University of Maryland University College

After many years of classes with this school, here is a review for anyone considering this one. The instructors don't care about the students here anymore. Many are now worried about getting paid, since they get paid so little. The administration doesn't care about the students anymore here, since they are worried about lying for to school to maintain their own tuition reimbursement. The school will cheat you out of once earned credit now, when you become to close to graduation to try and make more money. Stay away from this one, and look elsewhere!

GET IN AND GET OUT>>> Get into the school is this is your only option but as soon as you have enough grades to transfer, get out. Take what you learn and your good educational and finical standing to another school. yes!!! transfer as soon as you can. period!!!! This school is ran like a department of social services. You will feel like a ticket number and the service and support is awful. PERIOD!

Although I have not entirely completed the Doctor of Management (DM) program at University of Maryland University College (UMUC), I have taken enough courses to provide an accurate, truthful and realistic review. The Doctor of Management program is a research doctorate that focuses on research theory and practice. Hence this degree is geared towards individuals working in non-profit, public, or government environments. The program (as the writing of this review) is a 48 credit program that can be completed in as little as 3 years. UMUC allows for up to 7 (or 9 years, can't remember) for completion of the program. Courses range from four credits (dissertation level courses) to six credits. Students may not take more than one course per term. Each term a two-day residency (Friday & Saturday) is held at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center on the UMUC campus. This is a mandatory residency that exposes students to each other in the cohort and provides the opportunity for student experiential learning through face-to-face interactions with the professors. Other than the residencies, the courses and assignments are entirely online using the Learning Experience Online (LEO) system, similar to Blackboard. Each course is broken up into a project (or a module). Enclosed in this module is the overall learning objective with reading material, milestone assignments, and a final assignment. Grading is either "Exceeds" (equivalent to an A) or "Meets" (equivalent to a B). A grade of "C" is not available. If you fail a course you have to retake it the following semester. All the courses are writing based. Either the students are collecting data and writing about a topic, or evaluating the quality of a scholarly article. Appropriate usage of APA is required. There is a preassessment course that must be taken, DMG 600. This is not factored in the price advertised on the website, but carries the same cost-per-credit of $1,086 (as the writing of this review). This course introduces students to expectations that the program will ask of them. Students who fail this course (with an F) will not be officially admitted into the program and are considered inadmissible for the program in the future. Overall I have enjoyed my time with the program thus far. It has been challenging, but rewarding. There is so much to learn about management theory and how it can apply to everyday challenges we face in the workplace. My cohort has been nothing short of fantastic. Peer support is very important for success in any program and there is no doubt that I, as well as others, have received it. The instructors & professors are knowledgeable in the course material and are always available to help. I have found that since each course carries the same "structure", it has made it easier to "jump" right into the class material. This is a great program for working adults. Sure there are residencies, but they are only once a term (so 3 times a year), or 9 times over the 3 years if you take one class every term. Be prepared to read.. and read.. and read. Each class has reading material but you will need to make sure of search skills to locate supplemental information for completion of classroom assignments. UMUC also offers a payment plan ($35 dollar setup fee; no interest) for students who are unable to pay for the class all up-front. Overall, I am 100% satisfied with the program and looking forward on earning my Doctor of Management degree from UMUC.

Any one who is a veteran knows that sometimes funding doesn't come right away so this school would rather send your account to collections instead of working with the soldier knowing that they will get paid.

I completed this master's degree 11 years ago. The program was of good quality; I learned a lot and enjoyed many of the courses. However, looking back and reflecting on what the degree did (or didn't do) for me professionally, I have found the following: A. The degree did not do much for me as far as transitioning into another area. At the time, I was a teacher in a public school system. I did appreciate how the content could be applied to improve and enhance practice. It also allowed me to move into the next salary lane which helped with earning a little bit more money. That was about it. B. At the end of the program, I had to complete a capstone project. The capstone project was an applied project where we had to determine a problem, identify, and apply steps to solve that problem. This would have been good for those who wanted to enter doctoral studies in the field of instructional technology; however, this approach to the capstone did not make sense since this University did not (and still does not) offer and Ed.D. in this field. So, completing this degree felt/feels like a dead end since there's not opportunity for further study at this University. Having said that, when applying to jobs at educational institutions (one of which, at the time, was an instructional technologist job at UMUC), I was passed over because all of them wanted to see a PORTFOLIO. I wish that the program would have required students to create a portfolio of work samples that actually involved using and applying everything we had learned in our own professional contexts. I think this would have been much more useful and relevant as part of the final capstone course.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!!!!!! HORRIBLE SCHOOL. Advisers don't care about their student. they only want your money. They don't care about their students success. Save your money, time an headache, this school is truly garbage, they do not care about your success only their pockets.

I have completed three courses in this program. The instructors are excellent, the are published, and they are very active in this field. If you want an "A" in a course, you need to put time into this. You will have to demonstrate competence in the subject matter to earn a passing "B." So far, most of the grading is based on writing papers, following the APA research format (Abstract, Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, Conclusion.) Don't let that scare you. I'd never written a paper like that before. You basically do an assignment (Text mining project, etc.) and write it up in a paper. There have been 4 papers per class so far, and that's most of the grade (20% is participation in the online discussions about the relevant topics introduced). There is no supervised testing. I came into this program with a BS in Computer Science (honors), and a few years experience writing software. I had to put time into this to get the "A's" I've gotten so far, one them not by much. You will be using the language R here, which you are given time to learn. There is not a lot of coding, but if you know you don't have an aptitude for basic programming (logical sequences and learning a syntax), then this program is not for you. The first class used RapidMiner, which doesn't require any programming/coding. You will be learning some basic statistics, if you don't already know that (Anova, etc.). You don't need that knowledge in advance. Graduates from this program who are in the top 10% of their class are eligible to join the exclusive honor society Phi Khappa Phi. http://www.phikappaphi.org/chapter-details/University_of_Maryland_University_College#

After deciding to go back to college and change careers, I enrolled in the Computer and Information Science program at UMUC. I earned my BS degree, graduating cum laude, in 2008. Most of the upper level instructors were seasoned professionals who brought their unique knowledge to the course. As with brick and mortar classes, some were more talented than others. The better ones were well organized, gave assignments based on real world scenarios and were readily available to answer my questions and give extra help when I needed it. I started the program overseas in the Asian division and transferred to the US for most of the 400 and some 300 levels courses. I do recall a terrible time with one advanced programming language course. This was mostly due to the instructor, but it was also as if the curriculum jumped from beginning to advanced with no mid level I was lost from the start, so I dropped the course (along with over half the class) hoping to sign up with a different instructor the following term. His class was still the only one that I could get for 2 more terms, so I felt my only option was to take a different class and not get the advanced programming that I felt I needed. Apparently, the school noticed because they finally replaced him and he was only teaching beginning programming courses. Bottom line, I worked hard, graduating cum laude and expected to land a Systems Engineering job at one of the many defense contractor companies in the area. Unfortunately, the job market was very slow at that time and I was competing with graduates of the local state college campus. After floating my resume for 3 months I was thrilled to receive an offer from a NASA contractor to do software development. Obviously, UMUC distance ed worked out well for me, but looking back, there is one thing I might do differently. If I had the option (I did not), I might take the upper level programming courses in an actual classroom. I can't know if it would have made much of a difference, but I felt I might have benefited from working directly with an instructor and other students prior to my first work experience.

I wrote the previous review after my first semester; I was obviously disappointed after my first semester. however, I have much better news to report two years later. My experience changed a great deal. I think it was mainly because I wasn't use to the online format and really didn't understand the commitment and personal responsibility that must be taken when you take courses online. I quickly learned that if I was going to not only survive, but be successful in my coursework, I had to take another approach to learning. that approach included setting and keeping a tight schedule, asking questions and not waiting for someone else to do, being proactive early in the course if I wasn't happy with some aspect of the course, communicating with the instructor regularly, making a few friends in every class, etc. After implementing some of these things, I found the majority of the instructors very receptive and more interested in my learning. I had a few 'administrative and advisor' issues, and that's why a few of the scores are average.But I ended up graduating successfully, making several good friends while receiving an excellent education. Taking online courses has really built character and now I'm very glad that I did not give up out of frustration. The advisors can be 'call center-like" but my suggestion is to do what I did........I asked for Promise Griffin every time I had a problem because she was very caring and very effective with helping me to successfully resolve any issues that I had. Dr. Thompson was my Capstone instructor. He's really a great teacher! Make sure to take his course.

I completed the last 3 years of my 4 year degree through UMUC. When I first began I was worried that my degree would be considered worthless by any graduate school I applied to. However I was wrong. In the Fall of my last year of my undergraduate I began applying to some very highly regarded universities, and was accepted to all of them, The London School of Economics being one of them. No one cares what school you went to as long as its accredited and you can show your hardwork and dedication to your chosen career path or further studies. Just do your best work, get good grades, do internships when and where you can find them, join some professional societies in your chosen area of studies, and show that you take your chosen career seriously. The work in many of my courses was very challenging, and the professors for the most part were very highly skilled. My macroeconomics course was taught by a lead economist at the Government Accountability Office, not some theory driven professor who just writes articles all day. The school uses people who have degrees and actually work in their field. I will take that all day long over some Ivy league professor who works off theory and not real world experience. But hey, if you want to to spend 3 or 4 times as much on tuition at some other school to get the same degree, go ahead. Oh, before i forget. Just because it is not a a fully brick and mortar school, don't let that stop you from finding opportunities through other universities. When I wanted internships I went on to local universities websites and looked around to find lists. On that note of positive speaking i will mention the downside of the school. Their academic advisors suck. They must cycle through them every month or two. You may find that many of their administrative areas are slow to respond to emails, if at all. I had to go several times to the office of the President to get my transcript sent out after having paid for it and not getting it within 3 weeks time. But, these are areas you wont have to deal with to often, so overall its a balance.

I would like to impart some important information regarding my experience with University of Maryland University College (UMUC) and its relevance to modernity. UMUC supports the goals of those intellectuals who are interested in self-learning, self-improvement, and self-development. If you are a would be student who needs continuous validation and feedback such that you would find at a brick and mortar school, then UMUC or any respectable online college is not for you. You should probably go to the local community college to socialize. UMUC has improved its education as I have been a student for the past two years and have experienced the changing tides of technological upgrades and grading standards. You will not do so well if you are a below average student (from you high school or undergraduate work) and inherently not self-motivated. If you were an average learner with mediocre abilities, then you will struggle with the curriculum at UMUC. It is relevant to the changing times as your fellow students (many of whom graduated from well-established institutions) provide to provocative and add to the steep learning curbs that you will not find at AMU or the University of Phoenix. Some of my professors teach part time at UMUC Online, as they work at brick and mortar schools as Associate Professors for their day-to-day. Some indicators that this a great institution is that most students who cannot keep up with the intense learning curb to include the assignments, weekly intellectual discussion questions, and massive amounts of reading and research usually drop out or receive low marks (and fail out). Subsequently, those students usually end up bashing UMUC in these types of forums, which speaks to those individual’s intellectual capacity and inadequacies as a student. Ultimately, UMUC is changing with the current times and the intellectual requirements are increasing as well. It has a low graduation rate for military members and subpar performers. If you were transferring from AMU, I would recommend going to University of Phoenix or stay in your current program. Recommended programs: (1)Masters of Science in Information Technology and any of the specializations.

This is a school that is very poor with communication. I ordered an official transcript to be mailed to my current school. After waiting the two week period, I called them to inquire about my transcript of which they replied that I owe them an application fee.....from 4 YEARS AGO! So essentially, I "never" paid this application fee but attended both classes in different semesters (as I only took 2 classes with UMUC) with no issues. Stay away from this college as all they are interested in is nickel-and-diming the students.

I have been an excellent student my whole life and I received my Bachelor of Science from a prestigious, research-oriented, brick-and-mortar school. After a few years of working I decided to get back into academics and I was looking for a solid program in IT that was flexible enough to do over the course of a few years. I really enjoy being able to work towards my degree at my own pace (within a 7 years time limit). This allows me to focus more on the material for each class and take a break if required by work or family. Of course, like any online program, one has to be self-motivated and be good with time management. If one does all the required reading, lab work, assignments, research papers, and weekly discussion questions one can very quickly be spending 20+ hours a week on each class. The books are top notch, the exams, research paper topics, and weekly discussions are all very relevant. For the price of the whole program, flexibility, and value received from taking each class UMUC provides a great IT graduate program. I am a big advocate for online learning because it gives working professionals, stay-at-home-moms, and soldiers the ability to advance themselves academically without having to sacrifice their jobs, families, or living location to do so. I feel lucky that I live in this day and age. 20 years ago getting a MSIT would have been almost impossible for me in my professional and personal situation.

During my studies for this M.B.A., I learned six major management styles (PMBOK, included as one of the six). It was a lot more intense in than face-2-face at top 50 school. The economic and psychology management classes were very beneficial as well. It is the perfect skill set experience especially if you work remotely. This program requires an exceptional amount of discipline and self-responsibility. When I studied the program was two years and a couple of months long. There were two week breaks four times per year after each of the four semesters. I graduated with a cohort and we learned year round together. I highly recommend this learning style, especially for people with some work experience. I believe the lessons learned are retained much longer from online education because of the required commitment to have asynchronous discussions and the weekly assignments that require a lot of significant citing. I suggest only applying if you are prepared to attend being and end the program without stopping. You will likely achieve if you set your goals to do so.

This university is only bad if you are stuck in dealing with certain learning environments, and THINK you are a people person. Moreover, most who think they are a people person are not. It can be challenging with group work; some people are wordy and some are brief. I am finishing my Masters in Cybersecurity in a couple of weeks, and I realize that UMUC replicates the real word. When I received my undergrad in Business Marketing, it was from an accredited brick and mortar school and it did the same in a DIFFERENT way. You are going to work with people who you think you are smarter than, but in reality they just think different. In fact, they may be not be a good writer, but an excellent idea generator, organizer, or motivator. As far as a GMAT, that is some fantastic foolishness! That does not prove how ready you are for the workforce or graduate school. College is not about smarts; its about perseverance, dedication, diligence, and innovation. If you have that combination, you will do well at UMUC or any other higher-level institution. UMUC is a school that will test you ability to adapt, adjust, and to modify your way of thinking. Most schools and people want to create clones and cults--not at UMUC. They make thinkers, innovators, and team players. Even if you started a loner, you will end up a team player before you leave. That is what a good education should do and offer for your dollar. UMUC at least gets a 8 out-of-ten for that.

Project Management. It’s a joke. Having a Doctorate degree does not equal qualification for being a professor. If you like, self-study this is the place. The curriculum looks like it is written on the back of a napkin. UMUC is in business to make money, that’s all. I expect more for my money. Those that can, do; those that can’t, teach; those that can’t teach, do it at UMUC…

I went to UMUC for 1 semester. I was very happy with everything. The entire proces, the teachers, EVERYTHING!!Until I got a letter saying I owed them money. I immediately called the school t speak with someone. I spoke to someone different everyday for 2 weeks with no results. After 2 weeks I finally got to someone who seemed to be somewhat capable of doing their job. She did some research and told me that part of my fiancial aid, meaning my loans, had been returned to my lender. I asked her why as I had not signed any form for release of aid. She was not sure why but said it may have been an error or something. She informed me who I needed to speak to and tried to transfer me to her so she could have it taken care of. We weren't able to get threw, she had me leave a message for her on the voicemail. She then gave me the direct number and email for the lady. I called and left messages and sent emails to her nearly everyday for 3 months. I never got a response. I called the call center again and again was told she was the only one that could clear it up. That was in 2010. Today the amount is on my credit report and it had gone to State of Maryland Comptrollers Office for collections. They're threatening to pull my state tax refunds to cover the bill. Granted it's only $1100 but the fact is it was a mistake on their part and they refused to take responsibility and clear it up. I loved everything about the school and would go back without a second thought if it were not for this matter preventing it. UMUC needs to hire more capable staff, especially when it comes to dealing with someones finacial aid.

Webtycho is such a mess. First of all, class conferences... Every conference you must reply and comment on 2-3 classmates, but when there are 4-5 conferences/week, 150 pages of reading, MULTIPLE assignments due its TOO MUCH!!!! The teachers don't teach you how to use the programs, but expect you to create a flawless project. In addition to teaching myself a $400 program, why do I have to buy books that are $100 each? Or read articles from.1983? Other Unix programs may actually be for a working individual but not instructional technology. I absolutely hate it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless you have more than 24 hours a day to do all the work they expect of you.

I graduated this past May with a BS in Psychology. I transferred to UMUC from USC-Columbia and it was an easy transition. I had some great professors and I had some not so great professors, which is to be expected at any college be them online or B&M. Overall my experience with UMUC was positive. I had some health problems and my professors were understanding and showed great concern. I even received phone calls from professors to find out how I was doing and if I needed more time to complete work.

After going to ECU for three years, UMCP for one, and MC for one, I landed on finishing my college career with online courses from UMUC. Originally starting in accounting at ECU, I decided to bundle all of my business credits towards a business administration bachelors at UMUC in order graduate in a reasonable amount of time. I took online classes through UMUC for 2.5 years. I enjoyed the experience. Teachers are, for the most part, helpful and responsive. Class materials were readily available and expectations were clearly set early on. WebTycho, while hated by some, was not difficult for me to use. When I was using it (I graduated two years ago) it had only a few glitches or flaws. This may have changed with updates since then, but I cannot attest to that. I've used Blackboard, but not for an entirely online course, so I also cannot draw a direct comparison between the two. On a whole, I enjoyed and benefited from my UMUC stateside experience.

I took my first two classes on-ground, and they were very good. Then I moved overseas and finished the program online. I found all but two of the faculty to be very disengaged and aloof. They weren't engaged in the class discussions to any degree, I got little to no feedback on my papers - usually just a letter grade and occasionally a one or two-word comment in one or two places in the paper (usually not very helpful). The grading seemed rather arbitrary, although my grades were always good. Most of what I learned I had to learn on my own, and I never got enough feedback to know if I had learned it correctly or not. It was nothing like my on-ground undergraduate degree where I earned the last 36 hours from the same school, and they were tough and I got more than enough feedback. This seemed pretty much like "You pay your money you get your diploma" to me, and I felt sort of cheated out of the deeper learning I had hoped for. I was not impressed with UMUC's online program at all.

If you do not understand the terms, “Active Learning” or “Accredited Institution”, look it up. I am not doing your homework for you! It may be your first time if you choose to research it, but I guarantee it will not be your last in life if you attend UMUC. UMUC is an institution for ADULT Learning and does not provide or promise anything else. If you seek social bonding events, frat parties, or even instructors handholding you through your class assignments and lectures similar to high school, you need to look elsewhere – PLEASE! The instructors are “field tested” experts and are to be used for intelligent/complex questions that cannot be found in the textbooks or through other resources. I graduated from both traditional UofM (College Park, 1985) and UMUC (2013) and in comparison I discovered UMUC’s distance learning program significantly more demanding than the traditional model (your major will be a factor here). First, a review of the comments/complaints here and on other sites, indicates administration/student interaction issues NOT education - understand the difference. I personally experienced a lapse in FASFA funding due to submitting my taxes on an extension date. Meaning I did not get funding for a semester and had to come up with alternative payments. This is my fault and not UMUC fault! Accountability stressed here because I only see one name on the DEGREE earned – get it. Every institution has administrative issues not just UMUC. As for WebTycho, you post your work there, it is a bulletin board setup (big deal), the minimum requirements are disclosed on the website before you register or attend any courses (e.g. pc or mac, IE or FIREFOX browsers, etc.). Yes, there will be latency in supporting and adopting emerging and non-traditional platform technologies such as iPads or smartphones, that is why you pick something you can run a web browser and MS OFFICE. Why? You are required to write papers and submit them in MS Word or PDF format (APA 6th or MLA format) – Industry Standards. How else do you communicate your research papers and summarize your findings? That brings up quality of classmates work. You will have group projects/teams that experiences symptoms of “real world” situations. For example, there are always individuals that do not carry their weight but share the accolades. I bet you have experience that in your lifetime. Get over it, if you keep your nose to the grind to achieve your goal, you will get what you EARNED and they will not get what they have not earned (unless politics or being married to the CEOs daughter is one of the factors). Another law, “Life is not fair”. I dropped a letter grade myself due to inadequate writing skills of a group member who emphatically stated they could do it. From that point on in my UMUC journey, I personally took on the added responsibility of owning the projects before submission. In all cases, they received a grade range of 95% - 100%. Repeat of what ALL GRADUATES from ALL UNIVERSITIES have stated, “YOU GET OUT WHAT YOU PUT IN.” If you have a weak spot, for example writing or mathematics, strengthen and reinforce it! PROUD TO BE PART OF THE UMUC ALUMNI.

I read on the UMUC thread that UMUC state-side is a "hot mess." I've only had experience with UMUC stateside and I have to agree. I graduated with a BS in accounting in 2009 and started the MS Accounting/Info Systems degree the following semester (still in progress - 2013) BS Accounting: I hate HATE HATE!!! webTycho. I don't know who was smoking crack when they wrote that program but I get better functionality out of My$pace.com!!! Military full time and school full time, I had to attend all night and online classes. They really worked well with my schedule. They have onsite classes throughout the State of Maryland so if you are stationed in Maryland - it is an ideal match. If you plan on taking a lot of online classes - seriously, look elsewhere! The WebTycho online classroom interface is poor enough that your grades will suffer for the first couple of semesters while you try to get accustomed to how the program works. I don't know anyone who can recommend that program to their friends. In fact, everyone I know would do bodily damage to anyone making a favorable review of the online program simply because they hate WebTycho so much. I suggest "Franklin University" in Ohio. The price is the same, they have all of the same help with military benefits, etc - but the online format is flawless compared with WebTycho! (I think they use some version of "Blackboard.") Even so, most of the professors are really good. With very few exceptions, they will try very hard to make accommodations to your particular learning style. For example: I am an auditory learner and I had a 2 hour commute each day (cutting into my study time). I voiced my concern for too much reading to my cost accounting professor and he responded by uploading an MP3 file of his in-person lectures each week from his other class. Just one example, but they will all do similar things to help you out. They are really very good! The military financial aid folks are amazing - usually. You get some idiots in there but most of them are really good. Regular financial aid is an absolute mess. MS Accounting: I still HATE WebTycho and the grad program ensures that you are completely disgusted by it. The teachers are great, but the format of the class prohibits any meaningful gain from it (partly the fault of UMUC, A LOT to do with the poor functionality of WebTycho). I basically see the MS program as a hoop to jump through to get a raise at work... a very expensive hoop. Yeah, I can't say that I've learned much of anything in the master's program. As an "education," it's worthless - a fact they could change by switching away from WebTycho. I mean, seriously, I work with 4 web engineers who have built better programs in a month... and yes, they were scalable to the needs of an organization like WebTycho. I hate that program so much.

I went to UMUC for half of one semester. I transferred from University of Maryland at College Park after being treated very poorly by the Office of Student Financial Aid there. They could not deny me entrance because I had a full scholarship to attend any university in the University of Maryland System, but the scholarship only covered tuition, NOT BOOKS! So I had to get loans or grants or a job or whatever else to cover the books, housing, and food , and transportation, but they always took a very long time to process the FAFSA applications and my Montgomery GI Bill funds. So no matter how I estimated my finances for a semester they always found a way to undercut anywhere that I thought I could count on financial aid, and this exacerbated the situation to blow my budget and render me even more in debt. So I transferred to UMUC and the the same thing started to happen. I took an online course in Desktop Publishing and it seemed amazingly rigorous, and I appreciated this and was up to the challenge but because of the administrative issues I could not keep up the way I wanted to. Based on my entire post-secondary experiences I wrote letters asking the Deans and Provosts of several colleges and universities including UMUC why the financial and administrative processes of their institutions were in such disarray, and why is it that certain students of a certain race (black) and nationalities (Afro-Caribbean) were being treated like Hindi outcasts and none of them answered the questions. So I realized something about all these 'institutions of higher learning': all the and majors are like candies in a store, but the administration is a cesspool of corruption. In state-run institutions like UMUC if you have to depend in any way on any 'government' process to pursue your degree you are treated like a cash cow - they lure you in but they string you out and suck the motoney while putting you into debt, and the first thing you have to learn is that you are going to Have To Be a good lawyer on your own behalf if you are going to get anything out of it - and that means that if you get in and either survive under GI Bills, Pell Grants, Loans, or Scholarships being handled by the universities or 'loan guarantors' or banks in any way then you deserve your degree, but if you figure out the scam before you do, then they were never qualified to give you and degrees and you were already considered the Threat to that business Before you even got in. I did, and I renounced that nonsense and have had No Regrets from renouncing but plenty of regrets that I didn't do it much earlier - after the very first semester of being a full-time student, particularly on November 3, 1993 when I began to question why a different school in Maryland (Coppin State College) would charge me $500 per month in dorm fees when there was a block of uninhabited houses all selling for between $3,000 and $20,000 right across the street. Yep! I should have renounced 'accredited higher education' in my first semester at Coppin, instead of suffering in the abyss of this diploma-mill-money-conduit-cash-cow scam way back then instead of seven years later in my first semester at UMUC. But at least I finally figured out the garbage.

First I should say that my degree is in Emergency Management but that was given as an option here. I transferred from a community college and UMUC took all my credits without any issue. From there I started taking some GenEd and elective courses while I figured out what I wanted to major in. Those GenEd classes were really easy but the electives I chose were more challenging. Then I picked my major and those classes were no joke. I wouldn't say they were hard, but there is a lot of work, a lot of deadlines, and as everyone has mentioned, a lot of crappy group members to overcome. I would say that the work in my major was great, my professors in my major were amazing, outside my major was hit or miss. I will say that the business classes leave a little something to be desired. I have been in the business world for a decade and did my minor in Business Administration, the classes were okay at best. Lets put it this way, they deal more in ideas than stuff you will actually use. I took a total of 18 credits in business class and not once was a Profit and Loss statement reviewed! What? My point is the school is a little hit or miss, with professors, classes, materials, technology, but the price is right and the knowledge is there for you to learn. If you plan on coasting, then don't apply. If you are used to having someone tell you what to do (young adult/some military) then this is not for you. No one here cares about your success, but if you do the outcome can be great. my degree was in a field that had nothing to do with my business background, yet I got a job in the field in under 2 months from graduating.

I just don't understand how one university can litterally have two faces. UMUC Europe was a wonderful experience: fantastic professors, accessible, friendly and very helpful customer service (financial aid, enrollement, etc). Is it because many military family members work for UMUC Europe? Are those the people that make UMUC Europe such a big success? I don't know! But what I do know is that UMUC stateside is a hot mess! I PCSed stateside in Summer 2012 and since then I have not been able to enroll in a class with UMUC because they constantly need more documents from me. I have zero problem providing more documents to finalize my divisional transfer, but I certainly expect UMUC to let me know that they still need documents, letters, etc! I submit paperwork, receive a confirmation e-mail from a UMUC rep and yes...I then expect them to do their job. Four times now, was it up to me to chase them around, call from one office to another, only to find out that my case was still not processed because they needed more documents! UNBELIEVABLE! I am sick and tired of running after people to do their job. Do yourself a favor and avoid the hassle that comes with UMUC (stateside!).

I attended UMUC for a brief period of time before transferring to American Military University. I was enrolled as a double major in Homeland Security and Cyber Security. The programs for both of these majors were very strange, with Homeland Security requiring a LOT of writing classes as a prerequisite before you could take the first Homeland Security Class, and Cyber Security requiring a lot of programming classes. I was annoyed that UMUC refused to except my English composition CLEP for their writing requirement, meaning I had to retake a lot of classes where I had nothing to learn. I eventually dropped my major in Cyber Security because I found the instructors in the programming and computer science classes to be very rude and unhelpful. The straw that broke the camels back and caused me to transfer to AMU was when UMUC outright refused to accept my college credit from the FEMA Independent Study program! I have at least 20 college credits from this program, and I do not appreciate UMUC's attempt to cheat me out of this credit. UMUC still sends me spam emails on a regular basis, as if they think I am still a student at their school, even though I have repeatedly informed them otherwise.

I love UMUC Europe. The professors will challenge the heck out of you and expect your work to be college level. If you can barely read or write, you should spend your tuition money somewhere else because the 8 week terms are very fast paced and the instructors demand your work on-time. Upper level classes will have tons of essays that are expected to be written well with correct APA, MLA, etc citing. They'll run your essays through plagerism sites to make sure you haven't copied or bought them. If you're willing to work hard and have the to spend on assignments, this is your college.

As a MD resident I think the value is great. Was able to attain BS degree in environmental management using Pell Grants, 2 $500/semester scholarships and Rawlings Grant. Did not need to put in any money. About half of the teachers were excellent and half so-so; some were more motivated than others. Almost none used the technology well; the online program is WEbtycho and I got the impression the teacher training was sorely lacking--no uniformity, syllabus often wrong, assignments hidden all over the place. Overall I was pleased with the results and am beginning grad school there this spring. Now the bad news. Support is TERRIBLE. I have had more problems with enrollment and financial aid disbursement caused by "computer glitches" and "the new employee" then I can count. The call center is massive, and you can not speak to the same person twice. No one has ever called me back as promised, semester after semester--it's almost comical. Many things are a mystery, such as when financial aid will disburse. Sometimes I have a refund due, and when this happens I prefer to get my books from Amazon or e-Campus rather than the hugely expensive MSB bookstore that I can get a voucher for. But what day does it disburse? No one knows. It is supposed to be "ten days before start of class" but that has not been my experience ever--usually the money comes about a week to two weeks after class starts, so saving money on books is hit or miss. The last semester it would have made a difference of over $240--about the amount of my refund. I am looking for another grad school but am scared I won't be up to par with lab work because this is not offered at UMUC (although I did have excellent labs at the community college I started out at). Anyway, if support is important to you, and you are dependent upon financial aid for more than tuition, be careful. Otherwise if you take advantage of all the classses have to offer you can get a fairly good ed. ALSO--plagiarism was rampant! I never heard of any student being disciplined for it, but it was really bad. For your own sake don't do it--it was hard not to get mad about all the work I did and someone else got the same grade for stealing other's work.

After reading some of these reviews, I honestly feel that anyone who calls this school a diploma mill obviously did not actualy attend or just attended one class. I graduated from a top-notch undergraduate school and also attended law school and I felt that the dual MS in Management and MBA program was both challenging and rewarding. My knowledge and skills in business and leadership have really improved since I began the program and I was recently promoted to deputy director of my company as a result. Of course, like any other school, you will have some fabulous professors and some mediocre ones. Mine were mostly wonderful and I found the online courses to be even more challenging than the face-to-face classes and I was an A student throughout both programs. This school is not for those who are lazy, undisciplined or expect to be hand fed or escorted through the program. You have to be motivated and willing to work hard while juggling everything else life has to offer. The group assignments can be quite difficult and sometimes frustrating, but it prepares you for what is out there in the real world in terms of working in teams or groups in the business world. The MBA part of the program was not easy and there was so much work at times, I wanted to hit my head against the wall, but it was well worth it as I made it through, did well and I feel proud of this achievement. Worth every penny.

I graduated with a MS degree from UMUC online studies. The work was steady, and challenging. Much research, and way more faculty expectation than traditional schooling. After 1.5 years taking one course per semester, I attempted two courses to rapidly move my endeavors to completion. The work load was impossible to keep up with, and I was set back. If you're looking for easy...don't go to UMUC. On the other hand, if you want to truly learn a new skill, or advance your career this school is a good selection. I have had some very good instructors, and a few bad ones at UMUC. This is not uncommon in any workforce industry. Some are committed to the task, and some give just enough interest to get paid. I would strongly suggest to read the university's policies online. I didn't experience "graduate counselors" providing information in full. When issues did arise and you didn't know they say "its on the website". Yes, they were more reactive than proactive in advising.

UMUC offers a quality education, but it is not for the faint of heart. As a student, you will be required to contribute to weekly class discussions, to share your knowledge, to perform written assignments, and to ask questions. I attend UMUC towards my 2nd college degree, my first being attained at a brick-n-mortar university. Without a doubt, I have to work harder at UMUC than I did in a on-site classroom where I could just show up, sit through a lecture, and do a paper or two here and there. No, at UMUC, the education is quality, and we students are expected to contribute, and are challenged to excel. I like that. I am a full-time corporate worker bee, with a family, and UMUC has enabled me the opportunity to pursue MY educational interests while caring for my family and working for a living. This is important to me. If I want to do coursework at 5am, midnight, or whenever, I have that option. UMUC is a highly respected University. When I graduate with my degree in Human Resources in Spring 2013, I already know that employers will value me as a candidate because I am a UMUC graduate. I recommend UMUC to anyone who is pursing a quality educational experience. Thanks, DG (soon to be) Class of 2013

You get out of it what you put into it in regards to how much you learn. In terms of getting a job I was concerned how it would look on a resume graduating from UMUC. However, I was hired as an adjunct instructor for a University less than one month after graduating (that was what I went to school for). I had to wait to start teaching because I didn't even have my official transcripts yet which was required to finalize the application process. Nine months later I was hired at another college to teach part time. I cannot speak for everyone but in my experience a degree from UMUC has helped me to get where I wanted in regards to my career and must faster than I thought it would happen especially in a bad economy with no prior teaching experience.

I've been disappointed with this program; however, I transferred from Georgetown so maybe I'm comparing it with the wrong school. I do think that for an online program one is given a great deal of busy work. The instructors aren't very responsive--providing regular feedback and I often feel as though I learn from the students as they are the ones who usually answer my questions. Scary. Anyway, administration is awful and you can't even transfer many credits because UMUC wants to get as much money as possible. The advisors don't seem that interested in helping me and unless I ask specific questions, a couple of them really didn't inform me like they should have. I had soooo many prooblems when I first started with the financial aid department and felt that no one knew what they were doing, but it was resolved after several months of me calling and complaining. It was such a headache! If you want to transfer to grad school here, I don't really recommend it, especially if you're depending on credits to be transferred....don't count on that many being transferred. They also advertise that students can get a dual degree but when I asked about doing that, they told me that it wasn't applicable for my degree. I'm really not happy with this school, but have no choice but to continue.

I have concluded that the name of the school is becoming less relevant than the skills that the student can contribute. My experience at UMUC is really rewarding for the working adult professional who needs a flexible schedule. The course work is very challenging and you can have a good or bad experience with a professor (but this is the case with any school). As my grandma would always tell me, anyone can pass a course by being focused, committed to task and gain from the educational experience. These days we equate having a college degree will guarantee a job - this is not the case in the global economy today. UMUC provides the right tools and education foundation to be a critical thinker, working with a global collaborative team over the internet (i.e. work groups) and the ability for the student to succeed with their studies.

University of Maryland University College is a pretty good school. I'm in an agreement that it is not Ivy league school. However, it's not a degree-mill. Student needs to do some additional research before selecting a course and Prof in every semester. I've seen here faculties ranging from outstanding to mediocre. This is sort of commuter school with quite a few long-distance campuses. I'm impressed with the course curriculum, when I compare with other reputed institutes, e.g. - Boston university, Drexel university, etc. If someone wants to attend online courses, he/she needs to be extra delegent over on-campus students. Online student may need to pursue more with the faculties to get the questions answered. From my experience, I've never seen any faculty ever declined to answer any question that I've raised. If he doesn't respond to me back within 24 hours, I do call him directly.

I will be completing a B.S. in Criminal Justice next spring. This school worked well for me - I am in my late 30s with a very busy Federal job and don't have time to sit in a classroom all day. My schedule fits with their schedule, for the most part, and it's convenient. I don't feel that the classes were too hard, but I'm the type of person that is extremely hard to challenge, so for everyone else this may be ideal. I do plan on going for the M.S. at a different institution - I do feel prepared enough for that. Tuition is expensive, but it's expensive everywhere. A solid choice for a working professional's education.

I've taken a few classes at UMUC since I graduated from UMD and from my experiences I would say it's been more bad than good. The problem really boils down to it being a mix of open enrollment and online. As others have statement, the quality of the students is not up to snuff. Group assignments can be a pain in the rear. One of the classes I took was AMBA600 (the first MBA class there) and I was tasked as coordinator for one of the group projects. I found that half the students weren't strong in writing skills and didn't seem proactive in getting the assignments done on time. The reasoning in my mind is pretty simple - there are low to "no" standards for admission. If you have an undergraduate degree then you can get into the MBA program (no GMAT required). This is obviously convenient, but the cost of this convenience is a subpar and not highly motivated group of students as a whole (I say "whole" because there are good students at the school). Other classes I've taken are a couple of undergrad accounting classes (after I got my degree from UMD) and a couple of Masters in Information Technology courses (one of those was a total bust as the professor rarely communicated with the students; the other one was actually not bad and more challenging than I anticipated). As for the typical workload, I found the graduate courses I took required weekly assignments, a paper, midterm, group assignment, and a final. So there is a decent amount of work and would not call it a diploma mill. Long story short, it's a hit and miss school (at least from my experiences) and I would say more miss than hit. If you can get a more reputable degree somewhere and spend a little more money than I would go that route. I think you'll be a little more proud of your degree when you graduate. That said, UMUC isn't horrible and it's probably better than nothing, but my point is to do your research and really ask yourself what it is that you want from your degree.

The course load can be a bit challenging under the Finance program. Some instructors just required too much work. Most also didnt accept late assignments. But overall it is a good school and one where your degree will definitely be earned instead of bought.

This is an excellent school for a self-motivated adult that is willing to take the time out to read and complete each assignment. The value of the education is comparable to some of the traditional four-year institutes, but the cost and convenience of online degrees and certificate programs are the real reasons for its success. I'm only slightly concerned with the eight-week semesters since some of the course material covered cannot possibly be absorbed within such a short time frame. So far though, UMUC has been a decent school that has met my expectations.

I am 15 credits shy of a BS with this university. I have been very pleased to have professors that are recognized internationally as experts in their fields. One of my professors is a renowned physicist in Scotland, others have been internationally published psychiatrists and another is an international policy expert who was called to speak at the British Parliament! I believe UMUC is able to recruit such distinguished professors because of the university's international presence. The ability to conduct courses online allows the professors to physically accomplish work in their own fields of expertise while conducting online university classes. I doubt I would have been priviliged to have such distinguished professors at a regular brick and mortar institution!

Overall, this is a very good school. I have significantly improved my knowledge and the information learned is actually helping my career. The professors have been EXCEPTIONAL, especially for an online environment (except Dr. Sandeep Patnaik - he's OK overall, is engaged and I have learned a decent amount from his class, but he's nowhere near as motivating, organized and clear on expectations as the others). Getting registered and "attending" the online classes has been painless. The peer group is much more diverse than a usual university setting, but that is a more realistic learning environment for the global job market.

Well the school is really not so bad if your a working adult. For me it has allowed me to take master level classes while still working full-time, being a mom, and wife. The down side is the caliber of your classmates. The group projects are horrible as many people stated, many of my classmates appeared to be more on a freshmen year undergraduate level than a masters degree level. I primarily had issues with students writing skills and researching skills. However I think this is mainly do to the fact that many of the your classmates have been out of school for quite some time. This is my first semester and I have completed two courses both professors had a PHD from reputable Universities. The University is part of the University of Maryland system, the online library is awesome, and my professors have been really supportive, contacting me right away if I had a problem or concern. The classes are mildly challenging but it's definitely a self-study. I would definitely have not attended this school for undergraduate but I think it's a good option for working graduate students. I know several students who have received their masters from UMUC and have been very successful. If you already have a strong undergraduate degree and your attempting to advance your career, than UMUC is a great option.

Bottom Line: Recognized state school, good for "older" professionals who do not have time to go full time or leave their jobs. Fills in 'blanks' in a resume for advanced degree. Works perfectly for government jobs (federal) that require an advanced degree. You can also get hired at a higher GS (ranking level) within the government for the advanced degree. If you do well, you may be invited to join Phi Kappa Phi if you do well grade wise (Top 10% of your class). It is a bit spendy ($95 for first year or $375 for lifetime membership), but again, for government jobs it makes you eligible to be hired at a higher level--which means higher pay that would more than cover the cost of membership). I enjoyed the case studies. As far as cost of materials, they are available electronically during the class and UMUC is trying to get away from purchasing materials (also mandated by new Maryland law). I noticed this for my last two classes. Downside: Your classmates. I graduated from a top 20 university, undergraduate. Classmates will be from top schools, and well, not so top schools. So, be prepared for a very wide disparity in qualifications and a lot of frustration. Grading is all over the place, but in general if you just show up and do decent work, you'll get a B. Remember an 80 is a B as much as an 89 is a B. If you do a lot of the work and a teammate cruises, let's say the team grade is 89, but their individual grade is 72, they will still receive a 'passing' grade of B. If you receive 90s and 88s, you will get a B...see the problem? I was wondering how some people made it this far, but if you take the situation to the extreme, if the team is receiving 92s and 95s, the "poor" student can get as low as mid 60's and still "pass"...and that person may be on your team. So, really just focus on your own work and do the best you can in the team setting. Always ask the professor if you can pick your own team and choose your teammates wisely. It will make a big difference in your experience, huge difference between an enjoyable class and a nightmare (literally). The program is solid and is getting better since the time I started two years ago. The technology could be better, but it works. The professors seem to be getting better and I would say three of mine were very good, two were medium, and the remaining few not very good. I do think the professors should be REQUIRED to respond to students within 24 hours of posting. Sometimes professors wouldn't respond for a few days, which was frustrating because assignments were due in just a few days. The new schedule of Wednesday to Tuesday (versus Monday to Sunday) may seem odd at first, but it is much better and makes the weeks go by faster for some reason. I wonder about the people who review the program and say it is a cakewalk and easy to get an "A". While I do have straight A's to date, they have not been easy. If you are on a good team, then the work could be "easy" and the classes are enjoyable. I was on a few good teams, and the program was a joy and the As were indeed 'easy'. I was also part of a few bad groups, and it was a nightmare-could have easily had a B if I hadn't put in a lot of extra work to make the paper an "A"paper. When you can choose your teammates, choose carefully. The first few classes will be hard because they are 'weeding' out people and your teammates will be all over the board. This is mainly because there is no GMAT requirement and the first few classes serve that purpose of removing poor students. You will get teammates all over the map. Some will be graduates from top tier schools, and others you wonder how they made it past Jr. High. That being noted, this is an issue with any school. I have friends who went to brick and mortar top programs, and you run into the same problem. There are some people who do a lot of work, and some people who just 'cruise'. The programs were at Duke University and University of Pennsylvania. Finally, they could disperse the work more evenly. Some weeks are so light you're wondering what to do,and other weeks are incredibly loaded--especially for the working professional. Hopefully I've answered a lot of questions. One last thing is that nobody has questioned UMUC on my resume and I have been to several interviews. I do put down University of Maryland UC so as not to confuse it with Smith, but again, nobody has asked. I am glad I went through the program and am proud of my degree, it was a lot of hard work.

I spent two years at UMUC studying Environmental Management. I then transferred to the University of Virginia to complete my studies (BS Environmental Science). The courses I took at UMUC were solid, but they are lacking in a couple of key areas that are important to an Environmental Science/Management degree: (1) The highest math the UMUC have are required to go to is stats and pre-calc. Most graduate schools will want you to have gone up to Calc II. (2) Lab and general science courses. There is a lack of required sciences at UMUC. Also, since this is online, you will be lacking lab work which is important to the career. At UVA we are required to take one semester of each of the following sciences: Physics and lab, Chemistry and lab, Biology and lab. As well as one additional semester of one of the above. This is in addition to Ecology and lab, Hydrology and lab, Atmospheric Science and lab, and Geology and lab. So while the Environmental Management degree focuses more on policy it is important to have the basic sciences down (which you will not at UMUC). The courses that I did take within my major at UMUC were fairly challenging, but I wouldn't consider them hard classes. I didn't have to study; it was more about budgeting time. Now that I am at a different university, I have to study a lot in order to even pass. My GPA went from a 3.8 at UMUC to a 2.8 at UVA; that is just showing you the difference in academic rigor. It is a good choice if you are a professional, have a family, going back for a second degree, or are in the military. If you can go to a traditional (so that you can get lab experience), more challenging university with a more inclusive curriculum I would suggest that over UMUC. That being said, the professors at UMUC are great. They are willing to help the students and provide great instruction. When I was transferring I spoke with many professors over the phone (namely Sabrina Fu). They were more than willing to fill out mid-term forms for me, and to write recommendations. I loved all of the professors and think that they do a great job teaching and caring for the students.

I am in the military serving overseas. UMUC is usually at every military base. I've taken both in-class and online courses, and must say, they are challenging. I have friends who are knocking out 2-3 classes a term through other (unnamed) "schools" but they don't seem challenged at all. I considered switching to a different school, but I like knowing I'm EARNING my degree and can feel good about framing it and hanging it on the wall. The instructors I have had expect a lot and honestly, sometimes it seems like too much. They are credible and have many years of experience in what they teach. I think I'll be staying with UMUC - so what if my friends beat me to the finish line first through other "schools" - can they really feel good about the work if there was no blood, sweat and tears? Well, maybe they can. But, I can't. Best of luck to you!

This is only a platform for taking money from the Federal Government. You might get credentials, but I doubt that any reputable company would take them seriously.

I just completed my BS degree at UMUC. Overall, this is a good school but as previous posters have said, you need to be self-motivated to get the most out of your education. Also, to all of the people complaining about advisors and support, it helps a lot if you know how to use a computer. I had to call and talk to someone only one time during my 4 years, when an approval from the VA didnt arrive in time for the start of classes. EVERYTHING YOU NEED: Class lists, schedules, outstanding classes/requirements for your degree, registration etc. is online via MyUMUC. My experience overall was good. Teachers seemed to be hit or miss, some were great and provided valuable discussions & feedback while others rarely participated in discussions and graded assignments weeks after they were submitted. Its not an Ivy league school, but I wasn’t expecting one. The classes do great to fit with a working schedule.

I completed my undergraduate degree from a top 50 ranked university. I found my undergraduate education challanging yet valuable to my future career. After beginning my career, I desired to further my career by continuing my education. I selected UMUC after receiving recommendations from co-workers that it was a challanging and valuable option. The program IS very convenient for professionals. The downfall of this program is that the University operates like a business and not a higher education institute. There seems to be a greater concern placed on your payment than your success. My tuition is paid by a third party. The day the payment is late I receive phone calls daily until it is received. When I am in a class, I often contact the professor and will not hear back from them for days. Finally, the coursework is a walk in the park. I do not see how any serious employer would take this degree as a benefit. I have never began working on a paper more than 1 week before it is due and I have never revceived less than an 88 on a paper. The courses are designed for papers to be semester long research projects. The fact that I can complete research papers that other students spend months on is ridiculous. Many of the courses concentrate on information and concepts that my 300-level undergrad classes covered. Classes that I have taken in the hybrid format are appalling! When I see the students that are my peers, I am embarassed to attend this university. The other students have community college equivelant educations or low level university educations. Great school if you didn't go to a decent undersraduate program and need to remain competitive among those that have but if you a strong educational background you will walk through this cake walk with a 4.0. Do yourself a favor and seek a more challanging option. Don't make the same mistake I did and assume because University of Maryland is in the name it is reputable.

I just completed a B.S. Finance from UMUC. This school is NOT a diploma mill. I've read many reviews referring to UMUC as an "online school." Although it has a robust distant education program, it is a brick and mortar school as well. Prior to UMUC, I attended both a prestigious private college and a big state university in Atlanta. I can tell you unequivocally that UMUC's courses are just as challenging and in some cases more challenging than both previous schools I've attended. I can't speak about other undergraduate programs but the finance program at UMUC is rigorous and not for the undisciplined or average student. Overall, the instructors are tough and expect good effort and quality work from students. You will not skate your way through without working hard. This includes lots of readying, studying, writing, individual, as well as group assignments. The number of outstanding instructors far outweigh the 1 or 2 mediocre to bad ones I've had. UMUC has a target audience (working adults), so if you're looking for IVY league or tradition, just go somewhere else and stop hating on UMUC. UMUC is a part of the University System of Maryland, which has an excellent reputation. I haven't any problems yet getting accepted into graduate programs at multiple other universities. I would agree that support could be better, but in my 3 years, I have seen significant improvements in support as well as the overall academic experience.

Look. I've read all the emails from this is a "diploma mill" to bashing elitist Ivy League snobs. Everyone needs to step back and look what is being offered. Is this school Harvard, no. Is this school accredited and a part of the Maryland University system, yes. Is the majority of the students 20 somethings, yes. Does every other University from Harvard to the worst state run school have 20 somethings yes. I'm finishing the program in one more semester. I am an experienced professional that has been in the work force for 25 years. I received my undergraduate from a CAL state university school. I am now a Chief Lending Office (CLO) at fairly prestigious bank. Yes, I am part of the C-suite of officers and I am compensated very well for my position, talents, intelligence and contributions to the bank. I haven't owned a business and then sold it for millions living the life of ease. However, I am a professional who has done well not because of where I went to school. I've done well because I've worked hard, treated people well, consistently performed and have garnered respect and expertise. UMUC is a great school. It's not Harvard nor did I expect it to be. If you want to call UMUC a "diploma mill" then call Harvard I highly priced exclusionary club that manufactures the elitists in our country. In other words, it doesn't matter, we live in a society of competitive individuals looking for ways to differentiate ourselves over someone else. The secret is, if you work hard, apply yourself and learn from others regardless of the school you'll do well. If your intentions are to run Fortune 500 companies you may well have to go to an Ivy League school, however, I know a lot of extremely successful and wealthy people who didn't..... I think the MBA is challenging, but not so arduous that a working individual, such as myself has to look themselves away month after month to complete course work and keep my job and stay married and never see my children grow up. The school provides the service it was meant to provide. Getting an education for those where going to a traditional brick and mortar on campus school, most likely outside of the age 25 and higher can do it and through their efforts grow within their companies they are working for. Personally in every program I take I wish they was other information that had been provided. I wish the MBA had more course work in accounting and financial analysis as part of the MBA curriculum, but that is not what this program offers. It's not the most user friendly and I'm sure they'll get better at that too. IT DOES WHAT IT DOES WELL!! and it will allow me to acquire the education I want and yes it has prestige associated with it, but again, its not Yale, Princeton, Harvard and if that is what you really want then quit whining about it and go there and spend the $120K a year it takes to get that education..... The faculty are great here and they are up to date and engaged. The support could be better in assisting students to find better jobs or explore careers where there newly obtained MBA ranks high, however, this schools isn't funded and/or founded on providing those traditional functions. So if you need that help contact UMD or the UMD system to see what options are available, but make it happen for yourself....

The Accounting program with UMUC was one of the most difficult schools in which I participated. I attended two schools prior to UMUC, both were conventional brick and mortar schools. I was challenged and learned much more through UMUC. The course work is not easy, the most difficult requirements I encountered, but worth the learning experience. If you are looking for a challenging environment that will enable you to learn the material, then UMUC has a great program. It is not easy, but rewarding as you have to earn it.

I graduated in 2005 with a BS in Environmental Management and not am graduating with a MS in Business-Human Resources. I have been a student at this school constantly for nearly 7 years. I have no complaints at all. The courses are not easy by any means and can be quite challenging. As with any school it is up to the student as to what they want to get out of it. I have used multiple types of financial aid with no problems (FAFSA, VA, Post 911). They do have a high acceptance rate and I have found many students lack writing ability and probably should not be in the same classes as I was. This school is not a diploma mill, it is one of the best distance ed. schools around although they have a brick and mortar school as well. If you want something easy and dont care about education quality or reputation go find something else. If you want a challenge and desire to learn then choose UMUC.

Many professors also taught at other major Universities to include Harvard, and all had a doctorate in their field. I was impressed by the knowledge of the professors and the text books selected and aditional reading. I didn't have very many professors that cut corners with requirements, and the IT finance was super challenging, but after some MBA courses after my IT Masters, I appreciate it. UMUC is a great selection for those in the working world that cannot attend a local university. As I live in a small town, I was looking for a large Univeristy with more diverse professors and students to learn from. I would recommend students have experience in the business world first before starting their masters, so they something to bring to the table and apply/relate the knowledge to.

This certificate helps to place another accolade to any degree. I got this certificate while getting my BS in Business, so the classes I was taking for my degree also went towards some of my degree. It helped to show where all my hard work paid off for and made my family proud.

I had an issue and tried to get resolved for over 3 weeks. Every time when I talk with them I got transferred to other person and no one knows what they doing. I contacted them via chat, e-mail, "Helpdesk" and over the phone. Every time I talked, all they ask my information and what is the issue I have. I told them same things over and over and all of them said "Oh, so you need to talk to other section. Because I don't have authority for the issue." I talked with every single section already!! I had been hold over 30 minutes and they just stop answering the transferred call!! When I call back and select the section, which I had to wait 30 minutes, they answered the call within minutes. Yes I know that sometime they just was busy, but when it happened more then 10 times... What should I think about it? And they said, "HOW CAN I HELP YOU TODAY?" Then I do same thing again. Give my info and issue, so they can transfer me the section I originally talked. When I refuse to be transferred, they just HANG UP on the phone!! Because of them, I missed my Financial Support I already got approved of. How could they receive the paychecks if they don't do anything?? My 2 years old son can do just saying, "How can I help you" then just transfer to other. I can’t believe that is the helpdesk of the college offers master degrees in business. Before they offer that, why don’t they give some education to their own employee!!

I live in maryland and was looking for a Bioinformatics program that could be done either in the evening or online since I have a full time job. There are two that I am aware of in the area John Hopkins and UMUC. JHU has a very good MS Bioinformatics program and UMUC has a MS in Biotech w/ Bioinformatics specialization. I choose to go to UMUC mainly because of price for instate being more than half the cost of JHU and because of the strong military support for UMUC, which can be important in the DC area. Both schools are regionally accredited and neither is a "for-profit" or paper-mil. Though some people mistakingly think UMUC is a "for-profit" simply because it has significant distance learning options. But if you understood UMUC military connections this would all make sense. For the record JHU also has distance learning and you can earn your degree completely online from them also. Things to note some of the UMUC classes are actually taught by people who teach/research at JHU as well as Maryland and other schools. Secondly the UMUC program has a business element to it. In fact you can actually end up with both an MBA and MS with just 18 additional hours at UMUC. UMUC also and provides a molecular biology leveling course for non biology undergraduates. JHU is more hard core biology and requires far more leveling work. From looking at the catalogs both degrees seem to provide almost identical Computer Science elements (i.e BioPerl & BioJava) and statistical elements. If you want hardcore biology then JHU is probably your better choice but if you want a nice mix UMUC. Can't go wrong either way, but for the price and for working at the many government/military/NIH jobs in the DC region UMUC is probably a better value for MS level work. Either way be prepared to write and read extensively. Actually get 3 masters and go to both...then you would have it from every angle Biotech, Bioinformatics and MBA.

I attended UMUC in the early 90s in Germany. I had some truly outstanding Professors. I had a few that were less than stellar--I believe that is typical of any University experience. The courses were challenging, enlightening, and fulfilling. I have since gone on to have a very successful career in the business world. I started a computer training school which was later sold to a Fortune 100 company. I than ran a region and then a territory for that company for 8 years. I am now on my way to career number three--I will be starting at a Tier 1 Law School in the fall.

If you're looking for an on-line "diploma mill" do not attend UMUC, the school will make you earn your diploma. This school offers top-notch programs and provides excellent instruction through easy to use forums. Those that said it was difficult to access classes were perhaps in their first classes, but after a couple classes it's easy. UMUC is a member of the University System of Maryland and the school takes that distinction seriously, so you can expect to work hard for that degree. Yes, I have had some (maybe two) professors that were mediocre, but I believe that is something a student will find at any school. Overall, this is a great school that will offer a diploma that is respected.

Great school. This school will hammer you if you are a poor student that is simply looking for a fast degree. If you want to LEARN something along the way, this is your school. It is about time that I found a school that actualy enforces standards. Thank you!

I majored in Business Administration with a minor in political science. After earning my BA from UMUC I applied to various law schools around the country and got in with scholarship offers. I can assure anyone out there considering an online education that UMUC is one of, if not the best. In addition, I would recommend the school to anyone who wants to earn a bachelors in business regardless if they work full-time or not. I must admit that the courses are tough, and be prepared to work 6-9 hours a week per class at a minimum. I'm going to law school now at a top tier school. Thanks UMUC.

I am currently in the UMUC MBA program, and so far I have only mild complaints. All in all, I would have to say that the "team based" projects, required in the courses, can be problematic. When you have students form around the world trying to communicate through various mediums (including the Web Tycho), it can cause all sorts of mayhem. The other issue I have, which represents much of my dissatifaction with the program, is that the overall quality of many of the enrolled students can be low. I have had many bad experiences with other team members whose English and computer skills are greatly lacking sophistication. I rate the program as an "8-ish" because it is really fast-paced and the material is rather difficult sometimes. I know other people who are attending the more well-advertised online universities and they have not had much difficulty with the material nor their class requirements. Since I already have owned a successful company now for 15 years, I can directly relate to the material that is covered in the MBA program. I, however, do question the grading severity that seems to prevail in the program, which leads me to wonder whether they are making the program more difficult than it normally would be at a traditional brick-and-mortar university. In either case, I believe that the more difficult a program is, the more likely it is going to be effective. Additionally, I would say that whoever stated that this is a "paper mill" program, surely is not in the program, nor has ever been in the program. If it was a "paper mill" program, I should not have to put much time into the classes and that has definitely not been the case. Since I carry a consistent "A", I think that would make me more qualified to be critical of the program. Sure, it would be nice if the program was "easier" and only required a few hours of my time every week, but in my opinion, if that is what you are looking for, then you probably should consider not pursuing an MBA. It is supposed to be an "education", not just a piece of paper that says "MBA" on it.

My UMUC experience thus far has not been a pleasant one. The teachers aren't interested in the classroom, they rarely have things graded on time, and I wonder if they have a "Code of Ethics" for their teachers at all. Out of 10 teachers I have had 3 teachers that were worth the money they charge for their classes. The ratio doesn't say anything good for the school. Their book prices are outrageous. Their financial aid office is horrible when it comes to the students accounts and taking care of things. You can't count on them to have it all approved until after class starts so make sure you are ready to pay for it all by yourself! This is not a school I would recommend to anyone at all. There is so much I could say bad but little that I could say anything good about this school.

Do NOT attend UMUC if you are relying on FA! Although most colleges post aid disbursement dates on their Web pages that are easily accessible, UMUC acts as if it is some kind of state secret. The only thing you can find is, "Aid is disbursed approximately ten (10) days prior to the start of classes." What? 10 business days? 10 days? It is now 9 days-not business days- before the start of Fall semester and no disbursement. Summer session FA was disbursed on the first day of class, and then I had to wait another 10-14 business days for the State of Maryland to send a check. What this does is force students on FA to make a choice between not having a textbook when classes start or paying the inflated MBS book vendor prices that I'm certain UMUC gets a kickback from! They will automatically allow you to take $300 from anticipated FA ONLY IF you order from MBS, that btw is being sued for kickbacks: http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/04/08/26235.htm. FA will respond quickly to emailed questions but with vague answers that need clarification over and over. The few times I have emailed my "advisor" AFTER I enrolled, it took weeks to get a response. WebTycho (online class platform) is anything but user friendly. Each prof can arrange and post materials however they see fit, with no consistency, forcing the student to figure out EACH time they access a class where to find what materials! In "conferences" it is not possible to view the comments of other students while you are writing your own and probably responding to one of them! If you want an online education you will get an average one and NO support, especially if you depend on FA.

The program focused on a combination of business and technical issues that are unique to the biotechnology industry. The instructors require that students read the assigned course material and provide an analysis of what was studied or read in the WebTyco online format. Students received grades based upon class room participation, examinations provided and research papers submitted. Depending on the instructor, part of your grade depended on what your team members felt you contributed to an assigned group project. Grades were typically weight based - the larger percentage applied to research papers and exams. Secondly, for research papers proper footnotes were expected. Instructors deducted grade points for late assignments or poor footnoting. Third, while having a PhD does not make a teacher effective - all of the instructors had one (some were even patent holders). These instructors provided the theory as well as the real world practices contained within the biotechnology industry. Finally, the capstone course was challenging. The class was divided into teams, and each team worked with a biotechnology company. A lot research and analysis was devoted to the project and results were presented to the owner or CEO of the biotechnology firm. Each team produced a capstone research paper that was graded by the instructor concurrent with the biotechnology owner's input.

I entered UMUC for two reasons: going to the University of Maryland was a childhood dream (I grew up in Annapolis) and because they accepted 42 credit hours of previous education (earned at AACC). My experiences are mixed. My initial contact with UMUC was with a student acting as a course advisor as part of the work study program. Red flag. I submitted my financial documents (tax returns etc) which they promptly loss. Red flag. I ended up resending those document two more times before losing my cool and demanding the name and address of a specific person who would then be required to sign a return receipt for the documents. This year wasn't any better. By contrast, you need something just short of a top secret security rating to get into "My UMUC" to track your academic progress, read course descriptions or register for classes. Too bad they don't use the same security measures to protect your financial documents... Professors are a mixed bag but you will have that at any institution at all levels of learning. That being said, there was a woman in my history class last semester (upper level course) who posted she was grateful for the ancient Greeks because "without them [she] would not have had [her] favorite cartoons: 'Hercules' and 'Xena.' " My point is, UMUC is a for-profit school and clearly profit is a priority over the quality of students accepted. There were 30+ student in that history class and only two other people besides the professor with whom I could, in good conscience, interact in the discussion forum. As for the academic and financial advisers....there would seem to be a space (or at least a title) for them but as for humans occupying those positions, it's anyone's guess. I haven't been able to speak with an adviser in either department other than my initial contact with the kid on work study at "intake advising." Clearly it is all about getting you signed up and qualified for financing, not unlike a used car salesman. All of that being said, whether I get a quality education or not is entirely up to me. I can do the work required to pass or I can exert the effort to submit my best work, ask questions, engage my class fellows and professors. It is up to me. An education takes effort no matter where you attend. If you are going to spend the money to go to school, why not get your money's worth...and I don't mean finding an explanation of the origin of your favorite cartoon. As I have always taught my sons, you get what you give. Just remember this: there is only one way to coast and that is downhill.

I have had very good experiences with this graduate program. The professors are true professionals and many teach only part-time. A number of professors work for the private or federal sector and are therefore able to convey the most up-to-date trends in biotech to their students. The interface for the online courses is called webtycho and is a great tool overall. I am very satisfied with this university and the degree in particular.

I am a transfer from another on-line University. That said, I was attracted to UMUC for the specific International Development MBA. I quickly withdrew, losing money, to return to my former University. UMUC has little to no support and I agree with the reviewer that said it is all about the money. WebTycho needs to be modernized; I would not recommend this school.

I just completed the program and I felt that it was the best program for my lifestyle. I was trying to get back into college for many years but couldn't find a program that would let me work with clients 24/7 and meet the rigorous studying standards. However, as many have said in other comments the school isn't for everybody but for me I enjoyed the independence of working and researching at my own pace. I have noticed that some students was asking about the "no GMAT" as a qualifier to determine the school's difficulty level. The online atmosphere is planned where each student can work interdependently within a cohort while achieving personal goals within the class. Yes you will be required to read the entire book in each class, actively engaging in activities such as team & group assignments, and post your opinions on a specific topic within the class. The online experience helped better prepare me for a job that consist mostly of effective online communication and working independently.

I started with UMUC while in the Marines and continued after separation. Great support, generally excellent professors, course-work is applicable. I took in the neighborhood of 20 classes with UMUC and am positive with respect to my experience with them. I am proud to say that I graduated from UMUC. Patrick Benac

The MBA and Executive MBA programs are awful. They are do it yourself, teach it yourself programs. There is little support from administration, UMUC does not care what happens, they are only interested in collecting money not teaching. I had specific areas where I asked for elaboration and was told to reread the book. This school is just a diploma mill. I did not learn anything but I did get 3 initials after my name. Do yourself a favor - if you want to learn material that will help you in the workplace- go to another school. They have been using the same curiculum for over 10 years and one of my case studies dated back over 20 years. Don't waste your time or money here.

I spent three years at UMUC finishing up an English degree. I already had 60 credits when I enrolled, plus test credits, so all my classes were upper-level and most were in my major. The professors aren't terrible. Many are very knowledgeable, and some of the lit professors are genuinely good. The problem is that a lot of them just aren't responsive or engaging enough, and in an online course that's a problem. Online courses in general target older students who are self-motivated, but the result too often here is that the professors are unable to add any real value to the material. Weeks can sometimes go by without any new instruction, and personal feedback is very limited. So while you can get a lot out of some of the classes, you're on your own -- you have to want to learn. Level of difficulty: not so high. I graduated with a 4.0, and although I took all my courses seriously, I was disappointed because after awhile I started to believe (maybe correctly, maybe not) that effort wasn't that important. A's and B's seemed to be the norm (from what I could gather -- which is really just speculation), which wouldn't be a problem if it were obvious that everyone else in the class made the same effort. Which leads me to the real problem with UMUC: the school has open admission. That's a wonderful thing for people who really just want to get an education and maybe weren't the best students in high school, or who gave up on an education to raise a family or start a career. But it doesn't translate to a stimulating classroom. And by extension, maybe, it doesn't translate to stimulating professors. It's a watered-down program, and maybe that's really all anyone should expect. But it shouldn’t have to be that way. One last thought. Administration and advising are awful. I do believe the advisors genuinely want to help, at least most of them. And maybe you just can't get meaningful results through email. But I had to make far too many calls, forward far too many emails, just to confirm some pretty basic things -- testing credits, program requirements, degree progress. And I like to think I'm a reasonably intelligent guy, with few really stupid questions. But I consistently received incorrect or inexplicable answers, and my lasting impression was that this whole process was far too exhausting in all the wrong ways. So: decent professors, generally terrible use of technology (esp. for an online school), sloppy advising and administration. But it is convenient, if that's what you need. And the material is there if you want to learn it.

Overall, my experience at University of Maryland University College (UMUC) has been a good one. I earned my M.S. in Management (Accounting) there in 2005 and am currently working on my M.B.A. In terms of the quality of the teachers, materials, and student interaction, I would definitely recommend this school to my colleagues. The teachers are predominantly adjunct faculty, some of whom have a lot of real world business experience. As a good example, I had one professor, Richard Schmidt, who was the best finance professor I ever had. He was demanding, but he brought a lot of experience to the table, and his teaching has even impacted the way that I personally go about researching investments before laying my money down. The assignments are generally challenging and there are no on-campus/residential requirements. In terms of support UMUC can be wildly uneven. Graduate Advising does a good job helping you navigate such issues as program changes and enrollments. However, Financial Aid and Student Accounts are often lacking in responsiveness, both in terms of time, as well as quality of response. Here is a good example: a student I know recently submitted a financial aid appeal for the Spring term and had it granted. However, the appeal was mistakenly entered for Fall. The student had his Spring aid cancelled because there was no appeal granted for Spring. When it became clear that this was a data entry error, the student was informed that they needed to resubmit the appeal. From personal experience, you can also give up on receiving written and/or e-mail correspondence when changes are made to your financial aid or student account. Again, I have to give UMUC a great deal of credit. However, if you enroll please be advised to check your financial aid and student account status weekly, if not daily, in order to catch any potentially damaging (and unannounced) changes to them. Take care and good luck!

I was dropped from the Master's program and the university several years ago for failing to complete a course while on academic probation. I wrote a letter of explanation to the university requesting reconsideration because I was deployed in Afghanistan and my request was declined. I tried numerous times to resolve this issue, but all my attempts were unsuccessful. Because of this type of treatment by the university, I give them low marks in the area of "Support".

Has no real direction should just be called a M.S in Management.

I am currently a student at UMUC. While the program is great, some of the faculty and staff, on the other hand needs some work. I was assigned a student advisor that I am yet to speak to (never available and doesn't answer or respond to phone calls or emails).....don't even mention financial aid. My advisor at financial aid took literally 2 1/2 weeks to respond to one of my inquiry on the status of my aid. I ended up missing registration for a couple of my classes. Staff and faculty support needs MAJOR improvement.

I have been a student with UMUC for 2 years and transferred from Univeristy of Phoenix. This is a much nicer experience, I can choose my own classes and am responsible for my passing a class. I am not that number that I was at University of Phoenix, I am a student. Some professors are tough and I love it, it a challenge and reason I am working towards my degree - to learn, even if I have to work for it!

UMUC, IS A GREAT SCHOOL....THE WORK IS VERY HARD ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY AND WORK FULLTIME. YOU MUST MAKE A COMMITMENT IT DEPENDS ON YOU...GOOD LUCK

I graduated from UMUC in 2007 with my B.A. in English. Although expensive (I am an out-of-state student), it is a great school. The classes are NOT easy by any means and you will actually have to WORK for your degree. Most of the online professors that I had were incredibly encouraging and supportive. The only issues I had were involving the administration. When it came time for graduation they never mailed me my degree. I had to talk to about 20 people over several months before they finally sent it to me. And if you ever have to call them, make sure you have lots of free time. It's nearly impossible to get a human on the phone and when you do it's usually someone with a very thick foreign accent. But my overall experience eduction-wise was great and totally worth it.

UMUC is a school for a certain type of student. If you are a 20 year old transfer student coming from UMBC who is use to being able to go directly to student services and have your problems solved then this more then likely will not be the type of school you are looking for. UMUC serves working adults and does it very well. For a 30 year old student with a full time job or a 22 year old student with a family UMUC provides a great education from a state school to those who would not be able to finish a degree from schools like University of Maryland College Park. The school could stand to improve itself in regards to its administraive support to students, but then again the school is mostly an online focused school with most of its services just a log in away. My suggestion is while reading the reviews on this site is to ask yourself why type of student you are. If you are a student who workds and needs a little flexibility then UMUC is perfect for you. Its a 4 year state school way better then any for profit diploma mill school that offers online programs!

This school has been a great experience. I lived overseas and started attending UMUC while in Belgium. After moving to the states I have continued my degree program, using all DE classes. I already had a AS degree from a local community college. The courses are challenging but rewarding. I have never had any trouble with financial aid (Both federal and VA), the communication between myself and the school has always been prompt. In fact my advisor will call periodically to make sure everything is okay. With the money it costs to go someplace else with more name recognition, I would look at UMUC. For the adult, working student, UMUC is an excellent place to further ones educaitonal goals. It is not too expensive, the classes are not easy A's, and it is not a diploma mill.

As far as a university for working adults goes this is an excellent school. Let’s face it UMUC is not a top tier school. You’re not going to attend it because you chose it over the Georgetown or Duke. You are 30 years old or so now and regret not finishing college when you had the chance. You have a career now and can’t just give it up to go back to the UMD College Park or whatever college you originally went to. So it will not look as good on a resume as graduating from the Smith School of Business but it is still a state university and looks better then U of Phoenix or some other for profit diploma mill. So get your act back together, get your undergrad, boost up your GPA and maybe try getting into a good grad school. Top grad schools have much better options for working adults than top undergrad schools. The criticism for UMUC should be taken with a grain of salt. There are administrative problems anywhere you go. Follow the deadlines and keep on top of the advisors and all will be fine. Books are expensive everywhere. Buy the books used on half.com or somewhere. Email the prof. before the class begins to be sure of what books are actually required. Don’t try to take hard classes like math, finance, or accounting, online. That stuff is too hard to learn from a book.

The courses provided exceptional value to the operations and engineering support personnel who have taken part in the program. Advancement has been high within the organizations that have provided this program since its beginning in 1984.

This is the most disorganized school that I have ever attended. I had an A going in to exams and had arranged to take my finals at a local community college (they require a proctored exam - that you have to arrange). I had everything set-up a ready to go but the exam never arrived. I offered to fly from Seattle to Maryland to take the final but that did not fit within their structure. I complained loudly to the administration and said I could attempt to withdraw - after I had gone through a formal appeals process. I finally just walked away. I have since finished on-line programs a Drexel and Villanova. Unless you have a lot of time on your hands to deal with organizational BS - go elsewhere.

I made a transfer to UMUC from UMBC and started regrating my decision couple weeks later. It was almost impossible to get in touch with the right person. Necessary Forms were sent on the same date from UMBC, but with UMUC "not receiving my documents" after some time got me really worried. Plus, How can you call it online learning if you have to go to the campus to take all the exams? Financial Aid took 8 weeks so far with no updates. Transcipts were never evaluated after saying it only takes two weeks for their evaluation. I am so disappointed that I decided to look for other online school. I need to find a better online school.

I enjoyed my experience with UMUC. I took 75% of my courses via DE. I took all of my UMUC courses while stationed in Europe. The courses were tough but very useful in my professional development. The online format was very user friendly and the library databases were enormous. They offered a wealth of information and knowledge. The professors were outstanding and their subject knowledge, application, and case studies helped enforce the material. I would recommend UMUC to anyone interested in obtaining an undergraduate degree. Mike

I originally attended the University of Maryland Asian Division while stationed aboard Okinawa and attended classes on site. It was towards the end of my bachelor degree program that I first tried online courses via Web Tycho. I found them to be more challenging in that one was required to read and write much more than a typical face to face course. The same can be said for my current master of science in computer systems management degree track. I am specializing in information assurance and have found all of the classes to be relevant, topical, and well worth the investment. The only sticking point that I have had with the university is support when I needed to clarify what I identified as mistakes in my tuition charges. Even so, I still find this university to be an outstanding value and their degree well worth the time and effort one puts into it.

I am a current UMUC Grad student (online only) and I must say that I am impressed with their program. The coursework is very rigorous, in retrospect to my counterparts who attend other colleges. The faculty is knowledgeable and supportive. UMUC definitely lives up to the University of Maryland system standards. My degree earned will be well worth it.

My experience at UMUC has been wonderful. My major was Computer and Information Science with a minor in Business Administration. The course format was great in that I took both online and face-to-face courses. The teams I was on during that time were great. It helped me to be a team player, meet deadlines and and work with many people, some in other countries. The cost of a UMUC education is quite reasonable. I work for a DoD contractor and I compel my co-workers, especially the military to work on their education.

I've just been doing a bachelor's in psychology, and so far I've had a really good experience. I really enjoy my classes and I feel that the professors have been great, helpful, and attentive, even though some of them teach in other well-known brick and mortar universities. I am very happy with my time there so far.

I graduated from University of Maryland, University College in August 2005 after completing the part-timeMBA graduate program. Overall, the greatest value of the UMUC graduate degree is the program's affiliation with the University of Maryland college system. Unlike other for profit higher education institutions, the state of Maryland has a tradition of providing a high quality education and graduates of the UMUC program stand to benefit from that reputation. With that said the UMUC MBA program is geared towards working professionals who are already established in their careers and searching for opportunities to advance within their respective companies or a designed field in which they already have considerable experience. One of the weakest aspects of the institution in general, is that there is little support in terms of career development or recruitment opportunities for individuals seeking to transition into a different career path after obtaining their MBA. To give you an example, while earning my MBA at UMUC, I was laid off from my job as a sales manager. I found that the university provided few career resources. The resources available were geared towards undergraduate, not graduate students. Also, with few exceptions, you also felt that you were simply a small number in a fairly successful program. I heard that with some other institutions, the graduate advisors take a more active approach and help the students reach their career goals through the graduate program. To its credit, I think the institution is able to attract top faculty due to its association with the University of Maryland’s higher education system. The MBA program at UMUC is structured into cohorts. Students progress through the program at the same pace, providing support for one another during the more strenuous parts of the program. I highly recommend the combination online and face-to-face MBA program format, particularly for the requisite study group sessions. Having a physical "face-to-face" point of reference helps for the study group cohesion, group interaction and group involvement - a huge benefit in subsequent courses. Overall, the UMUC MBA program is a great value compared to other MBA programs. The price per credit hour is the same regardless of residency status. Since I'm also pursuing another graduate degree at UMUC currently, I've noticed the University has taken great strides to leverage its alumni pool and have alumni serve as career mentors for recent graduates.