Angelo State University

Since its initial founding in 1928 on North Oakes Street, Angelo State University has transitioned into a comprehensive four-year public space-grant higher learning institution. As the second largest division of the Texas Tech University System, ASU enrolls more than 8,500 students annually. Based on a main 268-acre urban campus in San Angelo within the Concho Valley of West Texas, Angelo State offers a variety of on-site and online learning options. ASU is divided into six academic colleges with over 130 different majors. Angelo State University maintains a low student-faculty ratio of 19:1 for personalized learning with a purpose.

With a long history of excellence, Angelo State has been placed on the Princeton Review's "Best in the West" list for seven straight years. For 2016, ASU was one of just five public Texas institutions ranked among the "Best 380 Colleges" nationwide too. Military Times magazine has recognized ASU for being the 39th top school for veterans in America. The Chronicle of Higher Education honored Angelo State for being one of the top 100 universities to work for in the United States. Angelo State University ranks 85th nationally in endowment funds per student. Also, the U.S. News and World Report distinguished ASU for delivering the 30th best online graduate education programs.

Angelo State University Accreditation Details

For conferring baccalaureate, master, and doctoral degrees, Angelo State University has college-wide accreditation from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS-COC). This is one of six regional accrediting bodies under the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Within the College of Education, all programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). In the near future, the approval will be transferred to the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation (CAEP). Angelo State also meets the standards of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to qualify graduates for receiving school-related certifications.

Angelo State University Application Requirements

Although Angelo State University has a less selective acceptance rate of 89 percent, incoming students will still be held to high admissions criteria before enrollment. Graduates wishing to pursue the online master's in counseling program must already hold a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited university. To certify academic promise, applicants must showcase a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75. GRE scores aren't required, but can bolster the application for students with lower grade point averages. Having Texas teacher certification is not mandatory for admissions. Graduate students should keep in mind that valid certification and two years of classroom teaching experience is required for counseling licensure though.

ASU allows the seamless transfer for a maximum of six graduate credits towards completing the online master's degree. Coursework must be graded with a B or higher for transfer. International students seeking admissions at Angelo State University must qualify for an F-1 student visa. Proof of English language proficiency on the TOEFL is also required with a minimum paper-based score of 550 or computer-based score of 213. Prior to the upcoming session's deadline, interested students must submit the following materials to the College of Graduate Studies:

• Completed online admissions application
• Official transcripts from each college attended
• Graduate entrance exam scores (optional)
• Two to three letters of recommendation
• A 500-word personal career objectives essay
• Valid Texas teaching certificate
• Payment for the $35 non-refundable fee (unless waived)

Tuition and Financial Aid

Newsweek ranked Angelo State as the 20th cheapest university in America with the fourth lowest student loan debt, so affordability is a major benefit here. Full-time graduate students from Texas who are taking nine credits per term will pay $3,132. Non-residents pursuing their master's degree full-time must afford $6,642 per term. Online learners must add an additional $50 distance education surcharge per semester credit. Tuition rates above will include the mandatory library fees, technology services fees, student services fees, and medical services fees. Textbooks and supplies aren't included. Students studying online will be able to save around $10,200 annually without room and board or transportation.

For help covering tuition expenses, 93 percent of matriculated students at Angelo State University are granted financial aid. Money can be borrowed through Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, Federal Perkins, or Grad PLUS loans, but the amount must be repaid with interest after graduation. Free gifted money can be available for qualified students with the Pell Grant, TEACH Grant, FSEOG Grant, or Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG). Graduates living near campus can receive tuition waivers through teaching or research assistantships. ASU provides various lucrative scholarship opportunities also. The largest, the Carr Graduate Fellow Scholarship, awards $3,000 each year to students with a GPA over 3.76.

Online Degrees Available

Within the College of Graduate Studies, Angelo State University allows advanced learners to select from 26 master's degrees and one doctoral program. Nearly 70 percent of ASU's graduate students only attend classes online. 13 of the master's degrees can be completed fully online without any trips to San Angelo. Online education is ideal for full-time working professionals who need a flexible format for reaching their learning goals. Coursework is easily accessed 24/7 through Blackboard or ASU's innovative web portal called RamPort. Within the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, graduates can pursue the:

Guidance and Counseling Master's Degree (M.Ed.)

Offered 100 percent online in convenient eight-week sessions, the Guidance and Counseling Master's Degree (M.Ed.) program at Angelo State is designed to provide behavioral science training for preparing competent counselors who can maximize the intellectual, social, vocational, and mental health potential of others. It's ideal for graduates interested in working as school counselors, college admissions counselors, and career counselors. Students are admitted each spring and fall to begin the 36-credit degree plan. Through Nonprofit Colleges Online, the program was honored with the "Students Before Profits Award" for affordability.

Over the course of 24 to 36 months, online learners set their own pace. The program is built on advanced coursework in lifespan development, individual counseling, group therapy, counseling theories, career development, applied research, counseling ethics, curriculum trends, mental health assessment, and cultural influence. Students seeking Texas certification will be required to complete one semester of applied practicum in a K-12 school setting. Before graduation, students must pass a Comprehensive Program Review (CPR).

Graduate students attending Angelo State University could also pursue other education degrees, including an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction or M.Ed. in Educational Administration, fully online.