University of Connecticut

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University of Connecticut

The University of Connecticut opened in 1881 as the Storrs Agricultural School. It named itself after two local brothers who donated a large plot of land for the school and enough cash to get the school up and running. This small college was one of the first in the state that accepted female students and one of the first that awarded degrees to those students. Citing the number of programs the college offered and the opportunities it gave students, it officially became the University of Connecticut in 1939. That led to the university introducing graduate and doctoral programs as well as adding its own School of Medicine. It is now home to some of the top health care and medical programs in the state.

Many people know UConn for its athletic programs and for the players who join the Huskies athletic organization every year. Some of its top players played for professional organizations like the WNBA, NBA and MLB over the years. The university also ranks on both a national and global scale. While ARWU and Forbes ranked it within the top 200 schools in the country, Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Report included it within the top 100. Times, ARWU and QS also ranked UConn within the top 400 of all schools in the world today.

University of Connecticut Accreditation Details

Though you may want to focus on which schools have an active Greek community or which schools offer the major you want to study, you also need to make sure that the school you select has regional accreditation. Regional accreditation should come from an organization that has an affiliation with a national agency or group. Those attending the University of Connecticut will find that it has regional accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The NEASC is one of the top organizations in the nation for accreditation. UConn also has accreditation from organizations like the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology, Inc. (ABET), American Bar Association, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and Council on Education for Public Health. The university has specialty accreditation from more than 20 groups that apply to its programs in civil engineering, psychology, social work, nursing and other subjects.

University of Connecticut Application Requirements

Whether you want to apply to one of the traditional campus graduate programs or one of the online programs, you will still need to follow the same steps. UConn recommends that you check the deadline for the program you want to enroll in ahead of time because each program has the right to choose its own deadline. You will need to fill out the online grad school application and pay the $75 application fee with either a credit card or debit card. If you cannot afford this fee, contact the school before filling out the application. UConn has waivers available for those who have financial hardships that prevent them from paying the fee.

UConn requires an official transcript from each college or university that you attended before enrolling. Even if you attended a college during the summer and did not graduate, you will need to submit a transcript from that school. You must also submit your score from the GRE and write a letter of purpose, which briefly describes your past work, any experiences you have outside of school, your career goals and why you want to attend the University of Connecticut. Check the department responsible for the program you want to take to determine if you need to submit any additional materials as part of the application process.

Tuition and Fees

UConn charges fees of more than $300 on top of its tuition charges. A full-time graduate student who takes nine credit hours of classes a semester will pay around $7,600 a semester as a Connecticut resident. If you do not live in Connecticut, your tuition and fees will rise to around $12,500 a semester. Make sure that you complete the residency form required by the university to take advantage of the lower rates given to local residents. The university offers housing options and meal plans for graduate students that will increase your total cost. You'll also need to determine the cost of miscellaneous expenses too, including school supplies and textbooks.

Though online graduate students cannot apply for assistant positions on campus like resident advisers or teaching assistants, they do qualify for other types of financial aid. File the FAFSA as soon as possible after receiving your acceptance letter to show the university that you need help paying for school. You will likely qualify for unsubsidized student loans from the government that you can start paying off after you graduate. If you take courses on a part-time basis, you can apply for private or alternative student loans as well. UConn also offers some scholarships that are open to online students.

Online Graduate Degrees

The University of Connecticut offers five graduate degree programs and 16 graduate certificate programs through its online system. Also known as its eCampus, the online system also offers an occupational health and safety certificate program for those with a bachelor's degree and a holistic nursing hybrid program that requires students take some of their classes on campus. The Gifted and Talented degree program is open to licensed teachers who need to further their education but cannot take time away from the classes they teach. Though it's an online program, it does have a residency component. Teachers must agree to spend two weeks living on campus and taking two classes each summer for three straight years. The remaining work required of them takes place online. It provides teachers with the skills necessary to work with students who have higher IQs and those enrolled in a gifted and talented program.

Is A Master's Degree Worth It?

UConn has a Master of Science in Accounting program that ranks as one of the best in the nation. This online program includes two classes in accounting like contemporary issues and business taxation. The university gives students four courses they can take but only requires they take two. Those students will then take eight accounting electives from the 15 electives offered by the university. Students can earn their graduate degrees entirely online through this program. The University of Connecticut offers online graduate programs that take place completely over the Internet and others that have some type of residency requirement.