University of Dayton (UD) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

The University of Dayton is located in Dayton, Ohio which is about 60 miles from Cincinnatti. The university is a Catholic, Marianist, liberal arts institution that believes that they are defined not just by the success of the university but by the success of the community. The school uses a whole-person teaching method; they provide an education that has many hands-on opportunities as well as small class sizes in which students may learn the theory of their professions. The university consistently ranks in the top of its category in both research and educational programs and prides itself on providing a well-rounded, quality education to every student that attends.

The University of Dayton was established in 1850 in the middle of a cholera epidemic as St. Mary’s School for Boys. The school was purchased with a medal of St. Joseph and a promissory note for twelve thousand dollars. No cash was exchanged and the land that had been known as Dewberry Farm became the first glimmer of what is now UD. The name changed several times from St. Mary’s School for Boys, to St. Mary’s School, to St. Mary’s Institute, then St. Mary’s College. Finally in 1920, it became known as University of Dayton and is nationally recognized as one of the top private Catholic universities in the nation, and is the largest private university in Ohio.

There are several different student housing units on campus as well as an active Greek life for those who wish to pledge to a sorority or fraternity. There are also numerous student clubs and organizations as well as a successful athletic club. The school actively promotes community service and fellowship among its students and has established over thirty humanitarian clubs so that students may learn to serve their fellow man and improve their community.

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Information Summary

Ranks 7th in Ohio and 152nd overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	94.0
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$59,230
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	30 / 1310
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	15 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	91% / 100%
Enrollment Total (all students)	11,241

Academics

The University of Dayton is a school that strives to bring the feeling and quality of a small liberal arts college to the university level with a core curriculum that is dedicated to providing each student with a combination of theory and practice that will prepare them for a successful professional and personal life after graduation. Small class sizes and a faculty that makes time to deliver a personal education to every student is what makes UD one of the top Catholic universities in the nation.

There are five schools within the university from which students may choose to study. They include the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the School of Education and Allied Professions, the School of Engineering and the School of Law. Students will fulfill core curriculum courses in the College of Arts and Sciences and will also complete their degree requirements in one or more of the other Schools. The school strives to work as a cohesive unit and there are always several interdisciplinary projects going within the university.

Students attending the University of Dayton may choose from over fifty bachelor’s degrees, nearly twenty master’s and doctoral degrees and several professional certificates. Bachelor’s degrees may be obtained in such fields as art history, biology, chemistry, psychology, political science and religious studies. As the world continues on its quest to decrease the human effect on the planet, UD strives to stay ahead of its peers by also providing a minor in Sustainability, Energy and the Environment. Implemented in 2010, this program is an interdisciplinary effort utilizing faculty from many different departments to form a cohesive team that can research progressive actions that will both decrease the carbon footprint of the university and teach students how to develop strategies to integrate into their chosen fields.

Master’s and doctoral programs include such fields of study as law, psychology, business administration, education and engineering. There are many specialty degrees within these fields, allowing the student to choose the exact area of study from which to choose a profession. Many of the graduate programs at the University of Dayton are nationally recognized. For example, the law school was selected by the Carnegie Foundation as a law school that defines and shapes the future of legal educations and the School of Engineering ranks consistently as one of the best Catholic school engineering graduate programs in the nation.

The university recognizes that there is a need for community education beyond traditional degrees and strives to meet that need via providing a diverse array of alternative educational opportunities. The University of Dayton offers adult education advancement opportunities to their community in the form of continuing education courses, general education classes, senior programs and academic enrichment studies. The college also offers a comprehensive English language program that combines travel, language, teaching and cultural immersion to non-English speaking students in order to help them get a firm grasp of the language.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Undergraduate Admissions

The University of Dayton utilizes an Early Action admission policy which means that they have two separate application deadlines. Student that have decided that UD is at the top of the list of the schools that they would like to attend should follow the Early Action program. This allows students to receive admission and scholarship decisions early in their senior year, thus relieving the stress of waiting until the last minute. The Early Action deadline is in December of the senior year. Students applying for regular admission need to have completed application packets submitted by March 1 of their senior year. Students should contact the school for current deadlines to make sure that they have all documentation submitted on time.

There are several items that students will need to complete in order to be considered for acceptance to UD. The first is the application that can be completed online, or students may choose to submit the Common Application which is an online application that may be sent to multiple schools. Students will need to have official high school transcripts and ACT or SAT scores submitted directly to the university. A recommendation from a high school counselor is also required.

There are additional requirements for students seeking admission that have taken previous college courses, are currently enrolled in another college, or are international students. These students should contact the school to determine what additional documentation will be required with the application packet.

Graduate Admissions

Graduate students need to apply to the individual graduate school to which they are seeking admittance. Though there may be different requirements for a particular school, some of the things that most of the programs require are transcripts from undergraduate schools and graduate school test scores such as the LSAT or GRE. Students may complete the application online as well as submit letters of personal statement. Most schools also require professional or academic recommendations from somebody qualified to evaluate the student’s chance of success in graduate school.

Non-degree and Adult Education Admissions

Students applying to take non-degree classes or other community education courses have a different application process. It is not nearly so stringent and does not necessarily require a high school diploma or SAT/ACT scores. Students should contact the school to determine what exactly is required to gain admission to the class or program of interest.

Financial Aid

The University of Dayton offers a large amount of financial aid in the form of grants, need-based and merit-based scholarships, federally subsidized loans and work programs. The first step to applying for financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Financial Aid that is available online in January. It is recommended that students complete this application early in order to be eligible for as much aid as possible. Financial information pertaining to both the student and the family is required, so applicants should have this information readily available when completing the application. There may also be scholarships available from the school, so students should work closely with the financial aid office in case any of these require separate application.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 168th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Ohio.

Athletics

The Dayton Flyers compete in the Atlantic Ten Conference with the exception of the football team, which competes in the Pioneer Football League. The athletic club in general has experienced significant success in its division and continues to recruit top high school players as well as contribute a significant percentage of players to professional sports clubs. Their colors are red and blue and their mascot is Rudy Flyer, a barnstorming aviator that wears fighter goggles and is a play on the school’s initials.

There are several varsity teams that students can either participate in, or root for. The university offers men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, cross country, golf and tennis. Men may also choose to play baseball and football and women have the additional options of softball, volleyball, rowing and track and field. The school has several facilities for its teams to compete in including the basketball teams’ home court, Dayton Arena. Though first and foremost the home to the Flyers, it also hosts campus activities and more than a hundred community events per year. Along UD Arena is the Time Warner Cable Stadium, the multimillion-dollar baseball and softball facility.

The university also offers nearly fifty club and intramural sports and activities such as rugby and ultimate frisbee, so there is a large array of choices for students who want to participate in a sport or activity that may not be offered at the varsity level.

Bibliography

University of Dayton. University of Dayton. 2011. Web. 5 May 2011.

“University of Dayton.” Princeton Review. Princeton Review. Web. 5 May 2011.

Dayton Flyers. University of Dayton. 2011. Web. 5 May 2011.

University of Dayton