Typical higher education problems and a terrible campus - Anonymous employee UMass Boston Employee Review

3.0
Oct 8, 2014
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The people are good. The professors are highly rated. The view from campus is beautiful. Easily accessible through shuttle and public transportation.

Cons

Very low pay. I took an 18% decrease to get experience and to work in public education. Benefits look ok at first, but they are not very good compared to other institutions in the area. If you live in the city it is easy to get to, but if you commute from any other place it is a nightmare. Like most (if not all) higher ed institutions the upper management are more concerned with getting credit for things than they are for actually improving the student experience. The only reason this place has a good reputation is that the faculty are very good!

Explore other reviews about UMass Boston

5.0
Jun 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The other One Stop employees are so lovely to work with, they are always willing to help if needed and communication is clear and timely!

Cons

I have no complaints - as a student employee this was a great on campus opportunity!

3.0
Jan 12, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong mission-driven institution with a deep commitment to access, equity, and serving first-generation, transfer, and nontraditional students. Meaningful opportunities to lead initiatives, innovate programs, and take on responsibility early in one’s career. Located in Boston, with exposure to a diverse student population and strong partnerships across the city. Benefits and time off are solid for a public institution.

Cons

Colleagues across departments are not equally passionate, collaborative, or genuinely care about student success. The strong union culture seems to drive a self-centered approach to work with students. Chronic under-resourcing and staffing shortages lead to frequent burnout, especially among mid-level and frontline staff. Compensation often does not align with workload, scope of responsibility, or Boston’s cost of living. Organizational change is frequent, but communication and follow-through are inconsistent. Decision-making can feel slow and siloed, with limited transparency about priorities and long-term strategy. Equity and wellbeing are often discussed, but staff experience does not always reflect those stated values in practice.

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