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¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ. Two "universities" and a "college"— what's with that? Well, it may be a mouthful, but our name has special meaning, and there's history behind it.

The "University of Maryland" portion signifies that we are part of the University System of Maryland. We're proud to be part of one of the finest systems in the world. "University College" is a British term that captures what we do: Take courses and programs from all academic departments and offer them outside of the university's walls and normal class times.

Today, although our name may not make sense when you first hear it, we are proud of the mission it signifies and what we have been doing for more than 65 years.

Proud Military Heritage

In 1947, we started offering classes throughout Maryland to meet the needs of students juggling family and work commitments. There was a flood of GIs returning from World War II who were committed to building a better life and a stronger nation through education. We took the lead in educating them.

In 1949, at the request of the U.S. Department of Defense, we became the first institution to send a team overseas to teach college classes to active-duty servicemembers. Since this first classroom on a military base in postwar Germany, our faculty has taught (or is still teaching) in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations. We go where we are needed, even in the midst of war.

UMGC remains a leading higher education provider to the U.S. military, enrolling more than 50,000 active-duty servicemembers, reservists, National Guard members, veterans, and family members. We are proud of our military heritage and are committed to this service.

Setting the Standard for Online Education

In the 1990s, UMGC took the lead in transforming higher education and began offering online degree programs. We've opened the door for tens of thousands of students from all over the world—from working professionals to single parents to military spouses—to pursue a college degree while maintaining their busy lives. Graduates of UMGC's online programs hail from every state in the United States and from 28 countries.

UMGC's numerous awards for outstanding achievements in online education demonstrate how successfully we have leveraged the potential of the Internet to become the online campus of the 21st century. Our reputation as a global leader in online education is well-recognized.

Leading the Next Generation of Higher Education

Our innovation, dedication, and commitment have paid off for students across the globe. Today, UMGC serves more than 80,000 students at classroom and service locations worldwide and online.

Our name—¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ—is a mouthful, to be sure. But our name is supported by our more than 65 years of delivering high-quality education. We are extremely proud of our name's significance, and every day we strive to live up to its promise by continuing to explore innovative ways to expand educational opportunities for busy professionals, wherever they are in the world.