Graduate Students

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Start to Finish – Our Hoop-Free Path to Grad School

Everything about Franklin University – from our academic programs to course formats and student services – is designed specifically for working adults, like you, who balance multiple priorities. Our admission process is no exception. Because we value your time, we keep things straightforward and hassle free.

The Admissions team guides you through each phase, answering questions and providing resources that save you time. Our team empowers you to succeed – from start to finish. The information below details, step-by-step, everything you’ll need to know from application to orientation.

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Master’s-Level Admission Requirements

All prospective graduate students must meet the following minimum requirements:

Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or its equivalent from a foreign institution.
Have earned at least a 2.75 grade-point-average (on a 4 point scale). Applicants who do not have a 2.75 GPA may need to provide GMAT or GRE scores. The candidate’s work history, references, and other personal qualities and characteristics will be considered as well.
Be proficient in English: Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency.

Some program's prerequisites and application deadlines vary according to course start date. Please use the links below to view the requirements and deadlines for a particular program:

M.S. in Accounting

MBA

M.S. in Business Psychology

M.S. Computer Science

Master of Healthcare Administration

M.S. in Human Resources Management

M.S. Instructional Design & Learning Technology

M.S. Marketing & Communication

MSN

MSN-FNP

Master of Public Administration

DBA Admission Requirements

To be eligible to apply for this program, you must have:

A completed master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
A minimum of 30 hours of graduate coursework in a business-related field
Master’s degree cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. If your GPA is less than 3.0, you may need to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

DBA Program

DHA Admission Requirements

To be eligible to apply for this program, you must have:

A completed master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
A minimum of 30 hours of graduate coursework in a healthcare-related field
Master’s degree cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. If your GPA is less than 3.0, you may need to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

DHA Program

DPS Admission Requirements

To be eligible to apply for this program, you must have:

A completed master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
A minimum of 15 hours of graduate coursework in an instructional design-related field or 3 years of work experience in training or instructional design, or education technology. Professional credentials, licenses, certificates, or other related advanced professional designations will also be accepted and considered as a part of the professional experience.
Master’s degree cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. If your GPA is less than 3.0, you may need to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

DPS Program

Ed.D. Admission Requirements

To be eligible to apply for this program, you must have:

A completed master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
Master’s degree cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. If your GPA is less than 3.0, you may need to take a graduate entrance exam

Ed.D. Program

Time

Cost

Completion

Notes

How Long will it Take?

On average, our online application can be completed in 20 minutes.
Once submitted, applications are processed within 48 hours.

How Much Will It Cost?

For master’s programs, there is a $30 application fee
For doctoral programs, there is a $50 application fee

Both of these fee can be waived for Franklin University alumni and current military service members.

How will I know It’s Complete?
A member of our Admissions team will contact you within 48 hours to provide you with a username, password, and link to our myTools applicant system so you can track the status of your application.

Notes & Tips
Admission requirements vary based on the program and start date you choose. Be sure to review program specific requirements as you evaluate your start date.

Start Your Franklin Application

Submit Support Material

Transcripts

For students pursuing a master’s degree
Send your official, sealed transcripts from all of the colleges or universities where you completed your bachelor’s degree and any master’s-level coursework.

For students pursuing a doctoral degree
Send your official, sealed transcripts from all of the colleges or universities where you have completed a regionally accredited master’s degree and doctoral-level coursework.

Contact your previous school's Registrar's Office to request your transcript be sent directly to Franklin at the address listed below. There are no costs or fees related to us receiving and evaluating your transcripts, however, other institutions may charge a processing fee when you request your transcripts. You can expect to spend $3- $10 per transcript and should allow 7-10 days for them to be received.

Franklin University Graduate Admissions Office
201 S. Grant Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215

Electronic transcripts should be emailed to transcripts@franklin.edu.

Note: Transcripts from post-secondary institutions outside the US must be submitted to an approved third-party transcript evaluation agency.

Essay

Your 500-800 word essay enables the admission committee to understand how you'll contribute to the University's graduate programs. It also helps to demonstrate your ability to think clearly and critically.

For this essay you will be asked to "Describe your motivations for pursuing a graduate degree at this stage of your professional and personal development. Discuss your ability to be a successful student within your intended degree program."

Your essay should:

Be typewritten or computer-generated and single-spaced
Include your full name as submitted on your Application for Admission

Submit your essay through your applicant portal or email it to graduate.admissions@franklin.edu.

Résumé

Detail your professional experience, including jobs, year-of-service experiences, and volunteer opportunities that are relevant to your field of study and future career by submitting an up-to-date, one to two-page résumé.

Your résumé must include:

Your current work experience
Your full name as submitted on your Application for Admission

Submit your résumé through your applicant portal or email it to graduate.admissions@franklin.edu.

Nursing Applicants

In addition to submitting your transcripts, résumé, and personal statement, applicants to the M.S. in Nursing (MSN) and M.S. in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) programs must also complete the following steps.

Submit Nursing License Information: Complete this online form to submit your licensure information. Applicants must have a valid, active RN license in the U.S. or in a jurisdiction that is an associate member of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCBSN). Applicants holding the equivalent of an RN licensure or certification outside the U.S. must submit a Credential Evaluation Services (CES) Academic Report from the Council of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).
Complete Handbook Review: Review the MSN Program Handbook and complete the Acknowledgement of Receipt of the MSN Program Handbook.
Submit Disclosures*: Complete the Criminal History Disclosure. (*MSN-FNP applicants only.)

International Applicants

If you are an international student, your admission process will require additional steps. Please visit our International Admissions section for detailed information about the process.

Time

Cost

Completion

Notes

How Long will it Take?
Everyone's writing timeline is different. You should plan to write 2-3 drafts before submitting your essay to ensure its concise and error-free. We recommend having a colleague or mentor review it during the writing process.

You should allow 7-10 days for us to receive your transcripts from your previous schools.

How Much Will It Cost?
There are no costs or fees related to us receiving and evaluating your transcripts, however, other institutions (colleges & high schools) may charge a processing fee when you request your transcripts. You can expect that cost to be between $3-$10 per institution.

How will I know It’s Complete?
Typically, within 10 days after the Admission Committee reviews your application, your admissions advisor will notify you of your acceptance in the program.

Notes & Tips
You can check your applicant portal to make sure all of your materials have been received.

Finance Your Education

Employer Tuition Reimbursement

Many of our graduate students take advantage of tuition assistance programs offered by their employer.

Some students are reimbursed by their employers upon receipt of each trimester's grades (Deferred Tuition Reimbursement), while other employers pay the University directly for student tuition.

Get in touch with your HR department to learn how they can support your education. We'll work with you to ensure that you have any paperwork required to take advantage of this great benefit.

Federal Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to qualified students who apply to Franklin.

To find out if you're eligible for federal financial aid, complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online application.

Be sure to include the Franklin University FAFSA code: 003046.

Apply For Federal Financial Aid

Payment Options

When you register for classes, you will receive a statement of tuition and fees. These are due by the first day of class unless you have:

Enrolled in an installment payment plan (The installment payment plan allows students to make scheduled payments throughout the trimester)
Enrolled in a deferred tuition reimbursement plan

The University accepts eChecks (ACH), MasterCard®, VISA®, American Express® and Discover® credit card payments.

View More Information About Payment Options

Time

cost

Completion

Notes

How Long will it Take?

The process to secure financing will depend on how you decide to pay for your education. Be sure to have conversations about your options early with your admissions advisor to determine the best course of action.
If applying for federal financial aid, you can expect your application to be processed within a few days after it has been submitted.

How Much Will It Cost?
There are no costs or fees related to applying for financial aid, scholarships or grants.

How will I know It’s Complete?

Knowing when you've secured financing will depend on how you decide to pay for your education. If you applied for financial aid, then receiving, reviewing and submitting your signed financial aid award letter will mean you've completed the process.
You can also log into our MyTools applicant system to check the status of the documents required for financial aid.

Notes & Tips
If applying for financial aid, please be sure to meet the priority deadlines listed below. These dates ensure we are able to process your funding before your first term payment is due.

Summer Financial Aid Priority Deadline: March 15
Fall Financial Aid Priority Deadline: June 15
Spring Financial Aid Priority Deadline: Oct. 1

Register For Classes

Time

Cost

Completion

Notes

How Long will it Take?

Your advisor will contact you within 48 hours to register for your first class.
The registration appointment will take approximately 30 minutes.

How Much Will It Cost?
There are no fees related to registering for classes.

How will I know It’s Complete?
You will receive an email with your registration statement.

Notes & Tips

An academic advisor will serve as your personal contact from your first class all the way through graduation to help keep you on track and connect you to important resources along the way.
As a doctoral student you will have the added benefit of working closely with a faculty advisor to help guide your research interests and coursework selection.

Attend Your Online Orientation

Time

Cost

Completion

Notes

How Long will it Take?
The Online Orientation takes about 8 hours to complete and can be completed at your own pace. It is recommended that you complete it prior to your first class, but it will remain open during your first trimester as a resource.

How Much Will It Cost?
There are no costs or fees related to orientation.

How will I know It’s Complete?
At the end of your orientation session, you will be asked to complete a simple quiz to ensure you clearly understood the content. Once you've submitted the quiz, your orientation is complete.

Notes & Tips
You'll get access to online course materials for your first class a few days before the term begins. Take an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the assignment schedule and make a plan for the term.

Online Course Demo Six Reasons Online Studies Are Awesome

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Franklin University Founded in 1902, Franklin is an accredited nonprofit university offering flexible college degrees online and at locations in Ohio and the Midwest.

Franklin University
201 S Grant Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215

Local: 614.797.4700
Toll Free: 1.877.341.6300
admissions@franklin.edu

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (1.800.621.7440) and authorized by the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

This institution is authorized by the Indiana Board for Proprietary Education, 101 W. Ohio St., Suite 670, Indianapolis, IN 46204-1984.

Franklin University is committed to being an inclusive community free from all forms of discrimination and harassment.

Start to Finish – Our Hoop-Free Path to Grad School

No GMAT or GRE

14-20 Month Completion

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Finance Your Education

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Register For Classes

Prepare for your success as a Franklin student

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