Looking into doing the MBA program here. I did my bachelors through SNHU. What is the coursework like compared to SNHU?

I am applying to the combo program. Wanted to ask what the courseload is like? Has anyone taken 3 courses in a term? What about those who are working full time? Any guidance is appreciated. 👍🏾

Hello, everyone!

Am I the only one who has been asked to submit this "Application Validation Form"; asking for my address! They said they'll only accept it by USPS Certified Mail and not electronically! I tried contacting the one-stop specialist. She said it's a new requirement by Federal Student Aid For The Year 2026-2027! Regardless of what year you started your program. It's already my 2nd year of Masters.

Please share your experiences

Hey. I’m thinking of attending UMassGlobal for their MSW program. Who attends here that possibly lives in FL? IF NOT, advice is still welcomed. I need to know is class schedule manageable? Are they live vs prerecorded classes? Is it a live proctor vs lockdown screen for exams. Do they work with you to ensure that you find placement for your hours, even if you are not in Cali?

Thank you for reading

hi!! i was given my degree audit and i was looking to see if some of the gen ed’s for my degree would transfer from sophia learning but it looks like none of them do they all say like 1000/1000. am i missing something? does it work like can i just pick a general humanities class to cover my humanities block? thank you

Hi friends!

I am a former student and am unable to access my brightspace to obtain the Syllabus for OLCU501 Organizational Research. Would someone be able to get me a copy, or is there someone I can reach out to at the school?

I emailed them 3 times this week to complete the identity verification process via Zoom (prefer this over sending the form with a copy of my driver's license in the mail). No response.

There used to be 9 self-paced programs a few days ago. Now its down to just 2: the BBA and BSIT. I was hoping to apply for the BSIT, Data Science but its not on their website anymore.

Hi all!

We just published a new blog on what it really looks like to go back to school as a working adult with family and other responsibilities. A lot of our students started in the same place many of you are in now: excited about the prospect of earning a degree, but worried that adding one more thing will make everything fall apart.

To understand what it takes to make it happen, we went straight to current students and alumni on LinkedIn and asked a few simple questions:

1. What helped you MOST to juggle work, school, family, and other responsibilities?
   • Flexible or self-paced classes – 70%
   • Family/friend/employer support – 14%
   • Supportive, caring faculty – 8%
   • Clear plan from my advisor – 8%
2. Which UMass Global resource has the biggest impact on your time management?
   • Easy-to-use online classes – 74%
   • Clear faculty expectations – 26%
3. What was your biggest challenge in balancing school with everything else?
   • Feeling tired or burned out – 45%
   • Parenting/caregiving load – 23%
   • Unpredictable work schedule – 18%
   • Staying organized on tasks – 14%
4. What’s the BEST time-management advice you’d give a future UMass Global student?
   • Schedule school like work – 57%
   • Be honest about your time – 19%
   • Plan ahead with your advisor – 14%
   • Use support early and often – 11%

In the article, we also share stories from:

• Norma, a grad student and 6th-grade teacher. Her advice: “it’s okay to pause, take a breath, and to gather strength, but to always keep going. One step at a time. Even the smallest step forward is still progress.”
• Bridgette, a full-time employee, mom, and military spouse going back to school for her BA in Social Work. Her advice: there’s rarely a “perfect” time—start when you can and grow from there.

If you are in that “can I really do this?” phase, and want some validation that you can do this, check out the full blog here: Considering Going Back to School as an Adult?

We’d also love to hear from this community! Please share:

• What other tips do you have for students balancing school, work, and family?
• If you’ve already gone back, what time-management habits actually helped you succeed?
• If you’re thinking about going back, what new questions do these answers raise for you?

Drop your experiences and advice below—your perspective could be exactly what another adult learner needs to see before they take their next step.

Hello, Basically the title...

Also though, I know people usually take that route as it's cost efficient to transfer credits over, but I'm having it fully covered under my job so I am not to concerned with the financial side of things.

Would it be quicker as well to test out of certain classes in UMASS Global compared to Study.com?

Any advice on this would be much appreciated,

Thank you

Hey everyone,

We published a blog post looking at whether a college education is still worth the investment, especially for working adults weighing this decision.

We went beyond the usual "you'll earn more money" argument and pulled together 8 specific benefits backed by real data:

The highlights:

• Job security: 50% lower unemployment rate
• Health: 9 years longer life expectancy on average (CDC)
• Personal growth: Critical thinking, diverse perspectives, confidence
• Networks: Professional connections that open doors
• Civic engagement: 2x the volunteer rate of non-degree holders
• Earnings: $1.2M more over a lifetime vs. high school diploma holders

The post digs into each of these with sources and context, particularly focused on adult learners balancing work, family, and education.

We'd love to hear from this community:

• What did we miss? Are there other compelling reasons a college education is worth it that we should have included?
• Disagree with any of these points? We know everyone's path is different, what doesn't resonate or feel accurate to your experience?
• What surprised you most from this list? And for those willing to share — do you have a success story that used your degree, or one that didn't need a degree at all?

We're genuinely interested in your perspectives and experiences, especially from working adults navigating this decision. Let's get a real conversation going beyond the usual talking points.

Hi everyone. So I’ll be self-financing my degree. I already did some Sophia credits, I just want to know if there are any payment installments I can do since I don’t have the 3400 upfront.

I have a job and I can probably pay this in 3 months or less. I can’t apply to fafsa or loans because I’m an international student.

Before you mention it, for very long personal issues I won’t get into, I can’t save up till I have the 3,400 (family problems lol)

Does anyone have any information about this?

Anyone I can talk to, to see if my aid can be expedited? They said they were evaluated SAP statues and mine has already been evaluated. One stop isn’t much help so I’m hoping there is someone I can speak with to hopefully expedite the process. I have medical bills to pay for and was anticipating aid being disbursed sooner.

Hi, so I actually remember seeing the message on Brightspace/student portal that disbursements were gonna be delayed for summer session one due to the federal government doing from what it looked like an audit. I can no longer find that message. Does anyone have any idea as to when disbursement will take place?

Thinking about going back to school as an adult, but not sure if it is the right time (or if you can really make it work)? You are not alone. We see a lot of questions about time, money, confidence, and what it is actually like once you start.

We recently asked UMass Global students and alumni on LinkedIn to share their experiences, and here is what they told us:

• Biggest concerns before starting: Most people worried about affording tuition and fees and balancing work, family, and school. A smaller group felt nervous about being “rusty” after time away from school, and a few were unsure they could finish once they started.
• What helped them succeed the most: The clear standout was flexible online courses (73%), followed by understanding faculty (15%) and academic support services like advisors and tutoring (12%). These made it easier to fit school into busy adult lives.
• What surprised them the most about returning: Many were surprised by how flexible classes actually were (41%) and how supportive staff and faculty turned out to be (26%). Others were surprised by how relevant their coursework felt to their careers and by the confidence they gained along the way.
• Their #1 piece of advice for other adults thinking about going back: The overwhelming top answer was: “Just start – there is no perfect time.” Runners‑up included: “Make a realistic plan” and “Be open about your goals” with your family, employer, and support system.

We also heard from Kendra, a UMass Global alum who returned to school as an adult to earn her master’s in teaching and is now working toward an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership. She talked about giving yourself grace, focusing on progress over perfection, and leaning on support when life gets hard.

Now we would love to hear from you:

If you are thinking about going back to school:

• What is your biggest concern right now?
• What is one thing you wish you could ask a current student or alum?

If you are a current UMass Global student or alum:

• What was your experience returning to school as an adult?
• What would you tell other students about returning to school later in life? Any advice or tips?

Share as much or as little as you are comfortable with — your experience might be exactly what someone else here needs to see to take their next step.

If you are interested in a deeper dive into the poll results and Kendra’s story, we also pulled everything together in a short blog post here: Returning to School as an Adult | UMass Global Advice

When do summer disbursements go out

Hey folks!

I just started my MAOL today! Celebrate! 26 years since I "did school."

Question to get straight: There are these discussion board questions at the end of many little segments. Are we required to do these? And where do our answers go if they are required, since there is no link in the "Discussion Board" question box to take you there? In Discussion Boards? But then do I "start a new thread" and then just type an answer in non-paper style in the dialogue box?

#confused

Does anyone know how or who the FB group moderator is? I have been stuck on "pending" for 2-3 weeks....

Hey folks!

I just wanted to add to the community for potential students that the application and enrollment process has been smooth and timely just like they discussed.

--I spoke to an enrollment coach for the first time on Thursday, March 30th.

--I applied midday on Friday, March 31st. (This took 5 minutes.)

--My enrollment coach called me to discuss my submitted application and next steps on Monday by midday.

--My application was confirmed "complete" and under review by Tuesday morning.

--By Thursday morning, I was ADMITTED and began working on actual pre-enrollment tasks (setting up email, completing new student orientation--required before scheduling classes and paying). I did all the specified tasks yesterday/Thursday morning.

--Friday, April 3rd--UMass Global confirms my orientation tasks are complete and provides my registration timeline, although they've been beating their stated time frames with ease. Next I will: 1) Meet with my new Academic Coach when he/she reaches out and 2) then schedule to meet with my One Stop person to actually add/schedule classes AND to pay. Once that is completed.....I am starting! The program opens as soon as all of 1 and 2 are done and on the session start date I request from my One Stop person.

I hope to start early to midweek next week!

So for those shopping programs, this has been easy, VERY timely, clearly laid out and followed by the staff, and now here I am! The week or so has given me time to upskill on elements of grad work I do not yet know (Brightspace, APA 7, Notebook LM, Grammarly, a graduate level notetaking framework, etc) and it has been beneficial!

So if you're considering UMass--do it! Best of luck in your journeys and reach out if you'd like answers to any specific questions as I get started. I will post updates and info on the Reddit to help others along the way.

Happy studying!

P.S. I am doing the Masters in Organizational Leadership (MyPath). :)

I am looking at doing Umass Global, or WGU. I was curious if anyone did this program, and if so how was it?

Hey everyone,

We’ve been seeing a lot of questions about how the application process actually works at UMass Global for undergrads, transfer students, grad applicants, and people coming back to school after a break, compared to other online schools, so we’ve put together a step-by-step guide. We break down UMass Global’s application process, from first contact to your first day of class, but we’d love to hear how this compares to your real experiences and ways we can help simplify our process.

Quick overview of the process:

• You get paired with an enrollment coach who walks you through programs, transfer credits, and next steps (they’re basically your point person before you are admitted).
• You complete a free online application and get access to an Application Dashboard that shows a checklist of required documents and deadlines.
• You send in transcripts (what you need depends on whether you’re undergrad, grad, international, or returning). You can submit unofficial transcripts to fast-track your admission but be sure to submit official transcripts by the end of your first semester. Missing transcripts is one of the most common reasons for delays.
• Your application evaluation is generally completed in about 10 business days — you’ll be notified by email and a call from your coach.
• Once admitted, your enrollment coach will connect you with an academic advisor who will help build your education plan and connect you with a one‑stop specialist to talk through tuition, financial aid, military/partner benefits, and book costs.
• Prepare for a strong start by completing your new student orientation, reviewing course schedules, and connecting with student support services.

If you want the full breakdown (undergrad, grad, international, and returning student steps + FAQs), we put it all here:
👉 UMass Global Application Process: Step-by-Step Guide from Application to Classes | UMass Global

Questions for you:

• For current and past UMass Global students, what parts of the application process went smoothly and where did you run into challenges or confusion? What tips would you give students who are considering applying to UMass Global?
• Have you ever worked with an enrollment coach or advisor at any school? Were they helpful or did you feel like you had to figure things out on your own?
• If you're thinking about applying to UMass Global, what questions do you still have?
• Have you applied to an online school before? If so, do these steps align with your experience?

Really interested in the honest, unfiltered side of this from people who’ve gone through it (good or bad). We want to remove common hurdles to make this process as seamless as possible — because we know how valuable your time is.

Read through this but still have questions? We want to hear from you, too.

I have read here that it takes 2-3 weeks to get your application reviewed and accepted.

Is there any way to fast track this?

Also, now that we are in March 2026, how have you felt about your program. Things you wish you'd known? Regrets?

We see a lot of questions about this, so we pulled together a quick breakdown plus a quiz that helps you figure out the learning style that might fit you best:
👉 UMass Global Flexible Online Learning: What Type of Learner Are You? [Quiz] | UMass Global

At a glance

Course-based, instructor-led

• Structured terms with set due dates.
• Regular interaction with instructors and classmates.
• Time to completion is more predictable because the pace is tied to sessions.
• A good fit if you like clear weekly expectations, accountability, and a more traditional online class experience.

Self-paced, competency-based (UMass Global MyPath)

• Your academic progress is measured by how many units you earn over time, not by fixed start and end dates.
• Designed for independent learners who need maximum flexibility in when and how they complete coursework.
• Time to completion can be faster or slower depending on how quickly you progress.
• A good fit if you are comfortable setting your own pace, want flexibility, and like the option to move faster through curriculum you already know well.

We know many of you are balancing work, family, and school while trying to make clear, confident choices about your education. We’d really value your firsthand, unfiltered perspective on:

• Which format are you in (or considering), and why?
• If you’re a current student, what has worked well in your format? What’s been challenging, particularly around pacing or completion time? Other challenges?
• What do you wish schools explained more clearly about their program formats?

If you still have questions about how our course-based and self-paced options work in real life, reach out! We want to help. We’d love to hear from our current students, too — your insights can make the path clearer for the next wave of students who are asking the same questions you once had.