Wichita State University

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Staff
Updated August 7, 2020

The Wichita State University (WSU) was founded in 1895. It was initially referred to as Wichita University (WU). The university sprawls across 330 acres of land. Located in southern Kansas and in the largest city in the state, the public institution has an estimated 11,691 undergraduate enrollment rate.

The public research university is also the third-largest Kansas Board of Regents-governed university. The school uses a semester academic calendar system. The institution received a Tier 2 National Universities rank during the 2017 Best Colleges ranking edition.

The university comprises of eight academic colleges covering over 200 areas of study. The university has a graduate school offering several degrees. Some of the degrees offered include studio art and aerospace engineering degrees. The school also provides certificate programs at graduate and undergraduate levels. To cater to long distance learners, WSU also runs online learning programs.

An interesting fact is that the WSU athletic teams and students got the "Shockers" nickname out of shocking, or harvesting, wheat for money. A bundle of wheat serves as the school's mascot, and the mascot is reffered to as the "WUShock." Garmin co-founder Gary Burrell and Pizza Hut founders Dan and Frank Carney are a few of the well-known WSU alumni.

Wichita State University Accreditation Details

WSU holds accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools' Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The school received its last review by the HLC during its 2016-17 academic period. The university's next scheduled review is during its 2026-27 school year.

The Wichita State University takes part in the Open Pathway accreditation model. It provides institutions greater credibility and value through quality assurance.
WSU is also SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) approved. It offers long-distance education to other SARA compliant member states. Worth noting is that not all U.S. states are SARA participating states. Applicants should find out their state's status before applying for WSU's online programs.

Wichita State University Application Requirements

High school graduates applying to join WSU must meet the following admission requirements:

  • Have a GED certificate.
  • Should not have previously attended community college, four-year college, or university.
  • The applicant should not have been out of school for longer than two years
  • The applicant has or is working on getting their first bachelor's degree. Such an applicant must be applying for a non-degree bound program.
  • The applicant has or is working on obtaining their first bachelor's degree. The applicant makes an application for a second bachelor's degree.

Applicants seeking entry into WSU's graduate schools must have a bachelor's degree. The degree must come from a regionally accredited U.S institution. Applicants from other countries can also apply as international students. International applicants must have a bachelor's degree from a recognized foreign university.

WSU also offers admissions to transfer students and adult learners. Transfer applicants can apply if they have not yet earned a bachelor degree. A transfer applicant can apply for a second bachelor's degree or to complete their studies at WSU. Adult learners can make an application to the school if they have been out of school for more than two years. Also, they can apply after having worked for a few years and seeking to get their first bachelor's degree. Alternatively, a former WSU student wishing to resume their studies can apply as an adult learner.

Tuition and Financial Aid

WSU makes it possible to get a college education by factoring in affordability. Online-based students at WSU pay in-state tuition regardless of where they live. The tuition rates for the 2016-17 academic year are as follows:

  • Online Undergraduate: $320.41 per credit hour
  • Online Graduate: $396.82 per credit hour

WSU extends scholarships to fully online students. A student qualifying for renewable Online Student Merit Scholarship can apply for tuition aid. It provides a $500 per semester tuition amount on academic merit basis. The scholarship comes with the following requirements/guidelines:

  • Be a fully-online student pursuing a degree-bound program.
  • It can only be used for direct costs relating to student fees and tuition.
  • The scholarship is usable alongside other student aid or scholarships an applicant may receive.

Online Degrees Available

WSU offers diverse online learning programs to cater to distance learners. The online programs culminate in certificates and badges, undergraduate, and graduate degrees. Some of the undergraduate degrees offered include the Associates, Business Administration, Human Resource Management, and Criminal Justice degrees. Some of their online graduate programs include Master of Public Administration, MA in Aging Studies, and MA in Criminal Justice.

The online M.A in Criminal Justice prepares students to join the field of criminology. The WSU's criminology program is amongst the oldest Criminal Justice programs in the U.S.

O.W Wilson, a renowned scholar, and police chief started the program back in 1937.
The program offers students a better understanding of the criminal justice system. It also imparts the knowledge they need to become professionals in the field. Students learn about crime with a focus on why it exists as well as its impact on the society. The students learn from a faculty comprising of criminal justice professionals. The faculty members have backgrounds working with courts, policing, corrections, frauds, and gangs.

Entry into the program runs in line with the WSU's semester schedule. It means that students can join the program during the Fall, Summer or Spring semesters. Students can either choose to undertake the online degree as part-time or full-time students. An Online Graduate Coordinator is assigned to help students develop suitable study plans to suit their schedule. Full-time students can complete the online degree in just 18 months while part-time students take a bit longer. Students must meet degree requirements within six years of commencing the first course.

Related Resource: Top 30 Affordable Online Master's in Criminology Programs

Prospective students can submit their application to WSU online. The online submission must include the required documents as outlined in the application requirements section above. Applicants need to have a 3.0 minimum GPA. The priority application deadline is on the 1st of July for the Fall semester, December 1st for the Spring semester, and April 1st for the Summer semester.

The Wichita State University is truly a place where students can nurture their entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation towards achieving success in diverse professional fields.

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