Degree Programs Offered by Graceland University
Graceland University appears in our ranking of the 50 Most Affordable Master’s in Theology Degree Programs Online.
At Graceland University, students can choose from degree programs available on two different campuses and some online options. The main campus in Lamoni offers 24 Bachelor of Arts (BA) programs and six Bachelor of Science (BS) programs as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). There are also nine pre-professional programs available in forensic science, physical therapy, and several medical fields. Some of the university’s BA programs include a secondary track for students who want to work as teachers, including history and studio art. Other majors include psychology, Hispanic studies, sociology, chemistry, applied health, and biology.
The Independence campus offers only a BSN and two BA programs in Interdisciplinary Studies and Elementary Education. Students in the elementary education program complete the requirements needed to get an Iowa teaching license by the time they graduate. They’ll take multiple courses, including Introduction to Education, Children’s and Adolescent Literature in Elementary Education, Methods of Teaching Elementary Math and Methods of Teaching Elementary Science. Students will also do an education practicum. This campus also offers a graduate degree program in curriculum and instruction. It looks at how teachers can work together and with their students to create a collaborative learning environment.
Six graduate degree programs and one doctoral degree program are offered by the university online. Master of Education majors can choose to study instructional leadership, special education or literacy education. Students must take 30 credits of courses online and maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is available with a specialization in aging or family health. Through the RN to MSN program, students can transfer credits to the university. There is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) as well as a Master of Arts in Religion program that students can complete online. Graceland University offers bachelor’s programs online in business administration or organizational leadership and a dual major program. Students can enroll in the online RN to BSN program too.
About Graceland University
Graceland University is a private university affiliated with the Community of Christ. Established in 1895 as Graceland College, it built a campus on land donated to the college by Marietta Walker. Other members of the Community of Christ donated land and money to the college. The man who surveyed the land for the school suggested the name Graceland to describe the graceful hill on which the campus would sit. Graceland opened that same year for classes but saw just a handful of students enroll. Built as a junior college, it received accreditation and approval from Iowa as well as the approval from Missouri to offer classes in that state. Known as Graceland College even after adding bachelor’s degree programs, it became Graceland University in 2000.
The university now has a partnership program for students who need to complete their degrees, which allows them to take classes on either campus or online. Students can attend the main campus in Lamoni, Iowa or the second campus in Independence, Missouri. Graceland also established a seminary that now offers religion and theology courses, which helped the university’s total enrollment climb to more than 2,200 students.
Graceland University Accreditation Details
Due to the accreditation that it holds from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Graceland can award financial aid packages to students who meet the eligibility requirements on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). HLC accreditation is also why the university’s students can transfer their credits. Some of the other accreditation that Graceland holds comes from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Missouri State Board of Nursing and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Graceland University Application Requirements
Undergrads applying to either campus or an online program need to meet the same admissions requirements. Graceland accepts students who have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher, graduated in the top 50 percent of their classes or score a minimum of 1060 on the SAT or 21 on the ACT. Students only need to meet one of these requirements. The university requires a completed online or paper application, standardized test score, and official transcripts. Students applying with a GED need to show proof of their scores on that exam. Graceland has similar requirements for homeschooled students and transfer students.
The university looks at different factors when admitting students to its graduate programs, including their undergraduate grades and the amount of experience they have. It gives priority to those with a grade point average of at least 3.0 in a program relating to the degree offered at the graduate level. Students applying to an education program must have a degree in teaching or education. They need to submit a transcript that shows they completed the program. Graceland requires a copy of the student’s teaching license too and asks that the license is in good standing. Other requirements include a statement of purpose, proof that the student has access to the internet and two letters of reference. Education majors also need to submit proof that they work full-time in a school.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergrads in the nursing program pay either $800 per semester hour or $14,875 per semester. Those on the main campus taking other classes will pay $370 per semester hour and fees of more than $180 each semester. Full-time undergrads on the main campus pay $30,650 per semester for full-time enrollment and fees of $670 per semester. For room and board, students pay an average of $9,400 each semester. The university also charges a rate of $435 per semester hour for graduate students. Online graduate students pay $525 per semester hour in most programs.
More than 98 percent of all students attending Graceland University receive financial aid. Between work-study, grants and loans, students can cover most of their costs. There are certain types of grant programs available from the state government for students who live in Iowa. Graceland has several scholarships that go to students who have a GPA of 3.25 or higher, including some that give them $1,000 to $5,000 or more every year. Grants also go to students who belong to the Community of Christ. Students can apply for all types of financial aid when they apply to any of the degree programs offered at Graceland University.