First founded in 1907, by R.A. Forrest to provide secondary theology courses, Toccoa Falls College has evolved into a premier regional private Christian liberal arts institution. TFC is affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance to follow the motto “Where Godly Character is Developed with Intellect.” Annually, the small close-knit academic community enrolls around 920 undergraduates in 34 majors and 39 minors. Toccoa Falls College is located on a scenic 1,100-acre rural campus in Toccoa, Georgia, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The campus includes an 186-foot waterfall, which is one of the tallest on the East Coast.
Featuring a student-faculty ratio of 15:1, Toccoa Falls College has achieved an average freshman retention rate of 70 percent. The U.S. News and World Report ranks TFC as the 33rd best college and 22nd top school for military veterans in the South. In particular, the college offers America’s 111th best online bachelor’s degree programs. Princeton Review consistently includes Toccoa Falls College within its “Best of the Southeast” list. TFC has been named the nation’s 102nd best baccalaureate college and the Southeast’s 51st best bang for the buck in Washington Monthly. Toccoa Falls College also placed in the “Top 50 Christian Colleges and Universities” in the United States.
Toccoa Falls College Accreditation Details
As a four-year college, TFC has been authorized by the Georgia State Legislature to grant the bachelor’s degree. At the regional level, Toccoa Falls College has been granted accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. All programs are also approved by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS). The online bachelor’s in psychology program also follows the undergraduate guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA) and Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS).
Toccoa Falls College Application Requirements
With a highly selective acceptance rate of 37 percent, incoming applicants at Toccoa Falls College will be held to strict enrollment criteria. First-year freshmen must possess an accredited high school diploma or a satisfactory score on the GED equivalency exam. Following a college-preparatory curriculum with four courses in English, three courses in math, three courses in natural science, and three courses in social studies is required. Grade requirements aren’t posted, but admitted students have an average GPA of 3.37. Students with less than 12 college-level credits must take the SAT or ACT. Average scores are 21 (ACT) and 988 (SAT).
Undergraduate transfers interested in the evangelical Christian perspective at TFC are accepted from other regionally accredited colleges and universities. Transfer students must have been enrolled full-time for at least one semester. Being in good standing at the previous school is mandatory. All college-level credit hours must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 to count. Toccoa Falls also welcomes international students admitted to the U.S. with an F-1 Student Visa. International students are required to carry at least 12 credits per semester. TOEFL scores must be submitted to certify language proficiency with a 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based).
During the rolling admissions, interested online learners looking to study through Toccoa Falls College must submit the following materials:
- Online application for admission
- $25 non-refundable application fee
- Official high school and/or college transcripts
- Standardized testing score reports
- 250-word Christian testimony/essay
- Two to three letters of recommendation
Tuition and Financial Aid
Full-time undergraduate students at Toccoa Falls College are charged $10,055 per semester or $20,110 annually regardless of state residence. Campus-based students must pay $3,705 for room and board each semester. Online students at TFC follow a different pay structure though. For online courses, the cost is $295 per credit hour. This is equivalent to $885 per three-credit class. When enrolling online full-time with 12 credits, the total will be $3,540 per semester. It’s estimated that online students will also pay the $100 technology fee and $35 student fee every semester. Textbooks and other learning supplies aren’t included.
Nearly 97 percent of degree-seeking TFC students receive some form of financial aid. After filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students can receive assistance with the cost of attendance. As a Title IV school, students are eligible for borrowing money through the Perkins, Direct, or PLUS loans. Certain learners could qualify for the Pell Grant or Federal SEOG Grant. In-state residents should apply for the Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) and Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (GTEG) programs. The college offers a Church Matching Grant and Christian Worker Dependent Grant too. Natural Guard and Reserve members can utilize the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP).
Online Degree(s) Available
Through the Online Education Department, Toccoa Falls College delivers the same high-quality, accredited education from a Christian worldview at a distance. Online learners can currently select from two associate’s, eight bachelor’s, and two certificates. Traditional and non-traditional students gain access to course materials 24/7 from the privacy of home. Students are thrust into an interactive online learning environment with discussion boards, group projects, email assignments, and Skype video conferencing. Aspiring psychology majors can pursue the:
B.S. in Counseling Psychology
Available 100 percent online with no campus residency, the B.S. in Counseling Psychology program at Toccoa Falls College prepares undergraduate students for human service-related professions in the church and community. Students are trained the theories and practical skills required for the ministry of counseling. The dynamic 126-credit curriculum blends the concepts of psychology with the principles of Scripture to integrate students’ faith. The program aims to guide students towards emotional wholeness, spiritual maturity, and lifelong ministry. Graduates often further their training to become counseling psychologists, pastoral counselors, or licensed professional counselors.
TFC’s psychology faculty has a combined 102 years of teaching experience in counseling. All students will delve into coursework on hermeneutics, philosophy, counseling, psychology, history, statistics, theology, crisis intervention, trauma therapy, family counseling, Christ-centered counseling, group dynamics, human development, abnormal psychology, personality, and research methods. B.S. in Counseling Psychology students can arrange an applied counseling internship in their local hometown. Electives can be tailored to earn the online Biblical Studies Certificate or Cross-Cultural Studies Certificate concurrently.
Other online students interested in Toccoa Falls College could consider earning the B.S. in Biblical Studies, B.S. in Ministry Leadership, B.S. in Nonprofit Business Administration, or B.S. in Organizational Leadership.