Elizabethtown College

Studying Human Behavior at Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown College appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Small Colleges for a Counseling Degree.

In Esbenshade Hall, Elizabethtown College's Bachelor of Arts in Psychology boasts 94 percent student satisfaction for teaching how brain anatomy and chemistry affects the response to various stimuli. Chaired by Dr. Jean Pretz, a 2003 APA Dissertation Research Award winner, the 48-credit major blends topics in three branches: Clinical & Counseling, Self & Society, and Mind & Body. Required courses like Cognitive Science, Psychological Statistics, Perception, and Intelligence keep a 12:1 student-faculty ratio for personal mentoring. At least one practicum placement, such as Philhaven Hospital, Manos House, Arch Street Center, and Conestoga View, is necessary. Undergrads might also research in the Developmental Lab, enter the SCARP Program, pledge Psi Chi, join Colleges Against Cancer, add the Gender Studies Minor, pursue the Occupational Therapy M.S., attend the Paul W. Ware Lecture, and travel to Quito.

About Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown College was chartered on September 23, 1899, by the Commonwealth at the request of the Church of the Brethren minister Rev. Jacob Francis. The next November, it welcomed an inaugural class under 50 at the Heisey Building. The Academy offered select secondary courses and four-year teacher training until its first Bachelor of Arts in 1921. First accredited in 1948, Elizabethtown earned independence from the Church for its own Board of Trustees in 1993. Nine years later, E-Town opened its eminent Center for Global Understanding and Peacemaking. Endowed for $69.81 million, Elizabethtown College now prepares 1,671 Blue Jays, including Psychology majors, from 23 nations for Christ-like service. E-Town's campus occupies 204 acres with 31 buildings in Lancaster County just 21 miles from the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Linked to 12,902 LinkedIn alumni, Elizabethtown College has graduated Dan Washburn, Dale High, Ernest Lefever, Lois Herr, and others.

The U.S. News & World Report ranked Elizabethtown the 117th best national liberal arts college and 168th top high school counselor pick. On Niche, E-Town is America's 72nd best Christian school, 147th greatest value, 175th top small college, and 265th best Common App partner. Placed 42nd for Fulbright Scholars, Elizabethtown College lands in the Brookings Institution's top 25 percent for salaries. PayScale calculated mid-career median income of $89,400 for E-Town alums. Forbes named Elizabethtown the 276th best private university with the 212th happiest students. Times Higher Education crowned Elizabethtown College the country's 243rd top choice overall. College Factual noticed E-Town for the 239th best psychology department with the 179th most affordable tuition. WalletHub declared E-Town 255th for faculty resources and 180th for career outcomes. Washington Monthly picked Elizabethtown for the 39th highest Ph.D. completion and 74th most service.

Elizabethtown College Accreditation Details

In January 2019, Elizabethtown College will participate in its next self-study evaluation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) to renew the Level III accreditation for five more years under its 14th president, Dr. Carl Strikwerda. Headquartered 93 miles west via Interstate 76 on Philadelphia's Market Street, this six-state Atlantic Coast accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to judge the academic merit of E-Town's 58 bachelor's majors, 108 minors, and four master's programs. At the programmatic level, Elizabethtown is approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) too.

Elizabethtown College Application Requirements

Admission to Elizabethtown College is classified "moderately difficult" by Peterson's since only 2,134 of the 2,906 Fall 2016 applications were okayed for 73 percent acceptance. First-year Blue Jays flying into the Psychology B.A. must graduate from high school or a Department of Education-approved program. Four units of English and three units of Math are prerequisite. GED subject tests scored at least 150 also qualify. E-Town weighs academic ability along with integrity, work ethic, service leadership, and determination. On average, freshmen hold a 3.44 GPA during secondary study. Those ranking in the top 10th percentile of their class with GPAs better than 3.5 waive tests. Otherwise, undergrads should meet the 1070 SAT or 23 ACT mark. Previous undergrads can transfer 64 two-year or 84 four-year college credits graded "C" or greater. Dual admission with minimum 2.0 GPAs is arranged at Reading Area Community College and Harrisburg Area Community College.

Elizabethtown College set freshmen deadlines of April 1st for Fall and December 1st for Spring entrance. Psychology B.A. transfers have until August 1st or December 15th. The Honors Program is an exclusion with a preferential deadline of January 15th. Use the Common Application or log into the Jayweb account to apply online. Official documents can be mailed to One Alpha Drive in Elizabethtown, PA 17022. Psychology entrants pay the $30 application fee with certified transcripts, testing results or waivers, two recommendations, and the writing sample. International learners add their TOEFL score, 250-word statement, and F-1 Visa application. Completing 45-minute campus interviews Monday through Friday is encouraged but optional. Please pose further questions to (717) 361-1400 or [email protected].

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, Elizabethtown College is billing full-time Psychology B.A. majors $23,470 each 15-credit semester or $46,940 yearly. Studying part-time incurs $1,140 per credit. Winter and summer courses are the exceptions at $550 per credit. The Drexel University Cooperative Program costs $52,060 total. Living at the Lancaster County campus' dorms like Schlosser Hall adds $5,630 for room and $5,740 for board. Note that Featherton Crossing has an $8,000 room surchage though. E-Town suggests budgeting $1,100 for books, $250 for transport, $800 for miscellaneous, $300 for the security deposit, and $68 for loan fees. Annual bachelor's study equals around $58,490 on-site or $47,700 with family.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Student Aid Portal helps 98 percent of full-time E-Town Blue Jays soar with median packages worth $26,629 apiece for $45.45 million total. Collegiate funds include the Presidential Scholarship, Mosaic Award, Founders Scholarship, First Generation Momentum Scholarship, Trustee Grant, Church of the Brethren Scholarship, Sibling Discount, J. Wood Platt Scholarship, and Kiwanis Club Scholarship. The Stamps Scholars Program gifts full tuition plus $6,000 enrichment stipends for five freshmen. In Baugher Center, the Veterans Lounge has counselors to help receive eligible VA benefits. Submitting the FAFSA application after October 1st with code 003262 could open the Pell Grant, FSEOG Grant, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. Quaker State natives receive $2,286 to $4,054 for private tuition from the Pennsylvania State Grant. Undergrads work an average of seven hours weekly at campus jobs. Money magazine also ranked Elizabethtown 441st for a mean debt of $27,000 from Perkins, William D. Ford Direct, and private loans.

Learn more about Elizabethtown College at the Psychology Department website.