You have options. Dozens of universities offer online degrees, and most of them say roughly the same things about flexibility, affordability, and supportive faculty. Here's what's actually different about Batten.
Regionally Accredited — the Real Kind
Batten University is accredited by SACSCOC — the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges — the same regional accreditor that covers major universities across the Southeast. That means your credits transfer, your degree is recognized by employers and graduate programs, and your federal financial aid eligibility is real. Not all online programs carry the same weight. This one does.
Textbooks Are Included
Electronic textbooks are included in your tuition rate. Not "available at a discount" — included. You won't receive a separate bill from the bookstore, and you won't have to decide whether to buy the required text or eat this week. The cost of course materials is already covered in what you pay per credit hour.
Six Start Dates a Year
Most universities give you two chances to start — fall or spring. Batten Online runs six terms per year, with new start dates roughly every seven weeks. That means if life gets in the way, your next opportunity to begin or resume isn't six months away. It's around the corner. The mini-term format also keeps coursework focused — most students take two courses per term, similar to a full semester load spread across two concentrated sessions.
Military Friendly
Batten University accepts GI Bill benefits, Military Tuition Assistance, and MyCAA scholarships, and offers a dedicated military grant rate for active duty students using TA. We have a VA Certifying Official on staff whose job is to help veterans and service members navigate their benefits and maximize their coverage. If you've served, we've built our admissions and financial aid processes around making this as straightforward as possible for you.
One of the Most Generous Transfer Policies in the Region
Up to 96 transfer credits accepted from four-year institutions. Up to 64 from two-year institutions. Military credit, CLEP, AP, IB, professional certifications, and prior learning experience all count toward the 32-credit prior learning maximum. If you've earned credits anywhere — community college, military service, professional training — we work to make them count. Virginia community college graduates with an associate degree get guaranteed junior class standing.
Faculty Who Are Practitioners, Not Just Professors
Ninety percent of Batten's faculty hold a doctorate or the highest degree in their field. More importantly, many are active practitioners in the disciplines they teach — lawyers who teach criminal justice, environmental scientists who consult for agencies, business professionals who've built and run organizations. The learning is grounded in what actually happens in the field, not just what's in the textbook.
Responsible Business at the Graduate Level
Batten University was the first small liberal arts college in the nation to sign the United Nations Global Compact. The MBA is built on the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) — a framework that integrates human rights, environmental sustainability, and anti-corruption into core business education. If you're pursuing a graduate business degree because you want to lead organizations that actually do things right, this program was designed with that in mind.
A Real Liberal Arts Education
Batten is a liberal arts institution, which means the education is designed to develop the whole person — not just a specialist. The General Education program ensures graduates can think across disciplines, communicate clearly, and understand their field in the context of history, society, and the future. That kind of education holds up across an entire career, through multiple jobs, through industry changes, and through whatever comes next.
If any of that sounds like what you're looking for, the next step is simple. Talk to an enrollment counselor and they'll tell you exactly how your situation fits and what a path to a Batten degree looks like for you specifically.