School Details
Institutional control: Private
About the online program: Founded 1851, and accredited by Higher Learning Commission since 1918. Non-profit. Tuition rates, among the lowest nationally, represent superior value. 24 degrees purely online. Over 800 classes offered in convenient 8 week sessions. 5 sessions per year. Start and stop flexibility. Recognized as a Best Buy by GetEducated.com. Practitioner faculty bring real world perspective to the virtual classroom since 2000. Courses redeveloped every 3 years to ensure technological and academic currency.
Average class size: 21
Maximum class size: 25
Academics
3 year graduation rate (2011-2012): 42%
New student retention rate (2012): 75%
Most popular majors:
Business Administration and Management, General,
General Studies,
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration,
Human Services, General,
Psychology, General
Academic calendar: Other
Online courses offered:272
Can earn degree entirely outside U.S.:Yes
Number of times per month faculty provide feedback to students on participation: 12
Amount of courses requiring students to work collaboratively with other students:Minority
Class participation graded:Yes
Number of times per week students must login to a typical course: 3
Expectation that instructors will respond to questions within specific timeframe: Yes
Instructor response expected within (hours): 48
Academic Integrity
Anti-plagiarism screening required for essay assignments: Depends
Measures to instill academic integrity: Proctored exams, Turnitin anti-plagiarism service (required for most assignments), and plagiarism tutorial and quiz.
Faculty
Average online teaching experience: 5 years
Full-time faculty whose highest degree is a bachelor's: 0
Full-time faculty with a doctorate degree: 22
Full-time instructional faculty that teach courses accessible online: 26
Part-time faculty whose highest degree is a bachelor's: 0
Part-time faculty with a doctorate degree: 179
Faculty who teach online also teach on campus: All
Instructor office hours (weekly): 0
Faculty who have at least 1 year online teaching experience: 90%
Faculty who have at least 2 years online teaching experience: 74%
Faculty who have at least 3 years online teaching experience: 61%
Online learning tools
Bulletin boardsY,
Live streaming audio,
Live streaming video,
Online chatroomsY,
Online labsY,
Recorded audioY,
Recorded videoY,
Skype or other visual software,
SimulationsY,
Web conferencing (webinars)
Technology & Support
Recommended Internet connection: DSL
Required Internet connection: DSL
24-7 live tech support: Yes
Online course development: In-house
Courses designed by certified instructional designers: Yes
Full-time course development tech staff supporting faculty: 20
Part-time course development tech staff supporting faculty: 3
Student Services
Academic advisingY,
BookstoreY,
Career placement assistanceY,
E-mail addressY,
Financial aid office/servicesY,
Local area networkY,
Access to live librarianY,
Access to digitized library materialsY,
Mentoring,
Technical supportY,
Live tutoringY,
Writing workshops
Student Body
Region from which most U.S. students come: Midwest
Male: 8,955
Female: 12,687
American Indian: 1.0%
Asian: 1.5%
Black or African American: 23.7%
Hispanic: 6.9%
Two or more races: 1.6%
International: 0.4%
Pacific Islander: 0.5%
Unknown: 11.0%
White: 53.5%
Students 22 and younger: 8%
Students ages 23-39: 68%
Students 40 or older: 24%
New students who are first-time freshman: 8%
New students who are employed: N/A
Admission
Admissions requirements same as non-online students' requirements: Yes
College uses SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions for new applicants: No
ACT Composite Score: N/A
SAT Critical Reading average score: N/A
SAT Math average score: N/A
SAT Writing average score: N/A
Continuing online instruction education required: No
Application essay required: No
Accept transfer students: Yes
High school completion requirements: Diploma or GED required
Minimum high schools GPA required: N/A
Military-Friendly
Institution is Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) member: Yes
Institution is G.I. Bill certified: Yes
Institution Participates in Yellow Ribbon Program: Yes
In-state tuition for all military veterans: N/A