This school appears in our ranking Top 30 Online Master's in Liberal Studies Degree Programs.
Salve Regina University was chartered by the Rhode Island State Legislature in 1934 and opened 13 years later at a French chateau named Ochre Court. Approved for master's education in 1991, the private, coeducational Catholic ACCU member grew to enroll 2,758 Seahawks from 26 countries. Endowed for $57 million under the Sisters of Mercy, Salve maintains a 51-building Gilded Age campus along the Newport Cliff Walk near Forty Steps. Placing "Maria Spes Nostra" first, SRU has 23 academic departments that now extend learning to the Warwick Education Center and online. Linked to 11,910 LinkedIn alumni, Salve Regina University has produced accomplished alumni like General Peter W. Chiarelli, Jean-Baptiste, Janet L. Robinson, and Arlene Violet with a 68 percent graduation rate.
Given New England's first Getty Grant in 2002, Salve Regina is ranked the 37th best Northern university, 20th most vet-friendly campus, and 40th top regional value by the U.S. News & World Report. On Niche, SRU stands as America's 242nd best nursing school, 365th best buck, and 401st top college location. Money magazine declared Salve Regina the 160th most value-added institution with a median alumni salary of $48,000. Times Higher Education labeled Salve the 424th best college overall. The Social Mobility Index placed Salve Regina 240th nationally for best opportunities. SRU was applauded for the 255th most Peace Corps graduates and 299th highest research expenditures in Washington Monthly. According to College Choice, Salve Regina University is also the third best online Rhode Island school.
Salve Regina University Accreditation Details
In 2011, Salve Regina University had its Level VI regional accreditation extended for 10 years by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) under president Jane Gerety. This gold standard certifies the 46 bachelor's, 13 master's, and two doctoral programs available in Newport, Warwick, or online for the U.S. Department of Education. The degree-specific accreditations maintained by Salve include:
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design
- Council on Rehabilitation Education
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
- Council on Social Work Education
- International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
Salve Regina University Application Requirements
At Salve Regina University, the Fall 2016 acceptance of 68 percent signals "selective" admission criteria for online master's study. The Graduate School considers prospective SRU Seahawks who've finished a four-year baccalaureate that's regionally accredited. Bachelor's curricular prerequisites vary by online program. For example, the Salve Master's of Business Administration demands six credits of accounting, six credits of economics, and calculus or statistics. Coursework GPAs should surpass 2.75, though conditional admission is possible for lower averages. Rigorous combined bachelor's/master's programs request a cumulative GPA over 3.3. Carrying an "A" average would waive the need for entrance exams, except for non-native English speakers who require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 100 or IELTS score of 7.0.
Most online master's programs from Salve Regina University have rolling admission until three weeks before term starts. However, some like the Online Master's of Art in Humanities set deadlines of November 1st for Spring and July 1st for Fall. First-time users create an account to submit the Graduate Studies Application online. If needed, extra documents could be mailed to 100 Ochre Point Avenue in Newport, RI 02840. Aspiring post-grads should remember to send the following:
- One-time, non-refundable $50 application fee
- Official transcripts from all universities attended
- Graduate GRE, GMAT, or MAT test scores
- Two recommendations from faculty/supervisors
- Résumé or curriculum vitae of experiences
- Computer-based English proficiency exams if applicable
Tuition and Financial Aid
On average, full-time Salve Regina graduates pay $9,180 for tuition and $100 for fees each year. The Master's of Fine Arts costs considerably more at $18,816. Living at the Newport campus also adds in $10,970 for apartment housing and $5,825 for unlimited meals annually. Unless waived, health insurance premiums bill $2,162. Fortunately, online students forgo these expenses to pay $565 per credit. For instance, the 36-credit Master's of Science in Health Care Administration would cost $20,340 total before aid.
According to the NCES, 89 percent of full-time SRU Seahawks share $38.53 million in financial assistance for an average package worth $20,092. Online master's students should submit the FAFSA form via code 003411 to pursue Direct Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS loans. Through Tuition Management Systems, post-grads can create monthly payment plans. The "Small Wonder" provides the Rhode Island State Grant and Rhode Island Foundation scholarships. Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits are accepted from military service members. Institutional funds are abundant, including the Regina Scholarship, Aquidneck Island Multicultural Scholarship, Brendan McKay Memorial Scholarship, Fred M. Roddy Foundation Scholarship, and Jane Benz Scholarship. External awards, such as the International Peace Scholarship, Facebook Fellowship, WREI Congressional Fellowship, and AAUW Fellowship, would be accepted too.
Online Degrees Available
Authorized in 54 U.S. states and territories by the NC-SARA, the Online Studies Division at Salve Regina University offers 16 graduate programs for 100 percent distance completion. Each cohort takes condensed, seven-week courses with asynchronous access on Canvas to maximize life-work balance. The same faculty with real-world experience teach online at an engaging 13:1 ratio. Online Seahawks also benefit from digital access to McKillop Library, 24/7 technical support, disability services, and Circle of Scholars seminars. Two sample master's degrees granted by Salve Regina online are:
Master's of Art in International Relations
Directed by Dr. Symeon Giannakos, the Master's of Art in International Relations at Salve Regina partners with the U.S. Naval War College to hone the principled global leadership skills to resolve political and security conflicts. Since 1984, the 36-credit, thesis-optional curriculum has integrated 12 "Military Friendly" courses like Transnational Crime, Environmental Justice, and Humanitarian Crises with the Mercy mission to regain peace worldwide.
Master's of Science in Administration of Justice and Homeland Security
Affiliated with alumni at Booz Allen Hamilton, AlliedBarton, and others, Salve Regina's Master's of Science in Administration of Justice and Homeland Security is delivered online under Dr. David Smith to cultivate in-depth threat analysis skills. The 36-credit, 12-course program offers concentrations for Cybersecurity and Intelligence, Digital Forensics, or Criminal Justice Leadership before a second-year capstone project thwarting global dangers.
Other online graduate programs at Salve Regina University include the Master's of Arts in Humanities, Master's of Business Administration in Social Ventures, Master's of Science in Health Care Administration, Master's of Science in Innovation and Strategic Management, Human Resources Certificate, and Nonprofit Management Certificate.