Wheeling Jesuit University (WJU) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

The only Catholic institution of higher education in West Virginia; Wheeling Jesuit University, also referred to as WJU, is a private, co-educational Roman Catholic University located in Wheeling, West Virginia. It was originally founded as Wheeling College in 1954 by the Society of Jesus, and it gained University status in the 1990s. Wheeling Jesuit University has a special educational focus to seek God in everything – in chapel, classroom, liturgy and laboratory. Today, WJU is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

Information Summary

Ranks 11th in West Virginia and 1307th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	76.1
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$42,290
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	24 / 1130
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	18 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	68% / N/A
Enrollment Total (all students)	1,171

Academics

Wheeling Jesuit University is accredited by national and discipline-based associations such as Northern Central Association of Colleges & Schools; The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs; Commission on Collegiate Nursing Ed; The American Medical Assoc. Committee on Allied Health Ed. & Accreditation; and The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Ed.

Wheeling Jesuit offers a strong core curriculum that all students must complete. The University encourages its students to actively take part in research in their preferred areas. WJU offers Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees, as well as special academic and/ or pre-professional programs, in diverse areas of concentration such as accountancy, biology, information sciences, political science, theology/religious studies, and international studies.

The Center for Professional and Graduate Studies offers five graduate programs: Master of Business Administration; Master of Accountancy; Master of Science in Nursing; Master of Science in Organizational Leadership; and a Doctor of Physical Therapy. It also features the MSOL and BOLD (Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Development) and the University’s Charleston Center.

WJU Online:

Wheeling Jesuit University online programs provide students the choice and freedom to earn a degree while maintaining a full-time job as well as family responsibilities. These online programs and courses can be complete anytime and from anywhere in the world. Students can earn online Nursing programs and Master’s in Education Leadership.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Wheeling Jesuit University enrolls more than 1,200 students each year. Students must send the completed application form along with all the official transcripts to the University. Students seeking admission must also send their GPA score, and ACT or SAT score. International students whose native language is not English must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Transfer students are encouraged to apply for admission. They must send the official transcripts from all previous institutes to WJU.

Financial Aid

Wheeling Jesuit University offers a variety of financial aid to the needy and deserving students. All students seeking financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Some of the different types of scholarships offered to students at WJU include Stephen J. Laut, S.J. Memorial Scholarships; Aluise Family Scholarship; Chicarella Psychology Scholarship; Hess (Margaret Blackford) Scholarship; Werner-Ritz Pre-Med Scholarship; and Dr. William J. Steger Education Fund.

The Federal and State Grants offered at the University include Teach Grant, Federal Pell Grant, West Virginia Grant, West Virginia Promise Scholarship, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG). The institute also offers financial aid through different types of student loans and work-study programs.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 2502nd for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in West Virginia.

Students

The Student Government Association at WJU is the elected voice of the student body. The SGA consists of two branches: the Executive Board and the Student Senate. They work together to enrich the University experience of the students and encourage them to get involved in the campus activities. There are several on campus clubs and organizations in diverse categories ranging from sports to career-interests. Some of the student organizations include Appalachian Experience Club, Psychology Club/Psi Chi, Student Leaders Across Campus, WJU Chamber Singers, and Students for Life.

Media and Publications:

The Cardinal Connection is the student-operated newspaper of Jesuit University.

The Cardinal Perspectives is a publication devoted to articles by the University faculty.

The Jewelweed is the literary magazine of WJU.

Campus Facilities:

WJU’s Bishop Hodges Library houses digital resources which include a web-based catalog, over 50 databases accessing full-text articles, abstracts and indexes, and more than 65,000 e-books. The print collections at the library include 130,000 volumes and 362 journal subscriptions, supplemented by over 60 microform units.

Wheeling Jesuit University provides on campus housing facilities to the students. There are nearly six well-equipped residence halls with modern amenities for the convenience of the students. The residence halls include Campion Hall, Ignatius Hall, Kirby Hall, McHugh Hall, Sara Tracy Hall, and Thomas More Hall. Some of the common facilities offered at the residence halls include laundry, lounges, cable/phone service, computer lines, vending machines, and kitchen facilities.

Points of Interest:

Students can take a break and get off campus for a while to explore the nearby points of interest in the community. The Wheeling Chamber of Commerce features events and activities that take place downtown and festivals on the Riverfront. The Wheeling Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is also a great source for activities taking place in the Wheeling area. Some of the other attractions worth exploring include the Oglebay Park, Ohio Valley Mall, and the Highlands.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

Wheeling Jesuit University’s athletic department sponsors men’s and women’s teams that compete in sports like soccer, golf, cross-country, swimming, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, softball, and baseball. The athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division II, as part of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). The teams are nicknamed as the Cardinals. The colors are Red, Gold and Black.

WJU also offer an array of intramural sports such as dodge-ball in the fall, basketball in the winter, and volleyball in the spring. Wheeling Jesuit University houses a number of sports facilities that are considered some of the best in the country. The facilities include Performance Gym, Racquetball Court, Practice Gym, Swimming Pool, Weight Room, Fitness Center, Outdoor Athletic Complex, and Tennis Courts.

Traditions

Last Blast, held at the end of every school year is one of the most popular traditions followed at WJU. The highlights of the event include a formal dance, a concert, a carnival, and a raft race down the Wheeling Creek.

Jesuit Idol is the annual talent competition, modeled after the American Idol. It is held every spring semester. The contestants perform before a live audience and a jury team decides the winner who is awarded a cash prize.

Alumni

Joel John Bailey, Eminent Professional Soccer Player
Remy Munasifi, Noted Stand-Up Comedian
Tara Wilson, Winner of the 2000 Miss West Virginia USA Title
Jay DeFruscio, Assistant NBA Coach
Jason H. Wilson, Ohio State Senator

Additional School Information

U.S. News & World Report ranks WJU 18th in the “Best Master’s Universities in the South,” the highest ranked institute in West Virginia for 11 consecutive years.

Recently, the Money magazine listed Wheeling as an “extraordinarily livable city;” and the Sperling’s BestPlaces listed the area in the top three safest cities of its size in the country.

Bibliography

Wheeling Jesuit University. 2010.

Llc, Books. Wheeling Jesuit University: Frank Haig, Alma Grace Mcdonough Health and Recreation Center. General Books LLC, 2010. Print.

Wheeling Jesuit University