Instituted in 1889, Saint Leo University has the honor of being the oldest higher-education Catholic institution in Florida. The school’s focus, then as now, has been to make education accessible to learners from all backgrounds through an inclusive education that promotes student-centered learning, personal well-being and community involvement. Today, Saint Leo’s programs serve more than 16,000 students around the United States and in 86 countries through traditional and distance learning formats. U.S. News & World Report ranks Saint Leo’s in several categories. The university comes in at No. 65 for best regional universities in the South and at No. 27 for being a military friendly school for active-duty personnel and veterans. With regard to its distance learning degrees, the school comes in at No. 50 and No. 99 respectively for best online bachelor’s and graduate programs. With such a reputation for high-quality academics and diverse learning experiences behind them, all degree programs from Saint Leo University can assist future graduates to attain marketable skills in a variety of life-changing professions.
Saint Leo University: Accreditation Details
As a fully accredited regional university by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Saint Leo’s can award undergraduate, master’s, specialist, doctoral and professional degrees. Additional program accreditation for following curriculum recommendations according to industry and professional standards are granted individually by these organizations:
- International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs
- Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education
- Commission on Sport Management Accreditation
Saint Leo University: Application Requirements
Application requirements vary according to degree level, residency status, and whether students are first-time applicants or transfers. A similar process is followed for traditional or online program enrollment. Requirements for prospective students include
- Completed online application
- Official GED certification or high school transcripts for incoming freshman
- College records or degree verifications for transfer or graduate students
- Letters of recommendation from previous school personnel
- Written essay for first-time students
- Written professional goals statement for graduate students
- $80 non-refundable fee for graduate applicants
- Verified scores from SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT or other standardized tests as requested by individual programs
International applicants must also provide proof of English proficiency. This can be verified through documentation of successful completion of English as Second Language programs or through appropriate test scores on the SAT, Test of English as a Foreign Language, or the International English Language Testing System exam. Additionally, international students will need to send a $500 enrollment deposit for a student visa once accepted.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition costs vary according to program enrollment. Students in on-campus classes can expect to pay $520 per credit hour for undergraduate courses and between $394-$673 for each graduate credit depending on degree focus. For those enrolled in online courses, the undergraduate rate is $470 per credit for non-military students and $250 per credit for military personnel. Graduate online studies cost the same per credit as those offered on-campus. Processing fees, books, materials and other costs associated with earning a degree are assessed on an individual basis. Ninety-two percent of applicants for financial assistance at Saint Leo’s receive educational funding in the form of the following federal or state aid, loans, scholarships or grants:
- Federal Student Aid Program, known as FAFSA
- Federal Work Study Programs
- Federal TEACH Grant
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Federal Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grant
- Military and Veterans’ Benefits Programs
- Federal Perkins or Stafford loans
- Federal PLUS Graduate or Parent loans
- Direct Loans
- Private Loans
- Florida Bright Future
- Florida Student Assistance Grant
- Florida Resident Access Grant
- Florida Incentive Scholarship Program
- Non-Florida State Aid Programs
- Community Scholarship Programs
- Saint Leo University Privately Funded Scholarships
- Saint Leo University Student Employment Program
- Corporate Assistance Programs
Online Degrees Available
Since 1990, Saint Leo has expanded its 100 percent online offerings to include a wide variety of degree choices through its Electronic Campus program. These distance learning opportunities offer flexible pathways for first-time learners, returning college students or working professionals to complete undergraduate work or earn post-graduate degrees for career advancement purposes. Additionally, these online degree programs provide a high-quality education in trending 21st-century careers such as the popular Master of Science in Criminal Justice with Forensic Psychology Specialization. Offered through the School of Education and Social Services, this graduate degree hold relevant appeal for those in professions such as law enforcement, criminal law, criminal justice advocacy, emergency and crisis management, government administration, and the military.
Content centers around the psychology of criminal behavior, its effects upon individuals and communities and how the justice system responds to it. Candidates learn to identify aberrant psychological processes, profile criminal behaviors, conduct interrogations, and testify about forensic psychology evidence in court cases. The curriculum spans 36 credits in the following course categories:
Core Content Classes – 18 credits
- Legal Issues in Criminal Justice Administration
- Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice Administration
- Criminal Justice Administration Project
- Leadership Applications in Criminal Justice
- Public Policy Making in Criminal Justice
Forensic Psychology Emphasis – 12 credits
- Introduction to Forensic Psychology
- Psychopathology of Criminal Behavior
- Forensic Interviews and Interrogations
- Courtroom Psychology
Approved Electives – 6 credits
Candidates can choose two additional courses from more than 25 courses to further personalize their degree. For example, candidates with an emergency management background might choose to take Management of Critical Incident Operations while those working in criminal advocacy careers might prefer to study Criminal Advocacy and Judicial Procedure.
Of particular note is the applied project in criminal justice administration, which allows candidates to demonstrate competencies and acquired skills from curricular studies in real-world situations. In this project, students address a criminal justice issue that significantly affects communities or design a program initiative to improve administrative practices within the criminal justice system. Graduates who demonstrate these competencies successfully are more likely to attain administrative jobs in the professional workplace. Likewise, employers in the competitive criminal justice job market know that graduates with a Saint Leo University online degree bring the same high degree standards to the workplace as those earning traditional degrees.