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UMGC has garnered awards for academic quality, online education, affordability, and more.
University of Maryland Global Campus has repeatedly been recognized for our innovative educational programs and commitment to excellence. Our most recent awards are listed below.
Online Education and Excellence Awards
Year
Award
Source
2026
Designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI)
U.S. Department of Education
2025
Recognized as one of America’s Best Colleges 2026
The Wall Street Journal
2025
Ranked in the top 8 percent of public universities for 30-year ROI
Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce
2023
EC-Council Academic Partner of the Year Award
EC-Council
2023
Cybersecurity Diversity Trailblazer Award
Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc.
2023
Gold Award for MARS: UMGC's Virtual and AI Applied Learning Environment
1EdTech
2022
No. 1 Most Transfer Students in 2022
U.S. News & World Report
2022
EC-Council Academic Circle of Excellence Award
EC-Council
2022
No. 5 Best Online Bachelor's Degrees in the U.S.
OnlineU
2022
America's Best Online Learning Schools
Newsweek
2021
No. 9 Most Innovative School (Regional Universities North)
U.S. News & World Report
2021
Best Online Bachelor's Degrees for ROI
OnlineU
2021
EC-Council Academia of the Year Award
EC-Council
UMGC Recognized as Opportunity College Under Carnegie Classification
UMGC has been designated as an
Opportunity College and University under the Carnegie Classification
. This designation is part of a Student Access and Earnings Classification published by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education.
This classification examines the extent to which institutions foster opportunities for student success by measuring whether they are enrolling students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area.
Military & Veteran Awards
Year
Award
Source
2025
No. 3 "Best for Vets Employer" in Education - Teaching - Administration
Military Times
2025
No. 3 “Best For Vets” in Primarily Online Education
Military Times
2025
Institution of the Year
Council of Colleges and Military Educators (CCME)
2024
No. 1 "Best for Vets" in Primarily Online Education
Military Times
2023
No. 1 "Best for Vets" Online/Hybrid University
Military Times
2023
No. 1 "Best for Vets" Employer (Education Category)
Military Times
2022
No. 1 “Best For Vets” in Primarily Online Education
Military Times
2022
No. 5 “Best for Vets” Colleges
Military Times
2022
No. 1 "Best for Vets Employer" in Education - Teaching - Administration
Military Times
2021
No. 1 "Best for Vets Employer" in Education - Teaching - Administration
Military Times
Specific Academic Program Awards
Year
Award
Source
2022
Among the premier global DBA providers
CEO Magazine
2021
Best Online Accounting Bachelor's Degree Programs for ROI
OnlineU.com
Cybersecurity Competition Team Awards
Learn more about the
Cybersecurity Competition Team
and see a historical list of their awards and achievements.
Year
Award
Source
2026
1st Place
First Annual Maryland Capture the Flag (Overall)
2026
1st Place
First Annual Maryland Capture the Flag (Universities)
2026
1st Place
Zscaler CTF Beta Test
2026
1st Place
Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (MACCDC) Hack the Box CTF
2026
1st Place
BloomCON 0x0A CTF
2026
Elite Eight
Hack the Madness CTF
2026
2nd Place
WWT Haystack CTF
2026
1st Place
WWT F5 CTF Beta Test
2026
1st Place
WWT CrowdStrike CTF
2025
No. 3
Hack the Box Worldwide University Rankings
2025
No. 1
Hack the Box U.S. University Rankings
2025
3rd & 4th Place
MAGIC CTF Competition 18
2025
Final Four (East Region)
Hack the Madness
2024
1st & 2nd Place
MAGIC CTF Competition 17
2024
No. 1
Hack the Box U.S. University Rankings
2024
No. 5
Hack the Box Worldwide University Rankings
2024
3rd Place
Parsons CTF (June 2024)
2024
2nd & 3rd Place
MAGIC CTF Competition 16
2024
2nd Place
World Wide Technology Disarm Me CTF: Hack, Decrypt, Disable
2024
No. 1 in Eastern Region
Virtual Internship and Varied Innovative Demonstrations (VIVID) CTF
2024
Advanced to Regionals
Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (MACCDC)
Award Archives
Year
Award
Source
2020
EC-Council Academia Circle of Excellence Award
EC-Council
2019
EC-Council Academia Circle of Excellence Award
EC-Council
2019
Leader in Online Education
The BestSchools.org
2019
Best Online Colleges in Maryland
GuideToOnlineSchools.com (now OnlineU)
2019
Top Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in the United States
GuideToOnlineSchools.com
(now OnlineU)
2019
Top Online Colleges in the United States
GuideToOnlineSchools.com
(now OnlineU)
2018
Academia Circle of Excellence Award
EC-Council
2017
Academia Circle of Excellence Award
EC-Council
2016
Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award
INSIGHT into Diversity
2015
Educator of the Year
World Affairs Council
2015
President's Award
Open Education Consortium
2015
Outstanding Work Award
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
2015
Top 10 in Degrees Awarded to African American Students
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education
2015
Award for Excellence in Advancing Student Success
UPCEA
Year
Award
Source
2019
No. 3 Best for Vets 2020, Online & Nontraditional Schools
Military Times
2019
Best Military Friendly Online Colleges
GuideToOnlineSchools.com (now OnlineU)
2019
No. 1 Best Yellow Ribbon Online Schools 2019
GuideToOnlineSchools.com (now OnlineU)
2018
No. 4 Best Cybersecurity Program 2018
Military Times
2018
No. 1 Best College 2018, Online & Nontraditional Schools
Military Times
2017
Top School
Military Advanced Education & Transition
2017
No. 5 in the United States, UMGC Cybersecurity Programs
Military Times
2017
Top Public University for Veterans in 2017
Military Times
2016
Best of the Best: Top Veteran-Friendly Schools
U.S. Veterans Magazine
2016
No. 4 Best for Vets in Nontraditional Universities Category
Military Times
2015
No. 1 Best for Vets in Nontraditional Universities Category
Military Times
2015
Best of the Best
Top Veteran-Friendly Schools U.S. Veterans Magazine
Year
Award
Source
2020
No. 2 Best Online Master's in Information Technology
Guide to Online Schools (now OnlineU)
2020
No. 14 Most Affordable Online Master's in Systems Engineering for 2020
OnlineSchoolsReport.com
2020
No. 2 Best Online Information Science Degrees for 2020, BS in Information Systems Management
OnlineSchoolsReport.com
2019
Best Online Colleges Offering Bachelor's in Human Resources
SR Education Group
2019
Best Online Colleges Offering Master's in Human Resources
SR Education Group
2019
Top Online Master's in Data Science Programs, UMGC's Master of Science in Data Analytics
OnlineMasters.com
2019
Top Online Master's in Biotechnology Programs, UMGC's Master of Science in Biotechnology
OnlineMasters.com
2019
Top Online Master's in Public Relations, UMGC's Master of Science in Management with a Specialization in Public Relations
BestCollegeReviews.org
2019
Best Cybersecurity Higher Education Program
SC Magazine
2018
2018 Most Affordable Online Colleges for Law Degrees
OnlineU
2018
Top Online Master's in Project Management Programs, UMGC's Master of Science in Management with a Specialization in Project Management
OnlineMasters.com
2018
Top 50 Best Online Master's in Health Administration Programs, UMGC's Master of Science in Healthcare Administration Program
Online Masters
2018
Best Information Governance Service Provider 2018
InfoGov18
2018
Best Cybersecurity Higher Education Program
SC Magazine
2017
No. 3 Most Affordable Online Master's in Software Engineering, MS in Cloud Computing Architecture, MS in Information Technology Specialization in Software Engineering
SR Education Group
2017
No. 1 Forensic Accounting Degree Program, Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Best College Reviews
2017
No. 5 Online Risk Management Degree Program, Bachelor of Science in Finance
Best College Reviews
2017
No. 6 Online Bachelor's in Finance, Bachelor of Science in Finance
Best College Reviews
2017
No. 6 Online Bachelor's in Management Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management
Best College Reviews
2017
No. 9 Online Master's in Nonprofit Management, Master of Science in Management Specialization in Nonprofit Management
Best College Reviews
2017
No. 8 Top Online Master's in Education Technology in 2017, UMGC's Master of Education in Instructional Technology
GetEducated.com
2017
No. 19 Most Affordable Online Supply Chain Management Degrees, MS in Management Specialization in Acquisition and Supply Chain Management, Graduate Certificate in Acquisition and Supply Chain Management
SR Education Group
2017
10 Best Cyber Security Colleges That Are Not Ivy League
University Herald
2016
Best Value College, Master of Science in Health Care Administration Program
College Values Online
2016
Effective Practice Award, College Essentials of Computer Programming (UCSP 635)
Online Learning Consortium
2016
UPCEA Mid-Atlantic Region Outstanding Program Award, UMGC Master of Science in Data Analytics
UPCEA, Mid-Atlantic Region
2016
UPCEA Mid-Atlantic Region Partnership Award, UMGC Master of Science in Data Analytics
UPCEA, Mid-Atlantic Region
2016
Best Online Master's in Health Informatics Degrees, 2016
College Choice
2016
Distance Education Innovation Award Finalist, Master of Science in Data Analytics
National University Technology Network
2016
Top 50 Best Value Online Big Data Programs of 2016
ValueColleges.com
2015
National Center of Digital Forensics Academic Excellence
U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center
2015
National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance & Cyber Defense Education
National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security
UMGC maintains an archived list of awards for the
UMGC Cybersecurity Competition Team
.  For other student team award archives, please see below:
Year
Award
Source
2018
1st Place, MS in Data Analytics Students
Watson Analytics Global Academics Network
2018
3rd Place, MS in Data Analytics Students
Watson Analytics Global Academics Network
2017
No. 2, 2017 Watson Analytics Global Competition, University of Maryland Global Campus Data
Analytics Team Watson Analytics Global Academics Network
History & Timeline
Discover how UMGC was started and learn about its milestones over the years.
Explore UMGC's History
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