Sullivan University

Academics at Sullivan are unabashedly career-oriented, structured around a 'School of Doing' philosophy that emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning. The university offers 39 majors with a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, which supports a curriculum described as well-structured and faculty as supportive, offering tutoring and regular office hours. Popular majors dominate the professional and technical fields:

• Business/Commerce, Business Administration and Management, and Accounting
• Nursing
• Culinary Arts and Food Service, including Baking and Pastry Arts
• Radiologic Technician
• Medical Insurance Coding

Programs are designed to provide real-world learning opportunities, equipping students with practical skills for immediate application in their chosen fields. The academic environment is built for direct entry into specific careers rather than broad exploration.

Student life at Sullivan University caters to a non-traditional, career-focused demographic. The total undergraduate enrollment was 2,535 as of Fall 2023, with a notable gender distribution of 70.2% female and 29.8% male students. The campus is suburban, and a significant number of students are commuters or attend part-time. The university promotes an inclusive and diverse community where students feel welcomed regardless of identity or personal goals. Student services aim to provide a fresh experience with campus activities, group programs, and resources. The administration actively seeks student input on desired clubs and organizations, ranging from fitness and networking groups to gaming clubs, indicating an evolving campus life shaped by its student body's interests.

Outcomes are the central metric for Sullivan University's career-focused mission. The institution reports a six-year graduation rate of 71%. For graduates, median earnings one year after graduation are reported as $36,427. The university's own materials and external scorecards emphasize graduation rates and post-graduate earnings as key measures of success, framing them within the context of return on investment for a professional degree.

The published tuition and fees for the 2023-24 academic year are $15,480. However, the net price—the average cost after aid and scholarships—is a more relevant figure for students. The university offers a range of scholarships and grants and provides a net price calculator for prospective students to estimate their individual costs. Institutional grant aid averages $9,410, and federal grant aid averages $6, contributing to an average student grant aid package of $12,881. The university also provides resources to help students understand loan obligations and repayment options.

Sullivan University stands out for its unambiguous, no-frills commitment to career preparation. It rejects the model of the holistic, residential liberal arts college in favor of being a 'School of Doing.' Its identity is cemented by:

• Mission-Driven Selectivity: Its 90%+ acceptance rate is a feature, not a bug, aligning with its mission of access and opportunity for career-changers and non-traditional students.
• Curriculum of Concrete Skills: Popular majors are not English or Political Science, but Nursing, Culinary Arts, Radiologic Technology, and Business Administration—fields with clear career pathways and licensure.
• Demographic Reality: With a student body that is majority female and has a large part-time contingent, Sullivan serves an adult learner population often overlooked by traditional universities.
• Outcomes as the Benchmark: Success is measured directly by graduation rates and graduate earnings, reflecting a transactional, ROI-focused relationship between the student and the institution. For a student seeking a specific professional credential without the trappings of traditional college life, Sullivan offers a targeted, pragmatic alternative.