Flexible, Faith-Informed Liberal Arts Education at Lakeland
Lakeland University appears in our ranking of the Top 15 Most Affordable MBA in Hospitality Management Online Programs.
Featured in the U.S. News & World Report’s top 165 Midwest choices, Lakeland University is a private, nonprofit United Church of Christ CIC member in Sheboygan that offers 44 undergrad, six master’s, and three certificate programs, including 14 fully online, at a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. For example, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication has a 120-credit, four-year online curriculum that integrates accelerated seven-week courses like American Oratory and Rhetorial Criticism with The Mirror publishing practice for 95.4 percent job placement. Chaired by Dr. Greg Smith, the 120-credit Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Food Safety & Quality requires one 18-month co-op at Sargento, Old Wisconsin, SSL Industries, Masters Gallery Foods, and others for ICFSM certification.
Online on Blackboard, the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in English as a Second Language builds a 36-credit, CAEP-accredited track for current PreK-12 teachers to add bilingual endorsements after 700-level Web courses like Applied Linguistics and capstone projects with 70 percent retention. Directed by Dr. Scott Niederjohn, the Master of Science (M.S.) in Leadership and Organizational Development follows a 30-credit, 12-month path with 10 online specializations, such as Accounting, Human Resources, Supply Chain Management, or Hospitality.
Other Lakeland degrees include the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Arts in Writing, Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in Industrial Systems Analytics, and Master of Arts in Counseling.
About Lakeland University
Lakeland University originated on December 6, 1860, when German immigrant Christian Schoepfle became the first student of Mission House at the Town of Herman Church. In 1863, Pastor Herman Muehlmeier completed the first independent campus building. In 1875, Mission House received full seminary status from the German Reform Church. In 1888, it invested $20,000 to build the historic Old Main. One decade later, women were first admitted to Mission House. In 1914, forty-eight Mission House students entered the Armed Forces for World War I. In 1936, it began publishing the Mission House Mirror newspaper. By 1956, it was renamed Lakeland College for broader liberal arts instruction. In 1962, its seminary merged with the Yankton Theological School. In 1978, Lakeland unveiled its earliest adult degree completion program. In 1991, Lakeland College spread overseas for the Japan Campus in Tokyo. On July 1, 2016, Lakeland University adopted its current name.
Endowed for $18.5 million, Lakeland University now enrolls 3,138 undergrad and 835 post-grad Muskies from 24 countries online, abroad in Tokyo, on the 240-acre Plymouth campus, or at seven regional centers from Milwaukee to Fox Cities with 40+ clubs like Change Matters. In 2018, Lakeland received the Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation Grant for Free Enterprise Education. In 2019, Lakeland accepted the THINC! Conference’s Insight Innovation Award. Lakeland University Japan had the 2018 Kimura Ihei Award recipient too. WalletHub ranked Lakeland 89th for campus safety and 185th for career outcomes. On Niche, Lakeland boasts America’s 171st best Christian education, 204th best computer science degrees, and 243rd top criminal justice program. Money magazine declared Lakeland University the 508th top value. College Factual applauded Lakeland for the 197th best business education.
Lakeland University Accreditation Details
On August 2, 2019, the Higher Learning Commission on North Central Association (HLC-NCA) issued a new Institutional Status Report for Lakeland University that extended the Level III accreditation through 2028-29 under the 17th president, Dr. David Black. Located 150 miles down Interstate 94 in Chicago, Illinois, this giant 19-state Great Lakes Region accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Further, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredited Lakeland in 2018. Lakeland University also plans to achieve Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) approval by Fall 2020.
Lakeland University Application Requirements
Enrollment at Lakeland University is classified “minimally difficult” by Peterson’s though just 528 of the 687 Fall 2018 applicants were triumphant for competitive 77 percent acceptance. First-year Muskies must be graduating high school seniors, homeschooled students, or GED recipients. It’s recommended freshmen have four college-prep units of English and math. Sixty-five percent of undergrads rank in the top half of their classes. Admitted bachelor’s majors have an average 3.0 GPA. The middle 50th percentile have ACT scores of 18-23. Mid-range SAT composite scores are 970-1140. Non-traditional students can transfer up to 72 junior college and 90 university credits graded C or better. Foreign residents must complete ELS Level 112 or present 500 TOEFL pBT, 6.0 IELTS, and higher scores. Graduate programs seek four-year bachelor’s completion with minimum 2.75 GPAs overall. The Master of Arts in Counseling has nine prerequisite behavioral science credits. Online M.Ed. cohorts need valid PreK-12 teacher certification in any state. Business students with GPAs below 2.75 must achieve GMAT scores above 500.
Lakeland University has adopted a convenient rolling admission policy for each seven-week semester. Fall entrants can currently apply until August 19th and October 14th. Incoming Spring cohorts are welcome until January 12th and March 9th. Final deadlines are May 20th and June 10th for Summer starts. Accordingly, log into the Future Muskies Portal to submit the free ($50 if graduate) Lakeland Application online. Forward official transcripts to W3718 South Drive in Plymouth, WI 53073. Directly submit test results using SAT/TOEFL code 1393 or ACT code 4592. Fulfill supplemental steps, such as the on-site formal interview, reflection paper, 1-2 references, resume, teacher license verification, and I-20 form. Contact (800) 569-2166 or [email protected] with questions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, Lakeland University is billing traditional full-time undergrads $14,288 per semester or $28,576 annually. Bachelor’s students cover the $466 general fee and $186 campus center fee each term. Student teaching tuition is priced $14,288. Residing at the Plymouth campus’ dorms like Grosshuesch Hall adds $4,546 to $9,146 for yearly rent. Muskie 200-meal plans for Younger Family Center are $5,012 extra. Lakeland budgets $1,100 for books and $3,690 for miscellaneous. Annual full-time undergrad attendance equals about $42,276 on-site or $33,660 if commuting. Online baccalaureate courses are $520 per credit or $1,560 each. Graduate students typically spend $627 per credit or $1,881 each class. The MBA and MS-LOD programs charge slightly more at $648 per credit.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid & Educational Funding Office helps 100 percent of incoming Lakeland Muskies receive tuition assistance averaging $19,149 each for $3.33 million combined. Institutional funds include the Garland Schilcutt Business Scholarship, School of Humanities & Fine Arts Scholarship, Andras Viski Piano Scholarship, Helen Boatwright Music Scholarship, Colonel Yong Chue Yang Scholarship, Ulrich Center for Ethics Scholarship, Sheboygan County Scholars Award, Dean’s Transfer Scholarship, Catharine Stayer Scholarship, Hurvis Family Scholarship, Buddy Scholarship, and Legacy Discount Scholarship. The Presidential Scholarship gifts $16,000 each year for freshmen meeting the 3.5 GPA or 1250 SAT minimum. The $4,000 Cooperative Education Scholarship assists undergrads gaining 12-18 months of real-world work experience. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, require FAFSA forms coded 003854. Badger State natives also pursue the Academic Excellence Scholarship, Wisconsin Covenant Scholars Grant, Dual Enrollment Credential Grant, and Lawton Retention Grant.
Explore three accredited academic divisions conferring 50+ Christ-centered degrees placed 599th overall by The Economist at the Lakeland University website.