Slippery Rock University College Portrait
Slippery Rock University1 Morrow Way Slippery Rock, PA 16057
1-800-SRU-9111
Slippery Rock University
It’s a great time to be at Slippery Rock University – the region’s premier public residential university. Founded in 1889, the University is home to more than 8,852 students. SRU offers a comprehensive learning experience that purposefully combines academic instruction with hands-on learning opportunities – a winning combination for success. We offer more than 60 undergraduate majors and 20 graduate programs including a doctorate in Physical Therapy. Our Honor’s Program offers academically gifted students an opportunity to study with select faculty in small, highly interactive academic settings both here and abroad. The campus is located in the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania just 50 miles north of Pittsburgh. The University has an accomplished faculty. 92 percent of our full-time tenure and tenure-track instructional faculty members have an earned doctorate or terminal degree. And, because our most common class size is only 20-29 students, faculty members have time to mentor students and provide the personal attention that has become a hallmark of a Slippery Rock University education.
Living in the Rock Community
Slippery Rock University is a student-friendly campus of more than 660 acres set among some of the region’s most scenic forests and lakes. We combine the friendliness of a small, liberal arts college with the resources of a comprehensive university, including 17 Division II NCAA sports and more than 100 student organizations, including academic, professional, honorary, service, recreational, special interest, and social organizations and associations. At The Rock, learning extends beyond the classroom. Students are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities from undergraduate research…to community volunteerism…to academic internships…to study abroad…to personal leadership development. More than 2,000 students live on campus in the University’s new suite-style residence halls. Living Learning Communities provide an opportunity for students to live with others who share similar academic, career or personal interests.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 8,852 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 8,026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 4,557 | 57% |
| Men | 3,469 | 43% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 9 | <1% |
| Asian | 46 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 419 | 5% |
| Hispanic | 118 | 1% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 | <1% |
| White | 6,834 | 85% |
| Two or More Races | 66 | 1% |
| International | 72 | 1% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 462 | 6% |
| Where do SRU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 90% |
| Other US States & Territories | 9% |
| Other Countries | 1% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are SRU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 9% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 19 - 24 | |
| Math | 18 - 24 | 470 - 560 |
| English | 19 - 24 | |
| Critical Reading | 460 - 540 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 43% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 82% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 81% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.39 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 99% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $19,600
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend Slippery Rock University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 45% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $5,285. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 61% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,261. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009-2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
SRU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 20 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 53% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 92% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 349 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 47% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 18% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 89% |
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Campus-based Housing
96% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
36% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
The SRU campus and community provide a safe place in which to live and learn. SRU employs Certified Police Officers that patrol the campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A student safety escort service and emergency light and call stations throughout campus add to our safe environment. All residence hall exterior doors are monitored and require an ID card and pass code for entry. In an emergency, students, faculty and staff receive immediate text message alerts via our free e2Campus warning system.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)
- Size and Setting
- Medium four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Postbaccalaureate with arts & sciences (other dominant fields)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
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Student Activities and Involvement at SRU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 95% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 58% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 28% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 85% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 18% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 52% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 65% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 10% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 96% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 94% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 73% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 65% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 97% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 60% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 81% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 98% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 73% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 65% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 90% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 49% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 82% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 86% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 82% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Slippery Rock University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 1,547 |
| Master's | 248 |
| Doctoral | 46 |
| Total | 1,841 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 15% |
| Elementary Education and Teaching | 8% |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness, General | 7% |
| Special Education and Teaching, General | 7% |
| Athletic Training/Trainer | 6% |
| Links to degree programs at Slippery Rock University |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 83% four-year success and progress rate means that 83% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 1,540 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 484 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 81%
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Student Learning at Slippery Rock University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Assessment is an integral part of what we do at Slippery Rock University to ensure that we continue to deliver on our promise to provide students with a Rock Solid education. Using a variety of assessment tools we measure actual student performance against degree program goals. The feedback from these processes is then used to provide faculty and students with information and insights to improve learning quality and teaching effectiveness.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
- Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1028
Senior Score: 1157
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1009
Senior Score: 990
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1040
Senior Score: 1186
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1008
Senior Score: 987