Regent University was established in 1978 by Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson. He had a vision of creating a school that would help people represent Christ in their communities. Decades later, Regent University is now a full-fledged Christian university in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It offers associates, bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees on campus, Regent University online, and in hybrid formats.
Here’s What Makes Regent University Online Unique!
Regent University’s vision is to “be the most influential, Christian, transformational university in the world.”
Mission
Its mission is to serve as a “center of Christian thought and action to provide excellent education through a biblical perspective and global context equipping Christian leaders to change the world.” The school’s primary values are excellence, innovation, and integrity. Overall, Regent University is committed to an evangelical application of Christian faith. Its faculty and staff adhere to these beliefs, and they use them to infuse their curriculum and actions.
Christian Curriculum
Regent University offers a Christ-focused curriculum. Faculty, administrators, and other members of the campus and online community devote themselves to living purpose-driven and Christ-centered lives. As such, much of the curriculum and programming is designed to empower students academically, professionally, and spiritually.
Regent University strives to build leaders prepared to make a positive difference in their families, communities, and the world. They also hope to influence students to use their careers to do good work. Much of the programming at the school emphasizes the whole student. It promotes intellectual, social, and spiritual development.
Throughout the school year, students at Regent University can attend national forums designed to address current events and critical social issues. For these events, the school calls upon the expertise and knowledge of leaders throughout communities. Through national forums and other events, students can explore politics, religion, and other important subjects alongside classmates and faculty.
Course Length
Online programs at Regent offer 8- and 15-week course options. These options may be appealing for adult and non-traditional students who work full time, manage a family, or otherwise depend on flexible education. Add to this a team of online faculty and facilitators who want to help students meet their academic, professional, and spiritual goals, and you’ve got a unique online program.
Faculty at Regent University
In 2015, Regis University had 144 full-time faculty and 19 part-time faculty. All of its faculty focused on instructional work and not on research. [i] The student to faculty ratio at Regent University is 19 to 1. Sixty-one percent of its classes have fewer than 20 students. Thirty-eight percent of classes have 20-49 students. Regent University strives to have its faculty approachable and available to students to facilitate an excellent academic experience. Many of its faculty are established leaders and aligned with Regent’s most valued principles.
Regent University Online By the Numbers
Let’s take a look at some of the common numbers that help define Regent as a whole.
The Regent University Acceptance Rate
In Fall 2015, Regent University had 1,699 undergraduate applicants. Eighty-three percent of applicants were accepted in Fall 2016, and 29 percent of those accepted enrolled in classes in 2015. U.S. News gives Regent University an acceptance rate of 83 percent in 2017 and ranks it “selective.”
The Student Body
That same semester and year, Regent University had 6,950 students total. 2,853 were undergraduate students, and 4,097 were graduate students. 61 percent of undergraduate students attended full time; 39 percent of students attended part time. Of its graduate students, 75 percent attended part time, and 25 percent attended full time. More than half of Regent University’s undergraduate students were 25 years of age or older. Its undergraduate student population was nearly equally split between instate and out of state students. Of its undergraduate and graduate students, 59 percent and 71 percent were enrolled in 100% distance education respectively.
80 percent of undergraduate full time students who began their studies in Fall 2014 returned in Fall 2015. Of undergraduate part-time students, 67 percent did the same. The overall graduate rate at Regent University was 49 percent for students who began their studies in 2009.
Financial Aid at Regenti
To pay for their studies, full-time, new undergraduate students at Regent University used a variety of financial aid. In 2015-2016, 99 percent received aid. 88 percent received federal loans, and 37 percent received federal grants. 48 percent received local or state government grants and scholarships, and 94 percent received institutional grants or scholarships.
The Application Process and Admissions at Regent University
The application process for admission to Regent University varies by program type and level. In general, however, there are a few similarities.
- First, in most cases, Regent has eight application deadlines throughout the year.
- Second, students typically have to fill out an application and, in some cases, provide essays, a resume, and letters of recommendation.
- Third, students may have to submit test scores; SAT and ACT for undergraduate programs, and GRE or others for graduate programs.
- Fourth, international students will have to submit TOEFL scores if they live in a country in which English is not the primary language. They will also have to have a transcript evaluation.
- Fifth, adult, transfer, and non-traditional students might have to submit particular information.
- Finally, students will have to submit transcripts and evidence of GPAs from all other schools attended.
Admissions Requirements
Also, students applying to Regent University need to:
- Hold a high school diploma to apply for an undergraduate program.
- Hold a bachelors degree to apply for a masters program.
- Hold a masters degree to apply for a doctorate program.
Bachelors and masters degrees must come from accredited schools. And, depending on what students want to study, they might have to hold a degree in a particular subject.
Beyond these basics, students follow a program-specific application and admissions process. The application fee is $50.
Regent University Accreditation
At an institutional level, Regent University’s undergraduate and graduate schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. At the program level, Regent University holds additional accreditations and approvals.
- The American Bar Association fully approves Regent’s School of Law.
- The Commission of Accreditation of the American Psychology Association (APA) accredits the clinical psychology doctoral program.
- Some of the education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation.
These are just some examples. Other programs have other accreditations and approvals relevant to their content and intent. You can learn of particular programs’ accreditation status through Regent University.
[i] nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=231651
