University of Idaho
University of Idaho appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable Doctorate in Adult Education & Learning Online.
The University of Idaho is a public university in Moscow, Idaho in the United States. Located in a small town, it is considered a rural college environment. It is the flagship school for the State of Idaho's university system and was the only university in the state for 71 years. The school was established in 1889 and now has several satellite campuses, including in Idaho Falls, Boise, Twin Falls and Coeur d'Alene. It is a medium-sized university with 9,885 total undergrads and 2,187 graduate students at the main Moscow campus. It has a solid reputation as a research institution.
University of Idaho Accreditation Details
As a well-established public university, the University of Idaho is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, which means its programs meet or exceed the NWCCU institutional requirements. That quality is determined on a peer review basis. The university is accredited as a whole, not individual programs. The institution cautions against claiming a degree or program is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. This means its online degrees do not have specific, differing accreditations. The University of Idaho's law school as been accredited by the American Bar Association since 1925. Students who desire confirmation or have questions about a university's accreditation should always contact the accrediting agency.
University of Idaho Application Requirements
Application requirements for this school include a submitted application for admission along with a $60 application fee. There is no application fee for Idaho residents. ACT or SAT test scores must be submitted, along with an official high school transcript and transcripts from any other colleges or universities a student may have attended. The typical ACT score range for students admitted to this university is between 20 and 26. SAT scores range between 440 and 580. This university is considered somewhat selective, with around 76% of applicants being admitted.
For the PhD programs, a 3.0 or higher GPA from an undergraduate program and a 3.50 cumulative GPA from a graduate program are required. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores must be provided. Although there is no minimum score for acceptance, the school says preference will be given to applicants who ranked in the 51st percentile in both the Verbal + Quantitative sections of the test. Applicants will also need three letters of recommendation regarding their professional work and academic achievements as well as a previous academic, scientific or professional writing sample. There is no difference in application requirements between online programs and in-person programs.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Students typically receive an average $13,930 financial aid package at this school. Students do not have to apply separately for financial aid or scholarships at the University of Idaho. Students are automatically considered when they apply for admission. Outside scholarships, grants and federal student aid are accepted.
Because the University of Idaho is a public school, it does charge in-state and out-of-state tuition. This means it is cheaper for residents of Idaho to attend the school. Idaho is part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) which allows students from other western states to receive discounted tuition. The University of Idaho is in this network, and offers the WUE rate to transfers. Do note that some popular schools opt out of this exchange.
Tuition for the online PhD program is $7,232 as of 2018 for in-state students. It is estimated around $23,812 for out-of-state students. Idaho is one of the more difficult states to prove residency in order to get in-state tuition. Full-time students are considered by the state to be there primarily for education, so students wishing to domicile themselves in Idaho to get in-state tuition will need to move around a year in advance to establish themselves in the state or take less than eight hours per semester or quarter.
The students paying down their student debt at this school are slightly above the national average, indicating that upon graduation students make enough money to effectively pay back student loans. The typical student loan debt upon graduation from this university is $24,279.
Online Degree(s) Available
The University of Idaho offers a number of online degrees, including an online PhD in Adult Education and Learning. The university's official designation for this degree program is Adult Organizational Learning & Leadership PhD. This degree is considered a specialization and its goal is to prepare students for leading adult professional development and training programs. The school offers a similar master's degree for students who still need their master's degree before moving on to a PhD program.
This doctorate is done mostly online, making it a convenient option for students who wish to do distance learning. However, there is an in-person immersion requirement. What counts as an immersion experience includes an internship, dedicated study or practicum. Students pursuing the PhD online can either fulfill this requirement where they live with the university's permission, or spend some time on campus to complete it. Spending time during the summer on campus to complete the practicum is a popular option. The immersion requirement makes this degree an attractive option for students because it gives them hands-on experience. This experience not only prepares them for working in the adult education field but also makes them more attractive candidates when searching for a job. This requirement showcases the school's dedication to ensuring their graduates have practical experience and are ready for the workforce.
Students are given a certain amount of flexibility in customizing the degree to their interests and needs. Students have the responsibility of creating and submitting a study plan. Some courses students may take as part of this program include Instructional Design and Curriculum, Program Planning, Development, & Evaluation, Adult Learners: Foundations & Characteristics, Strategies for Facilitating Adult Learning and more. A dissertation is required for completing the program. As with most other PhD programs, students must successfully defend their dissertation to be awarded the degree. The degree requires a total of 84 credit hours to complete.
This program has been ranked as one of the most affordable online Doctorate in Adult Education and the adult education specialization is one of the school's most popular graduate degrees. The University of Idaho is a well-respected and established institution, making it a good choice for students looking to pursue a PhD in Adult Learning online.