Programs of Study at the University of Massachusetts Online
Check out our ranking of the 50 Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Computer and IT Degrees Online.
The University of Massachusetts Online offers several online courses and programs that award college degrees and certificates. Subjects available for study include business management; criminal justice & legal; fine arts, design, & communications; and liberal arts & humanities. Also available for study are degrees in social & political sciences, science engineering & math, health sciences, education, and computing & information technology.
Overall, students may pursue nearly 50 bachelor’s degrees, 50 master’s degrees, and four doctoral degrees. The University of Massachusetts Online also offers three associate degrees, 65 certificates, and a handful of professional development classes. Recently added degrees include the Bachelor of Science in Finance, the Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems, and the Master of Public Policy.
Students interested in advancing their careers and widening their knowledge base may want to consider one of the university’s certificate programs. Some of the available certificates include a Graduate Certificate in Victim Studies, a Graduate Certificate in New Venture Creation, and a Certificate in Accounting. Other programs include a Certificate in Computer Assisted Manufacturing, and a Certificate in Arts Management.
Students interested in business topics have many options for earning degrees with degrees that include a Bachelor of Science in Finance, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies. Other areas of business that are available for study include business administration, hospitality & tourism, management, marketing, and operations management.
Students may want to look at the professional development courses if they already have a degree or several years of work experience. Some of the available programs include an Organizing and Managing Senior Transportation Options Certificate, an Addictions Counseling Education Programs Certificate, and several classes in project risk management. Project management classes include risk management planning, risk control, and qualitative risk analysis.
Students can also complete their degrees when they enroll in certain University of Massachusetts Online programs. Degree completion programs include a Bachelor of Liberal Arts, a Bachelor of Arts in English, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Students can also complete their Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, or the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
About the University of Massachusetts Online
The University of Massachusetts Online is part of the state’s official university system, which has five physical campuses throughout the commonwealth. Students commonly refer to the university as UMass. The first campus was established in 1863 in Amherst, and the university system was officially created in 1964. The original name of the university was the Massachusetts Agricultural College. There are more than 72,000 students enrolled in the overall system.
Online students enroll in classes administered through one of the university’s physical branches. The university has received accolades from publications like “Times Higher Education World University Rankings” and “Round University Ranking. The university is currently using more than $600 million raised as part of state bond funding to advance research and instruction throughout the university system. The university spends around $670 million a year for its regular expenditures.
The University of Massachusetts Online Accreditation Details
Accreditation for the University of Massachusetts Online comes from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, which accredits all 73,000 students who take classes at the school’s physical locations and online. Accreditation allows students to participate in the federal student loan program, as well as transfer credits to and from other accredited institutions. Many of the university’s programs are also accredited.
For the University of Massachusetts Online, organizations that accredit programs include the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Programs are also accredited by the National League for Nursing, the National Association of Schools of Art and design, and the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
The University of Massachusetts Online Application Requirements
Anyone who wants to apply to the University of Massachusetts Online for undergraduate programs will need to have a high school diploma or GED. Individuals who want to gain admittance to graduate degree programs must already have a bachelor’s degree. There are some classes that require prerequisite classes, and students who enroll aren’t guaranteed acceptance into a degree program.
Students don’t need to live in Massachusetts or have Massachusetts residency to enroll or qualify for one of the degree programs. However, students will apply to the sponsoring campus that runs their program. Students who take classes online that are administered by one campus must apply to another campus if they want to transfer since credits aren’t automatically transferrable. Conveniently, students can register for classes before they are officially accepted into a program.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees for students attending the University of Massachusetts Online vary and depend on the campus and the degree program in which a student is enrolled. Non-credit and undergraduate courses are usually between $125 and $1980 per class. Graduate-level courses are usually between $1,230 and $2,250 per class. Students don’t pay tuition based on their residency, and all students pay the same rate whether they live in Massachusetts or in another state.
To determine the specific cost of a program and its classes, students must contact the campus that administers their classes. Students will then work with the campus that is associated with their program to apply for financial aid. Administering financial aid through each individual campus helps the university maintain its standards throughout its various campuses.
Students will work with one of four offices that include the UMass Amherst Financial Aid Center, the UMass Dartmouth Financial Aid Center, the UMass Boston Financial Aid Center, or the UMass Lowell Financial Aid Center. Students who apply for financial aid at the University of Massachusetts Online will be eligible to apply for scholarships, grants, loans, and tuition waivers. Some state employees can receive tuition waivers when they enroll for classes.
Each year, the university awards more than $700 million in financial aid, and students who attend online classes are eligible for this aid. According to the university, 98% of students who attend receive some type of financial aid. All financial aid options available to on-campus students are also available to University of Massachusetts Online students.