2U

2U, Inc. is a global education technology company that partners with universities to deliver online degree programs. Founded in 2008, 2U provides services to help universities develop and operate online programs, including marketing, student recruitment, and technology platforms. The company works with over 230 colleges, universities, and companies to offer more than 4,000 digital education offerings, ranging from free courses to full degrees. 2U's flagship product is its online degree program management service, where it shares tuition revenue with partner universities in exchange for providing technology and support services.

As of 2024, 2U powers over 100 online degree programs across 30 university partners, with tuition costs ranging from USD 20,000 to over USD 200,000. The company's most prominent university partners include Syracuse University, Pepperdine University, and the University of Southern California (USC). 2U's business model has faced scrutiny in recent years over issues of cost, quality, and transparency. In late 2023, USC ended its partnership with 2U for most of its online programs after more than a decade, dealing a significant blow to the company. 2U has also faced lawsuits from students alleging misrepresentation of program quality and rankings.

Key customers and partnerships

2U's key university partners include Syracuse University, Pepperdine University, USC, University of Dayton, and American University. As of 2024, Syracuse offers the most 2U-powered degrees at 18, followed by Pepperdine with 10 and USC with 9. Other notable partners include Georgetown University, New York University, and Yale University.

In 2021, 2U acquired edX, a nonprofit online learning platform founded by Harvard and MIT, for USD 800 million. Through edX, 2U reports reaching over 46 million learners globally as of 2024. The company has also expanded into non-degree offerings like professional certificates and boot camps.