La Salle University (LSU) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

La Salle University (La Salle) was founded in 1863 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It teaches higher education along with traditional Catholic and Lasallian values. The university seeks to treat each member of its community with respect and show students that they can grow both intellectually and spiritually at the same time. Other La Salle values include a dedication to service, creativity, and professional advancement.

Today, La Salle serves more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 45 states and 35 foreign countries. Students can choose from more than 40 undergraduate majors and 15 graduate programs. There is a doctoral program in clinical psychology as well as 37 different certificate programs in specialized industry topics.

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Information Summary

Ranks 78th in Pennsylvania and 884th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	81.9
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$47,110
Admission Success rate	N/A
SAT 75%ile scores	1100
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	17 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	74% / N/A
Enrollment Total (all students)	5,191

Academics

La Salle offers students a wide variety of academic options with more than 40 undergraduate majors, 15 graduate programs, 15 minors, and 37 certificate programs. Classes are organized into the three schools of Arts and Sciences; Business; and Nursing and Health Sciences. There is also a College of Professional and Continuing Studies.

The most popular majors at La Salle are education, nursing, psychology, communication, and accounting. Within the graduate school, the most popular programs are business administration, nursing, and clinical counseling psychology. High-achieving business students can finish their Bachelor of Science in accounting and their Master of Business Administration degrees in a special four-year program, finishing with the 150 credits necessary for CPA certification.

Students at La Salle enjoy an integrated learning environment with small class sizes and a good student-to-faculty ratio. Every class is taught by a member of the faculty rather than a graduate assistant, so students have many opportunities to seek the mentorship and advice of an expert in their field.

La Salle offers special programs all over the world. Undergraduate students can study abroad during their sophomore or junior years through La Salle’s international programs and connections. Graduate students have the option of earning a complete master’s degree in a foreign country. Current opportunities include Master’s programs in Communication and Clinical-Counseling Psychology in Prague, the Czech Republic, and Athens, Greece. Business students can pursue their Master’s in Business Administration through a program in Basel, Switzerland.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Unique Programs

Business students have the opportunity to participate in an integrative and hands-on learning experience through the Business Scholars Co-op Program. This initiative lets students earn 10 to 12 months of work experience in a firm within their industry, earn credit for their on-the-job experience and skills, and graduate in the regular four year timeframe.

Other students can still participate in internships and co-op experiences through the Career Services eXplorernet system, which lists available opportunities for students to apply to and gain experience in their fields. Many departments also offer special internships and co-op programs that may be recommended to students by professors. There are more than 160 such opportunities available at any time.

Admissions

La Salle is a competitive admissions school, which means that not every applicant is guaranteed acceptance. Freshmen undergraduates can apply online through La Salle’s online application interface or through the Common Application, which is a nation-wide college application form that can be filled out and submitted to multiple colleges at once. The Common Application is a good choice for students who are applying to many different schools because it saves a great deal of time.

Prospective La Salle freshmen will need to complete one of the two online forms and submit supplementary materials, which include an essay, an Academic Recommendation to be completed by a teacher or a counselor, official high school transcripts, and score reports from the SAT or ACT. Students may also want to submit their AP score reports to demonstrate competency and potential college credit.

The Lasallian Interview is an optional step in the application process that can greatly enhance a student’s application. The Admissions Office strongly recommends that every applicant schedule a 20-minute interview with a team of faculty and alumni. This interview will help the admissions committee gain a deeper understanding of the student’s character, academic interests, and compatibility with the school. Though the interview process can be intimidating, it is a powerful tool in helping La Salle link each application with a student’s face and personality.

Financial Aid

Students seeking financial aid should begin by filling out the Free Application for Federal Students Aid (FAFSA), which is available online at fafsa.gov. This form determines eligibility for need-based federal aid in the form of grants, loans, and work-study programs. It may also be required as a supplementary material for many third-party loan and scholarship applications.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 1199th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Pennsylvania.

Athletics

La Salle is a Division I NCAA school in the Atlantic 10 Conference. It offers varsity teams for men and women in basketball, baseball, golf, cross country, rowing, tennis, volleyball, and more. In one recent year, six La Salle student-athletes earned the Academic All-American Honors for sports competitors.

Athletic students who cannot or do not want to compete on the varsity level can still participate in sports during college thanks to the university’s 22 intercollegiate teams and extensive list of club and intramural teams. These levels let students compete with their classmates and friends on a casual, just-for-fun basis while staying in shape and enjoying the team environment.

Alumni

La Salle alumni don’t only excel academically—more than 10 of the university’s graduates have won multiple Emmy awards! Hundreds of others have gone on to become leaders in creative and traditional industries around the world. The university’s extensive study abroad options, many partnerships with foreign universities, and integration of foreign travel into a number of classes help students discover the world and perhaps, after graduation, become a global citizen or a world-traveling professional.

Additional School Information

La Salle University has a strong reputation and has earned a number of prestigious distinctions since its inception. More than 60 La Salle graduates have gone on to become Fulbright scholars, participating in research and education across the world. More than 95% of La Salle graduates who applied to medical school after being recommended by the pre-medical committee were accepted. The university has been honored by the U.S. President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for its dedication to service initiatives. It has also been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best regional universities in the country.

Bibliography

La Salle University. 2011-2012 Application for Admission. Print.

La Salle University Home Page. Web. 29 Sept. 2011.

La Salle University