Rockhurst University

rockhurst graduate programs

Degrees Offered at Rockhurst University

Rockhurst University appears in our ranking of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the Midwest.

With undergraduate, graduate and post-bachelor programs available, Rockhurst University offers degree programs for all types of students. Undergrads can choose from more than 60 degree programs and majors that range from accounting to women, gender and sexuality studies. The eight pre-professional programs offered by the university help students get the backgrounds they will need in medical or law school. Rockhurst also offers a pre-med program for students who already have a bachelor’s degree but need to do more preparation work before studying medicine.

One of the unique majors for students is international journalism. Students not only learn how to write and report, but they also learn how to act in other countries and how to report the news in a neutral way. Some of the other majors for Rockhurst undergrads include health science, Catholic studies, international business, theater arts, mathematics, computer science, and communication science and disorders.

Graduate students can choose from online and traditional programs from the university’s three colleges. The College of Business, Influence and Information Analytics offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts in Management and Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Analytics. An executive MBA is also available, which the university designed for professionals. Students can earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Occupational Therapy or Master of Science in Communication Science and Disorders through the College of Health and Human Services. The university also offers a traditional Master of Education and online options, including a Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Analytics.

Students who already have a bachelor’s degree but need to do some additional work will find that Rockhurst University offers several pre-professional programs for them. One of those has a focus on medicine and prepares students for medical school. They’ll have the chance to work in labs and interact with patients in the field. The university’s Alumni Medical Network hosts special events regularly that let students meet with alumni who currently work in the medical field. These programs require that students take courses such as Physics of Medical Imaging, Physics of the Body, Health Communication and Philosophy of Death and Dying.

About Rockhurst University

Rockhurst University is a private university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church and the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Father Michael Dowling founded the university after purchasing a large plot of land that he set aside for a new college in 1909. This college received its charter the following year and became Rockhurst College. The Academy of Rockhurst College opened at the same time and offered a high school curriculum. It would later become Rockhurst High School, which is now a separate school. Rockhurst gained accreditation in 1939 and became Rockhurst University in 1999. The university now has a 40-acre campus close to Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri. U.S. News and World Report called Rockhurst the 11th best college in the region. It now offers more than 50 degree and certificate programs and has an enrollment of more than 3,000 students.

Rockhurst University Accreditation Details

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and its Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) granted full accreditation to the university for bachelor’s and master’s programs. It also has accreditation for its programs in speech and language, education and physical therapy. Rockhurst has its primary accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS).

Rockhurst University Application Requirements

First-time university students have the choice between using the Rockhurst University application or the Common Application. With the Common Application, they can enter their information just once and use it to apply to any college that uses the same application. Rockhurst recommends that undergrads submit their applications in the late summer or the early fall and releases the new application in July each year. Students also have the option of attending an open house or touring the campus before they apply. Rockhurst requires both an official test score and transcript. Those accepted have until May first to put down an enrollment deposit.

Though the process for graduate students is similar, most programs have an application deadline of August first for the fall semester. Students can complete the university’s online graduate school application and submit their transcripts either through the mail or through the online system. They will also need to provide a GRE or GMAT score or submit a waiver. Waivers go to students who have more professional experience and those who have a doctoral degree. The university will also waive the test score for those who:

  • Have a graduate degree and a GPA of 3.25 or higher
  • Graduates of Rockhurst or other business programs with accreditation
  • Obtained a graduate certificate from the university

Tuition and Financial Aid

The cost of earning a degree from Rockhurst University varies between levels and programs. Undergrads in one of the university’s traditional programs pay $18,900 each semester and can take up to 18 credit hours. Part-time students pay $1,260 per credit hour unless they take evening classes. Evening classes meet at six pm or later and charge $630 per credit hour. The university offers discounts for alumni that allows them to take classes for half price. Discounts also go to students who are 60 or older. They pay only $630 per credit hour or $9,450 per semester.

Residential students will also pay $8,900 for room and board. Though each graduate and post-bachelor program charges different rates, most cost between $515 and $882 per credit hour. Alumni qualify for the same half-price discount when taking graduate classes.

Rockhurst financial aid packages go to any student who completes the FAFSA and shows financial need. Those packages often include grants and a student loan. There are special federal loan programs available for the graduate students and the parents of undergrads, and students may want to look for alternative loans also. Rockhurst offers more than 10 scholarships and institutional awards too. Students with a GPA of 2.6 to 2.99 can qualify for the endeavor scholarship and get $11,300. Those with a minimum GPA of 3.6 qualify for a scholarship of $19,500. Other awards provide veterans with $1,000 and the same amount to families with two or more students enrolled in the university. Rockhurst University awards millions of dollars in aid to students every year.