University of Maryland Global Campus Review [2024] A Review of UMGC

Formerly known as the University of Maryland University College, the University of Maryland Global Campus has always been dedicated to higher education for working adults and nontraditional students. Today, it is its own distinct institution within the University System of Maryland (based in College Park) and one of the most popular online schools.

UMGC began in 1947, like many professionally-focused colleges, to provide educational opportunities for veterans on the GI Bill. Today UMGC still provides education for military personnel and veterans, and is one of the biggest recipients of GI Bill funds. With more than 90,000 students UMGC is also one of the largest online colleges in the world – and one of the best.

Is UMGC a Good School?

The University of Maryland Global Campus is one of the best online schools in the country that reach a global audience with online classes. Students from across the globe can rely on UMGC for quality degree programs that provide sufficient skills and knowledge that will be needed to pursue a career. Instructors have many years of experience and are committed to providing a quality education to each of their students.

UMGC is the largest public university in the United States and offers over $15 million in scholarships each year. It also has over 175 classroom locations all over the world. This commitment to its students ensures the university is at the top of its game when it comes to quality and reputation. As an online institution of higher learning, it is considered by many to be one of the best universities in the world.

UMGC’s Most Popular Programs

As an online school, UMGC is designed for working adults to complete their bachelor’s and master’s degrees conveniently, so it makes sense that the most popular programs would be in business, computer science, and healthcare. These are areas where people often start their careers without a degree, or with an associate’s or certificate. The higher pay from a bachelor’s or master’s degree level job makes UMGC appealing.

Program of Study	Associate	Bachelor	Master	Doctorate
Business Administration	N/A	2,338	2,079	32
Computer Science	N/A	2,808	1,267	N/A
Health Professions	N/A	426	187	N/A

Is the University of Maryland Global Campus the Same as the University of Maryland?

The University of Maryland Global Campus started as an evening degree program, becoming an independent campus in the 1970s with a focus on professional development. So, UMGC is technically part of the University System of Maryland, not a division of the University of Maryland.

The University System of Maryland includes eleven campuses. One of the schools included in this system is the University of Maryland Global Campus. UMGC primarily offers online course programs to students across the globe. With more than 175 satellite campuses across the world, UMGC offers many of the same quality programs as the University of Maryland.

Although the schools are part of the same system, they are separate entities in terms of how they present their courses and how the courses are paid for. Each school offers a level of education that meets or exceeds the standards of the University System of Maryland. All of the schools in the system must maintain accredited status and continually submit to some part of the review process.

Is the University of Maryland Global Campus Accredited?

The University of Maryland Global Campus has received institutional accreditation from the MSCHE, or Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The accredited status the MSCHE offers is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as well as the United States Secretary of Education.

The university has received accredited status by continually proving the quality and integrity of its educational programs. This is performed through a continuous review process in which the university provides the MSCHE with the data it needs to evaluate the curriculums and practices that are in place. By offering this data on a regular basis, the university is under constant review so that its accreditation is always in good standing.

In addition, many of UMGC’s programs are accredited separately, such as IACBE accreditation for the business school and CCNE accreditation for the nursing program. Accreditation and recognition from professional organizations gives students the assurance that their degree will be accepted by employers and respected on the job market.

UMGC Graduates’ Careers and Salaries

The popularity of UMGC’s computer science and business programs is clear from their top-paying jobs. Cyber security analyst, IT manager and director, and project manager are all careers that combine tech and business skills, and that pay very well with an online master’s degree.

Job Title	Salary Range	Average Salary
Cyber Security Analyst	$70k – $119k	$88,214
Project Manager	$59k – $138k	$97,804
Human Resources (HR) Manager	$55k – $108k	$70,640
Information Technology (IT) Manager	$75k – $136k	$102,017
Information Technology (IT) Director	$49k – $175k	$108,250

University of Maryland Global Campus Student Reviews

Students, both former and current, are encouraged to leave reviews about the school, its faculty/instructors, curriculum, programs, and best practices. Because of the school’s number of online students (above 75% of the total attendees), many give the school high marks for the quality of online programs they have access to.

With almost 36,000 students worldwide, reviews of the school include evaluations of the programs it offers as well as its curriculums and faculty or instructors. The majority of reviews are positive and give insight into the effectiveness of the university as a whole.

In many reviews written by former graduates and current students, the school is described as being a good school that offers exceptional career advancement opportunities. Although the administration process can be somewhat slow and unorganized, the fact that the school has an excellent scheduling program and is affordable for most students.

Students have access to both PELL grants and scholarships that allow them to pay for the majority of their education without taking out hefty student loans. In addition to the affordability of the university, it also gives students an opportunity to receive certifications while they are still in school, which allows them to begin working prior to graduation.

Can UMGC Graduates Pay Back Their Student Loans?

With a solid job market reputation, UMGC makes sure their graduates are employable. Because of that, UMGC graduates had a 0% default rate as of 2020.

UMGC Fiscal Year	2020	2019	2018
Default rate	0%	1.2%	4.4%
Number in default	0	129	444
Number in repayment	10,057	10,139	9,943

School Rankings

When it comes to school rankings, the University of Maryland Global Campus is placed as follows:

• Ranks #1 for the best online Criminal Justice Master’s degree programs
• Ranks #2 for the best Criminal Justice Master’s degree programs (classroom)
• Ranks #2 for the best Environmental Science Bachelor’s degree programs
• Ranks #4 for the best online Communications Bachelor’s degree programs
• Ranks #6 for the best Information Technology Bachelor’s degree programs
• Ranks #7 for the best online Psychology Bachelor’s degree programs

While the school itself may rank lower in certain areas, the degree programs it offers have proven time and again to provide everything a student needs to find a job in their chosen career path shortly after they graduate. Students who have earned their degrees from UMGC can look forward to rewarding careers backed up by a solid educational program.

University of Maryland Global Pros and Cons

The pros and cons of a college or university is, of course, subjective, but creating a list can help you identify schools you’ll want to explore further. To help jumpstart your pro/con list, here are some areas College Consensus has identified for this school:

Reviews of Similar Online Schools:

• University of Phoenix
• Western Governors University
• Southern New Hampshire University
• Strayer University
• Grand Canyon University
• American Public University
• Liberty University
• Arizona State University
• Purdue University Global

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