University Without Walls: The Most Flexible Way to Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Benefits of UMass' University Without Walls

When students consider earning a traditional or online bachelor’s degree, they might have many questions and doubts running through their minds. What happens if they suddenly need to take a break from their classes? What will happen to the previous credits they’ve earned at other universities? How will their military or professional experiences be taken into account, and how will they afford to earn a degree?

While these are all valid questions to ask before going back to school, at UMass, students can put these anxieties to rest. When students choose to major in UMass’ University Without Walls, they learn at their own pace, ensuring they can complete their degree no matter what life throws at them.

Study what you want

When students enroll in this program, they will officially be part of UMass Amherst with a University Without Walls major. However, they can choose their own concentration, or area of study, to achieve their personal and professional goals. With the help of their advisers, students can choose from online and on-campus courses offered by more than 40 academic departments, meaning they will have thousands of options when it comes to building a program that’s right for them. Whether students focus on business, journalism, health studies, or criminal justice, University Without Walls makes it easy for them to learn what they want.

Learn where you want

With University Without Walls, students will also find a great deal of flexibility when it comes to where they want to take their classes. Most of the program’s classes are available online, meaning it’s totally possible for students to finish their degree without setting foot on campus. However, for students who prefer to learn in a classroom, on-campus courses are also available. The program even offers its four core courses in a blended format so studies can get a sneak peak of both traditional and online education.

Transfer credits

At UMass, students can transfer up to 75 credits for prior learning, professional training, certifications, and credit exams and evaluations. Plus, there’s no expiration date on college credits, so no matter how long ago students began their bachelor’s degree, their transcript and transfer credits will be evaluated fairly.

Get rewarded for experience

University Without Walls understands that, before finishing their degree, many students have accrued valuable military, professional, and life experiences. That’s why they make it so easy to transfer these experiences into credit that can be put toward degree completion. Veterans, for example, can submit their military transcripts to be evaluated according to the VALOR Act Academic Credit Evaluation Policy. This will determine how many academic credits they will earn for their military experience. Similarly, advisers will review students’ professional training and certificates to determine how many additional credits they can receive.

Save money

Because the University Without Walls program allows students to transfer college credits and receive credits for professional experience, students can save money by not having to retake classes. At the same time, the program does not charge students more if they are out of state, so whether they live in Massachusetts or Minnesota, they will have the same tuition and fee structure. Plus, to save even more, students can apply for grants, scholarships, loans, work-study, military benefits, or tuition reimbursement. In fact, most University Without Walls students receive some form of financial aid.  

Whether students are hoping to finish their bachelor’s in arts management or applied psychology, degree completion has never been so flexible and affordable.

Featured Programs

Umass University without walls offers a variety of programs in growing and challenging professions.

• BA, Advocacy and Social Justice Studies Concentrations
• BA, Applied Psychology Concentrations
• BA, Arts Management Concentrations
• BA, Children's Learning and Development Concentrations
• BA, Criminal Justice Concentrations
• BA, Early Care and Education Concentrations
• BA, Health Studies Concentrations
• BA, Human Services Concentrations
• BA, Individualized Concentrations
• BA, Journalism Studies Concentrations
• BA, Sustainability Studies Concentrations
• BA, Writing Concentrations