MARA Student Experience

100% of survey respondents said they would recommend the MARA program.

We invite you to browse the statistics pulled from a recent exit survey of graduates who completed the Master of Archives and Records Administration program in December 2022. Note percentages are rounded and may not always equal 100. (n=3 responses)

• 100% said they would recommend our MARA program.
• According to the survey respondents, the top strengths of the MARA program are its online learning environment, cost, flexibility, and curriculum. 
• The survey respondents completed the MARA program in under 3.5 years. Did you know that you can complete the MARA program at your own pace, choosing the number of courses you want to take each semester? You have up to seven years to earn your graduate degree.
• As an online school, we know the importance of timely technology help. 100% of the survey respondents took advantage of the technology resource center and technology support we provide to students.
• Our school also provides robust career development resources to students, as well as offers individual consultations with a career advisor. Two out of three survey respondents used the career services.
• Advising and student support are top priority at our school. Two out of three survey respondents sought help from their academic advisor and rated the support they received as Very Good. 

“I feel that I now have the skills to pursue a career in archives.” – MARA Graduate

Our students also took advantage of a range of informal learning opportunities and activities that helped them expand their professional network and aid them with future job seeking. For example:

• Two out of three survey respondents were members of professional associations. Did you know we give new Master of Archives and Records Administration students a free one-year membership to the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), National Association of Government Archivists and Records Administrators (NAGARA), or the Society of American Archivists (SAA)? Learn more.
• Extracurricular activities abound at our school. MARA students can expand their learning experiences by getting involved and participating in professional conferences, guest lectures, and the iSchool Student Research Journal. Did you know that we offer a MARA online lecture series that features guest presenters in the fields of archives, records and information governance? The MARA guest lectures and Second Life events were a popular activity among the survey respondents.

In addition, you’ll be in good company in our fully online master’s degree program. Here are some stats about our graduating MARA students as reported in the fall 2022 exit survey:

• While earning their MARA degree, the survey respondents completed courses from Minnesota, Texas and Virginia. Our MARA program is offered exclusively online, and there are no on-campus orientations or other required in-person events.
• Our online program allows students the flexibility to continue working while pursuing their MARA degree. 100% of the survey respondents were both students at our school and working professionals.  
• At the time of graduation, the survey respondents ranged in age from 31 to 61 years of age or older.
• In this particular survey, two respondents were female and one was male.
• The three survey respondents chose White, not Hispanic for their ethnicity. 
• 67% of the survey respondents stated they were the first person in their family to obtain a master’s degree. Learn more about the First Generation Student Group. 

“The MARA program exposes the students to a variety of settings through interactions with colleagues or in academic materials and lectures.” – MARA Graduate