University of California Online

The University of California Online (UCO) is a proposed public university that would incorporate every University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges course online into one unified university.

UCO would be:

• Open to everyone. 100% open admissions for the ‘for-credit’ division. No gatekeeping, no arbitrary caps, no GPA cutoffs, no standardized admission tests.
• UC-level rigor. Fully accredited, academically demanding, with full credit that counts directly toward a UCO or UC degree.
• Free to audit. Like a library, all courses could be accessed at no cost.
• Full credit at low cost. By constitutional mandate, tuition cannot exceed the actual cost to teach and deliver a particular course.
• At your own pace. Enroll, take tests, and graduate on your schedule. Complete a ‘four year’ degree in 2 years or 6 years, as you like.

Not yet. The amendment is written, drafted, and ready. What’s missing is the vote.

You can’t walk through the front door yet — so help us kick it open. UCO only becomes real when California voters put it into the state constitution. If you want a world-class UC education open to anyone at low cost, don’t wait for an acceptance letter. Put it on the ballot and make it a reality.

The hard truth: It takes almost a million valid signatures, a strict 180-day window, a majority of the voters on election day, money, and someone willing to lead the charge.

Putting a constitutional amendment before California voters requires 874,641 valid signatures. Political consultants can charge millions of dollars to gather that many names. The only other way is for the idea to go completely viral — powered by the people: students, families, educators, and organizers working for free, gathering signatures, getting the word out, determined to make UCO a reality.

Right now, the language is drafted and the groundwork is done. What UCO needs isn’t just spectators — it needs an organization, a student coalition, an ambitious leader, or an entrepreneurial team ready to pick up the mantle and run with it to the finish.

If you have the drive, the amendment is yours. Carpe diem. If you have the backing but not the time, call Boyd Roberts at 949-463-9152.

November 7, 2028 — the next election it could make, and the earliest one possible. California law allows statewide initiatives only on November general elections in even-numbered years, so the next opportunity is 2028.

Working backward from that date, here’s the runway:

• Mid-2027 — file with the Attorney General, who then issues the official title and summary
• Fall 2027 — begin circulating petitions, with 180 days to gather signatures
• Spring 2028 — submit signatures; counties take up to three months to verify them
• Late June 2028 — the measure must be certified at least 131 days before the election
• November 7, 2028 — California votes

In 2023, California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst and the Director of Finance said:

(23-0034.) ESTABLISHES NEW “UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ONLINE.” INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. California’s public higher education systems – University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges – currently offer courses in person and online. This measure would amend the California Constitution to require creation of an online public university named “University of California Online” with two divisions: one providing online courses for credit towards an academic degree, open to anyone who pays tuition; and one providing free public access to all online courses not for credit. Requires tuition for for-credit courses to be based on their cost, and additional fees for most out-of-state students. Requires State Treasurer to issue bonds to fund University of California Online, repaid from tuition. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Operating a new public online university could cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars to low billions of dollars annually. All of the cost is to be covered through student tuition revenue generated by the new university. The measure is not intended to have any direct fiscal impact on state or local governments.

Yes, UCO will have labs. Some courses cannot be taught online. The amendment directs the university to teach labs in person. Locations and schedules would be set by the university.

Yes. Anyone can enroll, from any state or country. Out-of-state students would pay out-of-state fees on top of tuition. By law, every dollar of out-of-state fees must be used to benefit California students. Think in-state student housing, scholarships, food pantries, childcare, libraries. Out-of-state students who work for UCO would be exempt from paying out-of-state fees.

Different jobs have different rules. The proponent, who files the measure with the Attorney General, must be a U.S. citizen, 18 or older, and live in California. Signature gatherers must be 18 years old, but are not required to be citizens. Petition signers must be registered California voters. Technically, if you’re 17 and will turn 18 by the next election, you can register now — while 17 — and sign the petition.

Yes. A high school government class or a college political science course could take it on. A teacher or any adult who’s a registered voter can serve as the official filer. The filing fee is $2,000, refunded if the measure qualifies.