Gonzaga University

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Quick Stats
502 E. Boone Avenue

Spokane, WA 99258-0001

[map]
Phone: (509) 328-4220
2011-2012 Tuition
$31,730
tuition and fees
Students
4,805
enrolled
47%
male /
53%
female
Admissions
Feb. 1
application deadline
63.5%
accepted

More Information

_

U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category
U.S. News rank Category Name
#3 Regional Universities (West)

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Summary

Gonzaga University is a private institution that was founded in 1887. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,805, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 130 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Gonzaga University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities (West), 3. Its tuition and fees are $31,730 (2011-12).

Gonzaga University is a private, Roman Catholic institution that is open to students of all faiths. Residing along the Spokane River, it is less than half a mile to downtown Spokane, Wash. On campus, there are more than 95 active clubs for students to choose from. Intramural sports are very popular at Gonzaga, with more than 60 percent of the student body participating. The Bulldogs of Gonzaga are part of the NCAA Division I West Coast Conference. The men’s basketball team is the pride and joy of the university, and the team has returned the love by winning more than 90 percent of its games at the school’s McCarthey Athletic Center. At Gonzaga, students are required to live on campus during their first two years, but the university has stated that on-campus housing is not guaranteed for an entire college career. Students interested in outdoor pursuits can journey to the 100-acre Riverfront Park and go ice skating in the winter or check out the sky ride over the falls. They can also explore the Spokane River Centennial Trail, a 37-mile paved trail perfect for walking, running, skating, or biking.

As a Roman Catholic institution, Gonzaga collaborates with Bishop White Seminary by offering theology courses to students preparing for priesthood. The Gonzaga University School of Law is one of only three law schools in the state of Washington, and it has produced multiple state Supreme Court justices. With a large international presence on campus, the university has increased its offerings to international students with the creation of the Center for Global Engagement. Mock trial is a very popular, highly competitive political law club at the school. Students that would like entry into the club must go through a series of rigorous tryouts before joining the team. Notable alumni of the university include singer Bing Crosby, former Speaker of the House Tom Foley, and Hall of Fame basketball player John Stockton.
 

School mission (as provided by the school):

Gonzaga University is not all basketball. Yes, the Zags have appeared in the last 13 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournaments, but it is Gonzaga's strong academic offerings that have distinguished this 123-year-old university. Gonzaga offers 57 fields of undergraduate study in arts and sciences, business, engineering, education and professional studies. Student to faculty ratio is 10:1, and faculty office hours are plentiful. Cura personalis, or care for the individual, is a hallmark of Jesuit education. Twenty master's programs, a doctoral program in leadership studies and a juris doctorate through the School of Law complement the undergraduate programs. Gonzaga's freshman class averaged an 1,188 SAT score and a 3.72 high school grade point average in fall 2010. But perhaps even more impressive than the academic credentials of Gonzaga's students is their penchant to serve others, another pillar of Jesuit education. Over the past five years Gonzaga students have averaged 100,000 hours of community service annually. Special programs like Campus Kids (mentoring at-risk grade school children), Mission:Possible (spring break trips to low-income parts of the country to help with revitalization), and April's Angels (an April renovation of an area school, neighborhood or camp) are just a few of the efforts made by Gonzaga students to serve those in need.

General Information

School type private, coed college
Year founded 1887
Religious affiliation Roman Catholic
Academic calendar semester
Setting urban
2010 Endowment $120,116,352

Applying

When applying to Gonzaga University, it's important to note the application deadline is February 1, and the early action deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due February 1. The application fee at Gonzaga University is $50. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 63.5 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity more selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate 64%
Application deadline February 1
SAT/ACT scores must be received by February 1

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Gonzaga University is 11:1, and the school has 41.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Gonzaga University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Engineering; and Psychology. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 91.8 percent.

Class sizes
Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio 11:1
4-year graduation rate 68% - High
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services 25%
Social Sciences 11%
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs 10%
Engineering 10%
Psychology 9%

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Student Life

Gonzaga University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,805, with a gender distribution of 46.9 percent male students and 53.1 percent female students. 48.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 52.0 percent of students live off campus. Gonzaga University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at Gonzaga University.

Total enrollment 7,738
Student gender distribution
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Collegiate athletic association NCAA I

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Campus Info & Services

Gonzaga University offers a number of student services including health service and health insurance. Gonzaga University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at Gonzaga University.

Students who have cars on campus N/A
Health insurance offered Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer No

More About Campus Info & Services

Paying for School

At Gonzaga University, 57.1 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $17,559.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees $31,730 (2011-12)
Room and board $8,300 (2010-11) - Medium
Financial aid statistics
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews

One thing that I know is happening at Gonzaqga that I wish I wasn't seeing is that we are expanding too much for this city and for our Gonzaga community. It's starting to get harder to get into classes, find housing, and afford to go here. I heard one comment that Gonzaga is slowly becoming the size of a state school with the price of a private school. The small size of Gonzaga is what I was drawn to at Gonzaga.

Brittany Sophomore

The best thing about Gonzaga for me is that it is far away from Michigan. The campus is visually appealing and the people are all really nice and it doesn't take long to make friends (like I thought it would being a transfer junior and all.) One thing I would change about Gonzaga is the office hours of Foley, and not to mention the office hours of the Prof. and staff it is so difficult to get one on one time with the professors.....There are also very little opportunities to get tutors for classes that you are having problems with, everyone takes for granted students, like me, who didn't know anyone and don't know the processes to go through to get help with academics. I think Gonzaga is borderline too small....You see the same people basically everyday and you recognize them...it's less interesting than if I had gone to a larger school in that respect. People react like they are impressed or they mention basketball when they hear that I am going to Gonzaga. I spend most of my time at Foley on campus. Spokane is not a college town at all. I don't have a car this semester and it sucks because everywhere is soooooooooo far away. I don't mind it so much but it really starts to wear you down. I don't know what the biggest controversy on campus was....as far as I know there hasn't been any.....There is a lot of school pride but I feel like it gets carried away sometimes especially at basketball games, kids might get a little carried away and be rude. I don't know if there is anything unusual about Gonzaga, other than the fact that it is over 100 years old which is pretty impressive. I mean you know they're doing something right. Most frequent student complaints would have to be about professors not posting things on blackboard yet they expect us to check it daily. Also, without a car in this city you are lost.

Mark Junior

The best thing about Gonzaga University is it's small size. It correlate into much smaller classes than many Universities and a great student to Professor ratio. Despite the fact that Spokane is a really interesting city, it's not the most exciting place in the world. There aren't many things right around campus - but once you get into the city there is lots to do. Another good thing about GU is the school spirit, which is mostly centered around the basketball team. Everyone gets really excited for games and the NCAA tournament. There is just a really cool basketball culture here that gives Gonzaga a "big university" feel.

Leah Freshman

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* Overview details based on 2010 data

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