Partner University Spotlight: St. Francis College
St. Francis College (SFC) is a diverse private college located at Brooklyn Heights (New York), established for over 160 years with a pioneering spirit and global reputation for high-quality teaching. University HUB is very excited to have this exclusive partnership with St. Francis College and bring SFC’s Graduate STEM programs to our students and network partners worldwide. This is an excellent opportunity for our international students to experience studying in the Big Apple and build their international careers.
– Pawan Srivastava, CEO University HUB
St. Francis College is proud to partner with University HUB to deliver high-demand STEM majors which benefit our international students. By offering career opportunities and providing hybrid flexibility in instructional delivery, all rooted in our Franciscan values of radical hospitality and social responsibility, we will provide the tools for our students to dream, serve, and achieve. We look forward to working with University HUB to offer additional opportunities to our diverse students.
Dr Gale Gayle, Asst. Vice President of Academic Affairs for Online Learning and Program Development,
Dean of Graduate Education and Professional Studies
St. Francis College: Overview
St. Francis College is located in the vibrant community of Brooklyn Heights just minutes from Manhattan. Focused on personalised education, better learning, and brighter futures, St. Francis College is Driven by Dreams. For over 162 years, St. Francis has provided affordable, quality education to students of all racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. Amazingly, St. Francis is one of the most affordable private colleges in New York City. Plus, merit-and need-based scholarships are available for qualified students.
What Drives Us: Our Mission and Vision
At St. Francis College, every student is destined for success. Each student, local and international is provided with an opportunity to participate in impactful global engagement through transformational college experiences. By providing a diverse environment for intellectual excellence, St. Francis College develops students into the leaders who are set to make a difference in today’s globalised world.
For over 162 years, students have come from all parts of the world to study at St. Francis College. As many as 300+ students from more than 80 national backgrounds study at St. Francis College, forming an engaged and welcoming community of global learners.
This fall (August 2022), St. Francis College will move from 180 Remsen St Brooklyn, to the new state-of-the-art campus at 179 Livingston St. in Downtown Brooklyn. The new campus is just a few minutes from the old campus in the Wheeler Building between Hoyt Street and Jay Street stations.
Check out the page created to look back on the 60 years of SFC history at 180 Remsen Street.
St. Francis College is home while you will complete your studies. Our vision is to provide first-rate, flexible, and affordable education for the next generation of Terriers.
We’re focused on increasing our international student population through strategic and multifaceted recruitment. Reimagining our academic programs to catapult our students to be critical thinkers and leaders of the 21st century global economy.
At the new location, we’re rising to the occasion in expanding our institution’s capacity to effectively meet international students’ needs and support them through their college journey. We’ve increased our investment in programs and initiatives to accommodate students from underprivileged populations.
Featured STEM Programs
St. Francis College offers over 72+ degree programs grounded in academic excellence, spiritual and moral values, physical fitness, social responsibility, and life-long learning. You can choose to be in-person at the campus or purely online. As an online student, you can forgo the academic breaks which means you’ll be able to complete your program much faster.
Our Featured Programs include:
M.S. Degree in Management
SFC runs a Master’s Degree in Management. This program is ideal if you want to clinche that managerial job, upgrade a mid-level career or if you want a career change.
Master of Science(MS) in Management is a 33-credit stand-alone graduate degree program. It’s designed for working professionals. So, it features both campus-in-person classes and supplemental online activities. You can choose to be a part-time or full-time student.
This M.S Degree in Management program runs in the fall, spring and summer semesters utilizing 7-week terms
This MS in Management offers a 21-core credit and five 12-credit concentrations. These include:
- Business Management
- Digital Marketing
- Health Care Management
- Project Management
- Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Before specifying the fees/credit hours it’s important to know the specific credits required.
Professional Accountancy, M.S.
This is a 2-year program suited for professionals who need a masters in accounting or a better understanding of business from an accountant’s perspective. It offers a mix of accounting theory and reporting, taxation, managerial accounting, ethics, systems, and auditing. This is best if you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree in fields like business management, finance, HR, IT, or marketing.
If you want to apply for licensure in public accountancy in the State of New York you must clock in 150 credit hours in a registered program.
As an accounting major at St. Francis who wants the CPA credential, complete the 151 credit combined BS/MS program as long as all the other criteria are met.
Professional Accountancy fulfils the course of study required by New York State Department of Education and the New York State Board of Accountacy. You must qualify for entry into the BS/MS degree program.
In order to qualify for the combined BS/MS program, you must have a minimum grade point average of 2.8 in 6 specific accounting courses. Incase you fall short of this minimum grade point average, you may be reconsidered for approval if a satisfactory score is recorded on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
Also, you must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in your graduate courses.
Fees/Credit Hours after Scholarship
Combined degree programs in which a student will earn an undergraduate degree as well as a graduate degree, such as the B.S./M.S. in Accounting, will be charged a per-credit tuition rate on the course level of each class. Undergraduate courses will be charged at a rate of $650 per credit and graduate courses will be charged at a rate of $650 per credit. The service fee applies to combined degree programs and will be charged based on the total number of credits taken in a given term.
In semesters in which 12 or more undergraduate credits are taken, students will be charged the undergraduate flat-rate tuition for up to 18 credits.
Financial Aid Eligibility for Combined Degree or Graduate Tuition
Contact the Office of Financial Aid to know your eligibility for financial aid regarding the semesters of study you are enrolled for graduate-level courses. The scholarships offered by St. Francis College may not be used for tuition in graduate-level coursework. Perhaps only if it’s the 5th year of a five-year combined degree program.
Benefits of Studying These Courses
As an F-1 student you can work on-campus (without authorization) and off-campus (with authorization). It’s important to speak with your international student advisor before accepting any type of employment to determine if it is allowed.
Here is what you need to know:
F-1 students are only authorized to apply for OPT(Optional Practical Training) and CPT(Curricular Practical Training)
- OPT(Optional Practical Training)
Students who are applying for OPT may also apply for an SSN on the Form I-765. If you did not apply for a SSN the same time your completed the Form I-765, you will need to visit a local Social Security office and submit the following:
- Passport
- I-94
- I-20 with OPT authorization
- Your Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
- SS-5, Application for a Social Security Number
Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is normally used after you complete your program of study. It is authorized training approved by USCIS for employment directly related to your major. There are a wide range of employment types, including multiple employers while on OPT and paid or unpaid employment.
Students may work part-time (at least 20 hours per week) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week).
Employment types: Paid employment
Multiple employers
- Students can work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to the student’s degree program. Short-term multiple employers (performing artists)
- Students, such as musicians and other performing artists may work for multiple short-term employers (gigs). The student should maintain a list of all gigs, the dates and duration. If requested by DHS, students must be prepared to provide evidence showing a list of all gigs.
Work for hire
- This is also commonly referred to as 1099 employment where an individual performs a service based on a contractual relationship rather than an employment relationship If requested by DHS, students must be prepared to provide evidence showing the duration of the contract periods and the name and address of the contracting company.
Unpaid Employment
- Students may work as volunteers or unpaid interns, where this does not violate any labor laws. The work must be at least 20 hours per week for students on post-completion OPT. These students must be able to provide evidence from the employer that the student worked at least 20 hours per week during the period of employment.
When to Apply
The earliest date you can apply is 90 days before your program completion date and 60 days after your program completion date. USCIS will not accept applications that have been received 60 days after a student’s program completion date. Apply early!
Completion Date
For most students, this date will be the official end date of the semester. This date is usually the date in which final exam grades are due. If you have any questions about the completion date, contact your DSO.
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
CPT applies to you if you have been in Active F-1 Status for two consecutive semesters unless you are a graduate student and your academic program requires an internship in the first or second semester
Remember, you must first secure the opportunity before CPT can be authorized. This means that if you are eligible, you can and should search for internships. Every job/internship you join must be directly related to your major area of study because it has to be a part of the curriculum (ex. required internship, student teaching, etc.)
CPT must take place before your program end date on your 1-20. Note that authorization is only for one specific employer for one specific time. You can, however, have more than one CPT opportunity at a time. Also, you may may work full-time (more than 20 hours) during semester breaks and part-time (less than 20 hours) during each semester.
Note that 12 months of full-time CPT eliminates the opportunity for Optional Practical Training (OPT)
There are two types of CPT:
1. Required part of the program: the program requires employment in the field of study to graduate
2. Non-required part of the program: the practical experience is for credit and directly related to your field of study. You must be enrolled for the course while engaging in this type of CPT
If you want a STEM extension, here is what to do.
Tuition, Scholarship, and Aid
The total cost of tuition for international students at St. Francis College is $27,188. There is an international-based scholarship that knocks $6500 off your tuition at the moment of acceptance.
Here is a table of the other scholarships offered at SFC
Note that the tuition does not include living costs.
St. Francis College has a passion for underserved communities. This is evidenced by their pride at being one of New York City’s most affordable colleges.
According to SFC statistics, 99% of all students receive financial aid, 87% of all students receive institutional aid, 94% receive federal or state funding, and 10% are employed in work-study programs.
International students do not receive financial aid but there are a number of different scholarships that you can apply for. Here is a list:
- $6,500 waiver awarded upon acceptance.
- Presidential Scholarship: International students with B+ or a high GPA qualify to apply for the Presidential Scholarship by entering into an essay contest. With the essay, students will be competing for one of the four Full Tuition Scholarships.
- Athletic Scholarship: Students with exceptional skills and abilities in one of SFC’s 21 Division 1 Intercollegiate Sports can receive an athletic scholarship. The amount varies.
Culture Diversity
St. Francis College incorporates an office of Multicultural Affairs. This office creates programs, events, and educational opportunities to promote academic achievement and multicultural competence.
The result is a body of students who are competent in leadership and confident despite coming from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. Ultimately, SFC successfully promotes an inclusive, equitable, and supportive campus community for all students.
St. Francis College is committed to increase access and equity for historically underserved students by actively promoting dialogue to ensure all members of the community belong.
Passionate about redoubling our efforts to be a caring Franciscan community, St. Francis College hired its first full-time Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office Jeanne Arnold who also serves as the College’s Chief of Staff.
Additionally, St. Francis College ensures diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice elements are incorporated into each Body of Knowledge in the General Education Program.
This way, the students have clear guidelines in regard to policies and practises across the entire campus.
SFC Student Life
Indulge in the student activities offered to build a community of friends since you’ll be in Brooklyn for a while. There are over 35 student clubs and organisations. You can join courses that you feel passionate about or even the Student Government Association to etch a place for yourself and be part of the larger student community.
When you need it, St. Francis College’s Centre for Student Success will assign you a professional academic advisor. An advisor is an expert in your field so you can expect to be equipped with tools for self-advocacy, empowerment, personal growth, and academic success.
A professional academic advisor will assist you with academic planning, major selection, study skills, and SFC community resources such as tutoring.
As stated above, St. Francis College has a Student Success Centre to offer every assistance you may need in regards to academics, tutoring, and campus life.
Getting to Know Brooklyn
An international student in New York City probably for the first time can feel overwhelmed. St Francis College gladly offers resources to help you adjust to your new life.
97 Columbia Heights is St. Francis College’s students’ residence. Dubbed the extended campus, this Brooklyn Heights neighbourhood offers world-class amenities, a wide variety of living, and study spaces to fit your budget.
Brooklyn Heights was named one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods.
As a student at SFC, you’ll be exposed to the Big Apple, Wall Street, New York Library, and every sort of intercultural experience.
Jackson Heights is a great place with a huge South Asian population including Indians, Bangladeshis, and Pakistanis. So, you can expect to find cheap Indian food, Asian supermarkets, and stores. You’ll also love the Bollywood theatres and lots of Indian, Asian, and Latino family restaurants. In Chinatown, you can find great affordable food and also cheap food ingredients if you want to cook at home.
When all is said and done, remember you are in the City of Dreams. Explore all New York City has to offer. Some fun things to add to your bucket list include:
- Explore Grand Central Terminal
- Climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty
- Bike around Central Park
- Window shop at Bergdorf
There is a lot to do in New York City. You are not just there to study, take advantage of the opportunity and get the most out of your experience.
Final Thoughts
University HUB is the best resource for all you need to know about studying and living in the US as an Indian international student. We partnered with St. Francis College to facilitate an easier transition for Indian international students. For any inquiries contact us.
