Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 2008, Ellis University received regional and national accreditation during its first year of operation and is dedicated to assisting working professionals and military personnel in meeting their educational goals by providing a flexible online learning environment.
Ellis University is the successor of Ellis College of the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), but is an independent online institution and is not affiliated with NYIT. Ellis College was created to provide an online learning portal for NYIT students in an effort to expand access to career-oriented education. This focus on career-oriented education runs throughout NYIT’s history to its beginnings in Brooklyn in 1955. Since that time, NYIT has focused on providing professional education to a diverse student population and has been a leader in the use of classroom technology to enhance learning. NYIT has also been a leader in technology outside of the classroom, earning an Emmy award in 1978 for the invention of a digital noise reducer and patenting 3-D computer animation technology in 1979.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, NYIT continued to expand, opening the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and beginning a cable television news broadcast. In 1995, an NYIT School of Engineering team was awarded first place for a hybrid electric car designed over three years and entered in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Air Road Rally. With each of these accomplishments, the prestige of NYIT increased, which led to a listing among the top higher learning institutions by the U.S. News & World Report.
In 2003, NYIT created Ellis College to meet the growing needs of distance learners and working adults, which later became the separate institution, Ellis University.
Offering both undergraduate and graduate degree programs, Ellis University was created to provide affordable, self-directed coursework guided by experienced faculty who understand the unique needs of working professionals seeking to further their education. More than one-third of the student population is made up of students who are currently in the military, or who have a military background, and the school’s admissions, financial assistance and student support staff have particular knowledge regarding Department of Defense tuition assistance and credit transfers related to military service.
The faculty and administration of Ellis University aim to create a diverse, inclusive learning environment that is tailored to fit the needs of individual students. Expert faculty and easily accessible online student resources assist students in developing the skills they need to enter a new profession, or to advance their current career.
Accreditation
Ellis University is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) and holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Additionally, Ellis University is approved to operate as a degree-granting institution by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
Schools of Education
The College of Arts and Sciences currently offers 22 concentrations in four undergraduate degree programs and two graduate degree programs, including philosophy, history, mathematics, literature, life sciences, computer science, writing, hospitality management, humanities, communications and labor relations. The focus of this college is to provide students with a broad liberal arts education with a particular emphasis on their area of specialization.
The College of Behavioral Sciences provides students with the education and practical skills necessary to establish a foundation for success in graduate degree programs or careers in the fields of criminal justice, human resources, psychology, sociology, paralegal studies and political science. Faculty members in this college bring scholarly achievements, as well as real-world experience to the virtual classroom to enhance the personal and professional growth of students.
The College of Business offers associate-, bachelor- and master-level degrees in business administration and management and is a member of the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. Undergraduate programs are designed for students seeking the education necessary to enter the field of business, while master degree programs are designed with the flexibility that working professionals require when furthering their education to advance their current career. Emphasis is placed on developing analytical thinking, critical thinking and communication skills.
The College of Education primarily focuses on the development of practical skills for professionals currently working in educational settings. Offering both certificate and master degree programs, the College of Education provides students with opportunities to expand their skills for teaching children and adults from diverse backgrounds throughout the lifespan.
Scholarships Offered
Scholarships available to Ellis University students include external scholarships from community groups, professional organizations or government agencies and the innovative internal Ellis University Opportunity Grant. The Ellis University Opportunity Grant is a renewable grant available to new and continuing students and can reduce the cost of tuition by half.
Ellis University also offers military discounts to active duty personnel, reservists, veterans and their spouses.
Financing Options
Financing options for students attending Ellis University include Private Alternative Loans, Military Tuition Assistance, Montgomery GI Bill, Post 9/11 GI Bill, military and employer tuition deferral, direct billing for employer reimbursement, the Ellis University Opportunity Grant and the Pay As You Go Program.
Credit Earning Options
Ellis University accepts transfer credits from accredited colleges and universities, as well as College Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject tests, which are available to both civilians and military personnel. Active duty military, reservists and veterans are also able to receive transfer credit for American Council on Education (ACE) transcripts, Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS) transcripts, Sailor-Marine American Council on Education Registry Tracking System (SMARTS) transcripts and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) subject tests.