William Jessup University

william jessup university san jose

Degree Programs Offered at William Jessup University

William Jessup University appears in our ranking of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the West.

With nearly 20 undergraduate majors and programs designed for other types of students, William Jessup University offers tracks for all students. Undergrads can sign up for the Air Force ROTC program and enter the military at a higher level than those who recently enlisted. In the biblical studies program, students develop a deeper and better understanding of the Bible. A similar major is available in Christian leadership. Some of the other undergrad programs available include majors in history, youth ministry, visual and fine arts, public administration, music, biology, computer science, and digital communication and design.

Six programs are available for graduate students too, including two Master of Business Administration (MBA) options. One of these programs takes up to two years to finish, but the other takes only one year to complete and accepts students who have more business, administration and leadership experience. In the Master of Education and Master of Arts in Teaching programs, students can enroll with or without a teaching license. The university also offers an accounting major and a counseling psychology program, which includes Life Span Development, Law and Ethics, Family Systems Therapy, Basic Counseling Skills and Treatment Planning and other courses.

To help adult students, William Jessup University created an adult degree completion program. Designed for those who have some college credits but left before finishing, it accepts credits from schools that have regional accreditation. Students can use those credits to earn a degree in addiction studies, which looks at how addiction affects the body and the treatment methods for addiction. Adult students can also choose to complete degrees in psychology, business administration or leadership.

Jessup Online is a division of the university that lets students earn their degrees online. The Bachelor of Science in Business program for undergrads offers concentrations in management and entrepreneurship. A healthcare administration program helps students learn how to run and operate a healthcare facility, including how to hire and train employees and maintain an annual budget. Psychology, criminal justice, and computer science programs are also available online for undergrads. Graduate students can enroll in online degree programs in business administration, kinesiology, sports management or leadership through the university.

About William Jessup University

William Jessup University is a private university in Rocklin, California that follows a liberal arts curriculum founded in the Christian tradition. Established in 1939 as the San Jose Bible College, it grew out of the Evangel Bible University. Eugene Claremont Sanderson opened that university in 1934 but had problems that led to the campus closing. He would use the campus and some of the university’s resources to develop a new school. William Jessup ran the school and saw it become one of the top Bible institutions in the region. Known as the San Jose Christian College starting in 1989, it became William Jessup University in 2004 after moving to a new campus. The university also uses the nickname WJU.

The main campus is in a former factor used by the Herman Miller furniture company and features buildings designed by famous architect Frank Gehry. A second campus is in San Jose and offers many of the same courses and programs as the main campus. Though the university uses Christian traditions, it does not have an affiliation with a specific Church or movement. Both physical campuses along with the online campus have an enrollment of more than 1,700 full-time students.

William Jessup University Accreditation Details

WJU has both regional and institutional accreditation, which comes from the Western Association of Colleges and Schools (WASC). Any student attending the university can use its accreditation to apply for aid when they use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). WJU also has accreditation from the Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation (ABHECA).

William Jessup University Application Requirements

WJU uses the records and information that students submit to decide if they are a good fit. It recommends that undergrads take four years of English classes, three years of math, social science and science courses and a minimum of two years of foreign language classes in high school. The university has a virtual dropbox that allows students to upload unofficial copies of their high school transcripts. It may request an ACT/SAT score or other information too. As part of the application, students need to write about their religious beliefs and give the university some details about their moral character.

Graduate students applying to a WJU program must meet the same admission requirements, including a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, official college transcripts that show they have a bachelor’s degree, a resume and two letters of recommendation. WJU accepts both academic and professional letters. A personal essay is also due, which should explain the faith that the student has and how he or she will use that faith in a graduate program. The counseling psychology program requires that students create and submit a two-minute video that explains why they would be an asset to the program and their reasons for choosing William Jessup. Some programs may ask for an interview too.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition at WJU starts at as little as $425 per credit hour for undergrads enrolled in an online program. All the undergraduate programs charge the same rate. Graduate programs charge rates of between $440 and $540 per credit hour. While MBA students pay the highest rate, students in all other programs pay the lower rate. Students on active duty status pay $250 per credit hour, while veterans pay $335 per credit hour. On-campus students can use a combination of financial aid programs to pay their total costs, but commuters and those taking classes online can only get enough financial aid to cover 50 percent of their costs.

The William Jessup Scholar Award is a program that awards money to students with a high school GPA of 3.8 or higher and a minimum ACT score of 29. Other academic scholarships go to students based on their grade point averages and test scores. There are also grants available for homeschooled students, minority students and those who demonstrate athletic or other talents/skills. Students of all types can qualify for different grants as well as loans when they enter any of the degree programs available at William Jessup University.