First Impressions: University of Scranton

[Pages:25]2012-13 Edition

First Impressions: University of Scranton

Educated

Background

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Introduction to the University of Scranton

Background

Founded in 1888, the University of Scranton is one of 28 Jesuit universities in the U.S. With approximately 4,000 undergraduates, Scranton is a mid-sized university that offers academic programs more commonly found at much larger schools. including a comprehensive accredited business school, education, engineering, health professions and journalism. Located in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Scranton is approximately two and a half hours from New York City by car and about an hour and a half from Philadelphia.

While considered a regional university--Scranton offers only one doctoral program, which is in physical therapy--it has a student-faculty ratio of 11 to 1, more typical of a smaller liberal arts college. The average class size is 20 students although five percent of all classes enroll more than 50. This is not unusual for a mid-sized school that offers several popular liberal arts and pre-professional majors that require the same introductory courses in areas such as Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. Biology and Psychology are the most popular liberal arts majors. The largest clusters of students are in the business school followed by the health professions and education.

Among regional universities, Scranton is a top performer. While not exceptionally selective outside of the health professions programs--the university admitted more than 70 percent of the students who applied in 2012--Scranton has an impressive

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track record when it comes to freshman retention and graduation. Eighty eight percent of the freshmen who entered in 2012 continued on to their sophomore, impressive considering the size of a freshman class (between 960 and 980 students), the interest in the more demanding majors and larger introductory courses than one is likely to find at a traditional liberal arts school. More than three quarters of freshmen who set sights on a four-year degree--there are joint undergraduate-graduate degrees here--graduate on time.

According to the 2014 U.S. News Best Colleges guide, Scranton's actual six-year graduation rate (83 percent) was an impressive 15 points higher than the magazine's Predicted Graduation Rate (68 percent). More impressive, the college achieves this performance mainly with classes of good and very good students whose grades and SAT scores fall around, and even below, the middle of the applicant pool at schools such as the University of Delaware, Penn State and Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

The university's most visible academic investment has been in the sciences. Scranton's sleek Loyola Science Center, an $85 million project, would be an enviable venture at much larger schools. The university is also completing construction on a $40 million Rehabilitation Education Center. The university has also constructed a beautiful student center (DeNaples) and several very nice residence halls (Condron, Madison, Montrone and Pi-

larz) and apartments on campus. There are also constant reminders that, while Scranton welcomes students of all faiths, it is at heart a Jesuit institution in a very Catholic community. College-bound students seeking city life or college-town life in an eclectic place will not find that here, nor will they find a social life similar to a "jock school." The university has neither fraternities nor sororities nor does it field a football team. But those who can find their friends can also get a fine education.

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Competition

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What does it take to get in? Who decides to go? What other schools do applicants consider?

Competition

Scranton attracts the good and very good student, primarily from the Northeast, with a 3.5 GPA or better though it attracts excellent students, too. The middle 50 percent of a freshman class scores between 1050 and 1220 (out of 1600) on the Critical Reading and Math sections of the SAT or between 23 and 27 on the ACT. Aside from applicants to the Nursing, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy programs, the university does not require standardized tests for admissions. Students who apply for the other degree programs and do not submit test scores may submit two graded papers from high school classes, and possibly be asked to interview.

Scranton requires less paperwork than most privately-supported colleges. Only one recommendation is required (from a high school counselor) and the school charges no fee for online applications. Students submit only the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for financial aid. Students who are interested in Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapy must apply Early Action (by November 15th) to be considered for admission; this is optional for applicants to all other degree programs. The university has no Early Decision option. However, applications are considered on a rolling basis, so this is not necessary. All students who are awarded merit-based aid receive notice of their award with their acceptance, though they may also qualify for need-based aid.

The student who is most likely to consider Scranton might be someone who would consider another Catholic (though not always Jesuit) college of similar size. Such schools in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states include Providence College (RI), Fairfield University (CT), Loyola University (MD), Mt. St. Mary's University (MD), Siena College (NY) and St. Joseph's University (PA). Schools such as Arcadia University (PA), Ithaca College (NY) and Quinnipiac University (CT) are also considered by students who are interested in either Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy. Villanova University, while having around 3,000 more students has a similar mix of academic programs.

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Costs

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Tuition and Fees Scholarships Net Prices Debt

Costs

During the 2013-14 school year Scranton charged a sticker price of approximately $40,000 in tuition and fees and $14,000 for room and board. The housing charges are on the high side for a college that is not in a large city or college town. However, the university asks all freshmen and sophomores who cannot commute to live on campus and asks them all to carry an unlimited meal plan.

Scranton awarded merit-based scholarships to 577 of the 970 freshmen who entered in 2013; more than 600 received needbased scholarship awards. The Loyola Scholarship is awarded to students who have scored 1100 (out of 1600) on the Critical Reading and Math sections of the SAT, and averaged $12,000 per freshman. Dean's Scholarships, awarded to students who score between 1200 and 1300 and rank in the top fifth to to tenth of their class average $17,900. Ten students received Presidential Scholarships which cover full tuition and fees. The Arrupe Scholarship, a diversity merit award, is also available. Students need to earn a 3.25 to retain a Dean's Scholarship or Presidential Scholarship, a 3.0 to retain the Loyola Scholarship and a 2.5 to retain the Arrupe Scholarship. Xavier Scholarships, need-based awards, may also cover up to $22,000 to the total cost of attendance (tuition and fees, room and board, books, transportation and other incidentals). Students need to maintain a 2.0, as well as need, to continue to receive these scholarships. The university also offers a family tuition discount of 10

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