Kettering University is a small college located in Michigan that emphasizes the importance of STEM learning. Unlike other more traditional colleges that allow students to major in hundreds of topics, Kettering University primarily offers programs in science, technology, engineering, math and business. Founded in 1919 as The School of Automotive Trades, it quickly gained a strong reputation for training students to work for the major manufacturing facilities in and around Detroit. That led to General Motors taking over the operation of the school and naming it the General Motors Institute of Technology, which eventually became the General Motors Institute. Though GM ceased running the school in the 1980s, it allowed the now private college to use the GM initials in its name. It changed its name to Kettering University in 1988 to pay homage to Charles Kettering, a designer of one of the first electrical engines.
This university is highly selective in who it admits and looks for students with strong skills in math, science and technology. Princeton Review named it one of the best colleges in the Midwest, and U.S. News & World Report ranked it among the top engineering colleges in the nation and for having one of the best mechanical engineering programs in the country. Kettering University requires that all undergrads do co-op experiences with local companies and helps place its students. It also offers online programs and has an enrollment of just under 2,000 students.
Kettering University Accreditation Details
The accreditation that Kettering University holds includes both institutional accreditation and program accreditation. Institutional accreditation comes from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS), which is a division of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Institutional accreditation applies to all the programs that the university offers and gives it the authority to give graduating students their degrees. It also has program accreditation for the programs that it offers in both engineering and business. The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) granted it accreditation for all its business degrees and programs, including its undergrad program and MBA program. The Engineering Accreditation Commission of the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology, Inc.) granted accreditation to its engineering physics program and all its chemical, mechanical, industrial and electrical engineering programs.
Kettering University Application Requirements
Kettering University is a highly selective private university and is even more selective at the graduate level. The university has an admissions deadline of September 1 for those who want to start in the fall semester, which usually begins around the middle of October. The deadline for winter semester applications is December 1, and those who want to start in the summer must submit their applications by the middle of June. Kettering uses a quarter schedule and offers classes in the fall, winter, spring and summer every year.
Those interested in one of its graduate programs must have a grade point average of at least 3.0. If you have a lower GPA, the university may admit you on a conditional basis, which means that you'll take lower courses to get your grades up. Students admitted on a conditional basis must maintain their grades or face expulsion from the program. The university also requires that you submit an official college transcript, and some programs may ask for two or more letters of recommendation. Some students will also need to take the GRE and submit their scores from that test. Kettering University now allows students to apply online. You can create your own custom account that lets you fill out each section of the application and double check those sections before you submit it.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Whether you enroll as a part-time or a full-time student, you'll pay $857 per credit hour. Most of the courses offered through its graduate school are worth two to four credits. You must also pay some fees that can add $100 or more to the costs you pay each semester. The university requires that students have funding in place before starting classes. If you receive tuition assistance or reimbursement from your employer, you must submit that paperwork when you enroll. Though the university does have a tuition refund policy for those who withdrawal, you'll receive a percentage of your money back based on when you withdrawal.
The best way to get help paying for Kettering University is federal financial aid. All students who need financial help should file the FAFSA a few months before the next semester starts. Students living near the campus can apply for one of the graduate assistant programs like a research or teaching position, which will cover the total cost of your tuition. If you're an online graduate student, you may still qualify for grants and loans from the state government or the federal government. Many graduate students use unsubsidized student loans, but you can also apply for and use private or alternative student loans as well as parent PLUS loans.
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Online Degrees Available
Kettering University created its virtual campus as a way to assist students living in other states and those who did not want to attend its main campus in Flint, Michigan. The virtual campus allows students to learn from professors with years of experience and interact with students living in other states and countries. You can pick from three programs that help you complete a Master of Science degree.
One of those programs is its Master of Science in Engineering Management, which teaches you the fundamentals of Six Sigma, which are principles that managers use every day. This program can prepare you for working in operations, supply chain or quality management as well as in research and development. It includes courses on enterprise information system models, marketing management and ethics and practice of engineering. The university expects you to do a final capstone project on a marketing topic too.
The university also offers a Master in Operations Management Online. Designed for those who want to work directly in the operations chain, this program can prepare you for working at the management or executive level. You can earn a certificate in another field like health care management while working on your degree also. Classes in this program include managing people and organizations and financial management.
Kettering University offers webinars that provide prospective students with more information about some of its online MS programs.