Learn about UMGC’s regional and specialized program accreditations.
University of Maryland Global Campus is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000), one of the six regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
UMGC is governed by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents and certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
About Accreditation
Accreditation denotes an organization of institutional quality. Once an organization opens itself to outside examination, a regional or national accrediting body reviews specific standards and criteria and offers the institution opportunities for self-improvement. The Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the United States Department of Education (USDE) evaluate and recognize accrediting bodies that meet their standards.
Regional vs. National Accreditation
Public and private universities and colleges that offer a wide range of programs typically hold regional accreditation. To receive regional accreditation, a university must pass a peer review by faculty and administrators from similar institutions. All of the institutions within the University System of Maryland, including UMGC, are regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the accrediting body available to Maryland and surrounding states.
Another type of accreditation, national accreditation, is provided by accrediting agencies that are generally single-purpose, narrow in scope, or vocational in nature. For example, cosmetology programs, faith-based institutions, law programs, medical programs, etc., have their own program-specific accrediting agencies. Large public colleges and universities do not typically hold national accreditation, though they may have individual programs that are nationally accredited.
Additional Program Accreditations
Master of Business Administration
This program has received specialized accreditation through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), located in Lenexa, Kansas. UMGC's MBA program provides information about academic quality and student achievement in its Annual Report to IACBE .
Master of Information Technology, Project Management
This program is accredited by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC). Individuals who complete this program earn 1,500 of the 4,500 project management experience hours required to sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP) Credential Examination.
Other Stateside Programs and Accreditations
- Master of Distance Education
- Master of Science in Health Administration Informatics
- Master of Science in Management, Project Management
- Master of Science in Technology Management, Project Management