Thiel College
Introduction
When you choose Thiel College, your educational investment will return value for your lifetime. Just ask anyone you meet on campus; we are passionate about helping our students succeed.
Thiel (pronounced "teel") offers a multidisciplinary grounding in the liberal arts with a comprehensive, integrated knowledge base for your chosen profession. You’ll experience theoretical learning, practical and hands-on assignments, service learning activities, and internships – for the finest career preparation you can imagine. A wide variety of co-curricular activities will help you develop leadership skills you didn’t know you had. A challenging and supportive honors program will push you to grow and learn like you never thought you could!
Accreditation and Affiliations
Thiel College is an independent liberal art, sciences, and professional studies institution committed to providing quality undergraduate education and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000), an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Thiel College maintains affiliations with:
- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Pennsylvania Department of Education
- National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
- Council of Independent Colleges
- Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania
Statement of Identity
Founded in 1866, Thiel College is an independent liberal arts college in western Pennsylvania, offering innovative undergraduate and graduate programs. Shaped by its Lutheran heritage, Thiel provides an accessible and inclusive learning environment and serves a diverse population of students. Thiel offers robust co-curricular and athletic experiences and fosters lifelong growth, learning, and relationships.
Statement of Mission
Thiel College prepares students for careers and lives of meaning and purpose and empowers individuals to reach their full potential in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment. Promoting educational excellence, innovation, and ethical leadership, the College provides distinctive learning opportunities for students and serves as an asset for the region’s social, economic, and educational development.
Statement of Vision
Over the next five years, Thiel College will embrace and project a bold and dynamic culture of innovation and creative leadership. The campus community will collaborate to advance a compelling mission, adopting innovative approaches to student learning, curriculum development, community partnerships, and campus activities. The College will create new opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to advance innovation and develop as creative leaders. New business, community, and educational partnerships will extend the College’s reach and provide experiential learning, internships, and networking opportunities for students. While continuing to foreground its core value of providing highly personalized learning experiences in a caring and supportive campus environment, the College will expand its use of technology to enhance student learning, increase collaboration and modernize all aspects of campus programs and services.
Admissions
Academic Preparation
Preference will be given to those students who display superior ability to do college work as demonstrated by their high school records.
Thiel College expects a student to have completed at least 16 units of high school work by the conclusion of the senior year. It is strongly recommended that the student take:
- Four years of English
- Two years of a foreign language
- Two years of mathematics
- Two years of science
- Three years of social science
A student preparing for college study in engineering, mathematics, or the sciences should complete three years of mathematics and three years of science.
A student having earned a General Education Development (GED) diploma must submit a copy of the diploma with test results in addition to an official transcript of all high school work completed.
Applications for admission should be submitted online. Thiel also accepts the Common Application. After submitting a completed application, the student should request that his or her high school send an official copy of their high school transcript directly to the Thiel College Office of Admissions.
Students are not required to submit their official SAT and/or ACT test results. SAT and/or ACT test scores may be requested for scholarship consideration and/or if the student's high school transcripts do not meet our requirements. Students who fall below the minimum requirements of the GPA and/or ACT and SAT scores may be reviewed by an Application Review Committee.
Upon acceptance to Thiel College, a tuition deposit of $150 is required to reserve the student’s place in the incoming class.
International Admission Guidelines
All citizens of foreign countries are encouraged and welcome to apply for admission to Thiel College. To begin the application process, a prospective student must file a formal application with the Office of International Admission.
The student may file an application using either of the methods listed below:
- Online Application (preferred method)
- Common Application Form
Application Deadlines
The academic year at Thiel College consists of two semesters: fall (August) and spring (January). Thiel College adopts a rolling admissions policy and there is no set application deadline. However, it is strongly recommended that an applicant complete all admissions formalities and be accepted to Thiel, a minimum of six weeks prior to the start of the semester in which the international student wishes to enroll.
Academic Admissions Requirements
- TOEFL: 450 (PBT), 45 (IBT), 133 (CBT)
- IELTS: 5.0 band
- ACT: 18 composite score
- GPA: 2.4 cumulative
- 900/1600 scale
- STEP EIKEN: 2
Documentation Required
Applicants must provide documentation to demonstrate their academic proficiency and financial eligibility; all documents provided must be notarized (certified). All documents submitted become the property of Thiel College and are not returnable or refundable. Students who wish to obtain copies of documents submitted must provide a signed written request to the Office of Academic Records. The following documents must be submitted before an application can be processed (Translations are required for records in a language other than English):
- Application Form
- Passport Copy
- Senior High School Transcript: A complete and official educational record of grades, diplomas, and certificates received. These documents must be attested to by the institution attended.
- University/College Transcript: Applicable only to international student applicants planning to transfer credits from a college or university within or outside the United States.
- TOEFL/IELTS/SAT/ACT Test Scores: Applicants are required to take either one of these standardized exams and have the scores reported directly to the College, by mentioning Thiel College’s CEEB code (2910) when taking the exam.
- Letters of Recommendation: Applicants are required to submit a minimum of one letter. The letter must be written by someone who has known and experienced the applicant’s work in a professional setting related to the major of choice. (e.g.: professor, principal, dean)
- Statement of Objective (Maximum 500 words): Applicants must submit an essay describing the reason for desiring to study at Thiel. Additionally, mention future academic plans, career objectives, and the motivation behind the intention to return home.
- Official Bank Statement of Sponsor (notarized OR Sponsor’s Affidavit of Support (notarized): The sponsor must state their willingness and ability to sponsor the applicant’s education and living expenses. Additionally, the sponsor must list the various sources of income that will be used to support the applicant.
- Financial Certification Form: The sponsor must document the availability of a minimum of one year’s total costs (USD $49,000).
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English Language Requirements
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