UMGS struggles

[Alpha]

downsizing
https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/10/...s-43-jobs/

[ss20ts]

Their tuition is too high for an online school. Even in state undergrads are paying over $300 per credit. Out of state it's $500 per credit. They need a better name. I mean they've improved it, but it's still meh.

[dfrecore]

They could have spent part of the $500M they got lowering tuition instead of marketing.

[ss20ts]

They could have spent part of the $500M they got lowering tuition instead of marketing.

Their marketing budget is RIDICULOUS! It's even more ridiculous when this is a state school. $500 mil for advertising is insane. They could have kept all of the employees and still had a massive budget for marketing. They're only marketing around the school. There's an entire country out there! Billboards and magazine ads aren't going to get new students. They need online marketing. $500 mil spent on online marketing is insane and would have produced far better results than advertising to Phillie and DC. They could have advertised tuition cuts!

[freeloader]

I certainly agree that $500mil for marketing is absolutely insane. We can set that one aside.

Maryland global’s tuition certainly isn’t cheap, but it is in line with similar institutions. This is by no means comprehensive, but I made a quick comparison between Purdue Global, Maryland Global, Penn State World, and Colorado State Global and looked at the cost of earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a master’s degree in accounting and/or finance (chosen purely as they are degrees that interest me). Assumed zero transfer credits or special discounts (military, first responders, etc); full tuition for the full degree, in other words.

Bachelor in Criminal Justice:
Penn State: $77,040
Purdue: $66,780
Maryland: $59,880
Colorado State: $42,000

Masters in Accounting/Finance:

Penn State: $30,210
Purdue: $25,220
Maryland: $23,724
Colorado State: $18,000

I have no idea how the Maryland program is relative to the other schools mentioned (enrollment, profitability, etc), but their prices seem very much in line with comparable programs.

[sarahmac]

I certainly agree that $500mil for marketing is absolutely insane. We can set that one aside.

Maryland global’s tuition certainly isn’t cheap, but it is in line with similar institutions. This is by no means comprehensive, but I made a quick comparison between Purdue Global, Maryland Global, Penn State World, and Colorado State Global and looked at the cost of earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a master’s degree in accounting and/or finance (chosen purely as they are degrees that interest me).  Assumed zero transfer credits or special discounts (military, first responders, etc); full tuition for the full degree, in other words.

Bachelor in Criminal Justice:
Penn State: $77,040
Purdue: $66,780
Maryland: $59,880
Colorado State: $42,000

Masters in Accounting/Finance:

Penn State: $30,210
Purdue: $25,220
Maryland: $23,724
Colorado State: $18,000

I have no idea how the Maryland program is relative to the other schools mentioned (enrollment, profitability, etc), but their prices seem very much in line with comparable programs.

I wouldn't necessarily compare it to Penn State. Penn State World Campus hosts the online classes for the other campuses across the commonwealth and the distinct UP colleges but does not award its own degrees. You still get a main campus (University Park) degree - and pay the cost of doing so. It is why it is the most expensive on the list. CSG, PUG are distinct online schools, as is Maryland.

[ss20ts]

Purdue is not a state school whereas UGMS is a state school.

[Johann]

I think any outfit that would spend this ridiculous amount on marketing -- for such dire results -- should sell its real estate off to the nearest condo developer and get out of the education business forever. It clearly doesn't belong there.

[bjcheung77]

I think any outfit that would spend this ridiculous amount on marketing -- for such dire results -- should sell its real estate off to the nearest condo developer and get out of the education business forever. It clearly doesn't belong there.

Exactly, sometimes I really feel that education is a "business" and they're trying to "gouge" your money by trying to make you overpay or swindle you into thinking that's a good deal in education.  This is true for most for profit institutions, I remember U of Phoenix spending about that much or more on Superbowl ads alone at the pinnacle of their growth.  Alas, even public/state based schools are looking at ways to get their name out the same way, by overspending!  They could have spent some of that to help students instead...

[ss20ts]

I think any outfit that would spend this ridiculous amount on marketing -- for such dire results -- should sell its real estate off to the nearest condo developer and get out of the education business forever. It clearly doesn't belong there.

Exactly, sometimes I really feel that education is a "business" and they're trying to "gouge" your money by trying to make you overpay or swindle you into thinking that's a good deal in education.  This is true for most for profit institutions, I remember U of Phoenix spending about that much or more on Superbowl ads alone at the pinnacle of their growth.  Alas, even public/state based schools are looking at ways to get their name out the same way, by overspending!  They could have spent some of that to help students instead...

Education is 1000% a business. That's partly why the whole for-profit non-profit thing doesn't bother me. All schools are looking to make a profit. Some are sitting on billion dollar endowments yet don't pay a cent in property taxes while they use local resources such as roads, fire departments, EMS workers, and police departments. At least for-profit schools admit they're looking to make a buck and this is a business. 

U of P wasn't trying to save themselves at that point. They were the largest school in the country by enrollment then. They've always been for-profit so it made sense to spend big bucks on advertising. They were getting a return on that investment. Maryland spent much of that money somewhat locally advertising to a limited market which was not very bright. Then they layoff employees. They could have spent a quarter of that on Google ads and Facebook ads to increase enrollment, given more scholarships to offset the cost of tuition, and kept those employees.