Why UMass Global

UMass Global is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WSCUC) Senior College and University Commission. This is the same level of institutional accreditation that most state and other well-known universities have.

• Differences: 2 types of institutional accreditation: regional or national
  • Regionally accredited institutions are academically-oriented, typically leading to an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree.
  • Nationally accredited institutions are typically those that offer vocational, career, or technical programs.
• Transferability:
  • Regional accreditation may assist you as you move forward in your education. Most schools accept transfer credits from regionally accredited universities.
  • University of Massachusetts Global does not accept credits from nationally accredited institutions.

• Social Work:
  • The Master of Social Work (MSW) program received CSWE accreditation in March 2021.
  • Our Bachelor of Arts in Social Work program received CSWE accreditation in 2016.
  • To review more accreditation information, please visit the Directory of Accredited Programs on the CSWE website (listed as UMass Global).         
• School of Education:
  
  • Credential Programs:
    • We are the second largest provider of teaching credentials in California.
    • Credential and Authorization Education programs are accredited by California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC). You can find the list on the CTC site, where you can find us listed as University of Massachusetts Global.
• School of Nursing:
  
  • CCNE - Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

The following programs were created to accelerate the time to completion and therefore save on costs:

• Advanced standing in MSW:
  • If an applicant had a CSWE-accredited BSW/BASW/BSSW degree conferred within the prior five years they only need to complete 600 advanced field hours as an MSW student, rather than the full 1000 field hours required of Standard MSW students.
• UMass Global MyPath:
  • Competency-based education (CBE) IT and Business programs allow you to draw upon life and professional experience to help you progress through courses more quickly and affordably.

Employee Partnerships

• Education: Partner with UMass Global and take advantage of the $350 million the state of California has offered school districts for implementing teacher residency programs. CalMatters
• 2021, the median earnings of those with a master’s or higher degree were $74,600, some 21 percent higher than the earnings of those with a bachelor’s degree ($61,600). In the same year, the median earnings of those with a bachelor’s degree were 55 percent higher than the earnings of those who completed high school ($39,700). NCES

Military Education Benefits

• Including Yellow Ribbon

• View Tuition Table
• UMass Global has not raised undergraduate tuition since 2012 (as of 2023-24 academic year).
• UMass Global's outstanding completion rates and class availability make it an excellent value and allows students to enter the job market efficiently.

• 2nd largest issuer of new teaching credentials in California
  •  2021 Teacher Supply in California: A Report to the Legislature. Annual Report
• UMass Global has ranked among the best universities for online programs for 11 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report (2012-2023).
• Ranked 15th nationwide for primarily online education and 21st among private institutions according to Military Times.
• MILITARY FRIENDLY INSTITUTION: UMass Global repeated as a Silver honoree in Viqtory's annual Military Friendly Schools Awards. In the 2023-24 rankings, UMass Global recorded its highest score in the “Financial Aid & Assistance” category, followed by “Culture & Commitment.”
• Ranked 28th nationwide for best online bachelor's in psychology program according to US News & World Report. (2023)

Based on outcomes 8 years after attending as of Feb. 23, 2022:

• Part-Time Students: 51% graduated
• Full-Time Students: 49% graduated
• Both: 74% overall graduation rate

Source: 2021-2022 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Data Collection Outcome Measures Component (2013-14 Cohort)

The UMass Global student loan default rate is about half the national average.

• The FY 2019 UMass Global cohort default rate is 1.2%, compared with the 2.3% national average.
• Competitor Comparison:
  • SNHU - 2%
  • Purdue Global - 2.8%
  • University of Phoenix - 2.6%
  • Grand Canyon University - 1.5%
  • National University - 1.1%

Source: Federal Student Aid

UMass Global (formerly Brandman University) is a part of the 150-year heritage and history of the Chapman University system

• Established in 1958 by Chapman University, a highly ranked, private institution in Orange, California, to provide continuing education to U.S. Marines based at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.
• Founded to serve adult learners in 1958.
• Focused on changing the lives of our adult learners through education.

• UMass Global's curriculum was designed to meet the needs of busy adult students.
• 91% of students work while completing a program.
• Over 52% of alumni had one or more dependents while attending UMass Global.
• 90% of UMass Global students are age 25+ with the average age being 36.

**Data based on 2022 University of Massachusetts Global Alumni Survey

UMass Global offers two flexible online coursework options:

1. Instructor-led, session based courses
2. Competency-based, self-paced courses. UMass Global MyPath.

• UMass Global is the only non-profit higher education institution in California offering competence-based education (CBE) — an affordable, self-paced online learning modality that measures learning rather than time.
• UMass Global offers CBE programs in business and information technology through UMass Global MyPath.

Flexible start times with six eight-week sessions—two sessions per each trimester during the academic year (Start Dates: Academic Calendar):

1. Fall Trimester — Fall I and Fall II
2. Spring Trimester — Spring Session I and Spring Session II
3. Summer Trimester — Summer Session I and Summer Session II

UMass Global MyPath: Continuous starts with entry options every Monday

• Liberal transfer credit policies
• Accept credits from Joint Service Transcripts, Community College of the Air Force transcripts, as well as those from CLEP and DSST exams
• Offers block credit transfers for student service members or veterans who have achieved the ranks of E-7 or above, chief warrant officer 2 or above, or any officer rank

• UMass Global started as Chapman University College in 1958 when it opened up a campus at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro to serve military students.
• UMass Global's Military Commitment
  • Over 10% of students have military ties or connections.*
  • Almost 5% are active duty or reserve.*
  • Over 4% are veterans.*
  • Just under 2% are military dependents.*

*2023-24 IPEDS Data Collection: 12-Month Enrollment (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023)

Military students require specialized forms of support from their university in order to start, persist, and graduate. They often have higher incidences of health risk behaviors and psychological symptomology than civilians, as well as struggles with adjusting to and interacting in the academic setting. 

The following is a list of University of Massachusetts Global departments and the specialized forms of support currently provided to our military students.

Specialized Military Enrollment Coaches

• Trained to assess the unique needs of every military student.
• Work to ensure our military students can take advantage of the resources outlined below to ensure academic success.

Military & Student Services

This department can assist military students with administrative, academic, and financial related matters including: 

• Certify VA students for educational benefits including Montgomery GI Bill (Ch. 30), Post 911 GI Bill (Ch. 33), Vocational Rehabilitation (Ch. 31), Dependents Educational Allowance (Ch. 35)
• Facilitate student account issues for military students
• Getting holds removed for military students
• Financial aid, cashier, and collection issues
• Degree conferral issues

Office of Accessible Education and Counseling Services

This department provides accommodations to enhance the military student’s chances for academic success. For our military students, the prevalence of medical disabilities, such as hearing loss and severe physical trauma, along with mental health disabilities such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder is typically greater than in civilians. To address these issues, we provide numerous accommodations for our military students.

• Accommodations may include:
  • Assistive technology
  • Recording of lectures
  • Closed and real-time captioning
  • Extended time on exams
  • Referrals to Veteran Support
  • Interpreter services
  • Note-taking assistance
  • Textbooks and course materials in an alternate format
  • Liaison with faculty and staff

Career Services

Military students are commonly can be unsure of their civilian career path and may not have developed some of the skills required for many civilian jobs. This department can improve these challenges with the following services:

• Career exploration: planning, self-assessment, interest inventories, occupational outlooks
• Skills translation (transferable military skills)
• Resume building and interviewing skills
• Job search resources and strategies
• Connections with numerous organizations that can provide additional specialized services for military students

Academic Advisors/One Stop Specialists

Academic Advisors and One-Stop Specialists can greatly facilitate the processes of registering for and funding a degree program at University of Massachusetts Global. Here's how:

• Academic Advisors: Assist military students with developing education plans (required for Tuition Assistance (TA) approval), submitting petitions, articulation
• One-Stop Specialists: Assist military students with the application of military/veteran benefits, VA certifying official, obtaining documentation required for benefits

Faculty

Military students are subject to duty station transfers, foreign deployments and assignments, lengthy training exercises, and other unanticipated forms of duty. University of Massachusetts Global faculty are aware of these unique logistical challenges and are committed to providing the flexibility and accommodations military students need to be successful in their educational journey.

All students and alumni are provided the following free career planning and development services:

• One-to-one personalized career coaching on self and career exploration, career management, resume writing, interviewing, and job search.
• Access to self-assessments (MBTI and Strong Interest Inventory) to assist in major and career planning decisions.
• Professional development, webinars, workshops, and networking opportunities with industry professionals, faculty, and alumni.
• Job board services.

• UMass Global students have full access and borrowing privileges to the UMass Global Libraries. From books, e-books, and full text journals to primary and secondary sources and collections, students have access to a wealth of resources for their research needs.
• Access to dedicated research librarians available Monday through Saturday to assist with library and research questions.

• Offers undergraduate student virtual tutoring services, resources, and live workshops.
• Submit papers for review before they are due.
• Help creating dynamic multimedia projects for class projects.

• Works with approved students individually to develop an accommodation plan that may include recording lectures, extended time on exams and projects, textbooks in an alternate format, or closed and real-time captioning.
• Acts as a liaison between students, administrators and faculty, and other staff members to make sure the plan is followed.

Every 8 weeks University of Massachusetts Global conducts Students Satisfaction Surveys

• We utilize these results to implement change and drive improvement throughout the university.
• The survey results help us enhance your learning experience, with small class sizes and expanded one-on-one involvement with your professors.
• We believe our continuing focus on our student satisfaction is illustrated in this statistic — 91% of our alumni would recommend UMass Global to family, friends, and colleagues.*

*Based on the 655 responses received to a survey item in University of Massachusetts Global’s 2022 Alumni Survey, in which 598 respondents indicated they “strongly agree or agree” that they would recommend UMass Global to their family/friends/colleagues.

Find events using this link: https://www.umassglobal.edu/news-and-events/events?search=new%20student%20orientation

New students receive a comprehensive orientation to prepare them for success in the classroom and beyond. The orientation introduces students to key support services and technical resources. It also presents details about the classroom experience and academic expectations.

• A resource for students prior to starting classes at UMass Global to plan for funding their education.
• Once admitted and enrolled, One Stop is the single point of contact for registration, financial aid, billing, payments, refunds, scholarships, and veteran benefits.

After you receive your acceptance letter, you will be assigned an academic advisory.

• Your advisor will work with you to create and then monitor your education plan.
• Your advisor will explain UMass Global academic policies and procedures.
• Your advisor will stay with you throughout your entire academic journey, helping to navigate decisions affecting your academic and career goals.

From your first inquiry with UMass Global, you will be paired with an enrollment coach.

• Your enrollment coach will be your primary point of contact at UMass Global prior to starting classes.
• Your enrollment coach provides guidance and personalized support through program selection, the admissions process, and preparing for a successful start to classes.

About our faculty...

• Our student to faculty ratio is 18-to-1.
• Faculty members act as mentors, are highly approachable, and are engaged in your educational and career goals.
• Many faculty members are scholar-practitioners, currently working in the field and providing real-world experience.
• Small student/faculty ratios and one-on-one attention are a hallmark of the UMass Global student experience.