juniata college niche

Private, Protestant Liberal Arts Education at Juniata

Juniata College appears in our ranking of the 50 Most Technologically Advanced Small Colleges.

Ranked 86th nationally by the U.S. News & World Report, Juniata College is a coed, Church of the Brethren NAICU member in Central Pennsylvania that confers 92 bachelor’s, four master’s, and five certificate options at a 12:1 student-teacher ratio with 85 percent retention. For example, the Bachelor of Science in Biology builds a 120-credit, four-year curriculum headed by Dr. Jay Hosler where undergrads access Von Liebig Center labs, research at the Raystown Field Station, add a Genomics Certificate, and join Tri-Beta. Chaired by Dr. Susan Radis, the Bachelor of Social Work specializes 120-credit, CSWE-accredited tracks in Justice, Children & Families, or Behavioral Health with 500-hour practicum placements like JC Blair Hospital or the Youth Forestry Camp and Phi Alpha membership.

Online via Moodle, the Master of Business Administration admits 36-credit, 12-month cohorts led by Dr. Dom Peruso each January for advanced 500-level courses plus an optional two-week China trip, the Glaeser Executive-in-Residence Program, and Sill Business Incubator projects. Advised by Dr. Wei-Chung Wang, the Master of Accounting follows a 32-credit, IACBE-accredited plan of evening seminars from Financial Analysis to Corporate Taxation for 100 percent placement in CPA jobs at Deloitte, Grant Thornton, Schneider Downs, Baker Tilly, Marcum, and more.

Other Juniata degrees include the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Bachelor of Arts in English, Bachelor of Science in Geology, and Master of Arts in Non-Profit Leadership.

About Juniata College

Juniata College originated on April 17, 1876, when licensed physician Dr. Andrew Brumbaugh partnered with his cousins to open the Huntingdon Normal School for a first class of three. In 1877, it cemented its Congregationalist faith by becoming the Brethren Normal School. In 1879, Founder’s Hall became the earliest structure on its permanent Appalachian campus. In 1896, its legal name was changed to Juniata College at the Church of the Brethren Annual Meeting. In 1907, Pittsburgh steel magnate Andrew Carnegie donated funds for the Carnegie Hall Library. In 1922, Juniata was accepted for initial accreditation candidacy. In 1940, Juniata College students started the beloved “Storming of the Arch” tradition. Three decades later, Nobel Prize winner William Daniel Phillips graduated from Juniata. In 1998, Juniata won its first NCAA Division III national championship in men’s volleyball.

Endowed for $115.8 million, Juniata College now employs 403 staff serving 1,573 Eagles from 37 states and 37 countries at a 110-acre, 50-building Huntingdon campus each 15-week semester with 90+ clubs like the Environmental Coalition plus Lobsterfest. In 2019, Juniata’s Society of Physics Students Chapter won the Marsh W. White Outreach Award. In 2017, its Omicron Delta Kappa Chapter received the Presidential Circle of Excellence Award. Juniata College earned the 2012 NAFSA Simon Award for Campus Internationalization too. Forbes picked Juniata 279th overall with the 95th best liberal arts education. On Niche, Juniata boasts America’s 32nd safest location, 106th best small classes, and 194th top political science department. The New York Times named Juniata College 91st for low-income students. Washington Monthly proclaimed Juniata the 87th top value.

Juniata College Accreditation Details

On June 27, 2013, the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA) Commission on Higher Education (CHE) took action to extend the Level III accreditation at Juniata College through 2022-23 under its 12th president, Dr. James A. Troha, who accepted a Council for Advancement & Support of Education Fundraising Award at Heidelberg. Located 199 miles east via Interstate 76 in Philadelphia, this elite eight-territory Atlantic Coast Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and Pennsylvania Department of Education. Further, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has accredited Juniata College since 1984. The American Chemical Society (ACS) has certified Juniata’s major since 1936. The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) reaffirmed Juniata in December 2016.

Juniata College Application Requirements

Admission to Juniata College is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because only 1,710 of the 2,437 Fall 2017 applicants were triumphant for 70 percent acceptance. First-year Eagles must complete at least 16 Carnegie units, including four English, in high school or the GED equivalent. Freshmen generally rank in the upper quartile of their classes with an average 3.76 GPA. The middle 50th percentile have SAT Math and Reading scores of 1090-1270. Mid-range ACT composite scores are 22-29. Qualifying for the Academic Merit Awards requires a minimum 3.2 GPA. Undergrad transfers are considered with 24+ credits graded “C” or better. Non-native English speakers must reach at least the 80 TOEFL iBT level. Graduate programs mandate a regionally accredited, four-year bachelor’s degree and GPA above 3.0. The Master of Accounting lists eight prerequisites, including Calculus, Business Law, and Microeconomics. Eligible GMAT scores of 500 and higher are requested. Online Master of Business Administration entrants typically have 24 or more months of full-time work experience.

Juniata College has three freshman deadlines of November 15th for binding Early Decision, January 5th for non-binding Early Action, and March 15th for Regular Decision. Undergrad transfers must file before July 1st for Fall or December 1st for Spring semester. Master’s cohorts generally must apply by July 15th, November 15th, or March 15th. Note the MBA only considers online students until November 15th and on-campus students until July 15th. Accordingly, submit the Juniata or Common Application online for free. Forward official transcripts to 1700 Moore Street in Huntingdon, PA 16652. Send testing results via SAT/TOEFL code 2341 or ACT code 3600. Before the Skype interview, attach supplemental materials like the personal essay, two signed references, current resume, certified bank statement, and transfer report. Contact (814) 641-3420 or [email protected] with any questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, Juniata College charged full-time undergrads $22,385 per term or $44,770 annually. Mandatory student fees were $825 each year. Living at the Huntingdon campus’ dorms like Sunderland Hall added $6,666 for double or $8,334 for single occupancy rooms. Unlimited Blue meal plans for Beeghly Market were $5,856 extra yearly. Juniata budgeted $1,000 for books, $1,000 for personal expenses, and $900 for transport. Annual bachelor’s attendance equaled about $60,368 on-site and $45,376 if commuting. Part-time undergrad tuition was $1,765 per credit or $5,295 each course. Graduate programs mostly billed $775 per credit. The Master of Arts in Non-Profit Leadership had a flat-rate total cost of $32,550.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Planning in Swigart Enrollment Center connects 100 percent of full-time Juniata Eagles to tuition aid averaging $24,386 apiece for $38.23 million combined. Institutional funds include the Calvert Ellis Scholarship, Frederick & Mary Beckley Scholarship, Native American Scholarship, Robert Steele Memorial Scholarship, Metz Scholarship, Anna Groninger Smith Memorial Scholarship, Dorothy Baker Johnson Memorial Scholarship, Sam Hayes Jr. Scholarship, Friendship Scholarship, Ray Day Scholarship, and Eagles Abroad Scholarship. The John Stauffer Scholarship covers the full tuition of $44,770 for two National Merit Finalists each year. The $27,000 James Quinter Scholarship selects outstanding freshmen meeting the 1380 SAT or 30 ACT minimum. Federal assistance, such as the FSEOG Grant, Work-Study Program, and Teach Grant, require separate applications coded 003279. Pennsylvanians also access the PHEAA Grant, Horatio Alger Scholarship, Clarkston Scholars Program, Hope Through Learning Award, Beverly J. Smith Memorial Scholarship, and more.

Search through 27 accredited departments granting 100+ programs of study placed 200th overall by Times Higher Education at the Juniata College website.