Friends University
Friends University is a private, non-denominational Christian university founded in 1898. Its main building, located in Wichita, Kansas, used to house Garfield University, a school owned by the Christian Churches of Kansas, which closed down in 1893 due to lack of much-needed funds to run the school.
In 1898, James Davis, a St. Louis businessman, bought the property and donated it to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) who officially opened the doors of Friends University to its first batch of undergraduate students in September 1898.
The core of Friends University’s curriculum is a comprehensive study of liberal arts and sciences combined with professional courses within the context of Christian faith. Its mission is “to provide education that will widen horizons and free the mind.”
In pursuit of its goals, the university offers its students a wide range of degree programs through its College of Business, Arts, Science and Education (CBASE), its College of Adult Professional Studies (CAPS) and its degree completion program that allows students to enroll in courses outside of the main campus. Master’s degrees in such fields of study as Christian Ministry, Business, Teaching, Health Care, and Management are offered in the Graduate School.
The university is known for offering courses that are not commonly available in other schools like its Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet and Bachelor of Science in Zoo Science.
Cost of tuition for full-time undergraduate students is US$9,465 per semester and US$631 per credit hour for part-time students. The cost varies for Graduate School courses depending on the chosen field of study.
On-campus housing is available and recommended but not required. Financial aid by way of grants and loans are extended to students who apply for it.
For more information about admissions, financial aid or online learning opportunities such as distance education degree programs and online classes, please contact Friends University.