Admission, Tuition and Financial Aid
McKendree welcomes applications from students holding a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution who seek a challenging educational experience in a stimulating and friendly environment. Applicants are considered on an individual basis without regard to sex, race, disability, nationality, or religion.
Admission Requirements
The program admits students who present evidence of their potential for scholarly
and clinical work. The following documentation and/or components are required for
consideration for admission to Master of Arts in Professional Counseling:
1. A completed graduate admission application (no fee).
2. Official transcripts from each college or university attended. Official transcripts
are those mailed from institution to institution.
3. The successful completion of the equivalent of six undergraduate credit hours
in a behavioral science. Of these six credit hours, three hours must be in introduction
to psychology. Students lacking these credit hours may be conditionally admitted to
the program on the provision that deficiencies are corrected within one semester.
Once deficiencies are corrected, students should submit a transcript as proof of meeting
this requirement.
4. A current vita or resume.
5. A 3.0 GPA on a four-point scale in undergraduate studies. Strong applicants with
a GPA of 2.75-2.9 may be conditionally admitted. Conditional status will be removed
provided that students maintain a minimum a 3.0 G.P.A. for the first 12 hours of graduate
coursework with no grade lower than a B. Current undergraduates will be admitted on
the basis of current transcripts – final admission status will be determined after
receipt of a final transcript showing the student has graduated.
6. A three page statement describing interests in counseling as a career, personal
strengths and weaknesses, perceived ability to successfully pursue/complete graduate
work, and future career goals.
7. Three letters of recommendation from master’s or doctoral level professionals
who can attest to the applicant’s ability to pursue graduate work in a clinical program.
Recommendations from personal acquaintances (i.e., friends, church leaders, family
members, etc.) are not acceptable. While letters of reference are acceptable for submission,
we require each reference to complete our recommendation form.
All applicants will not be admitted to the program. Only those who are considered
academically qualified for the program are invited for a formal onsite interview with
the Program Director or other graduate faculty member. The purpose of this interview
is to assess the individual’s interpersonal skills and boundaries, as well as his
or her suitability to pursue graduate level training in counseling. Those judged to
possess the relevant ability will be offered admission to the program.
Application Deadlines
The program admits students two times a year. We suggest that applicants use these
deadlines in order to receive full consideration for admission to the program.
Fall Admission - August 1st
Summer Admission - May 1st
Information about the Professional Counseling Program's curriculum, internship experiences,
and exit requirements is available on the MAPC Program website.
Tuition
Tuition for the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling is $400 per credit hour
for the 2011/2012 academic year.
Financial Aid
McKendree University offers financial aid in the form of Federal Direct Loans.
The maximum annual Federal Direct Loan eligibility for a degree seeking graduate student
is $20,500; $8,500 subsidized maximum (if eligible) and $12,000 unsubsidized Federal
Direct Loans. However, the loan eligibility along with other financial aid cannot
exceed the Cost of Attendance (COA) set by your enrollment status. Full-time status
is considered nine hours or more per semester. Half-time status is considered less
than 9 hours and but at least 5 hours per semester. The aggregate loan limit for a
graduate student is $138,500 and no more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized
loans. The graduate debt limit includes Federal Loans received for undergraduate study.
The interest rate for the Federal Direct Loan Program is set at 6.8% and the repayment
terms are the same for both types of loans. Loans will be disbursed twice during the
semester, the first at the fifth (5) hour and the second after the drop/add period
of your last class of the semester. You must be enrolled in at least half-time status (half-time = 5 hours) as a degree
seeking student to receive the Federal Direct Loan. The 5.0 hours must be graduate
coursework required for the degree you are seeking.
File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), requesting the results
to be sent to McKendree University. Our federal school code number is 001722. This
is the same form required at every other university you apply to for financial aid.
You can complete the FAFSA electronically (http://www.fafsa.gov/) or by submitting the paper application (paper copy available by contacting the federal
processor or printing it from the FAFSA website). It is recommended you complete
the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 of the year you plan to enroll. Once
you have completed the FAFSA and it has been processed, you will receive a Student
Aid Report (SAR) and your information will be sent to each university with your expected
family contribution (EFC). This figure is used to determine your eligibility for
aid.
fafsa.gov
Complete the FAFSA as soon after January 1st as possible. The PIN mentioned below will allow a student to complete the application online and an expected family contribution (EFC) will be provided at the end of the process.
This is the site where a student can obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN). This number is unique to each individual and represents an electronic signature which can be used to sign your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a promissory note for a federal student loan.
McKendree School Code: 001722
Payment Plan
McKendree partners with Tuition Management Systems (TMS) to offer students an interest-free
monthly payment option. For an enrollment fee, the billing cost is spread out over
the time period that you are taking the courses. For more information please contact
the Business Office at 537-6868 or go online at http://www.afford.com/.
Employer Reimbursement
1. Only the amount that will be paid by the employer can be deferred. The entire
amount will be subject to interest charges until the student’s portion is paid.
2. A letter from the employer stating that the employee is eligible for tuition
reimbursement will be required each semester. Depending upon the employer’s tuition
reimbursement requirements, a copy of the policy from the company may be sufficient.
This letter should be submitted to the Business Office.
3. The employer should make McKendree the Payee (or at least the co-payee) on the
check.
4. Deferment period will terminate 30 days after the date grades are issued.
5. The balance will be subject to interest charges if payment is not received within
30 days from the date grades are issued.
Office of Graduate Admission
701 College Road Lebanon, IL 62254
618-537-6576
800-BEARCAT ext. 6576
graduate@mckendree.edu
