Fast, Transfer-Friendly Franklin Degrees for Adults
Ranked 281st nationally by PayScale, Franklin University is a private, nonprofit SOCHE member in Columbus that offers “360 Degree Learning” in 15 associate, 46 bachelor’s, 13 master’s, and four doctoral majors available online or face-to-face at a 14:1 student-teacher ratio. For example, the BS in Health Information Management builds a 120-credit, CAHIIM-accredited curriculum led by Dr. JoAnn Jordan online for future RHIA professionals with 80-hour practicum placements like McConnell Heart Hospital or OhioHealth Riverside. Chaired by Dr. Charles Saunders Jr., the 124-credit BS in Forensic Accounting upholds the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 with Web-based courses like Fraud Investigation and Corporate Governance plus capstone projects for CFE Certification Exam prep.
Online via BlueQuill, the Master of Public Administration directed by Dr. Jonathan McCombs follows 40-credit, 17-month tracks specialized in Criminal Justice, Healthcare, or Human Resources with rigorous 700-level seminars like Strategic Collaboration for 96 percent job placement. Since Fall 2018, the EdD in Organizational Leadership has admitted 58-credit, post-master’s online cohorts thrice annually for three-year Corporate, PK-12 Education, and Higher Education options advised by Dr. Craig Meredith with a no-fear dissertation in practice.
Other Franklin opportunities include the AS in Communications, AS in Cybersecurity, BS in Energy Management, BS in Exercise Science, BS in Social Sciences, MS in Nursing, MBA in Finance, and DHA in Healthcare Administration.
About Franklin University
Franklin University originated in 1902 when the Young Men’s Christian Association in Columbus started delivering collegiate courses as the School of Commerce. In 1933, it was renamed Franklin University for the Founding Father who discovered electricity. Three decades later, Franklin became a separate entity from the YMCA. In 1969, Frasch Hall was erected on downtown’s Grant Avenue as the first academic building. On March 27, 1974, Franklin University earned candidacy status for regional accreditation. In 1993, the Master of Business Administration was launched for the earliest graduate courses. By 1998, Web-based learning was developed for working adults. In 2009, Franklin University formed a 3+1 partnership with Columbus State CC. The next Fall, Franklin debuted a National Society of Collegiate Scholars chapter. In 2014, Franklin also purchased Urbana University.
Endowed for $60 million, Franklin University now educates 8,018 students from 72 countries entirely online, at 25 Midwest locations, or on the 14-acre Columbus campus with 59 percent retention. In 2019, Franklin was designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the NSA. In 2017, Franklin faculty won the Ohio Council of Criminal Justice Education’s Professional-Practitioner Award. Franklin received University Business magazine’s 2016 Model of Excellence Award too. On Niche, Franklin boasts America’s 163rd safest campus, 393rd best location, and 648th most ethnic diversity. The Institute of International Education named Franklin University 38th for studying abroad. College Factual placed Franklin 288th for business, 141st for information technology, and 129th for public relations degrees. Forbes crowned Columbus the 19th best city for careers.
Franklin University Accreditation Details
On August 3, 2018, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) Institutional Actions Council officially notified Franklin University that the Level VI accreditation status was successfully renewed through 2027-28 under its fourth president, Dr. David R. Decker. Located 323 miles northwest via Route 30 in Chicago, this huge 19-state Heartland Region accreditor is authorized by the U.S. Education Department and Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE). The Office of Accreditation & Authorization also lists the following current accreditations:
- Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management
- International Accreditation Council for Business Education
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Franklin University Application Requirements
Enrolling at Franklin University is classified “non-competitive” by Peterson’s because 100 percent of the 1,821 Fall 2017 applicants were welcomed for open access. Freshmen still must provide documentation of an accredited high school diploma or GED though. Attaining a minimum 2.0 GPA is strongly preferred. Taking the SAT/ACT exam is generally optional unless GPAs are lower. International students need a minimum 500 TOEFL pBT, 5.5 IELTS, 259 Accuplacer Reading, or 150 Cambridge mark. Qualified transfers will have 12-94 credits graded at least “C” from recognized colleges. The Graduate School seeks master’s entrants who finished a four-year baccalaureate with cumulative GPAs above 2.75. MS in Accounting cohorts must fulfill five prerequisites, such as Financial Analysis and Auditing. Nursing degrees mandate current RN licensing, 3.0 GPAs, and CCNE-accredited preparation. Doctoral candidates must complete 30+ master’s credits at 3.0 GPAs or greater. The DPS in Instructional Design Leadership calls for three years of K-12 teaching experience.
Franklin University has rolling undergrad admission with priority dates of January 15th and November 15th. Post-bachelor’s programs have varying deadlines though. For instance, the Online MSN closes on July 15th and November 18th each year. MS in Instructional Technology candidates are considered until August 5th or December 15th. The $5,000 Graduate Student Scholarship also requires applying by April 22nd, July 22nd, or December 2nd. Accordingly, submit the Franklin Application online with the $25 ($30 if graduate) non-refundable fee. Forward official transcripts to 201 South Grant Avenue in Columbus, OH 43215. Send electronic test results using SAT/TOEFL code 1229 or ACT code 3275. Required supporting materials might include the 500-word typed essay, professional resume, two references, healthcare license, and immigration visa. Inquire further by contacting (614) 797-4700 or [email protected].
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, Franklin University had standard undergrad tuition of $526 per credit. Full-time associate/bachelor’s majors paid $6,312 per term or $12,624 annually. Active-duty military personnel were charged $250 per credit. Prior learning portfolio evaluations cost $50 each. Undergrads covered the $50 proctoring fee, $150 internship fee, and $40 FUPE fee. The Graduate School priced master’s study at $670 per credit. Master of Science in Nursing cohorts added a $150 background check fee and $250 clinical course fee. Doctoral programs billed $748 per credit on-campus or online. Total yearly Franklin costs averaged $17,613 for undergrads and $16,080 for post-grads.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office in Paul J. Otte Center links 45 percent of full-time Franklin students to median tuition assistance of $4,487 each for $7.95 million combined. University funds include the David & Renate Hughart Scholarship, Donal Malenick Business Scholarship, Lori Brewer Scholarship, Charles Brush Scholarship, Frederick Bunte Memorial Scholarship, Dean Mark Smith Scholarship, Richard Chilcott Scholarship, Carl Conrad Scholarship, Marybelle Williams Scholarship, Jack Gorman Scholarship, Dorothy Holden Scholarship, and George & Brit Durell Scholarship. The CBusStudentHack Scholarship gifts $3,750 annually to STEM computing majors with minimum 2.75 GPAs. The $2,500 Citizens Bank Scholarship has an August 1st deadline for a 250-word essay contest. Federal resources, such as Pell Grants, Teach Grants, and Direct Loans, require FAFSA applications coded 003046. State programs like the Choose Ohio First Scholarship, Ohio College Opportunity Grant, Beat the Odds Scholarship, and Horatio Alger Scholarship also help.
Explore the four colleges housing 75+ flexible degrees placed 468th by Money magazine at the Franklin University website.