Finlandia University

Location and Contact Information

The campus is in a self-contained town.

Overview

Finlandia University, which is located in Hancock, Michigan, was founded by a Finnish immigrant mission pastor J.K. Nikander, who wanted to ensure that seminary training was available to Finnish and Swedish immigrants in America. The college, initially named Suomi College, began with a mission to train Lutheran ministers, preserve Finnish culture and teach English. The seminary and college separated in 1958, and the college became Finlandia University in 2000.

Finlandia University is divided into the following schools and colleges -

• College of Health Sciences
• International School of Art & Design
• International School of Business
• Suomi College of Arts and Sciences

The university draws students from nearly 10 states and three countries; about 6% of its student population is international. Finlandia University is a member of the NCHA and is a Division III member of the NCAA. Its athletic teams, the Lions, participate in more than 10 varsity sports.

Highlights (vs. Other Schools)

• Evangelical Lutheran Church religious affiliation.
• Many students concentrating in fine arts, therapy and counseling, and security and law enforcement.
• Good faculty-to-student ratio.
• Superior share of faculty on tenure track.
• Number of dorm rooms for students.

School characteristics:

• The school is private, not-for-profit.
• Academic calender: Semester.
• Carnegie classification: Associates Colleges.

Features of note:

• The school offers a faculty tenure system.
• There are one or more libraries on-campus.
• Campus housing is available.
• Students have meal (board) plans.
• Students may study abroad.
• Distance learning is available.
• Part-time classes are available.
• ROTC.

Similar Schools

Based on proprietary BrainTrack computer comparisons against all other US colleges, these schools appear to be most similar to Finlandia:

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Degrees Awarded (in 2009-2010)

Faculty

Tenure (2009-2010):

Students

Student enrollment was 521 in 2009-2010 (453 full-time equivalent).

About 44% of the freshmen class in 2009-2010 was male and women were 56% of the class.

Undergrads are 100% of enrolled students.

Students under 25 years old represent 76% of the student body. About 5% of the school is at least 40 years of age.

Among freshmen students, 93% are full-time and 7% are part-time.

Admissions Summary (2009-2010)

Room and Board

Finlandia provides on-campus housing for 180 of its 453 (full-time) students (as of 2009-2010).

Students may purchase a meal plan which includes 19 meals weekly.

Athletics

The school is in the Division III Independents for major sports.

Graduate School Focus

The highest degree offered is the Bachelor.

Programs of Study

(Number of degrees in 2009-2010 in parentheses)

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (17 awarded)

• Business Administration and Management

EDUCATION AND TEACHING (7 awarded)

• Elementary Education and Teaching

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (7 awarded)

• Human Services

FINE ARTS (17 awarded)

• Fine Arts and Art Studies

LIBERAL ARTS (12 awarded)

• English Language and Literature
• General Studies
• Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
• Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies

NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE (28 awarded)

• Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (12 awarded)

• Criminal Justice/Police Science

THERAPY AND COUNSELING (18 awarded)

• Physical Therapist Assistant