Slippery Rock University

Slippery Rock University appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable EdD in Special Education Online Programs.

Slippery Rock University originated on March 26, 1889, when James E. Morrow opened the Slippery Rock State Normal School for an inaugural class of 168. Renamed Slippery Rock State Teachers College, it was approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for four-year schooling in 1926. Thirty-four years later, liberal arts degrees were added and it became Slippery Rock State College. Enrollment spiked 314 percent during the 1970s before Slippery Rock joined the 14-site PASSHE System under Act 188 on July 1, 1983. Fast forward to 2018 and SRU is producing the Commonwealth's fourth most teachers. In fact, Slippery Rock University earned the 2018 Achieva Award of Excellence for Professional Service. Budgeting $125.8 million, SRU now inspires 8,500 Rockies, including Doctor of Education cohorts, at the 660-acre Greater Pittsburgh campus and online. Linked to 36,253 LinkedIn alumni, Slippery Rock has trained Lawrence Reed, Robert J. Stevens, Vivian Stringer, Donnie Iris, and others.

The U.S. News & World Report ranked Slippery Rock the North's 25th top public college and 54th best value with one of the 291 best online graduate education programs nationally. On Niche, SRU boasts the 273rd best public education, 339th best campus, and 461st most engaged students. Times Higher Education featured Slippery Rock University in its top 800 overall. College Factual noticed SRU for the 147th best teacher preparation and 126th highest-paid special education grads. PayScale recorded a mid-career median salary of $80,900 at Slippery Rock. Money magazine placed SRU 397th with a 68 percent graduation rate. The "College of Distinction" landed 150th for community service and 206th for doctoral completion in Washington Monthly. Grad School Hub named Slippery Rock University ninth for its Online Ed.D. in Special Education. The Economist also distinguished SRU for the country's 215th most value-added learning.

Slippery Rock University Accreditation Details

On November 17, 2016, Slippery Rock University had its Periodic Review Report approved by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) to uphold 14 "Characteristics of Excellence" and keep Level VI accreditation through 2021 under its 17th president, Dr. William Behre, who earned the AERA Palmer O. Johnson Memorial Award. Based 351 miles east via Interstate 76 in Philadelphia, this six-state Northeast accreditor is authorized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to assure the high quality of SRU's 151 baccalaureate, 36 master's, and three doctoral majors. The College of Education was specifically reaffirmed by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) through December 2022. In January 2015, the Special Education Ed.D. Online was aligned to Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) standards too.

Slippery Rock University Application Requirements

Getting into Slippery Rock University is labeled "moderately difficult" by Peterson's since just 4,172 of the 5,836 Fall 2017 applicants were successful for 71 percent acceptance. Post-grad Rockies rolling into the Doctor of Education in Special Education must have finished 120+ credits at accredited colleges for bachelor's degrees. Related undergrad fields like Special Education, Elementary Education, Early Childhood, and Psychology are mandated. Major courses must be graded "C" or higher for minimum 3.0 GPAs. If attempted, 12 master's credits with cumulative GPAs above 3.5 can transfer. Passing Praxis scores are expected for valid K-12 Pennsylvania certification or equivalent. On average, doctoral programs accept a GRE composite score of 304. Scoring in the top 50 percentile on the 120-question MAT exam is also qualifying. International admission requires English verification with these minimums: 61 on the TOEFL iBT, 50 on the Duolingo, B2 on the CEFR, or 50 on the PTE.

Slippery Rock University starts Special Education Ed.D. Online cohorts biennially, so the next application period starts Spring 2019. By posted deadlines, interested students submit the Graduate Student Admission form with the $35 non-refundable fee. Have official bachelor's and master's transcripts mailed to 1 Morrow Way in Slippery Rock, PA 16057. Filing the Clear Act 34 Criminal History Record and Act 114 FBI Record Check is necessary before practicum. Test scores are sent electronically via code 2658 (GRE) or 1660 (MAT). Supplemental items include the teaching license, two signed recommendations, 500-word professional statement, and résumé or curriculum vitae. Please contact (724) 738-2051 or [email protected] for further help.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, Slippery Rock University is billing traditional Pennsylvania post-grads $516 per credit or $4,644 each semester full-time. Non-resident graduates pay $774 per credit or $6,966 by term. Full-time budgets include the $172 health service fee, $210 student center fee, $243 activity fee, $1,044 academic enhancement fee, and $360 technology fee. Living at the Butler County campus' housing like R.O.C.K. Apartments adds $10,550 for room and board. Annual traditional attendance ranges from $16,609 to $28,365. However, the Online Learning Division charges Special Education Ed.D. Online cohorts differently. Pennsylvanians afford $621 and out-of-state graduates pay $693 per credit inclusively. Expect online doctorate totals of $37,260 to $41,580.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid at Maltby Hall gives $27.94 million combined for 60 percent of full-time SRU Rockies to earn a $6,050 average offer. Graduate funds include the William & Nancy Allenbaugh Fellowship, Charles Bennett Fellowship, Candace Berner Adventurous Spirit Award, Ann Bicknell Memorial Fellowship, Class of '57 Fellowship, Dr. Lou Bohl-Fabian Award, Fitz Dixon Memorial Scholarship, Marjorie Christy Maguire Fellowship, Dr. Lawrence Upton Scholarship, and Watson Graduate Scholarship. The $800 Maggie Meise Graduate Scholars Program has a December 8th deadline for students with GPAs above 3.5. At least 8-12 weeks before enrollment, former military submit the VA Enrollment form for GI Bill benefits. The FAFSA application coded 003327 determines Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Graduate Plus loan coverage. Special education majors are eligible for the $4,000 Federal Teach Grant. Borrowed amounts could be cancelled with the AES Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. Graduate assistantships also waive tuition and award $4,000 nine-month stipends.

Online Degree(s) Available

Slippery Rock University joined the NC-SARA in January 2017 for the Online Learning Division to confer five bachelor's and 17 graduate degrees digitally in 50 states using Desire2Learn. Three certificates for Applied Research Statistics & Measurement, Teaching Online, and Special Education: Autism are also available. Online accelerated, eight-week classes retain a 21:1 student-professor ratio for valuable faculty guidance. Other benefits include the SRUID System, Rockpay portal, Bailey Library access, MySRU support, TechSafe training, Phi Kappa Phi chapter, Troops to Teachers program, and CEC recognition. Here's one superb Slippery Rock online doctorate.

Doctor of Education in Special Education

Since 2015, SRU's Doctor of Education in Special Education has immersed three-year cohorts in advanced administrative prep for mentoring and supervising PreK-12 teachers of children with learning exceptionalities. The 60-credit plan coordinated by Dr. Ashlea Rineer-Hershey boosts content adaptation expertise with live online courses and face-to-face weekend sessions at Dixon Center in Harrisburg each July. Study topics like Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Positive Behavioral Supports, Instructional Leadership, and Transition Planning end with a dissertation.

Find similar online offerings, such as the Math/Science Elementary Education M.Ed., K-12 Reading Specialist M.Ed., Environmental Education M.Ed., Teaching Secondary English M.Ed., and Special Education Supervision M.Ed., at the Slippery Rock University website.