K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -0.9 points.

  9. 9.Purdue Global

    3.4%

    Held 9th. 74K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  10. 10.Strayer University

    3.4%

    Held 10th. 74K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  11. 11.Arizona State University Online

    1.3%

    Held 11th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  12. 12.University of Florida Online

    0.25%

    Held 12th. 5.4K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  13. 13.Coursera

    0.12%

    Held 13th. 2.6K estimated branded searches, +39.7% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  14. 14.edX

    0.01%

    Held 14th. 320 estimated branded searches, -20% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Coursera and edX sell other things too, so only their searches that name this product count here, like “coursera degrees”.

Compare popularity between University of the People and its closest rivals

Every comparison with University of the People

13 comparisons

How has branded search demand for University of the People changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for University of the People worldwide held steady at 135K.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, University of the People’s share of searches among university online degrees worldwide peaked at 7.8% in June 2026 and was lowest at 4.9% in March 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, University of the People fell from 5th to 6th among university online degrees worldwide.

How did search popularity change for university online degrees worldwide in October 2026?

6 changes

  1. In October 2026, Capella University overtook Arden University and 2 others to rank 5th among university online degrees worldwide, with 6.2% of the searches.

  2. In October 2026, University of Phoenix gained share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 24.4% to 25.4%.

  3. In October 2026, Open University gained share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 20% to 20.8%.

  4. In October 2026, Strayer University gained share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 2.7% to 3.4%.

  5. In October 2026, Western Governors University lost share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 16.3% to 13.9%.

  6. In October 2026, SNHU lost share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 8.9% to 7.6%.

How are University of the People’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using University of the People’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • university of the people

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