Champlain College - Graduate Studies

WELCOME TO CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE GRADUATE ADMISSION

The experienced counselors at the Champlain College Graduate Admission Office will help you through the admission process and explain how the program will work for you and fit into your life. Please use the links below to find what you need or feel free to get in touch with us. We’ll be glad to help you.

Contact a Graduate Enrollment Counselor

Apply online
(MFA applicants, please apply at http://www.champlain.edu/MFA/Admission.html)

Download a PDF application
Viewable using Adobe Acrobat Reader free download
(MFA applicants, please apply at http://www.champlain.edu/MFA/Admission.html)

Admission process & requirements

Tuition & fees

Program semester calendar

Financing your education

Financial Aid

CONTACT A GRADUaTE ENROLLMENT COUNSELOR click here

Fill out this form and we will be in touch with you to answer all of your questions or to send you more information.

APPLY ONLINE click here

Apply via the Web using Champlain’s secure online application.

DOWNLOAD A PDF APPLICATION click here

Print out the PDF application form and mail or fax to us.

ADMISSION PROCESS & REQUIREMENTS

Our admission process is ongoing throughout the calendar year.

Applications will be processed typically within four-five weeks after the Admission Office has received all required materials. Applicants will be contacted by Champlain College for interviews in order to complete the process.

Admission requirements differ for each program. For detailed information, please read this section thoroughly.

To apply:

Complete an admission application.
Include your essay.
Include a current, professional resume.
Submit the $50 application fee.
Arrange for a transcript of your undergraduate work to be sent to Graduate Admission at Champlain College.
Arrange for your letter of recommendation to be sent to Graduate Admission at Champlain College.
If necessary, request that GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or GRE (Graduate Record Exam) scores be sent to Graduate Admission at Champlain College.
If necessary, request that official TOEFL or ELPT scores with essay be sent to Graduate Admission at Champlain College.

If you are applying via mail, please send completed application (including $50 fee and supporting documents) to:

Office of Graduate Admission
Champlain College
P.O. Box 670
Burlington, VT 05402-0670 USA
Fax: (802) 860-2767

If you are applying on the Web, you may submit your essay, resume and fee online.
Transcripts, letter of recommendation and any test scores must be mailed to the above address.

Undergraduate Degree Requirement

We encourage those with a variety of majors to consider Champlain College’s graduate programs. You do not need an undergraduate degree in Business to be admitted to the MBA program or a technical degree for the MSMIIT program. You do have to have completed a baccalaureate-level program and have a GPA that demonstrates your ability to perform graduate-level academic work.

Work Experience Requirement

We suggest that applicants have work experience in a managerial or professional role, or current employment in a professional work environment with opportunities for advancement or learning new skills. Champlain welcomes students who may have little work experience, but who can demonstrate their ability to perform in a program that integrates learning into the workplace. Each student’s experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Transcripts

Official academic transcripts (not photocopies or those issued directly to a student) are required from all colleges and universities you have attended. Please contact each college’s Registrar’s office and sign a release to have your transcripts sent to Office of Graduate Admission at Champlain College. If you have taken any graduate level courses, be sure to have those transcripts sent to us, also. If you have attended Champlain College, the Office of Graduate Admission will obtain your transcript internally; you do not need to request it.

Resume

Please submit an updated resume that communicates your work history. You should pay particular attention to the most recent five-year period. Your resume should be at a level of detail sufficient for the Admission Committee to assess your ability to move between projects and assignments within a single organization.

Essay

A writing sample (300-500 word essay) is required as part of the application. All applicants must outline why they are seeking a master's degree from Champlain College and how the unique attributes of the program will benefit them.

Letter of Recommendation

You are required to submit one letter of recommendation from a manager or supervisor in your professional field. In the absence of such a manager or supervisor, the recommendation should be from someone who can assess your capabilities as an employee or as a student. Recommendations will not be accepted from relatives or family members.

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

If you are an MBA applicant and have limited relevant work experience, which is one of the customary admission criteria, then you are strongly encouraged to submit GMAT scores. These test results will be used by the Admission Committee as additional evidence of your readiness for the graduate program. For more information on the GMAT, visit www.mba.com.

GRE (Graduate Record Exam)

If you are an MS in Managing Innovation & Information Technology applicant with less than two years of work experience, we recommend that you submit GRE scores. For more information on the GRE, visit www.ets.org.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

All applicants whose undergraduate education was not delivered in English must submit a TOEFL score, with essay. Minimum total scores required for consideration are 550 (paper) /213 (computer) /80 (Internet). These scores do not guarantee admission. For more information on the TOEFL, visit www.ets.org/toefl.

Personal Interview

A personal interview with a Graduate Admission representative is required and usually is conducted via telephone. The interview will be scheduled once all of your admission materials have been submitted and reviewed by the Admission Committee. The program director will contact you to arrange a compatible format and schedule.

Application Fee

An application fee of $50 U.S. must be submitted with the application. You may make a credit card payment online or you may mail a personal check, bank check or provide your credit card information on the application form.

Credit for Life Experience and Transfer Credit

At the graduate level, academic credit cannot be given for life experience or equivalency exams. On a case-by-case basis, you may transfer in graduate level credits from another accredited institution. At the time of admission, up to six graduate-level credits may be transferred in. All transfer credit is accepted at the sole discretion of Champlain College.

MBA Work-Based Project Location Requirement

While you do not have to be employed, all of the MBA Core courses have projects, assignments and activities that require you to apply the course content to problems in the workplace. In order to complete your projects and meet the course requirements, it is imperative that you have a link to an organization at which you have access to people and information. While experience has shown that the easiest way to perform such workplace-based projects is to do them at a place of current employment, other options are possible. One, for example, is to arrange for an ongoing virtual internship at an organization. Another is to view the project requirement as a service-learning opportunity and to set up a work arrangement with a non-profit organization of your choice.

MBA Start-Up Courses

For those without an undergraduate degree in Business or Management, you will begin with the MBA Start-Up courses. In fact, if your Business degree was completed many years ago, it may be to your advantage to use these courses as refreshers because they are designed specifically for the adult learner embarking on an MBA. When you apply, the program director will act as your advisor and review your work history and academic background. Together, you will determine the path that best suits your needs.

Enrollment Schedules

Most students are part-time, carrying three credits per term. The programs operate on five terms that run throughout the calendar year, except for August. As a part-time student, you may start in any term of the year, selecting courses subject to prerequisites. Full-time students will have the most flexibility in course scheduling if they begin in the fall or spring terms due to course sequences. If you prefer to begin in either of the other terms you may do so, but you may need to extend your completion timeline slightly.

When you enter the program you and your advisor will develop a personal plan that allows you to start and complete the program as soon as possible, given your own goals and the annual schedule of course offering.

TUITION & FEES

For the 2010-11 school year (September through July), tuition for all online Champlain College graduate programs is $729 per credit. The oncampus MFA program is $900 per credit. Credits to completion differs by program and some programs may require prerequisites if you have not had certain courses in that field. Most students carry three to six credits per quarter and pay at the per-credit hour rate as they go. Tuition is subject to change.

SEMESTER CALENDAR

2009-2010 Academic year
Fall Term 1: 08/31/09 - 10/24/09
Fall Term 2: 10/26/09 - 12/19/09
Spring Term 1: 01/11/10 - 03/06/10
Spring Term 2: 03/08/10 - 05/01/10
Summer Term: 05/17/10 - 07/10/10

2010-2011 Academic year
Fall Term 1: 08/30/10 - 10/23/10
Fall Term 2: 10/25/10 - 12/18/10
Spring Term 1: 01/10/11 - 03/05/11
Spring Term 2: 03/07/11 - 04/30/11
Summer Term: 05/16/11 - 07/09/11

2011-2012 Academic year
Fall Term 1: 08/29/11 - 10/22/11
Fall Term 2: 10/24/11 - 12/17/11
Spring Term 1: 01/09/12 - 03/03/12
Spring Term 2: 03/05/12 - 04/28/12
Summer Term: 05/14/12 - 07/07/12

2012-2013 Academic year
Fall Term 1: 08/27/12 - 10/20/12
Fall Term 2: 10/22/12 - 12/15/12
Spring Term 1: 01/07/13 - 03/02/13
Spring Term 2: 03/04/13 - 04/27/13
Summer Term: 05/13/13- 07/06/13

2013-2014 Academic year
Fall Term 1: 08/26/13 - 10/19/13
Fall Term 2: 10/21/13 - 12/14/13
Spring Term 1: 01/06/14 - 03/01/14
Spring Term 2: 03/03/14 - 04/26/14
Summer Term: 05/12/14 - 07/05/14

FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION

Military personnel

Champlain College is a DANTES affiliate and is listed in the 2003 DANTES External Degree Catalog in print or online at www.voled.doded.mil/dantes/dl. Military personnel wishing to be reimbursed via DANTES must submit DANTES form 1562/31 with their registration.

Assistance for veterans

Champlain College is approved by the Vermont State Board of Education for veterans’ training. Eligible veterans should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to registering for classes.

Veterans’ contact information

Michelle Veladota, assistant director of Financial Aid: phone: (802) 860-2730; toll-free: (800) 570-5858; e-mail veladotam@champlain.edu; direct line to the Veterans Administration: (888) 442-4551

Tips for part-time students

Many graduate students receive financial aid and are eligible for student loans. Donna Stevens, Champlain’s director of Financial Aid, offers these tips for graduate students who are interested in financial assistance:

You must be accepted for admission in a master’s program and enrolled in at least six credits in either the Fall semester (comprised of the Fall 1 and Fall 2 terms) or the Spring semester (comprised of the Spring 1 and Spring 2 terms) in order to be eligible for federal student loans.
A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be filed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov each academic year to determine aid eligibility.
Keep copies of your financial aid information for your files to reference.
Return any additional information and forms requested by the Financial Aid Office promptly. The Financial Aid office can be reached at 802-860-2730, Finaid@champlain.edu or PO Box 670, Burlington, VT 05402-0670.

Installment payment plan

Because we want to make sure a Champlain College education is accessible to as many people as possible, we offer the option of paying tuition in installments through a secure Web-payment service for a $25 fee. If you choose this plan, you also have the choice of paying by electronic check, electronic savings or American Express, Discover, MasterCard credit cards. (VISA does not participate in this payment program.) There is a convenience fee of 2.75% charged when using a credit card but there is no convenience fee for electronic check or savings payments.

Employer reimbursement

Employers must have a pre-approved reimbursement arrangement with Champlain College. The employer reimbursement plan is processed through a secure web-payment service as a type of installment plan for a fee of $25. Students are required to pay a deposit equal to the amount that they will be responsible for per their employer’s reimbursement plan. If employer reimbursement is 100 percent, we require students to put down a minimum deposit of 20 percent at the time of registration. If, for example, an employer offers a 50 percent reimbursement, the student will be required to put 50 percent down upfront. The balance is due approximately 30 days from the end of the semester. Please contact the Advising & Registration Center for more details.

Employer billing

Provide a signed authorization from your supervisor giving us permission to bill your employer. Payment will be due within 30 days of billing. An employer billing form can be found at http://www.champlain.edu/cps/get_started/empbilling.pdf

Graduate Study Scholarship

You can qualify for a $1,000 scholarship towards your tuition. Available to students who apply and enroll in any of our graduate programs, these scholarship funds are applied directly to your tuition for your first three-credit course taken within the program. Learn More

Financial Aid

Financial Aid is available for graduate students through the loan options outlined below. Additionally, Champlain offers a small number of graduate assistantships and work opportunities as part of the College’s MFA program. Contact a Graduate Admission Representative for additional information.

Financial Aid Availability and Options

Financial Aid is available for graduate students Champlain College participates in the Federal Student Loan program. This program enables students to borrow federal loans to help meet educational costs.

If you are eligible for aid, your package could consist of a combination of Subsidized Stafford Loans and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, depending on your financial need. The maximum loan eligibility for these loan programs is a total of $20,500 per year ($8,500 subsidized and $12,000 unsubsidized). Subsidized loans do not accrue interest while you are enrolled and for a six-month grace period after enrollment has ended. Unsubsidized loans accrue interest upon disbursement.

If you have financial need beyond $20,500 you may apply for a Grad PLUS loan up to the total amount of your financial aid budget. Your financial aid budget includes costs for tuition, room, board, books, transportation and some miscellaneous expenses.

Alternative Loans are offered by lending institutions for educational expenses. These loans are not guaranteed student loans which means each lender has varying credit approval criteria that must be met by you, when applying for the loan.

Financial Aid Application Process

Applying for financial aid is a separate process from applying for admission. Although graduate students will not be awarded financial aid until after they have been formally accepted, we encourage students to apply for financial aid as soon as possible. Most students apply for financial aid in tandem with their application for admission. Please do not wait to be accepted to apply for financial aid.

To be considered for the Federal Stafford Loan and Grad Plus programs noted above you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov. Please be sure to enter Champlain College’s school code number (003684) on the FAFSA. Upon completion, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor. Please review your SAR carefully and follow all next steps indicated.

To apply for both Grad Plus and Alternative Loans, contact a lender of your choice. They will walk you through their loan application process.

For additional assistance, please contact a member of our financial aid counseling team at 802-860-2730.