Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) is a private not-for-profit career school based in Clearwater, Florida, that trains students for entry-level allied health jobs through certificate, diploma and associate degree programs, most of them online. Its pros are a narrow healthcare focus, short programs (its largest takes about 19 months on average), accreditation by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and eligibility for federal aid. Its cons are relatively high tuition for associate-level programs, a reported graduation rate of 33%, no bachelor’s degrees and national rather than regional accreditation, which can limit credit transfer.
Below is a closer look using the federal College Navigator database and published information about the school, so you can judge whether UMA is a good fit.
Ultimate Medical Academy at a Glance
- Type: 2-year, private not-for-profit.
- Location: Clearwater, Florida, with distance education programs.
- History: the school first operated in Clearwater in 1993 as Ultimate Learning Center, Inc.; Ultimate Medical Academy, LLC acquired it in January 2005 and launched online programs in 2009.
- Awards: certificates and associate degrees in allied health.
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 8,932 students, all undergraduates.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 20 to 1.
Pros: What Ultimate Medical Academy Does Well
- Focused on healthcare careers. Its largest programs are in medical insurance billing, general health sciences, medical administrative assistance and human services, so coursework is tied to specific entry-level jobs.
- Short programs. College Navigator lists the largest program, Medical Insurance Specialist/Medical Biller, at 63 credit hours with an average completion time of 19 months, and several programs of 38 to 39 credit hours that average 11 months.
- Accredited and eligible for federal aid. UMA is institutionally accredited by ABHES, and eligible students can receive Pell Grants and federal Direct Loans. Its Health Information Management program is programmatically accredited by CAHIIM.
- Not-for-profit. Unlike many online career schools, UMA is classified as private not-for-profit.
- Low recent loan default rate. The three-year cohort default rate was 3.0% for fiscal year 2019 and 0.0% for 2020 and 2021.
- Career services. College Navigator lists academic and career counseling, employment services for students and placement services for completers.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at Ultimate Medical Academy
- Tuition is high for the credential. Tuition and fees for the largest program were $29,925 in 2024-2025, and the average net price for full-time beginning students after grants was $20,197 in 2023-2024.
- Modest graduation rate. College Navigator reports a graduation rate of 33% within 150% of normal time.
- No bachelor’s degrees. UMA stops at the associate level, so students who want a bachelor’s degree must transfer.
- Credit transfer may be limited. ABHES is a national accreditor focused on health education; many regionally accredited colleges review such credits case by case.
- Heavy reliance on loans. In 2023-2024, 76% of full-time beginning students took federal student loans.
What Ultimate Medical Academy Costs
Tuition for the largest program was $29,925 per year in 2024-2025; shorter programs such as Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant (38 credit hours, 11 months) were listed at $18,050. Among full-time beginning students in 2023-2024, 79% received Pell Grants averaging $6,831. Students should use UMA’s net price calculator and compare total program cost, not just yearly tuition, with community college options in their area.
Is Ultimate Medical Academy a Good School? What the Numbers Say
UMA is a legitimate, accredited not-for-profit school, and it can suit adults who want a short, online route into medical billing or administrative healthcare work and who value flexibility. It is a weaker choice for students who want a low-cost credential, plan to continue to a bachelor’s degree or need clinical programs that require a regionally accredited degree. Compare the cost and completion data above with local community college programs before enrolling.
Who Accredits Ultimate Medical Academy?
UMA’s institutional accreditor is the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, which College Navigator lists as accrediting the school since 2000 (a date it marks as estimated). College Navigator also shows a short earlier accreditation with the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (2015 to 2016), an agency that is no longer recognized. Programmatically, the Health Information Management program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). If you plan to sit for a certification exam or move into a licensed role, check that your specific program meets that requirement in your state.
Who UMA Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
UMA suits adults who want a short, online path into medical billing, health administration or human services support roles, who need a flexible schedule and who will use federal aid. About half of its fall 2024 students (4,458 of 8,932) were transfer-in students, so many arrive with some college already. It suits students less well if they want a bachelor’s degree, a hands-on clinical credential such as nursing, or the lowest possible cost; a local community college program in the same field is worth pricing first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ultimate Medical Academy accredited?
Yes. It is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, with its next review listed for February 2027.
Is UMA online?
Yes. It offers distance education programs, and its headquarters is in Clearwater, Florida.
Does UMA offer financial aid?
Eligible students may receive Pell Grants and federal Direct Loans.