Marquette University (MU) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Founded in 1881, Marquette University is located on an 80-acre campus in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs as well as a school of dentistry and a law school. The university is a private, Jesuit, Roman Catholic school and was the first Jesuit school to admit women. Accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Institutes of Higher Education and recognized as one of the Best 361 Colleges in the US by the Princeton Review, Marquette offers over 100 undergraduate programs alone. Life on campus is diverse and offers a plethora of things to do. As Wisconsin’s largest private university, the school has an abundance of student organizations and an impressive athletics program. The liberal arts core curriculum is based on social sciences, natural sciences and humanities. Marquette offers a wide variety of financial aid options in order to make education more affordable. In addition to scholarships, they also offer grants, loans and student employment to help cover the cost of advanced education.

Activities and social opportunities are also available to Marquette students in downtown Milwaukee. The city offers an endless variety of nightclubs, restaurants, museums and retail stores. Being situated right in downtown Milwaukee places the city at the fingertips of the students and thus enhances the student experience at Marquette. There is a city bus system that makes it easy to commute to any location in the city, so a vehicle is not necessary. Marquette University’s Late Night Marquette Program, in conjunction with the Office of Student Development, specializes in organizing and promoting activities that occur after 9pm.

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Information Summary

Ranks 3rd in Wisconsin and 230th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	92.0
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$58,057
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	30 / 1320
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	15 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	87% / 100%
Enrollment Total (all students)	11,605

Academics

Students at Marquette University benefit from a diverse array of educational opportunities. There are a dozen schools and colleges including the Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, the J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication and colleges of business administration, education, engineering, health sciences, nursing and professional studies. There is also a law school and a school of dentistry. Students at Marquette can earn vocational certificates, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctorates. The core curriculum is one of liberal arts; the college strives to encourage students to grow intellectually, spiritually and socially in order to become the best people that they can be both professionally and personally.

In addition to the standard school year, Marquette also offers a huge selection of summer courses. Offering evening, online and even select weekend classes, the summer term is an efficient way to quickly pick up extra credits in just six weeks. The classes fill quickly, so early registration is highly recommended.

Marquette constantly strives to improve the educational experience of students and maintain their consistently high standards. In order to do this, they utilize three levels of assessment. They measure student success at the course level, the major level and at the institutional level by examining grades and collecting feedback via student and professor surveys. This information is gathered, analyzed and compiled into an annual report by the Office of the Provost with the assistance of the Office of Institutional Research and the University Assessment Committee and is submitted to the President and Board of Trustees. Every academic program has specific, defined learning outcomes and an assessment to measure the success of the program. Because of this, the university is able to track success and target areas that need improvement in order to maintain Marquette’s high standards of education.

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Admissions

Admission to Marquette is a fairly straightforward process. Applications are due by December 1st of the year prior to admission and notifications begin January 31st. Applications may be submitted after the due date but will be considered only on a space-available basis. Though admission standards are high, admission to Marquette is not quite as difficult to achieve as admission to some other high-ranking schools. The standard admission rate is generally about sixty-five percent and the cost to apply is nominal. Students may apply online or request a paper application via the school’s website. Other documents required for admission include high school and college transcripts and an essay about the student. This essay is an opportunity for Marquette to get to know the applicant, so they encourage the potential student to write personally and creatively. They want to know who the person behind the essay is. Some other things that the university looks at during the admissions process is class rank, quality of classes taken, ACT or SAT scores and extracurricular activities.

Graduate School Admissions Requirements

Application to one of Marquette’s graduate programs requires a few additional documents. In addition to the application and fee, which must be submitted prior to anything else, the university also requires GRE scores, three letters of recommendation and a short statement of academic and personal goals. For international students seeking acceptance into the a graduate program, Marquette also requires submission of a TOEFL score or other acceptable proof of English proficiency.

Application to Marquette’s Graduate School of Management, School of Dentistry, Law School and College of Professional Studies each have specific and different requirements so refer to the admissions requirements of these schools in order to submit everything that is required.

Financial Aid

Ninety percent of incoming Marquette freshman receive financial aid of some sort. The university offers a wide variety of options to students including scholarships, loans, grants and student employment. Merit-based scholarships are readily available to students who exhibit excellence in and out of the classroom and who demonstrate great leadership abilities and a commitment to community service. Need-based scholarships and grants are also a part of the Marquette financial aid package.

The first step to gaining financial aid is to complete the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). Start this process early! Submit the FAFSA by January 1st so that there is plenty of time to apply for all of the scholarships and grants available. This form will require personal and family financial information, so the applicant needs to be sure to have access to documents that prove income. It’s now possible to complete the FAFSA online, so it is best to get started as soon as possible because many grants and scholarships are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis and have only a specific amount that is awarded every semester or year. Marquette can’t offer any aid except for merit-based scholarships without a completed FAFSA, so it is well worth the time it takes to complete the form.

Finally, potential students should never make the mistake of assuming ineligibility for financial aid. The FAFSA determines Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and that number never changes. Therefore, as the cost of college tuition goes up, so do the chances of a financial aid award. Also, practically everybody is eligible for low-interest loans and student employment to help defray the immediate cost of a college education.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 1509th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Wisconsin.

Students

The student body at Marquette is extremely diverse. People from all walks of life and from all over the world attend the university. All age groups and races are represented and with nearly three hundred student organizations and clubs, there is something to grab the attention of everybody.

Housing

Marquette offers a wide array of housing choices including residence halls, university apartments, community multicultural living and specialty housing. Nearly all incoming freshman take advantage of the fact that the university guarantees on-campus housing to first-year students. If dormitory life isn’t appealing, apartments may be rented either by the semester, the school year, or annually. Students with special needs or disabilities are also accommodated, thus providing a housing opportunity for any student.

Resources

Marquette offers numerous resources to meet the needs of students. There are two libraries available on campus including the Raynor Memorial Library and the Law Library. Combined, the libraries offer students more than 1.5 million books, hundreds of research databases, more than two hundred computer stations, lap tops on loan and an experienced staff who regularly assist researchers from around the world. Marquette also offers a Career Services Center to further assist the student in the areas of career and post-graduate work.

The Student Health Services offers students the opportunity to stay healthy so that they may be successful. On top of treatment of illnesses, the Student Health Service also offers enrolled students annual OB/GYN care, health education, nutritional guidance, TB screening and immunization and allergy injections as well as many other services. Diagnosis, treatment and prescription services are handled with the utmost confidentiality between the student and the medical provider. Access to medical services is quick and easy, so that the student may stop in between classes for an appointment.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The Golden Eagles offer a wide variety of sports for students to participate in as either athletes or fans. Programs available are basketball, lacrosse, soccer, cross country, tennis, track and field, men’s golf and women’s volleyball. Marquette does not offer a football program. Ranked as an NCAA Division I school, fan involvement is high and the teams are competitive and have earned numerous championship titles over the years. Men’s basketball in particular at Marquette has produced numerous top athletes who have gone on to professional athletic careers. Included in this list are Don Kojis, Dwayne Wade and Doc Rivers. The school colors are blue and gold and the mascot is the golden eagle.

Additional School Information

Unique Programs

Marquette offers several unique programs and opportunities for students. Late Night Marquette is hosted by the Office of Student Development and organizes and promotes activities that take place after 9pm. The L.I.M.O. Shuttle Service is a free transportation service offered by the university to students, faculty and staff. Student drivers operate nine vans from 5pm to 3am every day and offer transportation to and from any point in the service area. In order to take advantage of L.I.M.O. services, those in need simply call for a ride or wait at a designated stop and flag the driver down. In the same spirit of student safety, the Public Safety Department’s Safety Patrol Service paroles designated areas every night from 5pm to midnight and also provides an escort to students, faculty or staff when asked.

Greek Life

Greek life has been a rich part of the fabric of Marquette for over a century. Traditions abound and Greek life encourages members to aspire for excellence while maintaining the diversity and individuality of the student. All-Greek GPA’s tend to be higher than the overall university GPA, thus enforcing the idea that Greek life is beneficial to the student as an individual. Fraternities and Sororities offer students the opportunity to become better leaders and members of society via fostering involvement in campus and community activities. With over twenty Greek organizations to choose from, there’s a good chance that a student will find a fraternity or sorority that appeals to them.

Bibliography

Marquette University. Marquette University 2011. Web. 11 April 2011.

Marquette University Office of Student Development. “Passport: A Marquette Student Guide to Milwaukee.” Late Night Marquette Fifth Edition http://latenight.marquette.edu/passport.pdf. Web. 11 April 2011.

The Princeton Review. Princeton Review Publishing, L.L.C. 2011. Web. 11 April 2011.

Marquette University