collageUniversity of Bridgeport (UB) is a private independent higher education institute. It was established in 1927 under the name of the Junior College of Connecticut. It was then the first 2 year junior college to be established in the state. The campus of the college was established in three old homes in the district that was later listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1947, the college expanded into a 4-year college after purchasing the former P.T. Barnum estate and neighboring property adjacent to Seaside Park. The name of the institute was then changed to its current name. In the following period, the university continued to expand rapidly as Vietnam War veterans joined the college benefiting from the G.I. Bill. In 1979, the university started offering Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership. Safety concerns regarding the local community resulted in declining enrollment and by 1990 more than two thirds of the campus buildings were unused. The university decided to terminate the employment of 50 tenured faculty staff members which resulted in the longest strike in the history of higher education. The financial difficulties motivated the university to accept the offer from the Professors World Peace Academy (PWPA) in 1992 to take over the institute by investing more than $50 million. At the same period, the law school decided to separate from the university and join the Quinnipiac University. In 2003, the university became financially independent from PWPA.
Bridgeport campus has an urban 86 acres. Prominent buildings on campus include Bryant Hall and Cortright Hall. The university athletic teams compete in NCAA Division II. Their official colors are purple and white while their mascot is called the Purple Knight.
The university is divided into 13 colleges, institutes and schools including Ernest C. Trefz School of Business, Shintaro Akatsu School of Design and Fones School of Dental Hygiene. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
University of Bridgeport Rankings
University of Bridgeport has been ranked as follows on various education portals:
U.S. News and World Report 2020
- 39th Most Ethnically Diverse National University
- #197-206th in Best Undergraduate Engineering programs
- #119 in Top Performers on Social Mobility
- #293-381 in National Universities
Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2020
- >600th in U.S. College Rankings 2020
QS Top Universities
- #201-250 in U.S. Universities 2020
Highlights
| University Type | Private |
| Establishment Year | 1927 |
| Campus Setting | Urban |
| Location | Bridgeport, Connecticut |
| Mode of Program | Full-time, online |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Work-study | Available |
| Campus Accommodation | Available |
| Acceptance Rate (Fall 2019) | 55% |
| Total enrollment | 4,615 |
University of Bridgeport Campus
- University of Bridgeport has a small 60-acre campus located in a scenic, seaside location in Connecticut.
- The university is in close proximity from New York City reachable within 1-1.5 hours and also the Boston city is only a journey of 2.5 hours from the campus.
- There are over 60 clubs and student organizations involving all sorts of students with different interests.
- On-campus housing and dining facilities are available for the students at the university.
- The university has received the prestigious Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Award and also ADT ranking for the safest college showing the brilliant safety measures that are taken in the college.
University of Bridgeport Residence
- University of Bridgeport offers on-campus accommodation facilities in residence halls.
- Students above the age of 21 are allowed to live off-campus. However, such accommodation is not administered by the university.
- There are 5 residence halls namely University Hall, Barnum Hall, Chaffee Hall, Seeley Hall, and Cooper Hall.
- Each residence hall varies in terms of amenities, room options, floor plan, and accommodation capacity.
- Amenities common to all residence halls include a desk, chair, and bed with mattress, closet, and dresser. Facilities include a minifridge, microwave, freezer, cable access, laundry facility, Wi-Fi connection, and internet connection.
- First-year students mostly live in Seeley Hall and Barnum Hall
- For graduate and professional students, the University gives the option of renting an apartment at University Place Apartments.
- The Health Sciences Living Community provides an opportunity for 20 graduate students who have enrolled in the Health Science Programs to live on campus with all the benefits at a low cost.
University of Bridgeport Courses
- University of Bridgeport offers more than 120 program options to undergraduate and graduate students.
- The graduate programs provided by the university include Finance, Doctor of Health Sciences, Global Development and Peace, etc.
- The University has 3 colleges and 16 schools offering various programs such as criminal justice, psychology, electrical engineering, business, medicine, nursing, etc.
- Around 10 accelerated degree completion programs are provided by the university which includes healthcare administration, psychology, business concentration and others.
- A few certificate programs are also provided by the university such as Orthopedics, Business certificates and others.
- The student-faculty ratio of the university is 16:1 which is good for the students as it helps them to focus and learn better with personalized attention.
- The average freshman retention rate of the university is 69%, which is an indicator of student satisfaction.
University of Bridgeport Application Process
University of Bridgeport accepts applications for the fall, spring and summer semesters. However, international applications are not accepted for the summer semester. Students can apply for up to 12 months before the commencement of the program. It is recommended to apply early.
How to Apply?
Applicants can follow the procedure given below for admission to the University of Bridgeport:
Application Portal: Online Application or Common Application
Application Fee: No application fee
Application Deadline: Fall – July 15; Spring – December 1
Admission Requirements: The following must be submitted along with the application for admission:
- An official copy of all high school transcripts
- For test-optional students, it is compulsory to submit a personal essay
- SAT or ACT scores are optional except for a few specialized courses in which it has to be submitted.
- A personal statement
- Letter of recommendation
- Resume
- Copy of passport
- Proof of funding
- Proof of English language proficiency
English language requirements
One of the following test scores must be submitted in order to prove proficiency in the English language:
| Test | Minimum Requirements for Undergraduates | Minimum Requirements for Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL – IBT | 75 | 80 |
| IELTS | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| PTE | 53 | 58 |
| Duolingo | 100 | 105 |
| SAT | 450 | – |
| ACT | 19 | – |
University of Bridgeport Cost of Attendance
- The average cost of attendance at the university for students for a year are as follows:
| Expenses | Estimated Cost |
| Basic tuition and fee for undergraduates | 35,000 USD |
| Basic tuition and fee for graduates | 780 – 1,015 USD per credit hour |
| Books and supplies | 1,500 USD |
| Room and board | 6,950 – 10,775 USD |
| Other miscellaneous expenses | 7,372 USD |
University of Bridgeport Scholarships/Financial Aid
- 99% of the students of the University of Bridgeport receive some sort of financial aid.
- The average financial aid package provided by the institution is around 23,947 USD and around 4,500 USD from external sources.
- International students are not eligible for receiving financial aid sponsored by the U.S. government.
- Merit-based scholarships for freshmen undergraduate students are as follows:
- Trustee Scholarship – 20,000 USD
- Presidential Scholarship – 15,000 USD
- Provost’s Scholarship – 12,500 USD
- Dean’s Achievement Scholarship – 10,000 USD
- Academic Achievement Grant – 5,000 USD
- The graduate scholarship is provided only for the first year of study and the amount of scholarship ranges from 3,000 – 6,000 USD and is determined by the academic achievement and test score of the students.
- Students may work on-campus but the positions are limited and competitive. International students with F-1 or J-1 visa can work only on-campus and for 15 hours per week.
University of Bridgeport Alumni Network
- Any student who graduates from the University of Bridgeport, they automatically become a member of the alumni association for life.
- Some benefits of alumni membership are –
- Advantage of career resources
- Participation in regional events
- Register to play in the UB Golf Classic
- Join campus tours
- Membership of Wheeler Recreation Center at discounted rate
- Attend campus sports events
- Discounts of Liberty Mutual Insurance
- A few notable alumni are:
- Manute Bol- Professional basketball player and political activist
- Dennis M. Walcott – Previous chancellor of the New York City Department of Education
- John Arthur Rassias – American professor who developed the Rassias method for the teaching of foreign language
- Fred DeLuca – co-founder of Subway (sandwich shop franchise)
- Ellen Alemany – CEO of CIT Group (top 50 banks in the U.S.)
Overview
The University of Bridgeport (UB) is a private, non-profit university located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The institution enjoys a leading reputation for diversity among universities in the United States, attracting an international community of students from over 80 different nations and 45 states.
The main campus stretches over 50 acres, overlooks Seaside Park and boasts spectacular views of the Long Island Sound. Facilities include a brand-new Innovation Center specializing in developing students’ entrepreneurial skills and encouraging local business growth. There are also a number of state-of-the-art technologies and laboratories for research and design. Students who are looking to develop their personal and professional skills and make new friends are able to get involved in one of over 50 clubs and societies during their time at the university.
Students are supported by a range of services throughout their time at the institution known as The Bridgeport Plan. The Bridgeport Plan ensures that students graduate in their designated timeframe with at least one work experience opportunity. They also have access to services such as additional tutoring, an on-campus health center, housing advisors, and an International Center for Students and Scholars, specifically for international student needs.
The university’s Center for Career Development creates tailored career plans to assist students through all the stages of the employment process, whether that’s career advice, resume building workshops, or training for successful interviews.
Bridgeport is a fantastic city to live in and provides a large array of activities for students during their downtime including parks, museums, theatres and a range of shopping and eating options. Bridgeport is only a short journey away from the bustling cities of New York and Boston, which both offer world renowned attractions and entertainment, as well as attractive employment opportunities for graduates.
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