Key Takeaways:
- Brenau University offers diverse undergraduate and graduate programs both on-campus and online, with a low student-faculty ratio of 9:1.
- Financial aid is widely accessible, with over 85% of students receiving assistance; the average aid package is $17,000.
- The university has a strong historical background, starting in 1878, and includes a prominent Women’s College with significant programs in fine arts and leadership.
Brenau University Degrees & Programs
Brenau University appears in our ranking of the Top 5 PhD in Early Childhood Education Online Programs.
Featured Programs
Brenau University offers programs at the undergraduate and graduate level from its campus in Georgia, as well as via online study for students in other locations. Some of the most popular programs at the university are in health professions, business, education, the performing arts, and biology. The freshman retention rate is 62 percent, and the student-faculty ratio is a low 9:1, with around 77 percent of classes having fewer than 20 students enrolled.
Programs at Brenau University are offered by the College of Business & Mass Communication, the College of Fine Arts & Humanities, and the Sidney O. Smith Jr. Graduate School. Classes are also offered by the College of Education and College of Health Sciences, as well as at regional centers in cities like Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Brenau University Online.
High school students may qualify for dual enrollment at the university. Prospective dual enrollment students must undergo a separate application process and qualify for enrollment as a junior or senior at their high school. With approval from a high school counselor, students can enroll in classes that will count toward their high school curriculum requirements, as well as a future college degree.
One of the benefits of the dual enrollment program is that students can earn postsecondary credits at no cost through the dual enrollment program. Similarly, prospective students who choose to study online may enjoy a reduced overall rate for attending college by eliminating the need to travel to campus, live in a residential hall, or relocate to Georgia.
A selection of online topics available for study for undergraduate students includes elementary education, organizational leadership, business, human resource management, operations management, and health care administration. Students can also enroll in programs in psychology, marketing, finance, and accounting.
Degree options include Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Business Administration degrees. The bulk of the programs available online are at the graduate level and include degrees like the Master of Education in Special Education, the Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design, and the Master of Business Administration.
About Brenau University
Brenau University was established in 1878 with a campus in Gainesville, Georgia. The university also operates campuses in Augusta, Atlanta, and Jacksonville, Florida. The school has more than 3,500 students attending with about half of those students enrolled in undergraduate courses, and the other half enrolled in graduate school. The university’s official colors are gold and black, and the sports teams are nicknamed the Golden Tigers.
The school began its existence as an institution dedicated to training women, and the campus features many historical buildings built during the early years of its existence. Today, the university still has a women’s college that offers classes to residential and commuter students. The Women’s College of Brenau University is recognized for its programs in fine arts and leadership. The university also once had a division called Brenau Academy that offered remedial classes to new college students who needed additional instruction.
Brenau University Accreditation Details
Brenau University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The most recent reaffirmation of the university’s accreditation occurred in 2011 at the conclusion of a 10-year cycle. Successful accreditation allows students to participate in Title IX funding through the U.S. government’s federal financial aid program. Accreditation also allows the university to award college degrees.
Some of the additional agencies and commissions that have accredited or approved programs at the university include the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The university’s programs are also accredited by the Collegiate Commission for Nursing Education, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for Teacher Education Programs, and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Brenau University Application Requirements
Students may use the official application for Brenau University, or they may fill out the Common Application when they apply. Application requirements include the official application and submission of high school transcripts. Students who want to qualify for merit-based scholarships or participate in sports programs may want or need to submit standardized test scores from the SAT or ACT. Students can contact the Office of Admissions if they want to know whether they should submit scores.
For graduate students, the application process is tied to the program in which a student wants to enroll. There are more than 50 graduate programs available at the university. Students will choose an application for the College of Business & Communication, the College of Education, or the Executive Women’s MBA program. There are also separate applications for the College of Fine Arts, College of Health Sciences, and various professional programs.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The first step in applying for financial aid at Brenau University is submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Submission will allow the student to qualify for state-based, institutional, and federal aid. Students pay a rate at Brenau University that corresponds to the level of their degree program and the specific program in which they enroll. For example, students who enroll in the Women’s College as full-time, residential students will pay $21,781.85 per semester for most programs.
Meanwhile, students who enroll in health sciences programs within the Women’s College will pay a slightly different rate of $22,488.75 per semester. Students who choose an associate’s degree program will pay $564 per credit hour. Bachelor’s degree seekers will pay $651 per credit hour. Graduate students will pay $713 per credit hour for the business program, $15,375 per semester for the occupational therapy program, and $630 per credit hour for the education program.
Students must take at least three credit hours as a graduate student or six credit hours as an undergraduate student to qualify for financial aid. Some of the scholarships and grants available to students include the Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant for Georgia residents in undergraduate programs and the HOPE Scholarship for students who have cumulative GPAs of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
There are also opportunities to qualify for military discounts like a discounted rate of $250 per credit hour for active-duty military, National Guard, and Reserve students. Overall, more than 85 percent of the students who enroll at Brenau University receive some type of financial assistance, and the average financial aid package is $17,000. Students may want to use an external scholarship search engine for additional tuition assistance for programs at Brenau University.