Faith-Based Programs and Degrees at Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University appears in our ranking of the 50 Most Affordable Master’s in Theology Degree Programs Online.
This small, private university is an interdenominational Christian school. That means all programs and courses start with a foundation in faith, and admission to the university requires signing a “ lifestyle” agreement. The school offers degrees from associate to one doctoral program and many of the programs are either online or blended formats.
The Associate of Science (A.S.) in Business Studies is a 28-month program that is offered on campus, 100 percent online or in a blended format. Courses taught on campus meet from six-to-ten p.m. once a week. Students entering this program must have at least two years of work experience after high school. The Associate of Science in Human Services is also a 28-month program that is offered online, on campus or in a blended format. The degree requires several field-based experiences and offers an overview of general principles in helping professions. The Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education is a two-year program that is offered in a traditional format. It prepares students for careers as paraprofessionals and substitute teachers. There is also an available credential in child development.
There are several bachelor’s programs at Cornerstone. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Leadership fosters the growth of business and leadership skills with a Christian foundation. The 20-28 month program requires applicants to have a minimum of 56 transferrable credits ( the equivalent of an associate degree) from an accredited school. The Bachelor of Science in Accounting (also available as a minor) is a 120-credit program that is offered as a three-or-four-year plan. Students who intend to sit for the CPA exam will need an additional 30 credits. This program also has a Global Studies requirement that can be met in several ways including study-abroad. The Bachelor of Arts in Biology is also available as a minor. It is offered only in the traditional residential format. In addition to traditional liberal arts foundational courses, it includes courses in the major and electives to make up 120 credit hours and can be earned as a Bachelor of Arts in Biology for Secondary Education. That program requires students to take a minor, and to earn a minimum of 147 total credits. There are several offerings in Bachelor of Exercise Science degrees including a BS in Exercise Science: Pre-Occupational Therapy, BS in Exercise: Pre Physical Therapy and a BS in Exercise Science: Cardiovascular Rehabilitation. That four-year degree requires students to take courses in the exercise science major as well as six additional courses in the specialization. The additional courses cover cardiac rehabilitation from in-patient to outpatient and long-term needs.
There are several pre-professional programs at Cornerstone. These are intended to prepare students for admission and success in advanced programs. The degrees offered are the Pre-Dental, Pre-Medical, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Physician Assistant and Pre-Veterinary programs.
Cornerstone offers a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership that is 100 percent online or on campus and can be completed in 19-to-20 months . There is also a Master of Arts in TESOL which prepares students to teach English to students for whom English is not their first language. The Master of Arts in Education is 100 percent online and can be completed in 24 months. There are three concentrations available: Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership and Educational Technology. The MBA program at Cornerstone is offered as a blended program or completely online. It can be completed in 20-to-22 months. Concentrations available are Finance, Global Business, Healthcare and Project Management.
Cornerstone’s doctoral degree is a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership and Development. It is an online program but requires three “multi-day intensives.” It can be completed in three-to-four years.
Cornerstone also has a dual-enrollment program that allows high school students meeting the requirements to enroll in the university as high school seniors and earn credits toward their degrees.
About Cornerstone University
This school began as the Baptist Bible Institute in 1941. IN 1972, with the addition of several course areas, it became the Grand Rapids Baptist College. It became Cornerstone University in 1999.
The school houses a seminary and has an adjunct school in Thailand. There are more than 90 degree programs including 12 graduate programs. It is a private, coeducational institution that has an undergraduate enrollment of about 1,550. The student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1. The US News and World Report ranks the school among Regional Universities Midwest as # 78.
Cornerstone University Accreditation Details
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission
- Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Michigan Department of Education
- Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Council on Social Work Education (CAWE)
- National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation
- Association of Theological Schools
Cornerstone University Application Requirements
All applicants to Cornerstone University are assigned an application representative. The admission application is free. Freshman applicants are required to apply online and to submit an official AXCT or SAT score through the testing agency. Students may sign a release form that allows the university to obtain the official high school transcript directly from the counselors. Students should also submit transcripts from any college-level work completed and a letter of recommendation.
Applicants to graduate programs complete an online application that asks several questions including the nature of their educational goals and the program for which they are applying. They must submit official college transcripts and test scores for the GRE or GMAT exams if they are required to take them. They must also provide letters of recommendation and any other documentation required by the degree program. All graduate students are required to sign a Student Financial Success Guide which helps them find, and commit to, a method of paying school debt.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Cornerstone is a private school, and so tuition may be higher than at state or public institutions. Additionally, tuition and fees vary by program. Generally, an associate degree will cost a total of about $25,000. Undergraduate programs are about $19,000 per year and graduate programs average about $24,000. Online courses vary but average about $355 per credit plus fees.
Students are urged to complete the FAFSA form as soon as possible. The school considers all students for some institutional scholarships based upon the information in the application, however other scholarships require separate applications and have deadlines. There are several privately-funded scholarships at Cornerstone that may be found on the school website. Outside scholarships can be located through an Internet search.
Student loans are another resource for paying school debt. An often-overlooked, but valuable, source of financing programs at Cornerstone University is part-time employment.