A private nonprofit online health school in Tampa, Florida. The programs, cost, accreditation, and outcomes that decide the choice.
Figures from the College Scorecard. UMA is a paid partner.How we make money.
ABHES accredited
Institutionally accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency.
CAHIIM programmatic
The health information management degree holds programmatic accreditation.
Federal aid eligible
UMA participates in Title IV student aid for eligible programs.
Rolling starts
New classes begin every 2 to 3 weeks on an open-admissions calendar.
Programs
Every online program feeds an entry-level allied health role. The credential, the length, and the job title matter more than the course list. Pick the job first, then the program.
Learn to translate healthcare services into the standardized codes payers use for claims, then follow those claims through payment and denial.
Manage patient records, data quality, privacy, and the systems that keep health information accurate and available.
Train for the front-office work that keeps a medical practice running: scheduling, records, communication, and patient flow.
Combine medical office administration with billing and coding so you can handle both the front desk and the claim.
Build the leadership and operations skills for supervising teams and processes inside healthcare organizations.
Learn the financial records and billing processes that healthcare organizations use to track revenue and control costs.
Prepare for roles that help people navigate the healthcare system and connect with community and social services.
UMA also offers a pharmacy technician diploma and campus-based dental, nursing, and phlebotomy programs in the Tampa Bay area.See the full program catalog.
Outcomes by program
Federal field-of-study data groups UMA's programs into families. These are one-year median earnings and median debt for graduates who reported earnings, not a promise for any single program or any single student.
| Program family | Credential | Format | Median earnings, 1 year | Median debt | Graduates with earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Campus | $32,799 | $8,745 | 44 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Campus | $31,147 | $7,028 | 63 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate's Degree | Online | $30,771 | $18,708 | 374 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate's Degree | Online | $28,818 | $22,625 | 7,608 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Online | $27,248 | $15,833 | 1,640 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study file, retrieved October 2026. Family-level figures can differ from a named program. Read the outcomes guidefor the school-level rows and the caveats.
The editorial view
The answer is genuinely yes for one student and clearly no for another. The difference is not the school's accreditation. It is the program, the debt, and what the credential unlocks.
The verdict
Choose UMA when you want a short, structured, supported path into an entry-level allied health role, you can keep the debt low, and you have checked the program's job market. Choose a community college or another online provider when price, transfer, or a four-year credential matter more.
The case for
The caveats
Tuition and aid
The published rate is $475 per credit hour for online diplomas and associate degrees. The number that matters is the net price after grants, and for many UMA students that number is far below the sticker.
The cost card
$475
per creditYour cost depends on grants, program length, and borrowing. Ask student finance for a written award estimate before you sign.
Payment options and financingAccreditation
Accreditation is a checkable fact, not a marketing line. UMA holds institutional accreditation and one program-level accreditation. Both are public, and you can verify both in a few minutes.
Institutional
The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education for private allied health schools. This is the stamp that unlocks federal student aid and satisfies most employer degree checks.
Programmatic
The health information management associate degree is accredited by Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education, reaffirmed through 2033 to 2034. It is the only program-level accreditation in the online catalog, and some employers and transfer partners look for it.
Verify it yourself in the College Scorecard, the Department of Education and CHEA databases, the Florida Commission for Independent Education, and the current UMA catalog.Full accreditation guide.
Start here
The research guide orders the whole decision. The overview gives you the facts. The review and the worth-it analysis give you the editorial read.
The UMA guide library
Thirty-five guides cover the school from every angle. The groups below follow the order a careful student actually researches: programs, accreditation, cost, admissions, experience, and comparisons.
Questions
Short answers to the questions people ask before they request information. Every answer links back to a longer guide.
Yes. UMA is institutionally accredited by ABHES, the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, which is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. The health information management associate degree also holds programmatic accreditation from CAHIIM, reaffirmed through 2033 to 2034.
Yes. UMA is a private nonprofit institution in Florida, it participates in federal student aid, and it is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education. Those are checkable facts. Whether it is the right school for you is a separate question about cost, program fit, and the job you want.
UMA publishes $475 per credit hour for online diplomas and associate degrees. The average net price for aided undergraduates is $23,846, and median federal debt is $13,875 across all borrowers and $16,714 among completers. Your own cost depends on grants, program length, and how much you borrow.
Yes, for eligible programs and students. UMA participates in federal student aid, and the FAFSA school code is 035493. The nursing assistant and phlebotomy technician diplomas are not eligible for federal student aid, so those programs need a different payment plan.
Most UMA programs are online, and the school also runs blended programs at its Tampa Bay campus. Online courses use instructor-set weekly deadlines rather than live lectures, so you schedule the work around a job but cannot fall behind silently.
The medical billing and coding diploma takes about 11 months, pharmacy technician takes about 10 months, and associate degrees run 18 months or more. Classes start every 2 to 3 weeks on a rolling calendar, so the start date is yours to choose.
UMA uses open admissions. You need a high school diploma, GED, or state-recognized equivalent plus proficiency in spoken and written English. There is no SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT requirement, no application fee, and no deadline.
For a working adult who needs a short, supported entry-level allied health credential and can keep debt low, UMA can make sense. It is a weaker fit if you need a bachelor's degree, a nursing path, or the lowest-cost route, because the average net price is high relative to median earnings.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, retrieved October 2026. Program earnings and debt: College Scorecard field-of-study file. Accreditation: ABHES, CAHIIM, the U.S. Department of Education, and CHEA. Confirm program details, costs, and accreditation with the school.
This hub is editorial. UMA is a paid advertising partner, and sponsored placements are labeled.How we make money.
