York College of Pennsylvania (YCP) Academics and Unique Programs

Academics

York College is a private institution located on a 190-acre campus in historic York County, Pennsylvania. The college offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. The student body is comprised of approximately 4,600 undergraduate students and 300 graduate students. There are over 160 full-time faculty members, and classes are typically served with an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

With over 50 undergraduate degree programs as well as associate degrees and minor programs, York College has a well-rounded academic offering. The most popular majors at York include Nursing, Biology, Education, Business Administration, Psychology, Sport Management, Criminal Justice, and Engineering. In addition to this robust undergraduate offering, York also offers graduate degree programs in Business Administration, Nursing and Education. York College was recently ranked #13 among the “Best Regional Colleges in the North” by U.S. News Best Colleges. York College is fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Information Summary

Ranks 84th in Pennsylvania and 909th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	81.5
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$34,550
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	26 / 1230
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	21 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	77% / 75%
Enrollment Total (all students)	4,317

Unique Programs

The York College Galleries were established in 1994 and host a series of traveling exhibits as well as student and faculty exhibits. Each year, York College presents a series of cultural events which are open to the college and local community. Past events have included concerts, art exhibits, theatrical performances, and films showcasing local talent as well as York College students.

Something that really sets York College apart from other schools is the Center for Professional Excellence. The Center conducts a national poll each year which defines the characteristics of professionalism. The results of this poll are then used to develop seminar topics to prepare York students to be marketable graduates. Each student works with the center to create their own personal strategic plan to help them get the most out of their York education and to give them a professional edge.

This focus on professionalism permeates through the entire student experience at York. One focus of the Center for Professional Excellence is ensuring that students have the opportunity to participate in internships and service programs. Gaining this real world experience while still in school is instrumental in helping York graduates achieve success in their careers. The Excellence in Creating Extraordinary Leaders or ExCEL program is designed to give students the opportunity to enhance leadership skills by participating in a number of workshops and activities.

The ExCEL Leadership Series offers classes in topics such as time management, conflict resolution and goal setting. The ExCEL program is open to any and all students who have the desire to develop leadership skills and abilities. York College has recently opened a business incubator as part of the J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship. The idea behind the business incubator is to bring companies onto campus so students and faculty can work together directly with the company. This is a win-win situation where students have the opportunity to gain real-world experience and businesses are able to tap into the intellectual capital provided by York College faculty members and students.

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Admissions

York College looks for students who are well rounded and have shown potential for academic success. The undergraduate application process is completed online and involves submitting an application, standardized test scores, academic records, and letters of recommendation. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the campus and tours can be scheduled online. Once accepted, a student will need to provide a health history and physical examination report prior to beginning classes.

Home-schooled students are eligible to apply for admission to York College and follow the same admission procedures. Home-schooled students will be required to submit a high school diploma or GED. A diploma waiver may be granted if the home-schooled student has completed 15-18 non-remedial college credits prior to applying.

To apply to a graduate admissions program at York College, students should contact the program to which they want to apply to see the specific requirements for that program.

Financial Aid

York College is consistently recognized by national publications as offering a quality education at an affordable price. The College was recently ranked among 198 national best buys by Barron’s. Recent costs to attend York College as an undergraduate for one year, including tuition, fees, room and board, books, etc. was $27,800.

To assist students in meeting the financial obligations required to pursue their education, York College offers a number of options for financial aid. The financial aid office can help students identify options including scholarships, grants and loans. Approximately 90% of York College students receive financial aid with freshmen students averaging an award of $11,312.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 1469th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Pennsylvania.

Students

The Office of Student Activities and Orientation supports a number of student organizations, clubs and events to allow students to grow through a variety of opportunities and experiences. York College has over 90 student-run clubs and organizations and 13 Greek life organizations. With 50% of students living on campus, these organizations give students the ability to come together and participate in a wide range of special interest activities.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

York College is a Division III school in the Capital Athletic Conference with 20 sports teams including men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, track and field and swimming. In addition to intercollegiate sports, York offers intramural and club sports as well as group fitness and wellness classes. The Grumbacher Sports and Fitness center is a 170,000 square-foot facility that includes a 12 lane swimming pool, 32 –foot climbing wall, indoor jogging track, racquetball court, wrestling room and gymnasium which seats 1,700 spectators.

Additional School Information

York College has a tradition of hosting events which bring the students together in the spirit of competition and celebration. Two events which are extremely popular with students are Midnight Madness and Spartapalooza. At Midnight Madness, York College students kick off the basketball season with music and entertainment while the team participates in NBA style skills competitions. Spartapalooza also includes music and games including a cardboard boat regatta. Students and faculty alike enjoy participating in these events together.

Bibliography

Financial Aid, www.ycp.edu/admissions/cost-and-financial-aid/, web, 22 July 2011

Additional Information, www.ycp.edu/about-york/our-traditions/, web, 22 July 2011

Unique Programs, www.ycp.edu/offices-and-services/student-activities-and-orientation/leadership-program/, web, 22 July, 2011

Solorzano, Lucia. Best Buys in College Education (Barron’s Best Buys in College Education). 11 ed.: Barron’s Educational Series, 2010. Print.

York College of Pennsylvania