University of Cincinnati

First funded by Dr. Daniel Drake in 1819 and chartered in 1870 by the Ohio legislature, the University of Cincinnati is a premier comprehensive public space-grant research institution. From its main 137-acre urban campus in uptown Cincinnati, UC offers traditional daytime, evening, and online programs. Distance learning is also provided at regional centers in Blue Ash, Batavia, and Walnut Hills. As Ohio's second largest university, UC enrolls more than 31,900 undergraduates and 10,600 post-graduates annually. The University of Cincinnati has the 22nd highest amount of federal research funding at nearly $500 million per annum. UC has an average freshman retention rate of 85 percent to signify strong student satisfaction.

With an illustrious history in education, UC is honored by the U.S News as America's 140th best university, 71st top public school, and 115th best college for veterans. In particular, the University of Cincinnati is lauded for hosting the 180th best online bachelor's programs nationwide. Forbes magazine placed UC as the 151st top research school in the United States. Princeton Review included UC within its "Guide to 353 Green Colleges" for good sustainability campus efforts. Cincinnati ranks 12th in the United States for most alumni holding CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies. The Times Higher Education also named UC the 190th top university globally.

University of Cincinnati Accreditation Details

Reaccredited in 2009, the University of Cincinnati is formally approved by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association (NCA), one of the six regional accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Several academic departments at UC have gone the extra step to receive 38 programmatic accreditations. For instance, mental health programs have met the standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Addictions counseling programs align with the guidelines presented by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board (OCDPB) too.

University of Cincinnati Application Requirements

The University of Cincinnati is a selective school with an acceptance rate of 76 percent, so several admissions criteria must be met for enrollment. First-year freshmen must have successfully completed a high school diploma or GED certificate. Having a strong college-prep program is required with at least four units of English, four units of math, three units of science, three units of social studies, and five units of electives. Admitted students have an average unweighted high school GPA of 3.42. Freshmen must have earned at least a composite ACT score of 21 or SAT score of 970.

Undergraduate transfers wishing to switch to UC's online bachelor's program in counseling must currently attend another regionally accredited college in good standing. Transfer students typically are required to have at least 24 semester or 36 quarter hours earned. Possessing a minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.0 at all higher learning institutions attended is mandatory. At least 30 semester credits must be remaining for degree completion at the University of Cincinnati. International students from non-English speaking nations must have a F-1 visa and score at least 92 on the TOEFL exam.

Prior to the December 1st Early Action or February 1st Regular Admissions deadline, interested students must submit these materials to the UC Admissions Office:

• Common Application form
• Payment for the $50 non-refundable fee
• Official high school and college transcripts
• College assessment exam reports
• Two to three letters of recommendation
• One-page personal statement

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time Ohio residents attending UC can expect to pay $5,500 per term or $11,000 each academic year for undergraduate studies. Part-time undergraduates will pay $459 per credit hour as in-state students. Non-residents attending UC full-time will pay $13,167 each term or $26,334 per academic year. Part-time students from out-of-state must afford $1,098 per credit hour. Residents of Kentucky and Indiana could qualify for tuition reciprocity as in-state students. Online learners must budget for a $100 distance learning program fee per credit. However, distance learning students save considerably on the $10,750 for room and board annually.

Nearly 85 percent of degree-seeking students at the University of Cincinnati receive some form of financial assistance. Although the funding must be repaid, money can be easily borrowed through the Federal Perkins, Federal Direct, and Federal Direct Parent PLUS loans. Free financial help could be accessed for some through the Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grant, TEACH Grant, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. In-state students should apply for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG). There's a renewable Cincinnati Pride Grant offered for up to four years also. Scholarships are also numerous, including the Cincinnatus Scholarship, Transfer Academic Scholarship, Darwin T. Turner Scholarship, and Cincinnati Pathways Scholarship.

Online Degree(s) Available

At the University of Cincinnati, the Distance Learning & Outreach Division allows students to obtain the same high-quality education wholly or largely online. Currently, online learners can select from three associate's, 10 bachelor's, and 16 master's programs. Learning activities occur asynchronously in an interactive Internet classroom using cutting-edge technology. The so-called "telecourses" can include live video lectures, virtual discussion boards, and web video conferencing. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are also available. In the College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services, students can pursue the:

B.S. in Substance Abuse Counseling

Delivered entirely online via Blackboard with no campus attendance obligations, the B.S. in Substance Abuse Counseling program is available at UC for undergraduate students to become qualified clinicians. The bachelor's degree is devised for students specifically interested in building a rewarding career treating individuals with chemical dependency issues. Students are trained with the knowledge, skills, and values required of practitioners providing drug and alcohol treatment interventions. The four-year program is ideal for full-time students wishing to work as counselors, parole officers, social workers, nurses, guidance counselors, and other mental health professionals.

Academics in the 120-credit curriculum fulfill all requirements for licensing in Ohio and several other states. Adding on an extra Violence Prevention in Families, Schools and Communities Certificate is possible. Coursework will cover topics like substance abuse prevention, pharmacology, alcoholism, stress management, diagnosis, abnormal behavior, co-occurring disorders, cultural diversity, group therapy, crisis intervention, and long-term addiction recovery. Supervised clinical field practicum and an applied senior capstone can be arranged in each student's hometown. Students can also get involved in UC's Substance Abuse Research Lab (SARL), which studies intervention tactics for ethnic minorities.

Students may also be interested in similar online human service degrees, such as the B.S. in Sign Language Interpreting, M.Ed. in Special Education, M.Ed. in Behavioral Analysis, and M.Ed. in Medical Education, at the University of Cincinnati.