Benedictine College
1020 North Second St
Atchison, KS 66002
913-367-5340
800-467-5340
COSTS:
Tuition:
$19,110
Room and Board:
$8,400
Fees, books, misc.:
$900
Atchison, Kansas
Overview
Benedictine College (BC) is a four-year, Catholic, Benedictine, residential, coeducational college that provides an outstanding liberal arts education for students of all backgrounds and faiths. It is located on a wooded, 110-acre campus on the bluffs above the Missouri River near Atchison, Kansas. The College was established as the result of the 1971 merger of St. Benedict’s College (founded in 1858) and Mount St. Scholastica College (founded in 1924). The sponsoring monastic communities of Mount St. Scholastica and St. Benedict’s Abbey set the tone for the campus, where the dignity of all individuals is respected. Benedictine College is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, or national origin. The College’s ethnically diverse student population exceeds 1,175, including students from thirty-seven states and eighteen other countries.
In a recent survey of approximately 162,000 students at 472 four-year colleges and universities (National Survey of Student Engagement), Benedictine College scored in the top 5 percent nationally for student-faculty interaction, supportive campus environment, and enriching educational experiences. Benedictine College fosters scholarship, independent research, and performance in its students and faculty members as a means of participating in and contributing to the broader world of learning.
The successful Discovery Program offers students, including freshmen and sophomores, the chance to collaborate with their professors on projects. Students have the opportunity to discover important aspects of themselves and the world around them. This approach to education prepares students to be leaders in their careers and the community.
Every major offers unique, challenging opportunities to pursue outside of the classroom. Biology students may participate in Benedictine’s nationally respected Wetlands and Wildlife Restoration Project, where they conduct field studies in a restoration area along the nearby Missouri River. History, business, chemistry, education, political science, and sociology faculty members, as well as others, have authored numerous books and articles, and many faculty members have received major grant funding for their research. The business administration program offers a learning lab in which students actually manage a small business and function in an ownership capacity. These and other experiences lead students to become the next generation of managers, teachers, scientists, artists, and caregivers.
Graduate degrees are offered through outstanding Master of Business Administration, Executive Master of Business Administration, and Master of Arts in School Leadership Programs.
Benedictine’s Career Development Center offers students a variety of information and services to assist them in career preparation. Services include individual counseling, career testing, workshops, and seminars as well as assistance with graduate and professional school applications, resume writing, interviewing skills, cover-letter writing, and job search strategies. In the natural sciences, 75 percent of the graduates continue their education in graduate or professional schools, a number that is nearly double the national average for liberal arts college graduates. The record of acceptance of BC graduates into medical colleges is among the best in the Midwest. The Raven network of Benedictine alumni is a valuable resource for current BC students and new graduates. BC alumni can be found working in such prestigious places as the Federal Reserve Bank, Hallmark Cards, NASA, and the Mayo Clinic.
Location and Community
Benedictine College is located on a peaceful, wooded campus in Atchison, Kansas, a picturesque town of 12,000 overlooking the Missouri River. The College is less than 1 hour’s drive northwest of Kansas City and only 35 minutes from the Kansas City International Airport. Atchison offers unique shops, beautiful parks, historic Victorian homes, museums, art galleries, and a modern regional hospital near the College campus.
Academic Life
Seventy-eight percent of Benedictine College’s faculty members hold the highest degree in their fields. With a student-faculty ratio of 16:1, students have greater access to professors, who go out of their way to serve students on a personal level. Students are supported by instructors who are not only respected for their professional achievement but also for their commitment to student development. Professors, not graduate or teaching assistants, teach all Benedictine courses.
Benedictine College divides its academic year into two semesters and one summer session. The semesters are approximately sixteen weeks long. To earn a bachelor’s degree from Benedictine College, a student is required to successfully complete 128 semester credit hours of courses numbered above 100. These courses must include courses specified by the student’s major department, a total of 40 credit hours in courses numbered 300 or above, and the general education requirements of the College. Students must also achieve a minimum final grade point average of 2.0 in both the major and the overall course work at Benedictine, successfully complete a comprehensive or standardized examination in their major at a level designated by the faculty, and finish the last two semesters of work in residence. The general education requirements for a bachelor’s degree are divided into three categories: core requirements, disciplinary requirements, and proficiency requirements. Benedictine College offers opportunities for advanced placement, the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and credit for experiential learning to nontraditional students who are at least 23 years of age. The College also has a cross-enrollment agreement with Missouri Western State College and its Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Benedictine College sponsors a study-abroad program in Cuernavaca, Mexico, for students of Spanish. For French students, the affiliation is with the Catholic University of the West at Angers, France. Benedictine students can also study at the Sorbonne in Paris and at the University of Granada in Spain. BC students also study in China, England, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Wales.
Majors Offered:
Benedictine currently offers the following accredited degrees: Associate of Arts (business administration), Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Music Education. Every field of study at Benedictine College includes the opportunity for collaborative, hands-on training; a dynamic curriculum; internships; and a supportive faculty. The College offers four-year majors in accounting, art, astronomy, athletic training, biochemistry, biology, business administration, chemistry, computer science, criminology, economics, education (certification, elementary, secondary, special education), English, French, history, liberal studies, mass communications, mathematics, music, music education, music marketing, natural science, philosophy, physical education, physics, political science, psychology, religious studies, sociology, social science, Spanish, theater arts, theater arts management, and youth ministry. In addition, the College offers preprofessional study programs in dentistry, engineering, law, medical technology, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and veterinary studies. The College also offers certification in coaching. The liberal studies major is available for those students who want or need the freedom to design a major to their unique interests.
Campus Life
Benedictine College prides itself on building a sense of family and community. Students find the inviting, spacious residence halls to be convenient and friendly, with a supportive staff in a secure environment. BC’s residential aspect (3 out of 4 students live on campus) is very important to educating the whole student: mind, body, and spirit. A new residence hall is currently under construction in order to meet the needs of a growing enrollment.
Benedictine offers more than forty-five clubs and student organizations to meet just about every interest. These include student government, Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), departmental clubs, International Club, Hunger Coalition, Knights of Columbus, Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO), Chamber Singers, Black Student Union, Loomings literary magazine, The Raven yearbook, and The Circuit student newspaper.
Any student with a penchant for athletics can benefit from participating in numerous intramural activities, including competition in men’s and women’s basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, dodgeball, and volleyball. All students are welcome to exercise their bodies and minds at the Student Union, which has a gymnasium, athletic training rooms, and plenty of fitness-oriented equipment along with a comfortable 500-seat auditorium for concerts, plays, and lectures. The Student Union also houses student government and campus life offices, a Career Development Center, and plenty of space to relax and meet friends.
Facilities and Resources
The College enhances every student’s educational experience with comprehensive facilities, including modern classrooms, nine science laboratories, and a modern computer network with Internet and e-mail access. The BC library is the designated federal depository for the area’s congressional district. It also houses many rare books, including works on monastic history dating from the fifteenth century. Benedictine College is a member of several library consortia, providing students with access to academic and public libraries locally and around the world. The College’s Kansas Area Network (KANRAN) is one of the most sophisticated in America.
Sports / Varsity Athletics
The Ravens compete in fifteen varsity intercollegiate sports (NAIA and Heart of America Athletic Conference), with men’s teams in baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, soccer, tennis, and track and women’s teams in basketball, cross-country, soccer, softball, tennis, track, and volleyball. Benedictine’s cheerleading and spirit squads have been recognized nationally.
Expenses
Tuition and fees are approximately $19,110, room was $3865, and board was $4478. Other estimated expenses include books, $550; personal expenses, $1200; and travel, $800.
Financial Aid / Scholarships
More than 95 percent of Benedictine students receive some form of financial assistance. Benedictine College annually awards more than $5.3 million in institutional aid and offers a generous number of scholarships based on academic achievement, athletic ability, leadership potential, special talents and abilities, and other merits outside of financial need. The College also participates in the federal grant, work-study, and loan programs as well as ROTC and state of Kansas financial aid programs. Benedictine’s priority deadline for financial aid consideration is March 1.
Admission Requirements / Application
Applicants must submit scores on the SAT or ACT and all official high school and/or college transcripts. Sixteen units of college-preparatory work are recommended, including 4 units of English, 3 to 4 units of math, 2 to 4 units of foreign language, 2 to 4 units of natural science, 2 units of social science, and 1 unit of history. The College employs a rolling admission policy. There is a $25 application fee.
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