UMASS Online

Author: Jenna Vasquez

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The Good

• Accreditation
• Affordable Graduate-Level Degrees
• Life Experience Credit
• High Job Placement

Accreditation

As part of the UMass system, UMassOnline benefits from the same accreditation held by its campus counterparts. In addition to general accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, each of the University's schools and colleges are accredited by discipline-specific agencies. Students enrolled through the online program receive the very same degrees and benefit from the same reputation as students on campus. The same faculty also teaches online courses as the physical campuses. Students can expect a high level education.

Affordable Graduate-Level Degrees

The price of tuition and fees vary depending on the level of education and program students are enrolled in. The price of undergraduate and noncredit courses generally range from $125 to $1980 each, while graduate level courses range from $1,230 to $2250 each. This is very affordable compared to other online universities, especially considering their national reputation.

Life Experience Credit

Despite their affiliation with the UMass, there is no residency requirement and programs may be completed from anywhere in the world. For those who have taken an untraditional path and are returning to school, credit for life experience may be awarded up to 30 credits worth.

High Job Placement

Of graduates from the undergraduate programs at UMass's Dartmouth campus in 2012-2013, 71.1% report they found full-time employment within six months of graduation.

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The Bad

• Difficult to Navigate

Difficult to Navigate

At first glance, UMassOnline's website can be intimidating. With so much information on the same page, information on specific courses and programs can be difficult to navigate to. Course demos are also not currently functional, which would be extremely helpful considering college attendance is an extremely personal experience.

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The Bottom Line

UMassOnline is part of a world-class educational system. They stand well apart from online school's that have a "diploma mill" reputation. Their online programs rank very well nationally. You can expect put in a fair amount of study and learn a lot at the same time. We recommend them highly. Their degree programs do require admission however, so if you are interested in attending UMassOnline, it would be wise to begin by contacting a UMassOnline admissions advisor. Those interested in applying will need to complete the following:

1. Create online account
2. Fill out contact information
3. Submit prior education paperwork
4. Answer questions
5. Speak to an advisor