FAQs

With over 20 years of experience teaching online, Gratz College can provide you with 

• Personalized degree plan to get you to your goal.

• Expert faculty from across the country who work and study in a number of fields. 

• 24/7 access to your coursework- all you need is a device and an internet connection. 

• Engaging and challenging assignments, readings and discussions with professors and students in real time- or on your time.

• Community of peers who are working toward similar goals and share your interests. 

• Expand your knowledge and do meaningful work.

• Opportunities to engage with leading scholars and professionals and build community.

• Print and online library resources including journals, databases, books, and media.

• Financial aid information and scholarship opportunities*

• Help making your dream a reality.

*for qualified students

Our academic calendar provides flexibility for the working professional. We offer six 8-week online terms throughout the year and you can start in any term. Our calendar allows most graduate degrees to be completed in about two years, while only taking one class at a time. And since life is often unpredictable, if you need to take a term off, you only have to wait two months for a new term to start.

At Gratz, we are known for our flexible online programs. Gratz understands the demands of working full-time while trying to earn a degree, and our online programs are designed accordingly. Our students come from 30 states across the U.S. and from 4 countries, including Canada, Guatemala, Israel, and Switzerland. Because our courses are online, you can study anywhere or anytime as long as you have internet access. With the exception of our Hebrew classes, all courses are asynchronous. This means there is no set day or time when you have to be at your computer. While you do have to log into our online platform, Canvas, weekly, to access lectures, participate in class discussion boards, and submit assignments, you can complete these tasks at times that are convenient for you!

Founded as a teachers’ college, it makes sense that our largest programs are in Education. The Master of Education is our most popular program, and is designed for those who seek advanced study in contemporary pedagogy and educational leadership. Our 30-credit program has only three required core courses which means that you can tailor your curriculum to fit your interests and goals. The 48-credit Doctorate of Education in Leadership (Ed.D) program is designed for practicing educational professionals to enhance their leadership abilities in order to bring about change and innovation in educational settings. 

We also offer a MA and PhD in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. These rigorous, research based programs bring together scholars from around the world.  The 36-credit (12 courses) masters is designed for educators in public and private schools, museum staff, community professionals, religious and lay leaders, those involved in interfaith dialogue, and adult learners taking classes for personal enrichment or credit. The 48-credit (16 courses) Doctor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies is the only program of its kind in the world. 

We offer strong programs in Jewish Studies, Jewish Professional Studies, Interfaith Leadership, Human Rights, and Nonprofit Management which draw people from all walks of life at varying stages in their careers.

If you already have your Masters degree, we offer a Master’s Plus Certificate in Distinguished Teaching and Learning, which provides 15 additional credits based on the Danielson Framework for Teaching, as well as enough courses to continue on and get your Masters +30 and +60 as well. However, if your school district does not require Danielson, you may tailor the certificate to your specific educational goals. We also offer an undergraduate certificate in Jewish Education for those seeking a first credential to pursue jobs in Jewish day and supplementary schools, summer camps, and youth organizations.

Yes! There are a number of scholarships available at Gratz, thanks to our generous donors; they are listed here. For best consideration, please submit your admissions and scholarship applications prior to the priority deadlines listed on our website.

Our Midcareer Fellowship offers a 25% tuition reduction, as well as an additional percentage from Gratz College, for students in eligible programs who have been out of college for five years and have been working in the Jewish community for at least three years. We are currently in our 8th cohort of the fellowship and are proud to announce that we have been renewed for a 9th cohort. Eligible programs are listed here.

Aside from scholarships and fellowships, another source of financial aid is taking out a student loan. Graduate students may be eligible for up to $20,500 per year in federal direct loans if they are enrolled in a degree program and are taking two courses in the semester for which they are applying for aid. Unfortunately, there is no federal student aid available for certificate programs.

To qualify for both federal student aid and our institutional scholarships and fellowships, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (otherwise known as the FAFSA) using our school code, 004058. Once your FAFSA is completed and submitted, and you are accepted into a program at Gratz, you will receive an award letter detailing your financial Aid. If you decide to accept any financial aid that is offered to you, you will need to complete electronic loan documents such as the Master Promissory Note and entrance counseling at www.studentloans.gov.

We also recommend that you check with your employer’s human resources department to see if they offer tuition remission. You can look into private scholarships, grants and gifts in your community or on websites such as CollegeBoard.com, Scholarships.com, Fastweb.com, and Cappex.com, as well as graduate plus loans and private loans.