Climb the Ladder
with UofM Global
Earn your degree 100% online from the accredited, nationally-recognized University of Memphis.
Introducing RISE: Responders Initiating Success through Education, a partnership between UofM Global and the City of Memphis Fire Department. Through this innovative program, MFD employees can earn a degree in a cost-effective, timely manner with the help of a support team dedicated to student success.
Flexible & Accessible
Transfer credit is accepted from regionally accredited institutions.
Online course offerings accommodate work schedule.
Dedicated Support Network
Enjoy assistance from a program-specific admissions specialist, a designated academic advisor and advocate and access to 24/7 virtual tutoring.
Tuition Allowance Maximization
Easily transfer credits from other higher ed institutions, and thrive with flexible online course offerings built to accommodate any work schedule.
Suggested Degree Program
We highly recommend our Bachelor of Professional Studies degree program for several reasons including:
1. Three ideal concentration options for RISE students:
2. The time to degree completion is generally shorter with the BPS degree because it offers such flexibility in course choices, and this means you finish faster!
Getting Started: The RISE Admissions Process
As a student in the RISE program, you will be assigned a RISE Advocate who will guide you through the admission process and be available throughout your journey with UofM Global.
- Complete the interest form below
- Request Official Transcripts from previous high school and college/s. Email to RISE@memphis.edu.
- RISE Advocate will request your training record from the Memphis Fire Department for evaluation for Experiential Learning Credit (ELC).
- Your RISE Advocate will contact you to discuss if any additional documents are needed.
- Completed application will be reviewed for admission.
- Once accepted, your RISE Advocate will connect you with your academic advisor for course registration and next steps.
Prep Academy
If you are new to college, new to online learning or you’ve been out of school for a while, the Prep Academy is an excellent starting point.
- Self-paced, online coursework
- Unlimited attempts to succeed, no upfront costs
- Key topics include: Academic Success, Career Planning and Development, Personal and Career Success
Prep Academy Success = Admission to UofM + 12 College Credit Hours
Financial Information
Tuition Reimbursement
As a City of Memphis employee, you are eligible for $3,000 annually in employer assistance for your education. UofM Global is committed to working with City of Memphis employees to streamline the Tuition Reimbursement process.
Federal Financial Aid
You may be eligible for Federal Financial Aid by completing the FAFSA application. Federal aid can be loans (to be repaid) and/or grants (do not have to be repaid).
Payment Plan
Enroll in a payment plan that allows you to make three monthly payments per semester rather than paying for the entire semester at one time.
The City of Memphis requires students to submit a Letter of Credit (LOC) for tuition benefits to apply towards classes. If you are interested in utilizing your tuition benefit, LOCs must be submitted for every semester you enroll in classes. If you have any questions about the LOC process, please contact your Student Advocate, ShaRhonda Williams, at srwllms7@memphis.edu.
Experiential Learning Credit
Believing that rigorous professional and/or personal development occurs outside the classroom, the UofM grants up to 30 credit hours in Experiential Learning Credit (ELC) to students who demonstrate the academic merit of such experiences. ELC shortens time to degree completion.
The following certifications have been pre-assessed:
Paramedic certification: 30 credit hours
Firefighter certification: 30 hours
Ready to RISE to success?
Click on the button to complete the RISE Interest Form.
A RISE Advocate will contact you to help create the best game route for you.
Review Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Guidelines >