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November 14, 2024 By Sarah Bolton Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College Announces Abbey Advantage Scholarship for North Carolina Students

Belmont Abbey College Announces Abbey Advantage Scholarship for North Carolina Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Belmont, N.C. (November 14, 2024) – In a continued effort to support the educational aspirations of local high school students, Belmont Abbey College is thrilled to announce the launch of its new Abbey Advantage Scholarship Program. This initiative is designed to provide financial assistance and academic opportunities for high-achieving high school seniors from North Carolina who hope to attend college, furthering their academic, personal, and spiritual growth.

Leveraging the students’ state and federal grants first, the college will award an institutional merit award to meet the full cost of tuition of $21,500 for the 2025-2026 academic year. “We are excited to offer this scholarship as a way to support the talented young people in our community,” said Dr. Jesse Dorman, Vice Provost of Enrollment at Belmont Abbey College. “As a private Catholic institution, we believe in fostering academic and spiritual growth that helps prepare our students for meaningful lives post-college. To this end, we are committed to making higher education accessible for those who are dedicated to living out our values of faith, service, and leadership.” The Abbey Advantage Scholarship is available to first time, full-time non athletes pursuing a traditional major of study. Students must have completed the FAFSA and the NC Residency Determination Form for the NC Need Based Grant. Students must be receiving the full Pell Grant and NC Need Based Aid amounts. Eligible candidates must have earned at least a 2.8 high school GPA and reside in the following counties- Gaston, Lincoln, Cleveland, and Mecklenburg.

In a time when many collegiate institutions are struggling, Belmont Abbey recognizes the importance of supporting local students in their academic pursuits. Dr. Joseph Wysocki, Provost at Belmont Abbey College, believes that these students have an important place at Belmont Abbey. “We know that God has a specific calling for these students’ lives, and we’re filled with hope at what they’ll learn, accomplish and who they will become. The Abbey has a desire to help them respond to this call, and we are committed to making a college education attainable. This includes financial aid opportunities like the Abbey Advantage program, but also guidance from our nationally recognized faculty and mentorship from the greater Abbey community.” For more information on the Abbey Advantage program at Belmont Abbey College, visit our website at www.bac.edu/.

Students who are eligible for the Abbey Advantage Scholarship Program will be notified after completion of the FAFSA. The deadline to apply for the Fall 2025 semester is July 1, 2025.

Press Inquiry Contact: Sarah Bolton, sarahbolton@bac.edu or 704-461-7016.

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November 14, 2024 By radefolaju Leave a Comment

Should I get my master’s degree…? 6 Reasons we don’t take the leap

Have you considered going back to school for your master’s? Certainly, it can be a daunting prospect, but the truth is that most of the things that hold us back from the adventure of a graduate degree aren’t quite the deal-breakers we imagine…

In case you’re wondering whether or not to take the next step, here are the top six reasons we don’t pursue the higher education that could change our lives and careers.

We think…

It’s too expensive. By now we’re used to hearing about prohibitively expensive education and overwhelming burdens of student debt. However, not every program comes with this kind of cost. Belmont Abbey’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies conscientiously maintains affordable rates and meaningful financial aid options in order to ensure that its master’s programs remain accessible to young professionals.
I don’t have time. We all lead busy lives, so it can be difficult to see where a degree program might fit on a daily basis. Certainly, graduate studies require a time commitment, but Belmont Abbey master’s students find that the program’s flexible online structure not only presents manageable requirements but also strengthens the skills and strategies that bring new levels of fruitfulness to your time outside of coursework.
I won’t be able to balance my full-time job. While career and classes both require time and attention, Belmont Abbey’s flexible online graduate programs are designed for the full-time professional. The nature of a master’s degree, moreover, recognizes professional goals and networks as essential elements of the program. In fact, remaining actively engaged in a career throughout your graduate studies can actually help enrich and contextualize coursework by uniting it with consistent, hands-on experience. Ultimately, the Abbey’s graduate degrees aim to enhance career success and take you to the next level without demanding that you put your job or life on hold.
I won’t be able to balance my home life. Because we love our families and honor our responsibilities to them, we should evaluate the demands that our prospective studies might make on life at home. We know that creating personal and family balance during our graduate studies will present challenges like any meaningful commitment. And yet, graduates of Belmont Abbey’s master’s programs demonstrate time and again that the flexible nature of the online coursework and the responsive accessibility of professors help encourage and sustain successful balance. It’s also important to remember that your loved ones want to see you succeed and that your family, as they accompany you on this educational journey, can be a true source of strength.
It’s too late at this point. Whether you’re fresh out of college or bringing years of career experience to the decision, it’s never too late to pursue the personal excellence and increased expertise of a graduate degree. The benefits to your personal and professional development remain profoundly relevant at any stage of your career.
It’s just not worth it. There are many reasons why this last is a tempting but ultimately unsatisfactory conclusion. A graduate degree is not everyone’s calling, but if it’s yours, the benefits to your earning power, advancement, career satisfaction, personal development, and community relationships remain profound and substantial. In fact, to explore 10 reasons to complete your graduate degree, click here.

Although none of the above should prevent you from pursuing the transformative education to which you are called, going back to school will always present challenges and require the discipline of sacrifice. Just remember that education is an investment in the future – your own and your community’s – and when we respond to a genuine calling with generosity and love, the blessings are always greater than we can anticipate.

When you’re ready to take the next step, Belmont Abbey College is here to help. Explore our flexible, affordable online graduate degree programs and discover how a master’s could change your life and your career! Click here to check out our MBA, MSN, MS in Data Analytics, or MA programs in Classical and Liberal Education, Communication, or Leadership.

November 13, 2024 By radefolaju Leave a Comment

Is a Master’s Worth it?

Wondering why you should get a master’s degree? Explore these 10 reasons to take your education to the next level.

Getting your master’s can be a daunting prospect, especially for busy professionals seeking to maintain balance amid work, family, and personal commitments. It’s worth pausing to consider, however, what a graduate degree could mean for you – especially since assessing the benefits can help shed light on what you want from your career and your life as a whole.

So… if you are a working professional, what ARE the benefits of earning a master’s?

Ultimately, a master of arts or sciences empowers you to:

Further discern your calling by engaging meaningfully with an area of personal or professional interest. A degree program can clarify unexplored possibilities for growth within your chosen field, highlighting the industry needs and opportunities that invite your unique contribution . Graduate programs offer more opportunities to engage your field at the cutting edge as professors provide context and guide you in making original contributions to the academic and professional conversation. Even more than an undergraduate degree, graduate studies position you to recognize and embrace the possibilities of your field or discipline.
Increase your earning power. Full-time, 25-34 year old professionals with a master’s degree earn a 20% higher median salary than those whose highest level of education remains at the undergraduate level, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Completing your master’s qualifies you to climb the salary scale with greater confidence.
Learn from – and join – experts in your chosen field. Graduate professors combine education, training, and experience in a way that uniquely qualifies them to provide the formative guidance you need to excel both personally and professionally. They have dedicated their exceptional knowledge and skills to helping you achieve success, ultimately facilitating your growth toward new levels of collaboration in your discipline or field.
Alongside a verified standard of knowledge, skill, and critical thought, a master’s degree demonstrates your disciplined commitment to a field. A master’s signals not only that you are prepared for enhanced responsibilities and greater opportunities, but also that you are willing to embrace challenges, learn new skills, and develop your potential. Colleagues and supervisors recognize this, and the recognition transforms your professional landscape.
Expand your professional network through the connections and opportunities available within a college community. Even beyond hands-on learning, research, thesis development, and conferences, the institutional life of a college includes a community of alumni, professors, and peers who can provide support and invaluable connection. In terms of resources for higher education and advancement, graduate degree programs remain particularly attuned to the active professional life since by its nature it seeks to prepare serious and aspiring participants for meaningful work in their chosen fields.
Raise your promotion potential. Don’t let your education level keep you from career advancement, especially in an industry where education thresholds might otherwise curb your upward mobility or hold you back from the leadership only you can offer. A master’s degree demonstrates expertise that qualifies you to rise more quickly and confidently than you otherwise might have.
Learn together with other motivated seekers. Aside from the professional advantages of earning your master’s – which includes a network of peers aspiring to more profound collaboration in their fields – the personal benefits of a learning community shouldn’t be underestimated. Engaging in the shared pursuit of excellence and exploring the depths and challenges of a chosen field offer a basis for lasting friendships and community, especially at the graduate level, where conversations seek and support original contributions at the very forefront of a discipline or industry.
Open up new career opportunities. As you grow and develop both personally and professionally within a master’s program, the career opportunities open to you grow commensurately, providing new challenges and satisfactions that can increase your sense of accomplishment and overall well-being. A master’s degree embraces a wide new range of careers and levels of advancement that might otherwise remain out of reach.
Embrace your God-given potential. When you develop your capacities and gifts to their full potential, you participate in God’s creative work and embrace His will. Of course, formal education isn’t the only way to do this, but it can be a powerful means of responding to the vision of our Creator and taking on the vocation that is our particular calling in life. With the expertise of a master’s degree, you invite new possibilities of creative and active participation in God’s plan for your life.
Transform your community. Remember that embracing your calling benefits not just you but also your entire community. Your gifts transform the world and change the lives of those around you, so developing them through a graduate degree program has truly unimaginable effects. Find out what it can mean for you!

Consider investing in yourself, your career, and your community. Take the next step today by exploring Belmont Abbey’s flexible, affordable online graduate degree programs, whether our MBA, MSN, MS in Data Analytics, or MA programs in Classical and Liberal Education, Communication, or Leadership. Click here to learn more.

November 12, 2024 By radefolaju Leave a Comment

What can I do with a Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education?

Belmont Abbey College’s Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education (MACLE) provides essential formation for professionals in Classical K-12 education: whether teachers, administrators, curriculum and resource creators, or homeschooling network leaders.

If your calling lies in classical education, this flexible, affordable online degree program with a 10-12 month completion date offers personal and professional development uniquely capable of transforming your vocation.

As a classical K-12 teacher, you will develop the skills and understanding to inspire students with a shared love of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful. By grounding yourself in a pedagogy specifically designed to engage students directly with the riches of the Great Books tradition, you will not only encourage active participation, critical and creative thinking, and thoughtful and genuine communication: you will change students’ lives.
As a classical K-12 administrator, you will learn how best to support classroom instructors and their students, cultivating an authentic community oriented toward learning. Fruitful classroom seminars are only possible where a safe, ordered, and healthy community is free to grow and to engage with the Good, so classical education requires men and women like you who address the essential needs of an academic institution with wisdom and prudence.
As a resource or curriculum creator, you will provide classical educators at all grade levels and across communities with renewed access to the timeless riches of the Western canon, facilitating profound encounters with the great conversation in which generations have engaged as they seek the True, the Good, and the Beautiful. Curricular support extends this conversation and helps teachers to challenge their students, offer context, and explore further questions, scaffolding the skills by which students will discover ever more fully how to learn and engage.
As a leader in a homeschool network, you will bring the depths of the Great Books tradition into the first of all schools, the home, by providing the tools and support that parents and fellow educators need to fulfill the mission they have so generously embraced. By taking such direct and active roles in their children’s schooling and their community as a whole, homeschooling educators model the joyful responsibility of lifelong learning in pursuit of wisdom, and offering leadership in such a community entails a profound contribution to the good of our society and culture.

Belmont Abbey designed its Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education in collaboration with the CiRCE Institute, ICLE, and the Veterum Sapientia Institute, all leaders in the classical education movement who are committed to forming men and women like you in the best that liberal arts tradition has to offer. In addition to exploring the Trivium and Quadrivium as foundations of classical education, the MACLE candidate gains critical pedagogical training while engaging questions of faith and reason, poetry and philosophy, civic understanding, and the human condition.

As an educator invested in the mission of classical education, you will have the opportunity to more deeply pursue Truth, Goodness, and Beauty while making the fruits of this journey available to your students and colleagues – ultimately inspiring them in their own journeys and nourishing the active community of seekers that lies at the heart of classical and liberal education.

If you are an educator seeking to grow personally and professionally, consider what an MA in Classical and Liberal Education could mean for your calling. Click here to explore the possibilities.

November 9, 2024 By radefolaju Leave a Comment

Why Should I Complete My Degree?

Wondering why you should complete your degree? Explore these 10 reasons to go back to college.

Completing your degree can be a daunting prospect, especially for busy professionals seeking to maintain balance amid work, family, and personal commitments. It’s worth pausing to consider, however, what a bachelor’s could mean for you – especially since assessing the benefits can help shed light on what you want from your career and your life as a whole.

So… if you are a working professional, what ARE the benefits of completing your degree?

Ultimately, a bachelor of arts or sciences empowers you to:

Discern your calling by engaging meaningfully with an area of personal or professional interest. A degree program can clarify unexplored possibilities for growth within your chosen field, helping you to discover where an inquiry or an industry awaits the contribution only you can make.
Increase your earning power. Full-time professionals with a bachelor’s degree earn a substantially higher median salary than those whose highest level of education remains at the secondary level, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Learn from experts in your chosen field, men and women whose combined education, training, and experience uniquely qualify them to provide the formation and the guidance you need to excel both personally and professionally. A degree program provides unparalleled access to educators who have dedicated their exceptional knowledge and skills to helping you achieve success.
Alongside a verified standard of knowledge, skill, and critical thought, a college degree demonstrates your disciplined commitment to a field. A bachelor’s degree signals not only that you are prepared for enhanced responsibilities and greater opportunities, but also that you are willing to embrace challenges, learn new skills, and develop your potential. Colleagues and supervisors recognize this, and the recognition transforms your professional landscape.
Expand your professional network through the connections and opportunities available within a college community. Even beyond hands-on learning, internships, or conferences, the institutional life of a college includes a community of alumni, professors, and peers who can provide support and invaluable connection.
Raise your promotion potential. Don’t let an unfinished degree keep you from career advancement, especially in an industry where education thresholds might otherwise curb your upward mobility or hold you back from the leadership only you can offer.
Learn together with other motivated seekers. Aside from the professional advantages of completing your degree, the personal benefits of a learning community shouldn’t be underestimated. Engaging in the shared pursuit of excellence and exploring the depths and challenges of a chosen field offer a basis for lasting friendships and community.
Open up new career opportunities. As you grow and develop both personally and professionally within a degree program, the career opportunities open to you grow commensurately, providing new challenges and satisfactions that can increase your sense of accomplishment and overall well-being.
Embrace your God-given potential. When you develop your capacities and gifts to their full potential, you participate in God’s creative work and embrace His will. Of course, formal education isn’t the only way to do this, but it can be a powerful means of responding to the vision of our Creator and taking on the vocation that is our particular calling in life.
Transform your community. Remember that embracing your calling benefits not just you but also your entire community. Your gifts transform the world and change the lives of those around you, so developing them through a degree program has truly unimaginable effects.