Online Associate Learning With Laurus
Laurus College appears in our ranking of the Top 10 Cheapest Associate’s in Graphic Design Degrees Online.
On Moodle, the Online Programs Division offers an accelerated, five-week schedule for Laurus College undergrads to enter engaging courses capped at 30 for five associate degrees. Online daytime or evening associate sessions come with fully loaded laptop computers and certificate add-ons from Office Support to 3D Animation.
For example, the Occupational Associate in Digital Arts & Computer Animation teaches visual effects design skills synchronously using Maya software for a 100-credit, ACICS-accredited degree. Chaired by Prof. Steven Marshall, the 100-credit Occupational Associate in Information Technologies & Network Systems prepares for America’s 13 percent IT job growth by 2026 with Cisco certification. The Occupational Associate in Medical Billing & Coding satisfies AHIMA guidelines with 100 credits of online topics from Diagnosis Codes to Insurance Reimbursement. Reporting a 47 percent completion rate, the 100-credit Occupational Associate in Professional Business Systems trains entry-level organizational project coordinators in 24 months live online. Lastly, the Occupational Associate in Web Design & Development led by Prof. Jeffrey Staso since 2011 covers HTML to JavaScript for constructing internet pages.
About Laurus College
Laurus College originated in 1998 when Atlas Computer Centers opened Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, and Atascadero sites for vocational tech skills training. In 2006, Laurus College LLC acquired these locations to launch broader for-profit education beyond high school. Laurus was chosen because it translates from the Latin word for “success.” By Summer 2011, it kept growing with another branch in Oxnard, Forbes’ 142nd best place for careers.
In March 2006, it gained approval from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. Three years later, Laurus College was found compliant to the California Code of Regulations’ Division 7.5 and ready for online education. By June 2018, Laurus announced the addition of four online Bachelor of Science degrees of 190 credits apiece. Generating $1.9 million in revenue, Laurus College now educates 1,089 undergrads 90 percent part-time across five in-demand departments from a 1,800-square-foot Santa Barbara County headquarters. Best Health Degrees ranked Laurus #2 nationally for the Medical Billing & Coding program. Plus, Game Designing declared Laurus College California’s 10th best animation school.
Laurus College Accreditation Details
On June 20, 2013, Laurus College received an official reaffirmation notice from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to renew Level II national accreditation for another 10-year cycle under its CEO Wayne Neale, who co-founded the GrowthX Academy. Based 2,791 miles east in Washington, DC, this nonprofit 245-member accreditor was reinstated recognition from the U.S. Secretary of Education in March 2018 to determine Federal Title-IV eligibility for Laurus’ five associate and four bachelor’s majors. Laurus is authorized by the Veterans’ Affairs Department of Rehabilitation and Private Industry Council. In 2010, it was accepted by the new California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Online associate degrees were approved by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) on July 20, 2018. Since 2009, Laurus College has also been accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Laurus College Application Requirements
Getting into Laurus College is classified “non-competitive” by Peterson’s because Fall 2017 had a 100 percent acceptance rate to enroll 109. Prospective online associate majors must verify high school diploma completion or its equivalent, such as 450 GED scores. Curriculum requirements aren’t outlined, but a minimum passing average of 70 is expected. Technological competence is required for the Moodle and Adobe Connect portals. Qualified computers need least a 3 Mbps internet connection, a Pentium 4 processor, 4G RAM, and 25G free space. Laurus undergrads need two unobstructed USB ports for the supplied webcam and headset too. Online courses in English require non-native speakers to achieve a 61 TOEFL iBT, 6.0 IELTS, or 44 PTE mark. Transfers can receive a maximum of 75 college credits graded “C” or higher. Oakland’s Lincoln University has an articulation partnership to accept 43 associate credits with 2.0 GPAs or greater too.
Laurus College simplifies admission with rolling year-round reviews and online start dates every five weeks. Interested students for Occupational Associate Degree pathways should submit the free 20-minute Laurus Application online. Complete each section, such as education background, employment data, enrollment goals, and citizenship status, to reserve a personal interview. Official documents like transcripts can be mailed to 421 Betteravia Road in Santa Maria, CA 93454. Admissions counselors are available at (805) 267-1690 or studentservices@lauruscollege.edu for help.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, Laurus College is billing online undergrad tuition of $300 per credit. The registration fee costs $100. Lab fees charge $3,000 per program. Transferred courses incur a $250 fee. Official transcript requests are $10 apiece too. The total for online two-year degrees like the Business Systems Occupational Associate is $33,100. Four-year online options, including the Web Design & Development Bachelor of Science, cost $63,100. Note Laurus budgets $1,934 per month for off-campus room and board. Living expenses are reduced to $1,031 monthly at parents’ homes. Therefore, the program pricing ranges from $36,609 to $58,709 overall based on residential arrangements.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Services Center in Santa Maria disburses $2.80 million combined yearly for 63 percent of Laurus undergrads to receive a median $2,841 offer. Submitting the FAFSA application coded 041414 evaluates students for Federal Pell Grant eligibility. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity (SEOG) Grant gifts up to $4,000 extra by unmet financial need. Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants worth a maximum $5,692 help Armed Forces dependents under age 24. The Post-9/11 GI Bill Chapter 33 gives military members 36 months of education benefits up to $22,805 plus $1,000 book stipends. Federal Work-Study jobs paying at least $11/hour are arranged at off-campus nonprofits. Laurus College currently reports a 17 percent default rate on Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loan amounts averaging $13,252. Online Occupational Associate graduates continuing for a Bachelor of Science claim the $7,500 Alumni Discount. California residents for 12+ months pursue the $2,462 Cal Grant C Award by the March 2nd deadline. Similar state-based options are the California National Guard Education Assistance Award and California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth.
Continue reading about Laurus College at the Online Programs Division website.
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