Types of Accreditations
Regional Accreditation and National Accreditation
As of July 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education is no longer using or recognizing the terms "regional accreditation” or “national accreditation.” Instead, accrediting agencies and institutions can use either “institutional accreditation” or “national recognition.” UMGC has chosen to use the term, "institutional accreditation."
Institutional Accreditation
Public and private universities and colleges that offer a wide range of programs typically hold institutional (formerly regional) accreditation. To receive institutional 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 institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the accrediting body available to Maryland and surrounding states.
Programmatic Accreditation or Recognition
This type of accreditation or recognition is given to a program, rather than to an institution, by a professional association affiliated with a particular academic discipline. It is assigned to an academic program that meets certain requirements set by that professional association.
The Health Information Management and Technology program's accreditor of the University of Maryland Global Campus is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College's accreditation for a Master's degree in Health Information Management and Technology has been reaffirmed through 2023. All inquiries about the program's accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.
UMGC's master's degree programs with project management specializations are accredited by the Global Accreditation Center (GAC) of the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Completing any project management course in this program earns you the project management education hours required to sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Credential Examination or the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® Exam. If you are already certified as a Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute and your certification is current and valid, you may receive credit for
(3 Credits, PMAN 634). PMP and CAPM are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
UMGC's master's degree programs with project management specializations are accredited by the Global Accreditation Center (GAC) of the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Completing any project management course in this program earns you the project management education hours required to sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Credential Examination or the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® Exam. If you are already certified as a Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute and your certification is current and valid, you may receive credit for
(3 Credits, PMAN 634). PMP and CAPM are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
The graduate education department at University of Maryland Global Campus has been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (now the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation). This accreditation covers the Master of Arts in Teaching program for initial teacher preparation and Master of Education in instructional technology program at UMGC. However, the accreditation does not include individual education courses that the institution offers to P-12 educators for professional development, relicensure, or other purposes.
This program is approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission and approved by the Maryland State Department of Education as a professional education program leading to state teacher certification in the state of Maryland.
University of Maryland Global Campus has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
Further information on student achievement is available in the Public Disclosure of Student Achievement.
The graduate education department at University of Maryland Global Campus has been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (now the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation). This accreditation covers the Master of Arts in Teaching program for initial teacher preparation and Master of Education in instructional technology program at UMGC. However, the accreditation does not include individual education courses that the institution offers to P-12 educators for professional development, relicensure, or other purposes.
With the NCATE accreditation, the Master of Education program has also earned national recognition by its professional association, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). However, the accreditation does not include individual education courses that the institution offers to P–12 educators for professional development, relicensure, or other purposes.
The baccalaureate degree in nursing at UMGC is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001-2399, 202-887-6791.
UMGC's master's degree programs with project management specializations are accredited by the Global Accreditation Center (GAC) of the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Completing any project management course in this program earns you the project management education hours required to sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Credential Examination or the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® Exam. If you are already certified as a Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute and your certification is current and valid, you may receive credit for
(3 Credits, PMAN 634). PMP and CAPM are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
UMGC Recognized for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity
The National Security Agency (NSA) Program Management Office has re-designated University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE-C) education through the academic year 2027. Since April 2002, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency have consistently designated UMGC as a leader in cybersecurity education. The announcement places UMGC among a select group of two-year, four-year, and graduate-level institutions nationwide to receive the prestigious distinction. The goal of the CAE-C program is to promote and support quality academic programs of higher learning that help produce the nation’s cyber workforce.
Additional Information
If you need additional information or documentation related to UMGC's accreditation or other federal or state approvals, please email the Chief Academic Officer at cao-office@umgc.edu.
UMGC is also a constituent institution of the University System of Maryland and is governed by the USM Board of Regents.
UMGC is authorized to provide hybrid courses and student support services at various locations throughout the United States. Learn more about our state authorization.
UMGC is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). University of Maryland Global Campus, 9625 Belvoir Road, Barden Education Center, Building 1017, Room 128, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060.
I wanted to continue my studies, and I researched several different institutions. I found that UMGC met my requirements—it was an accredited university and veteran-trusted, it offered easy access, and the tuition was affordable.
Gregory B., MS in Cybersecurity Management & Policy and MBA
