University of Massachusetts Global
Aliso Viejo, California · Public
ROI Score: 52/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Massachusetts Global is an online-focused public institution based in Aliso Viejo, California, with 4,491 students enrolled. Despite a public designation, the average net price is $32,654. The ROI score of 52 (Below Average Value) reflects two structural problems: a 42.9% completion rate and a 56.2% three-year loan repayment rate. Admissions selectivity data is not reported. Business Administration is the dominant program at 340 graduates with four-year earnings of $83,778, but carries a C grade due to high debt ($37,207) relative to earnings. The online-heavy model attracts working adults who face higher non-completion rates, which is the primary drag on the school's overall ROI.
University of Massachusetts Global
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,540/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $12,540/yr |
| Average net price | $32,654/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $130,616 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $65,703 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,276 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $257 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 42.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,491 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $12,540/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $32,654/year, or roughly $130,616 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $31,963/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $35,325/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,276, which works out to about $257 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($48,300) and comes to 0.50, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $31,963 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $31,782 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $33,209 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $35,325 |
| $110,001+ | $35,325 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $31,963/year. For a public institution, this is high.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket pays $31,782/year and the 48-75k bracket pays $33,209/year. The cost barely moves up income brackets, meaning the school provides minimal income-based differentiation in aid. The 75-110k bracket rises to $35,325/year.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $35,325/year - identical to the 75-110k bracket, indicating the top bracket data appears capped. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.503 and a 42.9% completion rate, high-income families should think carefully about whether this institution offers the outcomes to justify its pricing.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at University of Massachusetts Global with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $83,778 | C |
| Social Work | $47,441 | D |
| Psychology | $58,836 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $58,739 | D |
| Teacher Education | $51,707 | C |
| Sociology | $63,036 | C+ |
| Social Sciences, General | $64,307 | - |
| Human Resources Management | $72,669 | B |
| Political Science and Government | $75,745 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the backbone of UMass Global with 340 graduates - the largest program on campus by far. One-year earnings of $61,268 and four-year earnings of $83,778 represent strong absolute outcomes. But the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.607 on $37,207 median debt - the highest debt figure among tracked programs here - earns only a C grade.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 124 students per year, making it the second-largest program. One-year earnings of $40,726 and four-year earnings of $58,836 reflect typical psychology outcomes - adequate but not standout. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.656 on $26,703 debt earns a C grade. Psychology at an online institution generally serves students seeking human services, counseling, or social services roles, often as a stepping stone to graduate training. The financial margin here is narrow, and students should carefully consider whether graduate school debt will stack on top of undergraduate debt.
Social Work
Social Work graduates 130 students per year. One-year earnings of $41,327 and four-year earnings of $47,441 represent the challenging wage ceiling in social services. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.829 on $34,250 median debt earns a D grade - a meaningful warning. Social work is a field with clear public benefit but structurally low pay relative to required education. Students pursuing this path need to model loan repayment carefully and explore income-driven repayment options and public service loan forgiveness programs.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 50.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 56.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Massachusetts Global’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 4,491 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 22.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,855 |
UMass Global does not report admissions selectivity data - the school appears to operate as open or near-open enrollment for most programs.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UMass Global's six-year earnings are $48,300.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts Global (this school) | 52 | $32,654 | $65,703 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | 52 | $10,892 | $48,866 |
| University of Southern Maine | 52 | $13,596 | $49,958 |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville | 52 | $12,090 | $51,450 |
Who Thrives Here
UMass Global primarily serves working adults and career-changers through online programs. This school does not report admissions selectivity data. The 22.5% Pell rate reflects a moderate share of lower-income enrollees. Students who succeed here are self-directed adults with existing work experience who need flexible scheduling. The 42.9% completion rate is a clear warning: students without strong time-management skills and external support structures face real completion risk in this model.
Transfer Pathways
UMass Global's open-access online model makes it a viable transfer destination for students from California community colleges or other institutions seeking a flexible, accredited degree path. The broad program availability and flexible scheduling serve the transfer population specifically.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of Massachusetts Global is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $32,654 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $65,703 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 8.8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 42.9% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 56.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $24,276 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $48,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Massachusetts Global: Common Questions
Is University of Massachusetts Global worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of Massachusetts Global scores 52/100 on our ROI scale. At $32,654 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $65,703 ten years after entry, so it takes about 8.8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Massachusetts Global cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $32,654 a year, or roughly $130,616 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Massachusetts Global graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $65,703 ten years after enrolling, roughly $23,903 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Massachusetts Global?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.8 years for University of Massachusetts Global. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Massachusetts Global graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,276, against average earnings of $48,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Massachusetts Global?
The six-year graduation rate is 42.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.