Facts About Us
History
Founded in 1888 as Saint Thomas College by the Most Reverend William G. O’Hara, D.D., Scranton’s first bishop, Scranton achieved university status in 1938 and was entrusted to the care of the Society of Jesus in 1942.
Mission Statement
The University of Scranton is a Catholic and Jesuit university animated by the spiritual vision and the tradition of excellence characteristic of the Society of Jesus and those who share its way of proceeding. The University is a community dedicated to the freedom of inquiry and personal development fundamental to the growth in wisdom and integrity of all who share its life.
Accreditations
The University has earned accreditation from 16 different accrediting agencies, including recognition by the nation’s most prestigious bodies in the fields of business and management, nursing, computer science, physical therapy, occupational therapy, chemistry and counseling.
- Our Accreditations
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
American Chemical Society
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
Council for Standards in Human Service Education
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
Council on Rehabilitation Education
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
Students
The student population, including undergraduate, adult, part-time and graduate students, is approximately 5,811 About 83 percent of full-time freshmen live on campus.
| Schools and Colleges (Year Established) |
Enrollment Fall 2009 |
| College of Arts and Sciences (1888) | 1,845 |
| College of Graduate and Continuing Education (2006) (Graduate Programs since 1951; Part-time Programs since 1923) |
1,827 |
| Arthur J. Kania School of Management (1978) | 898 |
| J.A. Panuska, S.J., College of Professional Studies (1987) | 1,241 |
| Total | 5,811 |
| Undergraduate Students | 4,154 |
| Men | 1,807 (43.5%) |
| Women | 2,347 (56.5%) |
| Full-Time Traditional Graduate Students | 510 |
| Men | 176 (34.5%) |
| Women | 334 (65.5%) |
| Primary States of Origin (Full-time Undergraduates) | |
| Pennsylvania | 44.5% |
| New Jersey | 28.4% |
| New York | 21.5% |
| Other | 5.6% |
| PRIMARY COUNTIES OF ORIGIN (PENNSYLVANIA UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS) | |
| Lackawanna | 37.7% |
| Luzerne | 12.5% |
| Montgomery | 7.9% |
| Bucks | 6.5% |
| Delaware | 5.2% |
| Philadelphia | 4.4% |
| Wayne | 3.8% |
| Monroe | 3.3% |
| Chester | 3.2% |
Academic Programs
| Bachelor's Degree Programs | 59 |
| Master's Degree Programs | 23 |
| Minors | 43 |
| Undergraduate Concentrations/Tracks | 29 |
| Doctor of Physical Therapy | 1 |
Faculty
78% of Scranton’s instructional faculty hold doctoral or other terminal degrees in their fields. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1. The average class size is approximately 23 students.
| Full-Time Faculty |
276 |
| Men | 162 (59%) |
| Women | 114 (41%) |
| Minorities | 32 (12%) |
| Jesuits | 8 (3%) |
| Tenured Faculty |
178 (64%) |
Alumni
Scranton’s 42,500 graduates are all members of the Alumni Society, which has 20 clubs worldwide. Visit the Alumni Web site at www.scranton.edu/alumni.
Campus
The University has constructed 25 new buildings, including a campus center, and renovated 38 others since 1984. A new, unified science center is slated for completion in the fall of 2011. In total, the University is investing more than $180 million in projects to transform its 56-acre campus.
Location
Situated off Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Northeast region, The University of Scranton is easily reached by car and air. Driving time to New York City, Philadelphia and Syracuse is just two hours, with Boston and Washington, D.C., less than five hours away.
Library
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library, which boasts 493,350 volumes and 16,162 non-print items, is the leading academic library in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Library offers such electronic resources as an online catalog, 150 Internet Index/Databases, over 15,630 full-text journals, 13,900 full-text books online and 24/7 chat reference assistance. The entire building has wireless connection to the Internet. There are 83 Internet workstations in the library, including 33 machines available 24 hours a day. The University Archives and Special Collections houses University historical records, rare books, faculty publications and other special collections.
Athletics
Scranton sponsors 18 NCAA Division III (non-scholarship) athletic programs – nine for men and nine for women. The University is affiliated with the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and is a member of the Landmark Conference. The conference is comprised of colleges and universities from the Mid-Atlantic region who share similar philosophies regarding the role of athletics as part of the overall collegiate experience. In addition, more than 3,000 students participate each year in leagues, weekend special events and tournaments through the department of intramurals and recreational sports.
Community Resources
Events Calendar:
www.scranton.edu/events
Events and Information Line:
(570) 941-7768
The Hope Horn Gallery presents art exhibits, hosts guest speakers and conducts gallery workshops with local school and community groups. For information, visit www.scranton.edu/gallery.
The University Players offer a variety of student-produced plays that are presented to the community at a nominal charge. For information, visit
www.scranton.edu/players.
Performance Music presents or performs an array of concerts, recitals and guest performances. Performances are open to the public and are free of charge. For information, visit www.scranton.edu/music.
Costs
| Tuition, 2009-10 | |
| Undergraduate | $32,824 |
| Please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for details. | |
| Graduate |
$813/credit |
| Room and Board, 2009-10 | |
| University Residences | $6,766 - $7,868 |
| University Meal Plans | $3,294 - $4,674 |
Finances FY2008-2009
| Revenues | $162,658,391 |
| Operating Expenditures | $162,658,391 |
| Endowment (Market value as of 5/31/09) |
$94,596,383 |
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Full-time Freshmen (2009-10)
88% receive financial aid
Average Freshman Aid Package (2009-10)
$23,619 (exclusive of parent loans)


