University of New England
University of New England appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable EdD Education Online Programs.
Established in 1831, the University of New England is a private university located in Biddeford, Maine with additional campuses in Tangier, Morocco and Portland, Maine. Covering 540 acres, the Biddeford campus and the university's other locations enroll more than 13,500 students each year for classes on campus and through online programs. The location where the school is located today was once a seminary and was eventually used as a junior college for male students from Quebec. Eventually, the school would turn into a university after operating as St. Francis College for some years and merging with the New England Foundation for Osteopathic Medicine in 1978. A final merger with Westbrook College in 1996 would create the university as it is known today. The school's official colors are blue and white, and the sports teams play as the "Nor'easters" in NCAA Division III games.
University of New England Accreditation Details
The University of New England is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASCC), which is an agency that accredits more than 200 institutions across the region. Online degrees at the University of New England are also accredited by the NEASCC. Various colleges and programs within the university are accredited by various organizations including the College of Osteopathic Medicine, which is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) board and the College of Dental Medicine, which is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. The College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, and the Master of Public Health, as well as the Graduate Certificate in Public Health, are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
University of New England Application Requirements
Applications to the University of New England require common materials like the official application, application fee, official high school or college transcripts, and standardized test scores. The university also offers an early assurance program that helps certain undergraduate students enter graduate programs before they've earned a bachelor's degree. The university also has partnerships with local high schools where students may earn college credits before earning a high school diploma. Students wishing to enter the Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor (A-BSN) Program are encouraged to apply early since the university caps the number of students who may enroll. Graduate degrees at the University of New England tend to require unique application requirements, so students should check with the appropriate department for application requirements. For the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, students should have a graduate degree, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, successful completion of statistical analysis classes, and access to the internet.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition at the University of New England is $36,300 for undergraduates, and the college estimates total costs including tuition, room and board, and incidental costs will come to $51,610 per year. Students can also expect to pay additional costs for transportation, books, and miscellaneous personal purchases. Some programs require additional fees like the accelerated Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree program, which costs an additional $465 per semester. All students must also have health insurance and will need to pay an additional $2,088 in health insurance if they don't already have coverage. Some students may also pay travel fees if they participate in short-term courses held in places like Dominica, Ghana, and the Galapagos Islands. Graduate students will pay tuition per credit hour and will pay an amount dictated by the program in which they enroll. For example, the Doctorate in Education costs $800 per credit hour, the Master of Science in Education costs $510 per credit hour, and the Master of Public Health program costs $635 per credit hour.
Financial aid at the University of New England is available through the federal government's Direct Loan Program, as well as through private entities and banks. The university's Office of Student Financial Services takes a student's financial need and creates a plan for financial aid each year. Students must submit their FAFSA form on time to secure a financial aid award for the semester in which they want to enroll. To be eligible for financial aid, students must be enrolled at least half-time in classes in an eligible certificate or degree program and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by the University of New England. Financial need is determined by the student's cost of attendance minus the expected family contribution and any outside assistance received by the student. Student financial aid packages may have a combination of grants, work-study funds, scholarships, and loans.
Online Degrees Available
The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) program at the University of New England is designed as a cohort program with three starts each year in the summer, fall, and spring. The program is designed to take students three years to complete and requires that students complete a dissertation. Conveniently, the entire program is available online, and there are no residency requirements to receive the degree. The student's dissertation is presented online, and there is no need to visit the campus to defend it. Overall, students must complete 51 credits to receive their degree and may participate on their own time when it is convenient. Applying to the program doesn't require the student to submit GRE scores.
The program was recently voted one of the best online programs in graduate education by "U.S. News & World Report." Some of the courses students will take in the program include Preparation for Transformative Leadership, Qualitative Research Methods, Interpreting Empirical Data, and Technology & Organizational Transformation. During the student's third year in the program, he or she will need to complete a three-credit dissertation seminar, as well as a 12-credit dissertation. The dissertation is designed as a collaborative effort where students will work with a dissertation committee, as well as work with peers to plan, organize, research, write, and revise their dissertation. Students will participate in virtual meetings with the chair of the program and their committee to ensure satisfactory progress in the program.
Upon exiting the program, students will possess a Transformative Leadership Portfolio (TLP) that they may use in their leadership activities outside the program. Students will also benefit from strengthening their professional networking capabilities while in the program, as well as enjoy the reward of making a difference in the community in which the student chooses to work after receiving a degree. Students will experience an Ed.D. program at the University of New England that will require an emphasis on research and productive practitioner scholarship that will aid the student in furthering his or her career.