Indiana Wesleyan University

by

Updated November 30, 2022 · 3 Min Read

Learn more about the various counseling degree programs available at Indiana Wesleyan University.

BestCounselingDegrees.net is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Are you ready to discover your college program?

Studying Counseling and Psychology at Indiana Wesleyan University

Indiana Wesleyan University appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Small Colleges for a Counseling Degree.

IWU Online offers a wide range of accredited distance programs for adult learners to receive the same high-quality education from anywhere beyond Marion. Indiana Wesleyan University currently offers eight associate's, 17 bachelor's, and 40 master's degrees with a handful of complimentary certificates. Online learners have 24/7 access to course materials and the Off-campus Library Services to learn within their busy work or family life. Class sizes are capped to facilitate an intimate virtual classroom with personalized experiences. Aspiring counselors at the undergraduate level can pursue the online:

B.S. in Addictions Counseling

From a distinctively Christian worldview, the B.S. in Addictions Counseling program at IWU is designed to give undergraduate students the foundation for working with individuals and families suffering from substance disorders. Students explore the biopsychosocial and spiritual dimensions of addiction to harness God's transformative power in overcoming abuse. In highly interactive online sessions, students discuss the impact of alcohol and illicit drugs on the brain and behavior to better understand the stages of recovery. The program leads to licensing as an addictions counselor in Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, and several other states.

Within the 124-credit curriculum, students build on a broad-based foundation of liberal arts and Biblical literature coursework for mastery of the social sciences. Coursework will include general psychology, addictions counseling, human development, minority group relations, group dynamics, personality, abnormal behavior, psychopharmacology, family systems, and addiction program development. Online learners will pick three addictions facilities in their local area for completing at least 350 hours of supervised practicum. The accelerated degree can be finished in as little as 22 months via the Internet and web-video conferencing. Program start dates are conveniently offered every other month.

Graduate students may also be interested in obtaining their Master of Arts degree in Addictions Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Community Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling, or School Counseling at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Featured Online Programs

Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.

About Indiana Wesleyan University

Initially opened in 1920 as a teacher's college by the Indiana Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Indiana Wesleyan University is a premier regional private evangelical Christian liberal arts institution. As the largest member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, IWU enrolls more than 10,800 undergraduates and 4,500 post-graduates each year. Indiana Wesleyan is based on a main award-winning 345-acre suburban campus in Marion along the Mississinewa River, but many courses are also delivered online. Extension centers are scattered across Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio too. IWU has a low student-faculty ratio of 14:1 and a relatively high freshman retention rate of 77 percent.

With a long history of academic innovation and spiritual growth, IWU has created a Christ-centered community for developing students' character. According to the U.S. News and World Report, Indiana Wesleyan is named the 30th best college, 12th top value school, and 25th best university for veterans in the Midwest. IWU has been recognized by Young America's Foundation as a top 10 conservative college for five straight years. The Affordable Colleges Foundation honored IWU as the 15th "Best Online Christian College" for 2015. Princeton Review has placed Indiana Wesleyan University among its "Best in the Midwest" schools too.

Indiana Wesleyan University Accreditation Details

Last reaffirmed in 2010 for 10 years, Indiana Wesleyan University is formally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. This is one of six regional accrediting agencies approved by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). IWU has been accredited through the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). At the programmatic level, counseling degrees met the standards of the Council on Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Indiana Wesleyan is also approved by the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC) and the Indiana Association for Addiction Professionals (IAAP).

Indiana Wesleyan University Application Requirements

Even though IWU has a high acceptance rate of 95 percent, incoming undergraduate students must fulfill certain criteria for enrollment. Applicants pursuing the online bachelor's in counseling program must already obtain a standard high school diploma or GED certificate. Specific grade requirements aren't published, but admitted students have an average unweighted high school GPA of 3.31 on a 4.0 scale. Standardized testing scores will be reviewed. Freshmen typically are admitted with a minimum SAT score of 1410 or ACT score of 21. Before entering the bachelor's core program, at least 60 transferable credit hours will be mandatory. Students can transfer from another regionally accredited college to meet the requirement.

At Indiana Wesleyan University, applications are reviewed by the Admissions Office bi-weekly starting on October 1st. Interested undergraduate students must create an online profile and submit these materials:

  • Completed admissions application
  • Official high school and college transcripts
  • SAT or ACT scores taken within five years
  • One-page personal goals statement
  • Two to three letters of recommendation
  • $25 non-refundable application fee

 
Background checks may be performed on admitted students because Indiana regulations prohibit counselors from ever being convicted of a violent crime. Drug testing may also be required prior to beginning field practicum.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time undergraduate students at Indiana Wesleyan University pay $24,728 per academic year in tuition and fees. Campus residents must add an additional $7,988 for room and board to calculate a total cost of attendance at $32,716. Online undergraduate courses at IWU are charged differently based on the program pursued. The online bachelor's in counseling program will cost $364 per credit hour. For students needing all 124 credits, the estimated degree total would be $45,136. Books, eBooks, supplies, and course fees aren't included. Nearly 83 percent of matriculated IWU students benefit from some form of financial assistance to cover these expenses.

Online learners could borrow money with the Federal Direct Subsidized, Federal Direct Unsubsidized, PLUS Federal Direct, or Wesleyan Ministerial loans, but repayment begins six months after graduation. Gifted money is accessible for some via the Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, TEACH Grant, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. Indiana residents could qualify for the Frank O'Bannon Award or 21st Century Scholars Grant. Military/veteran benefits and employer tuition reimbursement is offered. IWU participates in the Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) for disabled students. Scholarships are also abundant, such as the Pastoral Discount Scholarship, Active Duty Military Scholarship, Diversity Leadership Scholarship, and Transfer Academic Scholarship for new Indiana Wesleyan University students.

Latest Posts

Are you ready to do impactful work in your community?