Jacksonville University

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This school appears in our ranking Top 30 Online Affordable Master's in Nursing Education Degrees 2017-2018.

Established in 1934, Jacksonville University is one of the oldest private colleges in Florida. Called Jacksonville Junior College up through the 1950s, it originally served as a two-year school. Students had the choice of earning degrees and going right to work or transferring to another school. The university also served as Porter University over the years. Just 60 students signed up to take classes in its first year. As the school did not yet have its own campus, students took classes in rooms located in a local church. When the junior college merged with a music school in the late 1950s, the new school adopted the name of Jacksonville University.

Also called JU and Jacksonville, the university now offers more than to degree programs for undergrads and more than 20 degree programs for graduate and doctoral students. The university also established an online campus that helps nurses transition from a registered nursing program to a bachelor program. This online system offers a small number of graduate programs too. Jacksonville University has an enrollment of roughly 3,200 undergrads and around 1,000 graduate and doctoral students.

Jacksonville University Accreditation Details

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education granted accreditation to the university's nursing programs at both the undergrad and graduate levels. CCNE is one of the top professional nursing organizations in the world. Jacksonville also has accreditation for other degree programs from the National Association of Schools of Music, National Association of Schools of Dance and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business among others. The most important accreditation that the university has is the one granted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Not only does this form of accreditation allow students to apply for any financial help they might need, but it also lets them transfer credits to and from any schools with regional accreditation.

Jacksonville University Application Requirements

Jacksonville University does not have application deadlines because it uses a rolling admissions policy. This policy allows incoming students to submit their applications up to just a few weeks before the next semester starts. All students must use an online application, but the university offers different ones for undergrads and graduate students as well as those transferring from another college or university. The application has a $50 processing fee and asks students to list the names and contact information for three references. Undergrads must also submit their official high school transcripts.

Many degree programs offered by the university have other application requirements too. Students applying to the online nursing program must show that they have their nursing degrees and that they completed their clinical rotations. Those enrolling in any artistic program will need to submit a CD that shows some of their work.

Graduate programs feature many of the same requirements. These students must complete an online application and pay the application fee. They will then provide letters of recommendation or contact information for their academic and professional references. The university may ask for a resume and/or a test score in addition to an official transcript.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Traditional undergrads will pay more than $50,000 a year to attend Jacksonville University. This cost includes both tuition and room and board. Students pay around $18,300 a semester for tuition alone. Part-time students pay a rate of $1,225 per credit hour. Jacksonville charges online nursing students $315 per credit hour if they are Florida residents or $400 per credit hour if they are nonresidents. Military students qualify for a tuition discount that reduces their costs down to $250 per credit hour. All other classes available online charge a rate of $200 per credit hour. Graduate students will pay at least $770 per credit for each online class they take.

JU offers financial aid packages for each incoming student who applies and completes the FAFSA. Those students may receive both institutional and government aid. Institutional aid can include scholarships designed for those who meet any merit or need requirements. Government aid can include both loans and grants. Graduate students can borrow money from the federal government and take out loans from private lenders too.

Online Degrees Available

RN to BSN

The only online program the university offers for undergrads is an online RN to BSN program, which helps students make the transition into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Students must submit their transcripts to let the university determine what courses they still need to take. Jacksonville allows students to transfer credits into this program. The program is open to both full-time and part-time students and features six sessions of classes each year that run for eight weeks. A student can earn his or her degree in just 18 months.

Master of Science in Nursing

There are more options available for graduate students who want to study health or business online such as the university's RN to MSN program. Registered nurses can enroll in this program and complete both a BSN and a Master of Science in Nursing degree in just a few years. Students will take seven BSN classes and 18 credits of MSN courses. They can also specialize their degrees in clinical nurse educator, leadership in healthcare systems or informatics.

Master of Science in Sports Management

Also available is a graduate program in sports management that allows students to work with some of the student-athletes who compete for the university. Students can finish this 36-credit program in a single year. It features 15 credits of core management courses, including essentials of finance and economics and leadership and ethics. They will also take 21 credits of sports management courses such as sports revenue strategy and sports sponsorship. Jacksonville requires that students take a sports management capstone too.

Master of Business Administration

Another option for students with an interest in business is the university's online Master of Business Administration program. Designed for all types of students, this program has a core of four courses that students must take prior to working on an MBA. The university requires that students who do not have a business degree take these courses over the summer. Instead of offering different concentrations, this program emphasizes the importance of leadership. This Jacksonville University program features courses that include the legal and ethical environment of business, managing production and service organizations, strategic marketing in a digital economy and leading organizations.

Jacksonville University website