Manchester College - Overview
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Manchester College is a college of the liberal arts and sciences in North Manchester, Indiana. About 1,275 undergraduate students come from 22 states and 20 countries.
Manchester's 75 faculty members are passionate about their disciplines, and the extremely low student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1 ensures that students are educated in a nurturing and supportive environment. Ninety-four percent of Manchester's courses are taught by full-time faculty, and 84 percent of faculty members hold Ph.D.s or the highest degree in their fields.
A Wide Range of Academic Program
Manchester College students earn Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 55 areas of study. These include both broad areas such as biology, chemistry, environmental studies, elementary education, accounting, and social work, and more specific specialized subjects, such as biotechnology, management, marketing, peace studies, and sports management.
The school also offers two-year Associate of Arts degrees in computer applications, criminal justice, early childhood education, and gerontology, and master's degrees in education and athletic training. Manchester has applied for pre-candidate accreditation status for a new School of Pharmacy to award the Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.) and plans to admit its first class in fall 2012.
Exceptional Pre-Professional Tracks
Manchester offers several pre-professional tracks, including those in pre-law, pre-pharmacy and pre-medicine.
Over the last five years, 70 percent of Manchester's pre-med graduates who applied to medical school were accepted, well above the national average of 47 percent.
Students who study law also do exceptionally well. Over the last decade, 70 percent of applicants from Manchester College have gained admission to law school. The national average is 63 percent.
The school's programs in the health sciences include concentrations in pre-pharmacy, pre-dentistry, pre-optometry, pre-veterinary medicine, medical technology, pre-occupational therapy, pre-physical therapy, and athletic training. Students who choose these concentrations have opportunities for internships at one of three local hospitals.
A Commitment to Service
A basic tenet of Manchester College is service to others. Last year, Manchester students contributed more than 35,000 hours of service to the college, surrounding communities, and churches.
Opportunities for service include working with local food banks, disabled individuals, emotionally troubled youth, seniors, Habitat for Humanity, and tutoring with the Indiana Reading Corps.
A Thriving Religious Life
Rooted in the values of the Church of the Brethren, a Christian denomination recognized as a historic peace church, Manchester College welcomes persons of all faith traditions and encourages religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity.
Manchester College maintains a rich religious life that encourages students to nurture their faith in God through worship, fellowship, learning, and service, and to dedicate their lives to justice, peace, kindness, and love.
Religious life on campus is facilitated by the campus pastor and includes a student-run interfaith board and the Religious Life Committee, which is composed of faculty, staff, and students. The Religious Life Program includes weekly chapel services, spirituality groups, Bible studies, service projects, retreats, dialogues, and guest speakers.
A School That Wins Recognition
Manchester has consistently garnered recognition for its academic programs. It has received the America's Best Colleges ranking from "U.S. News and World Report" for 16 consecutive years, and in 2010 received sixth in its "Great Schools, Great Prices" category. The Princeton Review ranks Manchester as a Best in the Midwest, and the school's students or graduates have received 28 prestigious Fulbright scholarships -- more per student than at any other Indiana college or university.
A Vibrant Student Experience
Manchester students have plenty of opportunities outside the classroom.
Student-athletes participate in 19 men's and women's NCAA Division III varsity sports, and more than 75 percent of students participate in intramural sports. The College offers more than 60 clubs and organizations, including dance team, campus newspaper, comedy improvisation, ministries, and student government.
Manchester students live a short drive away from Fort Wayne, Indiana's second largest city and home to museums, a zoo, sports games, shopping, movies, and restaurants.
Many Opportunities for Learning and Growth
Manchester's Success Center offers a high level of support to help students reach their goals. The school's academic support services include workshops in time management, note taking, and test preparation.
Career Services offers an online image review, job shadowing and mock interviews. The Writing Center has writing consultants and workshops for students to polish their skills.
Counseling Services has individualized counseling and support groups, and Health Services includes health education and vaccines.
In addition, Manchester College runs an honors program that is open to students with a grade point average of 3.5 or better. Honors students are eligible for special courses, can choose to write a thesis, and receive an honors diploma.
Fast Forward Allows Students to Graduate in Just Three Years
Fast Forward gives students the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in just three years. Students take the same number of classes as in a four-year program, but with a more aggressive fall and spring schedule, January session, two summer sessions, and online classes. Fast Forward provides all the benefits of a four-year degree, while allowing savings of as much as $25,000 in tuition, fees, and room and board.
The Fast Forward program is available for students in every major, so students can start a career immediately after graduation or begin graduate school a year earlier. However, students enrolled in Fast Forward can choose to return to a four-year program at any time.
The Fast Forward program isn't for everyone. But for dedicated, motivated students who are ready for a challenge, it's a great way to get a head start on the future.
Generous Financial Aid
Central to Manchester's mission is affordability. To this end, 100 percent of students receive financial aid.
The College offers a need-based financial aid package. To be eligible, students must be seeking their bachelor's degree, be enrolled full time, file the FAFSA by the Indiana deadline, and maintain good academic standing.
A Global Perspective
In an effort to produce worldly, well-rounded citizens, Manchester has many opportunities for learning beyond the campus boundaries. During January session, students can either study at the College or at sites around the world such as India, Greece, Central America, and Mexico.
For those who want to study abroad for a longer period of time, Manchester students can enroll in classes for a semester, a year, or a summer session in various global locations such as China, India, and Spain.