Some college-bound students are looking for a fresh start after high school. Others are hoping for some distance from mom and dad, while some simply want to live in a dorm on campus, so it’s not uncommon for teens to consider an educational option that’s far away from home – whether it’s in a different part of the state or across the country.
“They often think that they need to go away for that full college experience,” says Angela Boesler, the assistant director of recruitment at Walsh. “Sometimes students don’t realize you can receive that same experience close to home.”
At Walsh – with locations in Troy, Novi, Clinton Township, Farmington Hills, and Port Huron – students not only experience rigorous academics, they also receive career-focused opportunities that help them succeed well into their future.
“Walsh is where academic excellence, career building and outstanding placement come together to help our students move their careers forward,” says Patti Swanson, vice president, chief marketing enrollment officer at Walsh.
For students considering staying close to home for college, Boesler and Swanson weigh in on the advantages of a receiving a Walsh education.
Accelerated learning
What can students accomplish in five years? At Walsh, that is all you need to obtain a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Through FastTrack, the accelerated learning program, students can get both degrees side-by-side.
“Walsh students can earn their degree faster because our programs are structured around four 11-week semesters instead of 15-week semesters like most schools,” Swanson says.
Network, network, network
With a campus size of around 3,000 students, class sizes are small, which makes it easy to get to know peers – and receive more attention from faculty members.
“At Walsh, there are many opportunities for students to network.” Boesler says, including three networking groups, plus seven other organizations geared at accounting, marketing and more.
All that networking pays off for students who connect with Walsh grads for career advice and opportunities.
“Top companies want top people, and Walsh students are in high demand,” Swanson says. “Our alum work in every Fortune 500 company in Michigan.”
Save on spending
The average cost of attending a public four-year in-state university is $20,000, while out-of-state tuition for a public four-year university is nearly double. Multiply that by at least four years and many students are facing insurmountable debt by the time they graduate.
But at Walsh, students can obtain their degrees without carrying the weight of that post-graduation financial burden.
“Walsh is proud that our students don’t take on this additional debt,” Boesler says.
Many students who transfer to Walsh save anywhere from $35,000 to $60,000 on their education. They are able transfer up to 82 credits from a community college or 91 credits from a four-year university or college. In addition to saving money through transferring credits, Walsh students have access to $400,000 in scholarship funds.
Faculty and flexibility
Working full-time and being a student is common at Walsh, so the college offers flexibility through online courses and evening classes – and gives students the chance to enrollall year long to avoid having any conflicts between work and school.
Ninety percent of Walsh’s faculty is still working in the field they are teaching about, which means students are benefitting from their real-life experiences.
“Our faculty are industry experts who are thought leaders in their fields and bring their real-world experience into the classroom,” Swanson says. “We have small class environments with personal attention both on-ground and online. We like to say, ‘To be the best, learn from the best.'”
Find out more about the Walsh difference at WalshCollege.edu.
