University of Scranton - Overview

A Jesuit and Catholic institution in Pennsylvania's Pocono northeast region, The University of Scranton is known for its personal approach to education, one in which individuals are respected and cherished for their unique talents, aspirations and vocations. Founded in 1888, Scranton offers 66 undergraduate programs of study, 44 minors, 38 concentrations and tracks, 19 combined or accelerated bachelor's and Master's programs, 31 Master's degree programs either online or on-campus, and doctoral programs in Physical Therapy, Nursing Practice and Business Administration (Accounting). The core curriculum integrates the liberal arts into each academic program, providing students with the critical thinking, writing and public speaking skills that employers and graduate schools demand.

Each year approximately 60 of the most qualified freshmen join the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program (SJLA). As an alternative approach to satisfying general education requirements, this unique, four-year program pairs selected students with designated faculty in a curriculum that is deeply rooted in philosophy and dedicated to serving the common good.

Open to students from all majors, our Business Leadership Honors Program allows students to explore basic theories and concepts of leadership through special seminars and courses in management, ethics, strategy and analysis. This highly selective program accepts 15 sophomores each spring. Open to all majors, the Honors Program each year accepts between 40 and 50 of our most able sophomores, giving them the opportunity to take seminars together and to work one on one with professors both in tutorials and on projects.

Students and alumni are supported in their plans for career, graduate school, fellowships and full-time volunteer service by our Gerard R. Roche Center for Career Development. More than 96% of the Class of 2017 were employed, continuing their education or engaged in service within 6 months of graduating. Of the 1,023 applicants to doctoral health professions schools over the past 18 years, an average of 79% were accepted. In the past four years, more than 150 Scranton graduates have received acceptance into more than 50 law schools in the United States.

 Since 1972, Scranton students have received 156 Fulbrights and other prestigious international fellowships. The Chronicle of Higher Education listed Scranton among the top producers of Fulbright awards for American students for 11 consecutive years. In the past 15 years, students have earned five Truman Scholarships, 12 Goldwater Scholarships and a Mitchell Scholarship. In the past 10 years, four students were named to USA Today's All-USA College Academic Team. Scranton's athletics programs boast three NCAA national titles, 16 NCAA Final Four appearances, 108 NCAA Tournament appearances and 161 conference championships. Student-athletes have been named All-American 64 times, Academic All-American on 35 occasions and have received 16 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships.

In recent years, the University has invested more than $245 million in campus improvements, including new residence halls, an athletics campus, a science center and the state-of-the-art Leahy Hall, which houses our physical therapy, occupational therapy and exercise science departments. In addition to being ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 10 master's universities in the North for 24 consecutive years, Scranton's other national rankings include best campus food, best science labs, best college dorms, healthiest, friendliest, best values in private colleges, best buys in college education and recognition for business programs in the AACSB-accredited Kania School of Management. For the past 16 years, The Princeton Review has included Scranton among its Best Colleges. As recognized by the highly selective Carnegie Classification in Community Engagement, Scranton students are committed to service, performing more than 170,000 hours of volunteer service each year. see less