Learning institutions are the sources of light to the modern society, considering that knowledge is light, and therefore power. It is, hence, very essential for an individual to consider and evaluate the nature, type, standard, level, etc., of the learning institution he or she is about to attend. Through evaluation process, it is easy and encouraging to stamp a comprehensive and convective background about the institution. The institution of evaluation in this case is Texas Christian University (TCU). As a Christian University, it has a strong affiliation with Christian discipleship, a fact that is highly encouraging based on the ethically moral standards to be observed by the institution. This paper undertakes a step by step evaluation process of the Texas Christian University using certain criterion, explaining the factors making the institution to be favorably the best university among the best in the world.
Although the dream of an individual is to attend the ‘University of Choice’, one of the restraining factors considering the university is the cost of tuition. Tuition cost is a dependent variable when it comes to institutions of higher learning since there is no standard cost for all. Texas Christian University offer favorable costs of tuition at $34,500 to all residents on annual terms (Swaim 56-7). Despite the fact that it's high, the institution is, however, relatively lower compared to the tuition costs of other major (national) universities in the United States.
This criterion analyzes institutions based on the financial aids available to students, and particularly the vulnerable group of students (Edward Elgar 2010). Based on the Christian values and objects, TCU has been on the lead in terms of its offers of financial aids to the students who may not be able to raise part of the tuition and overall costs. The financial aid offered by the institution to the students range from grants to loans. 66% of the students receive grant aid from the institution totaling to $16,028 per student on annual terms. 16% of the students receive Pell grant, averaging $4,153 per student annually. More than that, 36% of the students of the institution receive Federal Student Loans, averaging to a total of $7,122 per student on annual terms (Rus 78). Under these circumstances, the financial aids are available based on certain qualifications and runs all through to completion of the program duration.
According to Hall (66), the gender distribution of the institution in the 2013/2014 academic year is fair at 40.5% male and 59.5 female students. Out of the total number of students, 47% live in college-owned and operated housing while 53% of the students live off campus. This percentage is fair considering other institutions of the same standards. Being the biggest religious university, TCU has a regulation that binds all the freshmen and sophomores to live in campus, except when they are older than 21 or can commute from parent’s home. This means that availability of dorms (hostels) is not a problem for the freshmen and sophomores. The cost of the dormitories is charged at $7,650 on annual terms per student which is relatively cheaper compared to other universities, for instance Duke University, which charges $10,650 annually per student (Swaim 88). One of the elementary factors to consider in evaluating an institution of higher learning is the availability of living rooms (hostels); thus, TCU is among the excellent universities in the world which available space for everyone at reduced costs. Texas Christian University also has campus safety services (24 hour footed and vehicle patrols) with 24 hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways among many other security measures making the university a personal choice and preference (Rus 67).
Texas Christian University is ranked among the best universities in the world that offer numerous programs at different levels (Washington Monthly 2013).The foundation of the University is based in Christian morals and values, and thus being open for students of any faith. It offers a semester based academic calendar and is ranked at position 82 among the national universities (www.greeks.tcu.edu). Founded in 1873, the institution has a marked standard of intellectual home and very reputable in manufacturing professionals in various fields of specialization. More than that, the institution is well reputable in sporting activities, rangi9ng from athletics, football, and other game (Sporting News. NFL 2009).
The pursuit of good programs is in most cases one of the major dilemmas to many students. Texas Christian University offers various degree programmes, in the major fields, as Management, Economics, Marketing, and related services, health professions and related programs, social sciences and education. The student –faculty ratio according to Swaim (34) is 13:1 and the institution has 41% of its classes with lower than 20 students. More importantly, the academic life, and, therefore, the average freshman retention rate which measures student satisfaction is 87%.
According to the matching criteria; tuition cost, financial aid, courses, reputation, living aspects, and the university standards, Texas Christian University stand out to be an institution of excellence, self-actualization, moral and ethical advancements, and a university of choice. The evaluation criteria used above explains the reason for the adoption of the University as the best.
Works Cited
"History of Texas Christian University, a College of the " www.tcu.edu/90.asp. Texas Christian University. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2014
Rus, Ginés . Introduction to Cost-Benefit Analysis: Looking for Reasonable Shortcuts. Cheltenham, Glos, UK: Edward Elgar, $c c2010, 2010. Print.
"About the Rankings". Washington Monthly. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
"HOW TO FIND THE BEST RAIN BARREL - Best Rain Barrels Reviews " bestrainbarrels.com/. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2014
