100% online, 100% free
WorldQuant University is an accredited not-for-profit institution offering entirely free online programs to qualified learners worldwide. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., WQU currently offers masters degrees, graduate certificates and non-degree lab programs.
Accredited, Recognized & Licensed
WorldQuant University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), a U.S. Department of Education–recognized accrediting agency. WQU received initial accreditation in 2021. The DEAC is a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and accredits institutions that offer education primarily by distance learning.
WQU's accreditation status is verifiable through three independent public sources:
The DEAC Directory of Accredited Institutions (deac.org)
The U.S. Department of Education's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), where WQU is listed as institution ID 251206
The District of Columbia Higher Education Licensure Commission (HELC), which licenses WQU to operate as a degree-granting institution
WQU is authorized to operate in all 50 U.S. states and U.S. territories. Internationally, accreditation recognition varies by country and employer; WQU graduates and prospective students should consult local authorities and prospective employers about how DEAC accreditation is recognized in their specific context. Becoming accredited is a formal recognition that WorldQuant University and its programs have been vetted for quality and consistency. As part of the Distance Education Accrediting Commission’s (DEAC) accreditation process, WQU was evaluated in areas that include academic quality, curriculum requirements, faculty, student services, ethical business practice, academic support services, learning and research resources, administrative capacity, and financial capacity.
The University has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). As an approved NC-SARA institution, WQU enrolls students in 49 US states, the District of Columbia, and US territories. The University also enrolls students in California under a non-profit exemption.
Entirely Free, With No Hidden Costs
WorldQuant University does not charge tuition. There are no upfront payments, no loan financing, and no income-share agreements. WQU is funded by the WorldQuant Foundation, an independent nonprofit established to advance global access to quantitative education.
Every WQU program is offered at no cost to enrolled learners worldwide. There are no tuition fees, no application fees, and no fees to receive a degree, certificate, or Credly-verified credential upon completion.
The WorldQuant Foundation®
The WorldQuant Foundation was established to benefit society and mankind. Driven by a belief in freedom of education, the Foundation empowers individuals in their pursuit of higher education. It supports WorldQuant University and its mission.
Relationship to WorldQuant, LLC
WorldQuant University is a separate legal and operational entity from WorldQuant LLC. WorldQuant LLC is a quantitative investment management firm; WorldQuant University is an accredited educational institution. The two organizations share a founder — Igor Tulchinsky — and are connected through the WorldQuant Foundation, which funds the University. WQU's faculty, curriculum, accreditation, and operations are governed independently from WorldQuant LLC. Enrollment in WorldQuant University is not a recruitment pipeline for WorldQuant LLC, and WQU graduates pursue careers across the global financial, technology, government, academic, and nonprofit sectors.
Our Founder, Igor Tulchinsky
After serving over 12 years as a portfolio manager and holding over 20 jobs from scientist to video game programmer, Igor Tulchinsky founded WorldQuant, LLC, a quantitative investment firm, in 2007. He knew that the exponential growth of data would ultimately change the way the world invests, learns, and works. In building WorldQuant, LLC and searching for quantitative finance talent, Igor encountered a consistent obstacle — exceptional ability existed everywhere, but access to the education needed to develop it did not. That gap sparked a passion for creating education opportunities worldwide.
Mission and Founding
In 2015, Igor founded WorldQuant University as a separate, independent institution funded through the WorldQuant Foundation. The University’s premise was to address what he identified as a global imbalance: high-quality quantitative education was concentrated in a small number of expensive, geographically restrictive universities, while talent capable of doing this work existed everywhere in the world.
WQU's mission is to make advanced, quality education accessible to capable students everywhere by delivering completely free online offerings.
This mission is also reflected in the institution's tagline:
"Talent is global, opportunity is not."
The University addresses this gap by removing the two largest barriers to graduate-level quantitative education: cost and geographic access. WQU operates entirely online and at no cost to learners.
Our "Campus"
As a digitally native online university, WQU does not have a physical campus. Our programs are entirely online.
As an entirely online and free university, WQU does not grant student visas. Our students live in over 100 countries all over the world.
Our WQU Administrators, Staff and Faculty work remotely as our courses and services are delivered 100% online.
Our Mailing Address (To send official transcripts):
WorldQuant University
609 H Street NE, Suite 335
Washington, DC 20002
USA
Phone number for shipping purposes:
+1(202) 556-3402