Golden Gate University

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This school appears in our ranking 10 Most Affordable Top Ranked Online Master's in Finance 2018.

In the early 1850s, the San Francisco YMCA began an evening lecture series which focused on practical issues of the day. Since it was during the California Gold Rush, attendees learned about gold assaying as well as practical skills like English. This led to the formation of the first even law school in California in 1901, providing a legal education to people who could not afford traditional law schools at the time. In fact, when the school began, only one of every 2,000 men in the country had a college education.

In 1906, the YMCA was destroyed by fire in the San Francisco earthquake. Classes were held in tents until leased space was obtained at 1220 Geary Street. In 1908, the college added a Bachelor of Commercial Science and the school moved to a new YMCA building located at 220 Golden Gate Avenue. A contest was held to name the school and Golden Gate was suggested by law student Charles H. Pool. The judges felt the name represented the romance of California. In 1923, the school separated from the YMCA and became Golden Gate College. The college remained connected to the YMCA until 1962 although members of the Board of Trustees for many years after the two organizations severed ties and the school remained in the YMCA building until 1968. At that time, the school moved to the Allyne Building which it had purchased at auction in 1964. The college gained university status in 1972. Today, there are about 3,550 students attending Golden Gate University.

Golden Gate University Accreditation Details

Golden Gate University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges Senior College & University Commission. As part of voluntary accreditation, Golden Gate University agrees to periodic reviews that confirm the university continues to provide students with excellence in education. During the review, the accrediting agency also identifies any areas that need improvement and the school agrees to address them. The law school is accredited by the American Bar Association, State Bar of California and the Association of American Law Schools.

Golden Gate University Application Requirements

Undergraduates who wish to attend Golden Gate University must complete an application and provide official transcripts and standardized test scores. They must also provide a personal statement, professional resume, letters of recommendation and personal interviews. Students whose school records do not indicate academic preparation may be admitted on a conditional basis. Any student who is denied admission must wait one year before applying again.

Graduate students must hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. They must demonstrate the ability to study at the graduate level and possess the skills necessary to succeed at the university. Students must complete an application as well as official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Students who wish to enter the Master of Business Administration program must provide official GMAT or GRE scores. They may also provide an optional personal statement, especially if their academic history does not meet admission requirements.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition is $1,980 for each three-credit course. There are no additional fees and any course that is less than three credits has a prorated cost. Graduate tuition for each three-credit course is as follows:

  • School of Business – $3,045
  • School of Law – $1,600
  • School of Taxation – $3,465

The Executive Master of Public Administration offered through the School of Business is $3,180 per four-credit course or $65,000 for the entire program. The Doctor of Business Administration is $4,700 per four-credit course.

Financial aid is available, and most students receive aid in the form of Direct and Perkins Loans as well as work-study funds. Students must complete the FAFSA as well as the Golden Gate University Financial Aid Application. Students may also qualify for California Student Commission grants that are awarded based on need or a combination of need and merit. Golden Gate University also offers scholarships and grants to students who qualify.

Online Degrees Available

Bachelor of Science in Business – Data Analytics Concentration

Students gain an understanding of the tools used to extract, categorize and examine large amounts of information that help businesses make better decisions. They learn across disciplines with instruction in how data impacts marketing, project management, human resources, operations and other aspects of business. Students also gain an understanding of SAS, Data Mining, SQL, dashboards, R-Language and more. In addition to six courses from upper and lower division courses, students must complete:

  • Business Intelligence & Data Mining
  • Creating Dashboards & Scorecards
  • Data Analytics Using SAS
  • Introduction to Relational Databases
  • Social Media Analytics with R

Master of Science in Business Analytics

The Master of Science in Business Analytics provides students with an understanding of applying data analytics to business problems. Graduates gain an understanding of insights that support the goals and objectives of businesses in many industries. The discipline has grown so quickly, it is difficult to address all of the elements the degree covers. The main elements of the program are based on statistical and analytic theory, processes, tools and techniques designed to be integrated into almost every business. The degree applies to business managers, data scientists, IT professionals and many other business roles that are commonly found in almost every business today. Students must complete 39 units, three of which include graduate statistics. Graduates can explain the differences between structured and unstructured data as well as how to articulate and align performance with data management, organizational structures, data policy and more. After completing the program, students can explain and give examples of analytic disciplines while also being able to identify and explain the steps of the CRISP-DM process model. Students also learn to use visual outcomes of analytics to communicate to organization leaders as well as members of the community with a vested interest in business.

Golden Gate University has focused on educating adults since they began over 100 years ago as part of the YMCA. Today, Golden Gate University offers many online programs that are designed specifically for working adults, allowing them to achieve their higher education goals while still meeting other obligations related to family, work and their community.

Golden Gate University Website