Bloomsburg University at a glance

Affiliation, heritage: A four-year, public university, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is one of 14 members of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education. Founded in 1839 as the "Bloomsburg Literary Institute," programs of study include the arts and humanities, sciences, education, health care and business.

Programs of Study: 63 undergraduate majors leading to bachelor's degrees, 38 undergraduate minors, 18 graduate programs leading to master's degrees and a doctorate in audiology, and several certificate programs for professional educators.

Enrollment: 7,300 undergraduate and 740 graduate students, most from the eastern half of Pennsylvania. About 60 percent of the student population is female, and 10 percent are non-traditional students. More than 160 student organizations and a full spectrum of student support services.

Faculty: 383 full-time, with 70 percent holding doctoral degrees. All classes are taught by faculty; there are no teaching assistants.

Cost: About $5,700 per semester for Pennsylvania residents (tuition, fees, typical room and meal plans), $9,300 for non-residents. About 90 percent of all students receive some form of financial aid; average amount of aid is $10,026 per year. Support includes scholarships, grants, work-study, loans.

Location: north-central Pennsylvania, about a mile south of Exit 236, Interstate 80. The Town of Bloomsburg, population 12,000, is adjacent to the university campus. A prosperous business district with more than 80 retail merchants is two city blocks from most of the residence halls; major chain stores and a mall are nearby. Learn more about the quality of life in Pennsylvania's Heartland and more about the Town of Bloomsburg. The Columbia-Montour Visitor's Bureau offers information on lodging as well as points of interest and things to do in the region.

Campus: 54 buildings on 280 landscaped acres, divided into two parts. Lower campus: residence halls, academic buildings, student services, library, administrative buildings. Upper campus: two student apartment complexes, athletic facilities, university maintenance services. The campuses are linked by a shuttle bus that runs throughout the day.

Placement: More than 90 percent of Bloomsburg's graduates are quickly at work within their field, or advance to some of the nation's leading graduate programs. The university assists with career opportunities and internships.

Accreditations: Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, Council on Education of the Deaf, Council on Social Work Education, American Society of Exercise Physiologists, Educational Standards Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Audiology and Speech Pathology/PSB/ASHA Certified and National League for Nursing. Programs have been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, State Board of Nursing and the American Chemical Society.

Technology: Bloomsburg has a tradition of technology leadership, and the campus is networked, including residence hall rooms. Software is current, and network uptime is over 99 percent. In addition to four different computer-related academic programs, there are e-mail express stations around campus and eight strategically-located computer labs with 800 machines for students use, with more than 200 in Andruss Library alone. All students have e-mail accounts and unlimited Internet access, free use of subscription databases and server space for personal use.

Lifestyle: A wide array of student activities and programs, modern residence halls, exceptional campus dining, plus support services ranging from free tutoring to health and wellness, career development and professional advisement.

Service: In conjunction with academic programs, the university serves the region's schools, businesses and health care needs with a professional Speech, Hearing and Language Clinic; the Institute for Interactive Technologies, Corporate Institute, the Reading Center, Continuing Education programs.

Safety: Bloomsburg takes pride in the safety of its campus, with special emphasis placed on seven residence halls and two apartment complexes. The campus is continuously patrolled by university police, is well lighted and features emergency call boxes. Complete medical care services are available within minutes of any location on campus.

Athletics: Bloomsburg University offers strong intercollegiate athletic programs in 18 sports (nine for men, nine for women) and participates in NCAA Division II, except for wrestling (Division I). The university is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Team nickname: Huskies. School colors: Maroon and Gold.

Alumni: The university has an active alumni association to serve the needs of more than 40,000 graduates around the world.

Commitment: Bloomsburg University is an AA/EEO institution and is accessible to disabled persons. Bloomsburg University is committed to affirmative action by way of providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, disability or veteran status.