OVERVIEW

Kaplan University is owned by Kaplan, Inc., a subsidiary of the Washington Post Company, which owns and operates for-profit colleges. It has more than 66,000 online and on-campus students each year, with 3,600 instructors, professors and administrators.

Founded in 1937, the university is located in Davenport, Iowa, United States. In Iowa, Nebraska and Maryland it has 10 campuses, as well as one Kaplan University Learning Center in Milwaukee, moreover, there are some online student support centers in Florida, Illinois and Arizona.

The university offers degrees in associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s programs. The average freshman retention rate of the university is 71% and the 6-year graduation rate is 31%, which is low.

The mission of Kaplan University is:

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

ACCREDITATION

The university is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission as a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

ACADEMICS

Kaplan University comprises ten schools:

• Arts and Sciences
• Business
• Criminal Justice
• Education
• Health Sciences
• Information Systems and Technology
• Legal Studies
• Nursing
• Kaplan Continuing Education
• Concord Law School of Kaplan University

The university is not currently ranked by US News and World Report.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for the university are not required to have neither SAT nor ACT scores, but High school diploma is necessary and GED is accepted. Among academic factors considered standardized test scores is the most important one and within nonacademic factors considered extracurrilar activities is not taken into consideration. Unlike other universities, it requires an admission interview but neither requires nor recommends general college-preparatory programs.

COSTS AND FINANCIAL AID

The tuitions and fees for year 2011-2012 is USD 15,627. Students have to pay for USD 5,616 for year 2011-2012 for room and board.

The university’s average total indebtedness of 2010 graduating class is $12,885, and graduating students who have borrowed in 2010 rearched 91.0%. In addition to some scholarships provided by the university and state, students can choose to apply for different types of loans.