University of Maryland Global Campus Online Degrees, Rankings, and Reviews

Summary: Attending UMGC is a solid career advancement move for working adults. You will not receive a premier Ivy League education, but a degree from UMGC does return solid value while preparing you for the workforce. The Bad: Most complaints about the... Read More school center on administration processes (academic advising, financial aid, etc). They're not wrong, the admin processes at the school can be slow and inefficient. But here's my take on it. If you're an adult you should be able to determine what classes you need to take and how you're paying for them. You'll be required to figure out processes like these in order to be successful at most employers. Curriculum: Classes are tailored to reflect real-life conditions, while introducing some theory. For my program the instruction was often designed to help you earn industry certifications in conjunction with your college credits. I personally earned some CompTIA certifications while finishing my curriculum. This is a force multiplier. You're already paying to learn something, you can immediately apply it, then you finish with a degree and certifications that make you very competitive. Many students don't take the extra step, but the classes do prepare you for it. You get out what you put in. Instruction: The professors generally come from industry. Sometimes they preferred to be called "Bob" instead of "Doctor Johnson". Interactions and grading are based on real-world applications, not strictly theoretical or "fluffy" material. I preferred this to classes I previously took at a large brick-and-mortar state university. Overall, not a world-class education but a solid value. I would not recommend to every 18 year-old young adult, there is no "college experience". I would recommend to most working class individuals.

All of the negative reviews on this website are confusing to say the least. I attended UMGC and graduated with a BS in Business Administration. The professors were mostly very helpful, but honestly I didn't even need to contact them about most things.... Read More I liked that the classes were only 8 weeks because it allows you to be able to move along in your program quickly. Everything that I needed from start to finish was found online, so I very seldom had to contact my professors or advisors. The academic advisement report should be your best friend, as it will tell you exactly what classes you need to take in order to successfully complete your degree. The material I learned in my classes were applicable to what I wanted to do with my career, and I also thought many of my junior and senior level classes were challenging as well. Oh, and it is incredibly affordable! I graduated with little to no student loans which puts me in a better financial position in the long run. I do not know what people are expecting when choosing to attend this school. Many of the negative reviews stated that this was a scam or that you will receive a better education elsewhere. Yes, receiving a degree from a more well established in-person institution will probably look better on a resume. However, I don't think a degree from UMGC will hinder anyone from following whatever career path they choose. Personally, I feel well prepared for any my career, and I plan to continue my education with this institution for my MBA.

If it weren't for UMGC and the amazing staff and teachers, I would have never finished college. I love this school so much that I plan to go back for my masters. It was a great experience with professors who are more than willing to help and respond quickly.... Read More