DeSales University is a medium-sized, Catholic liberal arts university for men and women administered by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.
Founded in 1964, DeSales University is a Catholic liberal arts university that offers courses in a wide range of disciplines. DeSales provides personal attention, small class size, and a feeling of community. The University uses a holistic approach to help students develop a "sense of self," enabling all students to reach their personal and academic potential. This student-centered philosophy is conveyed by an enthusiastic, accessible faculty.
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
Contact
Mrs. Mary Birkhead
Dean of Enrollment Management
Dean of Enrollment Management
Address
Office of Enrollment Management
2755 Station Ave
Center Valley, PA 180349568
2755 Station Ave
Center Valley, PA 180349568
Phone
6102824443
Email
admiss@desales.edu
Experience College Life
Most Popular Places On Campus
Billera Athletics and Recreation Center
Hurd Science Center
Gambet Center for Business & Healthcare
University Center
Labuda Center for the Performing Arts
Summer brings the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival to campus at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts
Hurd Science Center
Gambet Center for Business & Healthcare
University Center
Labuda Center for the Performing Arts
Summer brings the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival to campus at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts
Most Popular Places Off Campus
The Promenade Shops
Historic Bethlehem
Coca Cola Park Home of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Baseball team
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Skiing at nearby Pocono Mountain Resorts
Historic Bethlehem
Coca Cola Park Home of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Baseball team
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Skiing at nearby Pocono Mountain Resorts
Campus Tours
Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: 10 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Average Length: 1 hour
Dates: Year-round
Times: 10 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Average Length: 1 hour
On Campus Interview
Campus Interviews
Yes
Information Sessions
Available
Times
Summer and select Saturdays and Holidays
Faculty and Coach Visits
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Advance Notice
1 week
Contact Email Address for Visit
admiss@desales.edu
Class Visits
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Available
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Limitations
Offered every spring to Accepted Student
Transportation
Types of Transportation Available to Campus
LVI- Lehigh Valley International Airport
Local Accommodations
Bethlehem:Comfort Suites
www.comfortsuites.com,
Hotel Bethlehem www.hotelbethlehem.com, Allentown: The Wingate www.wingateinns.com,and Quakertown: The Hampton Inn www.hamptoninn.com
Save SchoolAdmissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
To Apply for Admission you need to:
Complete a DeSales University application and submit it to our Admissions Office.
Have your high school guidance department send your official high school transcript to our Admissions Office.
Have your standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) sent to our Admissions Office. Our code number for SAT scores is 2021. Submitting SAT or ACT test scores is strongly encouraged but not required for the following majors: dance, early childhood education, exploratory studies (undeclared), marriage & family studies, philosophy, psychology, Spanish, sport and exercise physiology, sport management, and theology. Students who don't submit test scores will need to have a personal interview with the admissions office.
Have a guidance counselor and teacher complete the recommendation forms and send to our Admissions Office.
Overview
Applicants: 2,979
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average HS GPA: 3.29
SAT & ACT Test Scores
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
510 - 618
SAT Math
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
500 - 610
ACT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
23 - 27
Testing Policies
Yes
Yes
Standardized testing policy for use in admission
Requires applicants to submit either the SAT or ACT
Deadlines
Regular — August 1
Other Admission Factors
Academic
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Academic GPA
Non-Academic
Character / Personal Qualities
Selectivity Rating
Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert.
Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
DeSales University defines "global competence" as using an open, inquisitive mind to understand the norms and expectations of other cultures, and using this acquired knowledge to communicate and to work effectively outside of one's usual environment in the promotion of human solidarity. DeSales University presents opportunities for students to enlarge their world view, from activities and concerts to short and long-term study abroad programs.
Study abroad programs through DeSales present the opportunity for our students to live and work in this vibrantly interdependent world, and range from semester-long study to short-stay travel of 10 days. Our students can spend semesters in England, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, France, Australia, Tokyo, and Monte Carlo. More importantly, DeSales uses a model of intense hands-on engagement through short-stay co-curricular trips of students, faculty, and staff. Trips to Ireland, Germany, India, Istanbul, South Africa, and Austria for short-stay intensive travel have been combined with academic courses, the activities of student organizations, or out-of-season competition for our athletic teams.
Freshman students are asked to participate in the Character U program, a self-assessment program based on the Golden Counsels of St. Francis de Sales. Each month, University programming addresses one of these Golden Counsels or traits including patience, trust and cooperation, and perseverance. The DeSales Experience offers opportunities to learn and lead outside the classroom. The University's Academic Resource Center can offer assistance in reading comprehension, study skills, time management, and effective writing techniques. Additionally, they can help find a tutor if you need it or provide you with the opportunity to become a peer tutor.
Career Services and Placement
The Career Development Center can help students strategically showcase skills and stand out from a sea of competitors. The Center starts early by helping students define goals and make the right major and career choices. Job shadowing, learning to network, practice for interviews, and preparing resumes are all part of the process.
Majors and Degrees Offered
DeSales University offers more than 35 bachelor's degrees including 8 pre-professional programs, and 8 graduate programs through the divisions of business, liberal arts and social sciences, performing arts, natural sciences, and health care. Our more popular majors include criminal justice, theatre, medical studies, and business administration.
The newest majors are homeland security, neuroscience and special education. New tracks within the business department are financial planning and data analytics AI.
Special Programs
At DeSales, qualified business, nursing, criminal justice, and computer science majors have an option to earn both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in five years. Qualified health science or medical studies majors are guaranteed an interview into the doctor of physical therapy program or the graduate physician assistant program respectively.
DeSales also has an Exploratory Studies Program, a structured program that helps students determine his or her major. This program includes a 3-credit course called Major Decision Making that will introduce different majors while fulfilling an elective requirement for graduation. Another exploratory course—Career Development and Planning—is available in the spring semester.
Faculty and Class Information
Student/Faculty
12:1
Total Faculty
346
with Terminal Degree
176
Women
170
Men
Most frequent class size
10 - 19
Most frequent lab / sub section size
2 - 9
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
62%
Graduate in 5 years
69%
Graduate in 6 years
70%
Majors
-
BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biochemistry.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
-
BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES.
Accounting.
Business Administration and Management, General.
Finance and Financial Management Services, Other.
Finance, General.
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General.
International Business/Trade/Commerce.
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management.
Management Information Systems and Services, Other.
Marketing/Marketing Management, General.
-
COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Communication and Media Studies, Other.
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other.
Health Communication.
-
COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Information Technology.
-
EDUCATION.
Biology Teacher Education.
Chemistry Teacher Education.
Drama and Dance Teacher Education.
Early Childhood Education and Teaching.
English/Language Arts Teacher Education.
History Teacher Education.
Mathematics Teacher Education.
Spanish Language Teacher Education.
-
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
English Language and Literature, General.
-
FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
Spanish Language and Literature.
-
HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other.
Health/Health Care Administration/Management.
Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management.
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
-
HISTORY.
History, General.
-
HOMELAND SECURITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTING AND RELATED PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies.
Homeland Security.
-
LEGAL PROFESSIONS AND STUDIES.
Pre-Law Studies.
-
LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.
General Studies.
-
MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics, General.
-
PARKS, RECREATION, LEISURE, AND FITNESS STUDIES.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science.
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management.
-
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy.
-
PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Chemistry, General.
-
PSYCHOLOGY.
Psychology, General.
-
SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Economics, General.
Political Science and Government, General.
-
THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS.
Theology/Theological Studies.
-
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Dance, General.
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other.
Degrees
Bachelor's
Certificate
Doctoral/Professional
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate
Post-Master's certificate
Certificate
Doctoral/Professional
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate
Post-Master's certificate
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Opportunities at School
Experiential
Internship
Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
John Weiland
Group President C.R. Bard, Inc.
Tim Nolan
Executive VP, Government Programs at Coventry Health Care, Inc.
Joe Sodroski
Harvard Medical School
Alexie Gilmore
Actress
Judith Martin Merritt
Doctor/Drama Therapy
Dee Roscioli
Broadway Star
Paul Meiklejohn
Property Law Litigator
Careers
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
62%
Graduate in 5 years
69%
Graduate in 6 years
70%
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Opportunities at School
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
Tuition & Fees (2020-2021) - $38,500
Room and Board: $13,300
Student & Technology Fee: $1,500
One-time Orientation Fee: $200
Total: $53,500
Financial Aid
Nine out of 10 DeSales University students receive financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, work study, and loans. About 85% of the students receive grants directly from DeSales University, and funds are also available from federal and state programs to those who qualify. The amount of aid received and the composition of an aid package will depend on financial need and on academic achievement and potential.
Academic scholarships are also available through DeSales University. All applicants for admission are automatically considered for each of the scholarships offered by the University.
Students can also compete for one of six full-tuition Leadership Scholarships by writing an essay about leadership and service experience and, if selected, participating in an interview.
Dates
Application Deadlines
Notification Date
Dec 1
Required Forms
FAFSA
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$22,015
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$20,163
Average Need-Based Loan
$4,671
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
79%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$42,536
Average amount of each freshman scholarship/grant package
$20,721
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes
Expenses per Academic Year
Tuition
Required Fees
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Board for Commuters
Transportation for Commuters
Available Aid
Financial Aid Methodology
Federal
Scholarships and Grants
Need-Based
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Federal Direct Student Loan Programs
Direct PLUS Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL)
Federal Nursing Loans
Federal Perkins Loans
Federal Perkins Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes
Direct Lender
No
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
There are more than 1,600 full-time undergraduate students and about 64% live on campus. The male to female ratio is 43% to 57%. More than 11% of our undergraduate students are Hispanic and 8.9% are American minorities. Our students come to DeSales from 25 states and 7 other countries with many coming from Pennsylvania.
DeSales University has more than 30 campus organizations, including the Student Activities crew, which helps plan student events, bus trips, and on-campus performances. The Dorothy Day Student Union includes a student activities lounge open to students for entertainment and socializing and a café that offers another dining option in the form of a Sandella's Cafe. The Dorothy Day Student Union has been renovated to accommodate increased special events such as independent movie nights, comedians, music acts, and expanded space for programs sponsored by various student organizations.
DeSales University has 19 intercollegiate varsity sports teams and all are members of the NCAA Division III, Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation (MAC) Freedom Conference, and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
The University's men's sports are baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track and field. Women's sports are basketball, cross-country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, indoor and outdoor track and field, tennis, and volleyball. The University also has club sports, including cheerleading, cycling, disc golf, equestrian, ice hockey, and men's volleyball.
There are intramural sports for all seasons, or students can visit the Billera Hall fitness center, which offers aerobic, Nautilus, and free-weight training.
Student Body Profile
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
1,286
Foreign Countries Represented
5
Demographics
2.53%
Asian
3.59%
Black
13.25%
Hispanic
72.49%
Caucasian
4.77%
Unknown
111% female
-11% male
24% are out of state
141% are full time
-41% are part time
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
DeSales University's suburban campus is located 15 minutes south of Bethlehem and Allentown, Pa., and only 1 hour from Philadelphia, 90 minutes from Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pa., less than 2 hours from New York City, and 3 hours from Baltimore. The campus is 500 acres with more than 16 major buildings.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
The Priscilla Payne Hurd Science Center, a 37,500-square-foot facility, is equipped with up-to-date computers, labs, and medical equipment. The Hurd Science Center also features a sterile molecular/cell biology suite, complete with a freezer room, bench room, support room, dark room, and instrument room. An ecology/environmental lab with a growing chamber, an analytical/physical chemistry/inorganic laboratory, and a bioinformatics/physics lab also inhabit the two-story building.
The Labuda Center for the Performing Arts houses the theatre, dance, and TV/Film majors and features a 473-seat main stage theatre, the 187-seat black box theatre, and a TV/film studio with a control room. Dance rehearsal space as well as costume and scene shops are also featured.
The Gambet Center for Business and Health Care Education is a 77,000-square-foot academic building that houses the school's business division and health care majors. It features a simulated trading room for business and finance majors, standardized patient areas, and a gross anatomy lab.
The DeSales University Center features many menu choices—especially for healthy eaters—in a food-court setting. There are three other food venues on campus located in the academic buildings as well as the Dorothy Day Student Union.
Trexler Library has a collection of more than 500,000 items and there are electronic databases of newspapers, journal articles, and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. There are computer and multimedia labs and a staff who will help with any research topic. Trexler Library has wireless access both with personal laptops or laptops that can be borrowed to use in the building. The Library's resources can be accessed from anywhere on campus. There is online access to databases and full-text journal articles. Students can also instant message a librarian with a question.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Allentown and Bethlehem are a short 15-minute drive from campus and offer many dining, shopping, and outdoor activities, including the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, just minutes from campus. The Lehigh Valley, aka ?College Valley,' boasts beautiful hiking and biking trails, historic sites, museums, cultural festivals, and Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom. Skiing at nearby Blue Mountain and other Pocono resorts is just a short drive away. The Poconos also offer white water rafting trips down the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers.
Campus Life
Undergrads living on campus
46%
Help finding off-campus housing
No
First-Year Students living on campus
76%
Campus Environment
Suburban
88/99
Housing Options
Cooperative
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Dorms Female
Dorms Male
Theme Housing
Dorms Male
Theme Housing
Special Needs Admissions
Program / Service Name
Disability Services
Type of Program
For all students with disabilities
Director
Kathryn Buschan
College Entrance Tests Required
Yes
Interview Required
No
Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
60
Number of Honor Societies
12
Number of Social Sororities
0
Number of Religious Organizations
1
Sports
Athletic Division
Division III
23% participate in intramural sports
25% participate in intercollegiate sports
Men's Sports (Bulldogs)
9 Sports
Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Women's Sports (Bulldogs)
9 Sports
Basketball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Student Services
Health
Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Lehigh University
Minority Support Groups: www.desales.edu/default.aspx?pageid=4225
Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Lehigh University
Sustainability
75/99
Campus Security Report
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/
Other Information
Campus-wide Internet Network
Yes
% of Classrooms with Wireless Internet
100
Fee for Network Use
Yes
Partnerships with Technology Companies
Yes
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
No
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Yes
Description
Dell
H-P
Wellness Program/Clinical Offerings
Institution has a mental health/wellness program that makes counseling, referral, and well-being services available to all students
Not Reported
Mental Health Website
Not Reported
Education & Training
Types of training available for students and faculty/staff
Program
Availability
Not Reported
Not Reported
Not Reported
Not Reported
Not Reported
Engaging the Whole Campus
Institution has a Chief Behavioral Health Officer (and/or Chief Wellness Officer)
Not Reported
Peer-to-Peer
Institution has peer-to-peer offerings relating to mental health
Not Reported
Residential Life
Institution incorporates mental health and wellness into the residential experience
Not Reported
Student Orientation
Students who are provided an opportunity to participate in mental-health-orientation activities
First-year students
Not Reported
Incoming transfer students
Not Reported
Returning students
Not Reported
Entering graduate students
Not Reported
Mental Health in the Curriculum
The institution offers for-credit mental health/well-being education for students
Not Reported
The institution offers non-credit mental health/well-being education for students
Not Reported
Off-Campus Offerings
Institution offers referrals to off-campus counseling services
Not Reported
Health and Counseling Center Accreditation
Institution's counseling center is accredited
Not Reported
Accrediting body
Not Reported
Taking and Returning from Medical Leave
Institution has an official support program in place for students returning from mental health leave of absence
Not Reported
Counseling Demand
Number of months a year counseling center is open and fully staffed
Not Reported
