Captivating, Christian Liberal Arts Education at JBU
John Brown University appears in our ranking of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the South.
Ranked the South’s 19th most innovative by the U.S. News & World Report, John Brown University is a nonprofit, interdenominational CCCU member awarding 53 undergrad and 16 master’s degrees, including 14 fully online, at a 13:1 student-faculty ratio with 82 percent retention. For example, the 124-credit Digital Cinema BS lets undergrads practice in Peer-Andrus Studio, intern at Crystal Bridges Museum, join Film Society, and take the European Art Tour. Chaired by Dr. Greg Robinson, the Outdoor Leadership Ministries BS builds a 124-credit, hands-on Ozarks curriculum with two Biblical internships like Logan Valley Retreat, Lake Geneva Camp, UrbanPromise, and Lone Tree Ranch.
On Blackboard, the Soderquist College of Business led by Dr. Joe Walenciak awards a 51-credit, 18-month Business Administration BSBA for adult transfers taking fast, six-week online courses like Spreadsheet Analytics plus engaging in Professionals-in-Progress events. The Marriage and Family Therapy MS plots a 64-credit, 2.5-year sequence in Rogers or Fort Smith with a Play Therapy Emphasis and 700 total practicum hours for over 90 percent LMFT exam success. Other John Brown programs include the Biochemistry BS, Chaplaincy BA, Construction Management BS, Nursing BS, Public Relations BA, Cybersecurity MS, Design Thinking & Innovation MBA, and Special Education MED.
About John Brown University
John Brown University originated in August 1919 when preacher John Elward Brown and his wife Juanita opened the Southwestern Collegiate Institute for an inaugural class of 70. By 1923, their 300-acre Arkansas farm was converted into John E. Brown College for Christian vocational training. In 1934, it became John Brown University for four-year degrees nurturing “Head, Heart, and Hand.” Five years later, JBU started charging tuition. Classified as evangelical since 1948, John Brown University was famously visited by televangelist Billy Graham in 1958. On June 28, 1961, JBU received initial accreditation candidacy. In 1980, the founder’s grandson John E. Brown III launched the Honors Program. In 1995, President Lee Balzer started the first graduate degree for a School Counseling MED. The Milestone Leadership Program then began in 1998.
Endowed for $113.3 million, John Brown University now employs 198 faculty inspiring 2,474 Golden Eagles from 53 countries online and at four locations with 35+ clubs like Enactus. In 2011, JBU won the First Place Award at the Arkansas Governor’s Cup Business Plan Competition. In 2012, John Brown received the CASE Educational Fundraising Award for Overall Performance and Sustained Excellence. Forbes named JBU 397th overall with the 261st top private education. On Niche, John Brown boasts America’s 91st best business degrees, 112th best dorms, 165th most conservative students, and 200th top teaching. Money Magazine declared JBU the 267th best value with a 20-year PayScale ROI of $201,000. The “College of Distinction” also landed 94th among baccalaureate institutions in Washington Monthly.
John Brown University Accreditation Details
On August 20, 2012, John Brown University received formal notification from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) Institutional Actions Council that the Level III accreditation was renewed through 2021-22 under its seventh president, Dr. Charles “Chip” Pollard, who earned the SIFE Most Supportive President of the Year Award. Located 647 miles north via Interstate 55 in Chicago, Illinois, this humongous 19-state Heartland Region accreditor is accepted by the U.S. Education Department and Arkansas Department of Higher Education. The 2018-19 Catalog also listed the following current accreditations:
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- American Council for Construction Education
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
John Brown University Application Requirements
Joining John Brown University is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because only 908 of the 1,198 Fall 2017 applicants were welcomed for selective 76 percent acceptance. First-year Golden Eagles must culminate a high school, homeschooling, or GED diploma. Minimum 2.5 GPAs on the four-point scale are mandated. Freshmen must exceed the 1020 SAT, 20 ACT, or 66 CLT testing mark. Foreign learners with Form I-134 need an 80 TOEFL or 6.5 IELTS score. Sophomores and upperclassmen with GPAs above 3.5 enter the Honors Program. Transferring for a God-centered major requires 24+ credits and 2.5 GPAs. The Graduate School raises requirements to the bachelor’s level with regionally accredited courses graded “C” or better. The Teaching MAT mandates 3.0 GPAs and 18 credits of content area prerequisites. Online MED degrees consider current K-12 certification compulsory with Praxis scores over 160. Other programs require a 290 GRE, 383 MAT, or 470 GMAT minimum.
John Brown University conveniently has rolling admission through December 1st for Spring and August 1st for Fall starts. The Honors Program has priority deadlines of January 8th, February 15th, and June 20th. Non-U.S. residents should file by March 15th for financial aid consideration. Accordingly, utilize the JBU Online Application System to apply with $25 ($30 if graduate). Official transcripts are mailed to 2000 West University Street Box 3528 in Siloam Springs, AR 72761. For testing, select ACT code 0130 or SAT/GRE code 6321. Supplemental steps include the 200-word essay, three recommendation forms, entrance interview, current résumé, and teaching credential. Attaching all required documents within two weeks reaps the $250 Fast File Scholarship. Inquire further by contacting (479) 524-9500 or [email protected].
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, John Brown University is charging full-time undergrads $13,229 per semester or $26,458 annually. Undergrads cover a $1,210 general fee each year. Residing at the Siloam Springs campus’ dorms like Hutcheson Hall adds $4,536 for yearly rent. Standard meal plans for Kresge Dining Hall are $4,920 extra. Study abroad semesters incur $200 administrative fees. JBU budgets $800 for texts and $2,850 for miscellaneous. Annual bachelor’s study equals about $39,082 on-site and $30,578 if commuting. Online degree completion programs are $425 per credit. The 51-credit BSBA Online would cost $21,675 total. Graduate School tuition ranges from $460 to $600 per credit. Higher Education MA cohorts would spend $13,800 overall.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office on North Holly Street gets 74 percent of full-time JBU Golden Eagles assistance averaging $15,757 each for $23.43 million combined. University funds include the Chancellor’s Scholarship, Excellence in Engineering Scholarship, Trustee’s Award, Dean’s Award, Professor’s Award, Scholar’s Award, International Student Scholarship, John V. Carmack Scholarship, Legacy Award, Oisen Cathedral Choir Scholarship, Varsity Athletic Scholarship, and Art Scholarship. The Presidential Scholarship gifts $27,000 each year to four freshmen meeting 3.9 GPAs and 1350 SAT scores. Ten percent discounts are available for JB Hunt, Mercy Hospital, Sam’s Club, and Walmart employees. Filing FAFSA applications coded 001100 determines Federal Pell Grant, Opportunity Grant, Teach Grant, Work-Study, and Direct Loan eligibility. The Arkansas Department of Higher Education also offers the Single Parent Scholarship, Academic Challenge Award, Future Grant, and Health Education Grant.
Choose from 65+ accredited, faith-informed John Brown University degrees at the Office of Academic Affairs website.