Argosy University-Chicago (AUC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

The Argosy University (AU) Chicago campus is located in the heart of downtown Chicago, Ill, and is one of several locations across the country. This institution is the product of a merger between three schools of higher learning which occurred in 2001 and is as follows: the American Schools of Professional Psychology (ASPP), the Medical Institute of Minnesota (MIM) and the University of Sarasota. This powerful combination of noteworthy schools provides a wide range of opportunities for any student wishing to advance his or her career and is accredited by the Illinois Board of Higher Education to award over 15 degrees and licenses which cover a broad spectrum of areas in the business, administrative, and medical fields.

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Information Summary

Ranks 125th in Illinois and 3532nd overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	41.6
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$15,204
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	11 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	36% / 21%
Enrollment Total (all students)	1,017

Academics

Students have the option of enrolling in many different programs as they work towards a certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree. Classes are taught by practicing professionals, and involve coursework, hands-on experience, and active participation, which combine to provide a successful education.

Current schools and programs on this particular campus include:

College of Business
College of Education
College of Health Services
College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
College of Undergraduate Studies
Counselor Education
Illinois School of Professional Psychology
Marriage and Family Therapy

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Though each program has its own admission requirements, each applicant has to complete the following in order to be considered for entry – an application either in person, via mail or online. There is a small, non-refundable application fee. The application has to be submitted with certain personal information about the applicant’s previous educational history, e.g. high school diploma or GED certificate, transcripts from other schools attended, and scores of tests taken like the SAT or ACT. Counseling is available along with campus visits and online information sessions to help determine which degree program is will best in serve a student’s goals or reasons for attending college.

Persons whose primary language is not English and/or international students have to submit scores for the TOEFL test which can be taken in person or online. Visiting the campus either in person or online is highly recommended as it allows a student to sit down with a counselor from the admissions department to help answer any questions.

Financial Aid

All students are encouraged to apply for financial aid by filling out both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and the university’s own Institutional Application for Financial Aid. This form determines eligibility, federal funding amounts for various types of loans and for the Pell grant (which does not have to be paid back) based on the applicant’s financial data. The form can be submitted online or mailed. Students are also encouraged to apply for financial aid or grants that may be provided in the state they reside in, institutional aid of various types, private loans from banks, and scholarships.

AU offers several scholarships to new enrollees and one to current students. Following are the names of the awards in which new applicants can apply for:

Academic
Alumni
Community Service
Community College
Diversity
Leadership
Returning Adult

The AU Merit award is available to current students. Each award amount is between $1,000 and $5,000 and can be for 1 to 3 terms or semesters. The Merit award is given to students who have financial hardship. The Alumni award is for people who have received a degree from AU in the past and return to continue pursuing his or her degree program. Another interesting scholarship is the Community Service award which is given to students who have an exceptional record in serving their community. The Diversity award is similar to the Community Service award where the student demonstrates service to his or her culture. In addition, prospective candidates have to write a 500 word essay. All of the aforementioned scholarships require students to maintain 3.0 GPA or higher.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 1106th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Illinois.

Students

Potential students who are usually busy working during the day can take classes online and on campus day or night. Students can also take classes on the weekends. Classes usually run for 7 and a half to 15 weeks at a time. AU has over 14,000 graduates, nearly 4,000 undergrad students and more than 18,000 students nationwide. Most of these students are working adults with work schedules that may not allow them to be in a traditional classroom. Others are military personnel, their spouses, or veterans who have taken advantage of the special programs geared to assist these individuals in enhancing their education.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Additional School Information

The online campus boasts the largest number of graduate participation in the country and it is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association. Online students are assigned a finance and admissions counselor that stays with them throughout their educational tenure. The faculty are specially trained to provide personal care for each student they are responsible for teaching. These opportunities, combined with a vibrant community of fellow students, alumni and supportive staff makes for the successful education.

Accreditation

The institution as a whole is accredited by the Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA).

The Master of Arts in Community Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Argosy University-Chicago