Undergraduate Admission and Expenses

The University of Scranton is a selective institution, offering a flexible liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis (care for each person and the whole person).

Admission

In reaching the admissions decision, the Admissions Committee of The University of Scranton considers a number of factors: academic ability, intellectual curiosity, strength of character and motivation, as evidenced by the student’s cumulative GPA, class rank, SAT I and/or ACT scores, extracurricular activities, personal statement and letter of recommendation.

University Information

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions offers prospective students a wide variety of information about The University of Scranton through various publications. Prospective students can request materials by contacting:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
The Estate, The University of Scranton
Scranton, PA 18510
Telephone: (570) 941-7540 or
                      1-888-SCRANTON
Fax: (570) 941-5928
E-mail: admissions@scranton.edu
Web:admissions.scranton.edu

Required High School Preparation

Students wishing to enroll in any of the undergraduate programs offered by the University must have completed a total of 16 or more high school academic units covering grades 9-12. The term “unit” refers to a high school course taught four or five hours weekly throughout an academic year of 36 weeks’ duration. Unit requirements and preferred distribution of secondary courses are given in the table below.

Applicants without high school credit in modern languages may be accepted if they present 16 acceptable units. A single year of language in high school will not be counted as a unit to satisfy the requirements for admission.

Mathematics includes elementary, intermediate and advanced algebra; plane and solid geometry; trigonometry; analysis; and any other college-preparatory course. Applicants for science and engineering programs must include trigonometry and must have earned a grade of 85 in each mathematics course. Applicants for the nursing program should include chemistry and biology in their high school programs.

Science includes biology, chemistry, physics and other college-preparatory courses. Engineering applicants are urged to include physics in their high school preparation.

Campus Visit Programs

The best way to experience The University of Scranton is to visit. Individuals can schedule a visit that includes a campus tour, a group information session and/or an appointment with an Admissions Counselor. Tours and group information sessions are available on weekdays and select Saturdays throughout the year. Additional visit opportunities include two fall Open Houses. In the spring, Royal Nights overnight programs and Preview Day are open to accepted students. To schedule a visit, please call 1-888-SCRANTON or (570) 941-6654, or go to www.scranton.edu/visit.

Submitting an Application

Students should apply during the first semester of their senior year of high school. The early action deadline is November 15. For all applicants, early action offers will be made on December 15. From that time on, all applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a four- to six-week turnaround and a preferred final application deadline of March 1.

Students may apply online for free using The University of Scranton’s application or the Common Application; for more information, visit www.scranton.edu/apply. Students must also submit an official high school transcript from their guidance office, a personal statement or essay, and a letter of recommendation.

The SAT I: Reasoning Test (College Entrance Examination Board) or the ACT (American College Testing) exam is accepted. These tests should be taken during the junior year and/or senior year of high school. The Admissions Committee will consider applicants’ best math and critical reading scores on the SAT I test. The Committee will not consider the scores of the SAT I writing test in the application process. During Summer Orientation, the University administers its own placement tests. Therefore, applicants are not required to take the SAT II, nor is the writing component of the ACT required.

A select group of students may apply SAT/ACT Optional, as the Admissions Committee recognizes that standardized test scores are not always indicative of a student’s academic ability or potential. To apply SAT/ACT Optional, a student must be in the top 30% of the class or have a 3.2 GPA (4.0 scale) if the school does not report rank. Students applying SAT/ACT Optional must submit two graded papers from high school and may be requested to schedule an on-campus interview.

Students applying to the Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy (guaranteed admission) or any Pre-Health Professions programs must submit standardized scores and may not apply SAT/ACT Optional. For more information about applying SAT/ACT Optional, visit www.scranton.edu/apply.

Confirmation Fee

Accepted students who wish to confirm their place in the freshman class should submit a non-refundable confirmation deposit by May 1 of $300 for residential students or $150 for commuter students. Deposits may be made at www.scranton.edu/confirm.

Advanced Placement

Applicants who have taken college-level courses in high school may be placed in advanced courses and may be given credits as well. Students who have been accepted for admission and desire to apply for such placement must take the Advanced Placement Examination offered in May by the College Entrance Examination Board, www.collegeboard.com. Students can have their results sent automatically to the University by providing the school code (2929). For more information on AP credits, visit www.scranton.edu/collegecredit.

Biology and Biophysics majors cannot receive biology credits. Students pursuing a pre-medical program should be aware that many medical schools do not accept AP credit for required pre-medical courses.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Through the CLEP tests, taken before admission, applicants may gain college credit in most academic subjects for work done outside the classroom in jobs, military service, etc., or in non-accredited institutions. For further information, visit www.collegeboard.com. Students wishing to be considered for CLEP credits should take the CLEP examinations and have the results forwarded to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

International Students

The University of Scranton has been educating international students since 1946 and remains committed to that tradition. At present, 14 different countries are represented by undergraduate and graduate students.

The University’s Office of International Programs and Services and the (International Center) provide international students with advice, support and resources to ensure a smooth transition to a new culture and educational system. Additional information about support programs and services for international students can be found later in this catalog in the section on the Office of International Programs and Services.

The University has a house on campus that serves as a mosque for the use of Muslim students. It is available for daily prayers as well as the Friday prayer.

International Baccalaureate Policy

The University of Scranton recognizes the academic quality of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. Students who have completed higher-level (HL) IB courses and who demonstrate a substantial level of achievement as represented by their performance on the relevant IB examination(s), with a score of 5 or better, may earn advanced placement credit. For more information on IB credits, visit www.scranton.edu/collegecredit.

Students with Disabilities

The University of Scranton complies with all applicable laws and regulations with respect to the accommodation of handicaps and disabilities as these terms are defined in law. The University will provide reasonable accommodations so students can fully participate in curricular and extracurricular activities. Students who need assistance should make timely contact with the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence at (570) 941-4038.

Special Admission Programs

Academic Development Program

The Academic Development Program (ADP) is designed for students who demonstrate academic achievement and the potential to excel, but whose grades and SAT/ACT scores indicate the need to refine their verbal skills to meet the challenges of college-level coursework. The ADP will help students sharpen their verbal skills, and equip them to approach their coursework with efficiency and confidence. The ADP is conducted over the course of the freshman year and provides students with courses in research and study skills, as well as writing support, coordinated instruction, academic advising, tutoring and mentoring. Students who complete all requirements of the ADP have normal sophomore standing.

The ADP core of courses consists of EDUC 113 Reading-Research , COMM 100 Public Speaking , First Year Seminars , and WRTG 105 College Writing I  - WRTG 106 (D) College Writing II ; all members of the ADP will be assigned to the same sections for all of these courses. Faculty members collaborate so that the curriculum emphasizes the connections among the courses and provides the best opportunities to improve verbal skills. All students in the ADP are required to attend Intersession during their freshman year. Students in the ADP may be subject to dismissal if they do not successfully complete the core courses with a grade of C or better. For more information, please contact CTLE at  (570) 941-4038.

Transfer Student Admission

Any student who wishes to transfer to The University of Scranton must submit an application and the usual credentials: official high school records, SAT/ACT scores, personal statement, letter of recommendation and transcript(s) from all college(s) attended. Transfer students may apply on line for free using The University of Scranton’s application or the common application at scranton.edu/apply. The preferred deadlines are August 1 for fall entry and December 15 for the spring semester.  All official transcripts must be submitted regardless of whether or not credit was earned. At the discretion of the Admissions Committee, credits from other accredited colleges may be admitted provided:

1. The courses to be transferred are equivalent or comparable to courses offered at The University of Scranton;
2. Students are required to follow all requirements prescribed for the degree program at The University of Scranton;
3. Only courses taken at regionally accredited institutions will be evaluated for transfer credit;
4. No credit will be given for courses with grades less than C.

Transfer credit is reviewed on an individual basis after the student has applied and submitted all supporting documentation. Students transferring are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits for an associate’s degree or 63 credits for a baccalaureate degree at The University of Scranton.  It should be noted that most departments require that at least half of the credits in the student’s major be taken here at the University. Special orientation sessions are held for transfer students just prior to the start of the respective term.

For more information please contact Deborah A. Lipinski, Senior Assistant Director of Transfer & Adult Admissions, at (570) 941-4839 or transfer@scranton.edu.

Validation of Business Transfer Courses

Students may validate courses taken at a non-AACSB institution by successfully completing one or more advanced courses in the subject for which the course in transfer is a foundation course. Approval is granted by the Dean of the Kania School of Management. This applies only to lower-division transfer courses which the University offers at the upper-division level.

Tuition Payments

Each semester an invoice for your registered coursework, room and board if applicable, will be mailed to your mailing address. An ebill notice will also be sent to your Scranton email account. The semester charges are payable by the due date listed on the invoice. You can return the Remittance Form at the bottom of your paper invoice with a check, pay via e-check or credit card (fee attached) using the ebill, enroll in a monthly payment plan, or complete a loan application through Financial Aid to pay the balance.

Without exception, lab fees must be paid for all courses with a lab requirement. Also, the University Fee must be paid by all College of Arts and Sciences, Panuska College of Professional Studies and Kania School of Management students registered for courses.

No student shall be permitted to receive any degree, certificate or transcript of record until the student’s financial account with the University has been settled. For students who graduate or withdraw from the University, any financial account not settled with the University Bursar’s Office will be forwarded to an external collection agency. At the time an account is placed with an agency, collection costs become the responsibility of the student, and they will be added to the balance due to the University.

Monthly Payments

The University accepts monthly payment through participation with ECSI. For information regarding our monthly payment plan, please go to www.scranton.edu/financialaid. Information inviting family participation in a 10-month payment plan is mailed to parents of all incoming students in June.

Tuition Insurance

The University, through A.W.G. Dewar, Inc., provides the Tuition Refund Plan (TRP). The plan helps protect your educational investment. When combined with the University’s published refund policy, reimbursement totaling 100% of tuition and room and board charges billed by the University will be made if you must withdraw from a term because of a personal illness or accident. In case of withdrawal due to a mental or nervous disorder, 60% of the above charges are covered. Application information is available from the Bursar’s Office or you may call A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. at (617) 774-1555.

Alumni Discount

Individuals who have previously earned a baccalaureate degree from The University of Scranton and are taking undergraduate, credit-bearing courses are eligible for 50% tuition reduction.

Family Tuition Reduction

The family tuition-reduction policy applies whenever two or more dependent children from the same family are in attendance during the same semester at the University as full-time undergraduate students. The reduction also applies whenever at least one dependent child in a family is in attendance at the University as a full-time undergraduate student and a parent is enrolled full-time as an undergraduate student. The tuition deduction is equivalent to each student’s semester tuition multiplied by 10%. The Family Tuition Reduction form must be completed each year to receive the reduction for that year. Forms and additional information may be obtained from the Bursar’s Office (Web site: www.scranton.edu/bursar).

Tuition Refunds

The tuition refund calendar applies to all University students. The amount of tuition refund is dependent on the formal date of withdrawal. Both tuition and fees are refundable during the 100% refund period of a semester. During the partial refund periods, the refund percentage applies only to tuition; laboratory and special service fees are not refundable.

A student billed flat-rate tuition who drops a course(s) within a semester, yet remains enrolled for the semester, may be entitled to a refund following the calendar under two scenarios. If the total course load remaining is below the flat-rate tuition minimum credit load (12 credits), then an applicable refund will calculate. Or, if prior to dropping the course(s), the student’s course load was greater than the flat-tuition maximum credit load (18 credits), an applicable refund will calculate.

Recipients of Federal Title IV Financial Aid who completely withdraw are governed by the Federal Refund Policy detailed in the Financial Aid section of the catalog.

Royal ePay

Royal ePay is a partnership between The University of Scranton and PNC Bank. Royal ePay will replace the pickup or mailing of refund checks from the Bursar’s Office and work study checks from the Payroll Office with a faster, more efficient Direct Deposit process.

You will still request your refund from the Bursar’s Office, and your hours and work study pay information are still processed by the Payroll Office. PNC Bank will deliver those funds into your bank account or mail you a check, depending on what you have selected in the Royal ePay site.

Activating the Direct Deposit will allow you to receive your funds within 2-3 days; while opting to receive a paper check could take 7-10 days. You will receive an e-mail when a deposit is made through the Royal ePay system.

If you are due a refund or a paycheck, and you have not entered the Royal ePay site, PNC Bank will automatically send a paper check to your mailing address.

Health Insurance

All students must be covered by adequate health insurance. Unexpected serious illness or injury can have a great impact on college financial plans. University fees cover visits to Student Health Services with care by registered nurses, nurse practitioners or physicians. However, care by community providers such as laboratory, X-ray, private physician or specialists, hospital emergency department visits, or hospital admission are subject to insurance coverage or private payment. Students may contact Student Health Services for further information.

Student Identification Cards

The University of Scranton provides students with a “one card” photo-identification system – the Royal Card. Every student attending the University must have a current Royal Card. This card must be presented upon demand for student services in the fitness center, athletic facilities and library. The Royal card is used for management of meal plans in the dining facilities, access to residence halls and secured administrative buildings, photocopying and printing in the library, and as a debit card account for many Point of Sale, vending and laundry locations on campus. For more information about the Royal Card, contact the Technology Support Center at (570) 941-4357 or www.scranton.edu/royalcard.