A welcoming and supportive community, Urban College of Boston (UCB) is a private, non-profit college that grants associate degrees and certificates.

Courses are offered in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole, and instruction is offered via in-person, online, and hybrid formats. We provide robust support to our students throughout their time with us, from offering guidance through the application and financial aid processes, to registering for courses and seeking tutoring or technology support, to considering post-graduation options.

OUR MISSION

Urban College of Boston opens new pathways to opportunity through individualized, supportive, and multilingual education that prepares a diverse community of learners to pursue career advancement and transform their lives.

OUR VISION

Everyone who aspires to attend college has the opportunity, resources, and support they need to achieve their higher education goals.

OUR HISTORY

Founded as the Urban College Program by Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) in 1967, Urban College of Boston (UCB) subsequently received its charter in 1993, its 501(c)(3) status in 1998, and full accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) – now the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) – in 2001. In 2017, UCB moved to its current campus, located on the first and second floors of the China Trade Center. In 2020, NECHE gave UCB temporary approval to offer online courses due to the pandemic and in 2022, UCB received general authority to offer distance education programs within the scope of its mission. Throughout its history, UCB has been dedicated to supporting students in attaining their higher education aspirations and equipping graduates with the skills necessary to succeed in their chosen careers.

In August 2022, UCB finalized a strategic partnership with Impact.org, a non-profit affiliate of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). This affiliation gives UCB access to resources that will allow us to strengthen existing programs and services for our students, as well as expand opportunities for our graduates. UCB graduates can now receive a 10% discount on tuition at SNHU after completing their program of study at UCB. Learn more at: www.snhu.edu/ucb.

When combined with the incredible support we receive today from our community partners, funders, and individual donors, this affiliation will give the College the ability to explore new program areas, provide additional supports for students, and offer new professional development opportunities for our faculty and staff.

Just as important as the benefits this affiliation will bring are the key aspects of UCB that will remain the same. UCB will maintain its long-standing mission and its focus on providing multilingual educational pathways for those to whom educational opportunity has too often been denied. The College will retain its name, remain at its current location, and continue to employ its own faculty and staff. All decisions concerning the College will be made by UCB’s own leadership team, and they will continue to determine the College’s academic standards and programming. Existing programs will be strengthened and UCB will continue to award its own degrees and certificates to its students.

A Passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Urban College of Boston is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, religion, race, color, disability, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, employment policies, and other programs and activities.

UCB has long served an ethnically- and racially- diverse student body; of the over 1,100 students enrolled during the 2022-2023 academic year, 59% identified as Hispanic or Latinx, 14% as Black or African American, 10% as Asian, 6% as white, 3% as another race or ethnicity, and 8% did not indicate their race or ethnicity. During the same period, 92% of students were women and the average age was 37.

As of February 2023, UCB is a member institution of the Racial Equity and Justice Institute (REJI).