George Fox University

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Staff
Updated August 6, 2020

George Fox University is a private and religious university that has an affiliation with the Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends. A group of Quakers moved to Oregon in the 19th century and established the Friends Pacific Academy in 1885. This school then became Pacific College and then transitioned to a more traditional college in the 1920s. It adopted the name George Fox College in 1949 in recognition of the founder of the Quaker faith. It didn't become a university until it merged with a small seminary school in 1996.

The accredited university now offers degrees at the top three educational levels and has its own scholar program. This program provides up to 25 students with enough funds each year to cover the cost of their own independent research projects. It also has a lifestyle agreement or contract that all new students must sign. This contract states that you will attend religious services every week and that you will participate in community and service learning projects. Though students must agree to follow religious doctrines, not all students who attend are from the Quaker faith. The university now accepts students from all denominations. U.S. News & World Report ranked GFU as one of the top western colleges, and Forbes ranked it as one of the top Christian colleges in America.

George Fox University Accreditation Details

Though GFU is a Christian college, it sought accreditation from major organizations instead of those simply affiliated with its religion. It is one of just a few private and religious colleges in the United States that has accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Also known as NCCU, this is an organization that offers regional accreditation. Like similar groups, it requires that the university provide it with details regarding its job placement rates, completion rates, instructors and finances before gaining accreditation. GFU also obtained accreditation for its programs in engineering, business, nursing, social work, music and other subjects. Some of the accreditation that GFU has comes from:

  • Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology, Inc.
  • Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation
  • American Physical Therapy Association

George Fox University Application Requirements

George Fox University offers separate applications for undergrad and graduate students. Prospective graduate students must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college prior to starting classes. They must also have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Though the university may admit students who do not meet these requirements, those students may need to take additional classes or meet with an academic counselor before beginning classes full-time.

To qualify for one of the university's graduate programs in management or leadership, you must also have some professional experience. The university requires that you submit a resume that shows all the recent work experience that you have. GFU is unique because it does not require that students take the GMAT. Many business schools use this test as a way to predict how well students will do in their future classes, but GFU places more importance on how well you did in your past classes and the level of professional experience that you have.

When you apply for a spot in one of these programs, you must use the online application. The university charges a fee of $40 that you pay when you submit it. It also asks for an official transcript from your college and three letters of recommendation. At least one of those letters must come from your most recent employer or direct supervisors, but the other two can come from your teachers or former employers. GFU asks that you submit reference letters online.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The cost of enrolling in one of the GFU leadership or management programs depends on whether you enroll part-time or full-time. The part-time program charges students $808 per credit hour. Full-time students pay a lesser rate of $764 per credit hour. You must also pay a $150 fee for each of the two business seminar classes that you take later and additional fees for using campus resources. George Fox University requires that students pay their tuition in full on or before the first day of classes, but you can also apply for financial aid to cover those costs.

After filing the FAFSA and receiving your acceptance letter, the university will send out your award letter within two weeks. You will then need to go online and accept the aid given to you. If the loans and grants you receive do not cover all your costs, you can apply for PLUS loans to cover the balance. George Fox University will also accept private or alternative student loans. These loans are open to both full-time and part-time students with a good credit score who need more help paying for college.

MBA Programs

If you have an interest in management or leadership, you should enroll in one of the MBA programs available through GFU. It offers both a part-time program and a full-time MBA program. The part-time MBA program is available on its Portland campus and includes 42 credits of classes. GFU designed this program for students to earn a degree in just two years. You can opt for the work night program or the weekend program. Both include cohorts that allow you to learn from your instructors and peers through longer classes.

The weekend program meets every other Saturday on campus and features classes that run from 8:30 in the morning to four in the afternoon. The weeknight program features classes that meet from six to 9:30 pm. It also includes a small number of Saturday classes. GFU now offers a flex MBA program that includes evening and online classes too.

Related Resource: Online Doctoral Degree in Management or Leadership: Top 25 Most Affordable

Its full-time program starts in August and ends in June. You take classes every day of the week and then go on field trips on Fridays to learn from top employers and corporations. All of its MBA programs have a concentration available in management and leadership. This lets you choose classes from different fields. George Fox University offers leadership and management classes from MBA students that include foundations of human resource management, global strategy, human resource development, organizational strategies and human resource practice.

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