Catalog and Handbook

Much of the information available on the Walden website can also be found in the Walden University Catalog and the Walden University Student Handbook.

The Walden University Catalog contains the following information:

• Academic programs
• State authorizations and programmatic accreditations
• Faculty and instructional personnel

The Walden University Student Handbook contains the following information:

The Walden University Catalog and Student Handbook can be found at https://catalog.waldenu.edu/. Simply select the desired document from the pull-down menus in the upper right-hand corner of the Web page.

Website and Other Online Resources

The Walden University website contains information and items regarding faculty, staff, educational programs, financial aid, and much more.

Information on the College Navigator website for Walden can be found here.

For information on textbooks, visit the Walden Bookstore.

Accountability for Programs that Prepare Teachers

Information reported to the U.S. Department of Education on Walden’s teacher preparation programs can be found here.

Academics

Descriptions of Walden’s academic programs can be found at https://www.waldenu.edu/programs.

Current plans for improvements to academic programs are described at www.WaldenU.edu/about/who-we-are/data/continuous-improvement-system under the heading “Continuous Improvement System.”

Information regarding Walden’s transfer of credit policies can be found at https://www.waldenu.edu/admissions/degree-acceleration/transfer-of-credit.

Current Articulation Agreements

The articulation agreements listed below are signed by both institutions. On our Walden Transfer page, https://www.waldenu.edu/admissions/degree-acceleration/transfer-of-credit, we have articulation guides in place that reflect the courses and/or credentials Walden will accept in transfer from these institutions and, often, how they will be applied to specific degree requirements. For further information, please contact an enrollment specialist by calling 855-654-9696.

Financial Aid Information

General information about financial aid and the way financial aid is distributed among applicants can be found at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/tuition-financial-aid and https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/financial-aid-disbursement.

To determine your eligibility for federal financial aid, visit https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/satisfactory-academic-progress, https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/eligibility-requirements, https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/verification-policy and https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/enrollment-transfer-credit.

The federal financial aid application process is described at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/financial-aid-deadlines and https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/financial-aid-application.

To view Cost of Attendance (COA) information, visit https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/cost-attendance.

Walden’s refund policies, requirements for return of Title IV monies, and withdrawal information can be found at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/refund-policies and https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/enrollment-transfer-credit.

To learn more about federal financial aid, visit https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/federal-programs.

To contact a Walden financial aid advisor, visit https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/financial-aid-office.

Terms and conditions for Federal Direct Loans can be accessed under "Policies and Disclosures" at https://www.waldenu.edu/financial-aid/federal-financial-aid. Federal Direct Loan program information can be found at https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans.

The U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) central database for student aid is located at StudentAid.gov and provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV aid so that recipients can access and inquire about their Title IV loans and/or grant data. Log in to StudentAid.gov to view your aid summary. In compliance with federal regulations under HEOA Sec. 489 amended Sec. 485B (d) (4) (20 U.S.C. 1092b), the university is required to notify applicants that approved loans will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system as determined by the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information about federal student loans is provided during required loan entrance and exit counseling. Applicants are directed to the U.S. Department of Education loan entrance counseling site at https://studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling/ and loan exit counseling site at https://studentaid.gov/exit-counseling/

Please note that enrollment in a program with a study abroad component approved for credit may be considered enrollment in the home institution for purposes of applying for federal aid.

Student Outcomes and Student Characteristics

Diversity

Information on student body diversity disaggregated by undergraduate and graduate degree level is available at www.WaldenU.edu/about/who-we-are/data/students.  Walden University serves an ethnically diverse, older, and first-generation student body from all 50 U.S. states and 117 different countries. The average student is 40 years old, more than three-quarters (82%) of the students are female, and 53% are minorities (as reported in the IPEDS Fall Enrollment Survey, 2021–2022).   

Employment

Seventy-eight percent of Walden’s students who responded to the 2022 Student Satisfaction Survey are working full-time or are self-employed. Another 10% are working part-time.

Of the Walden alumni that responded as being employed in the 2022 Alumni Satisfaction Survey, 76% reported employment within their field of study.

Student Retention

The first-year retention of first-time, full-time and first-time, part-time undergraduate students who enrolled in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021 were 25% and 26% respectively, as reported to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Please note that retention rates are based on a cohort of 4 full-time, first-time students and 151 part-time, first-time students. Consequently, retention rates should be interpreted cautiously. Additionally, the first-time degree/certificate seeking undergraduates included in the retention figures above represent only 5% of the undergraduates entering Walden in Fall 2020, and 2% of Walden’s total fall 2020 undergraduate enrollment.

Walden University is primarily a graduate institution, however, with more than 81% of its students enrolled at the master’s and doctoral degree levels. The term-to-term retention table below presents a more comprehensive view of Walden’s undergraduate and graduate student retention. 

 

SECOND TERM RETENTION BY UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE LEVEL
Level	AY Cohorts	Students In Cohort #	Students Enrolled in 2nd Term #	2nd Term Retention %
Undergraduate	AY 2020–21	3,810	2,766	73%
Graduate	AY 2020–21	19,249	15,493	80%

Includes all degree-seeking students with a cohort during the academic year of 2020–21.

A student is considered retained in their second term if they are enrolled in the subsequent term from the first term of enrollment. Please note that students are allowed to take time off between courses to suit their school and home/work life balance as our typical student is a working professional already in their field of study.

Undergraduate includes Bachelors level cohort enrollment.
Graduate combines master's, education specialists, professional doctorates, and PhD-level cohort enrollment by counting only the first cohort within each degree per student. 

Non-degree seeking students are excluded from this data.
AY = Academic Year (Fall term through Summer term)

Graduation Rates

The graduation rate for first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students is 33%, based upon students who enrolled in Fall 2013 and completed a program within 150% of the normal time to completion, as reported to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). As noted above, Walden University is primarily a graduate institution, and undergraduate students enrolled at Walden do not typically fall into the category of first-time, full-time students. The reported rate is based on a cohort of 3 students, and should therefore be interpreted cautiously, as it reflects less than 0.01% of the total undergraduate students entering Walden University in Fall 2013. Walden University also had no first-time, full-time freshman in the Fall of 2014. As such, no graduation rate is available for 2020.

Due to the small cohort size, and to preserve the privacy of personally identifiable information, disaggregated graduation rates by gender, major racial and ethnic subgroup, and Federal Student Aid recipient status are not disclosed.

The chart below is a more complete representation of Walden’s graduation rates. The undergraduate rate includes all bachelor’s students, full-time and part-time and those starting with the university as well as those bringing in transfer of credit. As noted, the graduate student rate includes full-time and part-time students at all degree levels above bachelors.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT 150% GRADUATION RATES BY UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE LEVELS
Level	AY Cohorts	Students In Cohort #	Students who graduated within 150% of the expected time #	150% Graduation Rate %
Undergraduate	2015–16	4,812	1,557	32%
Graduate	Masters = AY 2018–19 EdS= AY 2016–17 Prof. Doc, PhD = AY 2015–16	23,632	7,995	34%

Includes all degree-seeking students with a starting cohort within the reported academic year.
Graduation rate is calculated from the matriculation term to degree conferral term within the same degree level.
Our typical student is a working professional already in their field of study and only attending Walden with a part-time credit load thus why the 150% graduation rate was shown as it best represents our student body's achievement rate, this also aligns to the IPEDS Right to Know reporting period methodology which is an industry standard.

The Bachelor's, Professional Doctorate, and PhD 150% rate is six years after their start with AY 2015-16being the most recent fully completed AY after six years.

The Education Specialist 150% rate is five years after their start with AY 2016-17 being the most recent fully completed AY after five years.

The master's 150% rate is three years after their start with AY 2018-19being the most recently fully completed AY after three years.

Undergraduate includes only the bachelor's- level students whereas graduate combines master's, education specialists, professional doctorate, and PhD-level students.

The data shown above is the 150% graduation rate for those who have a cohort within the AY of 20115-16for Bachelors, Professional Doctorate, PhD. AY 2016-17 for Education Specialists followed by AY 2018-19 for Masters.
Non-degree seeking students and step-out awards are excluded from this data.

Federal Pell Grants

For degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in Fall 2020, 45% received a Pell Grant.

Types of Graduate and Professional Education in Which Graduates Enroll

Of all bachelor's graduates at Walden since 2010, thirty-six percent of students have later reenrolled into a Walden graduate level program. (Office of Institutional Effectiveness, based on Fall 2020 enrollment data)

Exam Pass Rate Information

College of Nursing

The Walden University College of Nursing provides accurate and reliable reporting of National Certification Pass Rates for graduates of the MSN NP, Post Master’s NP Certificate, and DNP NP programs. In accordance with the requirements set forth in the CCNE’s Standards for Accreditation (Key Element IV-D), Walden University collects data to demonstrate that it meets the certification pass rate of 80%. Cohort-based pass rate data is collected annually and reported for Walden graduates by specialty area. Graduates are counted in annual cohorts in accordance with degree conferral. To report the most accurate pass rates for Walden graduates in accordance with the requirements set by CCNE, data is collected several times throughout each calendar year for first-time and repeat test takers for the 3 previous cohort years.

* 3 YEAR AVERAGE (2019, 2020, 2021) DATA INCLUDES FIRST-TIME AND REPEAT TEST TAKERS
Program		% Pass
MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP		87%
MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP		87%
MSN Family NP		88%
MSN Psychiatric-Mental Health NP		95%

* Graduates are counted in annual cohorts in accordance with degree conferral. Data is collected several times throughout each calendar year for the 3 previous cohort years, in order to report the most accurate pass rates for our graduates. Updates are reported accordingly, and percentage of “passers” may increase as more graduates have the opportunity to take and pass the National Certification Exam. 2019-2021 cohort data examined through August, 2023.

Riley College of Education and Human Sciences

Walden University’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences annually reports licensure exam pass rates for graduates of its initial and advanced educator licensure programs in accordance with the requirements established by state and professional educator preparation program accreditors. The reporting processes of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) of Minnesota, and the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) as well as the program review processes of the Minnesota Board of School Administrators (MBOSA), Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and the National Educational Leadership Preparation standards require that the University share aggregate data on student licensure exam performance. This information is shared publicly on the Richard W. Riley’s College and Human Sciences Demonstrating Accountability, Transparency, and Assessment (DATA) site and in program-specific annual reports. This data is also regularly monitored, analyzed, and reported to program leadership to address any areas for improvement. The tables below contain the passing rates for 2021–2022 program completers in BS in Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education, MS in Education Principal Licensure, and Education Specialist Principal Licensure programs.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION LICENSURE EXAM PASS RATES FOR PROGRAM COMPLETERS SEPT. 2020–AUG. 2021
Test	Minimum Passing Score	Total Test Takers	Passing %	Walden Average Score	Minnesota Average Score
Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exam (MTLE): Elementary Education, Subtest 1	191	69	98.6%	246	257 (N=1,898)
Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exam (MTLE): Elementary Education, Subtest 2	197	52	100%	246	262 (N=1,8771,974)
Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exam (MTLE): Elementary Education, Subtest 3	197	57	100%	252	240 (N=1,881)
Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exam (MTLE): Elementary Pedagogy, (Grades K-6), Subtest 1	216	63	95.9%	254	247 (N=2,637)
Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exam (MTLE): Elementary Pedagogy, (Grades K-6), Subtest 2	212	63	97.1	256	245 (N=2,651)

MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING SPECIAL EDUCATION LICENSURE EXAM PASS RATES FOR PROGRAM COMPLETERS SEPT. 2021–AUG. 2022
Test	Minimum Passing Score	Total Test Takers	Passing %	Walden Average Score	Minnesota Average Score
Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exam (MTLE): Special Education Content, Subtest 1	208	16	100%	258	266 (N=1,161)
Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exam (MTLE): Special Education Content, Subtest 2	207	16	100%	259	265 (N=1,174)
Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exam (MTLE): Pedagogy: Elementary (Grades K – 6) Subtest 1	216	<10	100%	N/A	265 (N=2,637)
Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exam (MTLE): Pedagogy: Elementary (Grades K – 6) Subtest 2	212	<10	100%	N/A	266 (N=2,651)
Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exam (MTLE): Special Education Pedagogy: Secondary (Grades 5 – 12)  Subtest 1	214	<10	100%	N/A	264 (N=1,742)
Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exam (MTLE): Pedagogy: Secondary (Grades 5 – 12) Subtest 2	198	<10	100%	N/A	265 (N=1,760)

EDS AND MSED IN PRINCIPAL LICENSURE LICENSURE EXAM PASS RATES FOR PROGRAM COMPLETERS SEPT. 2020–AUG. 2021
Test Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Educational Leadership Assessment (015)	Program	Minimum Passing Score	Total Test Takers	Passing %	Walden Average Score	State Average Score
	EdS	220	<10	100%	N/A	237 (N=1,300)
	MSED	220	<10	100%	N/A	237 (N=1,300)

Student Rights Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA gives students specific rights with regard to the review, confidentiality, and release of personally identifiable information. Please see the complete Walden University FERPA policy statement in the “Notification of FERPA Rights” section of the Walden University Student Handbook, which can be found at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/student-handbook/ferpa-rights.

Americans With Disabilities Act

Walden University follows the guidelines of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides reasonable accommodations to individuals who provide appropriate documentation of disabilities. If you are interested in applying to Walden University and require accommodations during the admission process, an enrollment specialist will be happy to facilitate your ability to speak with Walden’s director of disability services to discuss your specific needs.

For information regarding services, accommodations, academic adjustments, and modifications on the basis of disability or to register and request accommodations for a disability, please visit the Walden website (https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/disability-services) or contact the staff at the Office of Student Wellness and Disability Services at [email protected]. All inquiries are confidential.

Vaccination Policy

Walden students are encouraged to gather immunization records and a tuberculosis (TB) clearance, as they may be required to show proof of that health information to prospective employers or for fieldwork. Immunization and TB clearance records do not need to be submitted to Walden, but Walden recommends that students consult a physician for vaccination and other health-related recommendations.

Copyright Infringement and Illegal Downloads

Unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material may subject students to civil and criminal liabilities as well as institutional sanctions. The Walden University policy for copyright infringement and illegal downloads is available near the bottom of the “Legal and Consumer Information” page of the Walden University website: www.WaldenU.edu/legal. Hard copies of the policy are available in the Walden University Student Handbook

Voter Registration

The National Mail Voter Registration Form is the one document that allows you to register to vote from anywhere in the United States. Visit https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote for the form and additional information.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Program

The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, as articulated in the Education Department General Regulations (EDGAR) Part 86, the “Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations,” require institutions of higher education (IHEs) to develop and implement programs to prevent the abuse of alcohol and the use of illicit drugs by students and employees. In addition, IHEs are required to provide annual notification of the provisions of their alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs to students, faculty, and employees and to conduct biennial reviews of the programs and their effectiveness.

Walden University has developed this Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Program (the “Walden ADAP Program”) to meet the requirements of the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, as articulated in the Education Department General Regulations (EDGAR) Part 86, the “Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations.”

Walden University maintains a drug-free university. Students, faculty, and employees are strictly prohibited from misusing controlled substances, intoxicants, alcohol, and prescription drugs while working, participating in the online classroom, or attending residencies or other university-sponsored activities.

Disciplinary Sanctions

Walden University will not excuse misconduct by students whose judgment is impaired due to substance abuse. Students found in violation of Walden’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention policy shall be subject to the provisions of the student code of conduct set forth in the Walden University Student Handbook and Walden University Catalog.

Annual Security Report

View Walden University’s Annual Security Report.

LAST UPDATED: September 22, 2023

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), which was enacted on December 27, 2020, provided Higher Education Emergency Grant Funding (HEERF) II to be distributed to students with exceptional need. On February 5, 2021, Walden University signed and returned the Certification Agreement for the student portion to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), and, on March 12, 2021, Walden University was authorized to use $182,068 in HEERF II funding under CRRSAA (a)(4) for emergency grants to students with exceptional need.

Walden University prioritized eligibility to undergraduate, Title IV eligible students who were enrolled full-time as regular students and received a full-time Pell Grant disbursement between March 1, 2021, and May 21, 2021. There were 356 total students eligible to receive emergency grants. The $182,068 allocation was divided equally, and each of the 356 students who met the criteria received a $511.42 grant. One student received $513.90 from HEERF II.

The selected students were notified by email on June 16, 2021 and June 21, 2021, that the grant was awarded to them and could be used for any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, healthcare (including mental health care) or childcare. As of June 30, 2021, Walden University completed the disbursement of $182,068 in emergency financial aid grants to 356 eligible students.

Students with Special and/or Unusual Circumstances 

When students or their families experience a change in financial circumstances, the information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) may no longer accurately reflect their financial situation. Walden University may consider special and unusual circumstance(s) that impact a student or family’s ability to pay for college that is not represented in the FAFSA^®. A financial aid administrator may adjust a student’s income and tax data, dependency status or cost of attendance to more accurately reflect their household’s financial situation and ability to pay for school.

Special Circumstance

If a student or their family undergo significant changes to their financial situation that are not reflected on the FAFSA^®, they may request a Special Circumstance review by the institution which may result in a recalculation of their federal financial aid eligibility by adjusting the income and tax data reported on their FAFSA or by adjusting the student’s cost of attendance. For more information regarding the student’s cost of attendance, please visit https://academics.waldenu.edu/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance.

All special circumstances must be accompanied by supporting documentation to prove the requested changes.

Please note that if a student already has the highest need for federal financial aid, there is no need to pursue a special circumstance to adjust income and tax data as the student already receives the maximum amount of federal financial aid. In addition, graduate students are only eligible for federally awarded non-need-based aid (Unsubsidized loans) which are not awarded based on need. Therefore, a graduate student would not benefit from pursuing a special circumstance to adjust income and tax data unless they are applying for or attempting to receive state funding. However, a highest-need or graduate student may pursue a special circumstance to adjust their cost of attendance.

Examples of Potentially Eligible Reasons for a Special Circumstance Request

• Change in employment status, income or assets.
• Change in housing status (e.g., homelessness).
• Tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school.
• Medical, dental or nursing home expenses that are not covered by insurance.
• Child or dependent care expenses.
• Severe disability of the student or other member of the student’s household.
• Other changes or adjustments that impact the student’s costs or ability to pay for college.

Unusual Circumstance

A student is considered to be financially dependent on their parents unless they meet one of the following criteria to be considered independent:

• Twenty-four years of age or older by January 1st of the school year for which the student is applying for aid.
• Married or separated but not divorced.
• Working towards a master’s or doctorate degree.
• Have children or dependents who live with them and receive more than half their support.
• Currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training.
• A veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• An orphan, in foster care or a ward of the court at any time since age 13.
• An emancipated minor or in legal guardianship as determined by a court.
• An unaccompanied youth who is homeless or at risk of being homeless.

If a student does not meet at least one of the criteria listed above, they are not considered to be independent and must report their parent’s financial information on the FAFSA. If a student has an unusual circumstance that will prevent them from being able to provide their parent’s information on the FAFSA, they may qualify for a Dependency Override which would allow Walden University to change the student to independent and process the FAFSA without the parent’s information.

All requests must be accompanied by supporting documentation to prove the requested changes.

Examples of Potentially Eligible Reasons for an Unusual Circumstance Request

• Human trafficking, as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.
• Legally granted refugee or asylum status.
• Parental abandonment or estrangement.
• Student or parental incarceration.
• An abusive family environment (e.g., sexual, physical or mental abuse or other forms of domestic violence).
• Parents lack the physical or mental capacity to raise a child.
• The whereabouts of the parents are unknown or the parents cannot be located.
• Parents hospitalized for an extended period.
• An unsuitable household (e.g., a child removed from the household and placed in foster care).
• A married student’s spouse dies or the student gets divorced.

The Below Conditions Do Not Qualify as an Unusual Circumstance

• Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education.
• Parents are unwilling to provide information on the application or verification documentation.
• Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
• The student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

Students who believe they meet the criteria for a special circumstance to adjust income and tax data should log in to their myWalden document portal , complete the “Professional Judgment: Special Circumstance - EFC Calculation Appeal” task, and follow the prompts to begin the process of submitting supporting documentation.

Students who believe they meet the criteria for an unusual circumstance to adjust dependency status should log in to their myWalden document portal, complete the “Professional Judgment: Unusual Circumstance Appeal” task, and follow the prompts to begin the process of submitting supporting documentation. Students who would like to pursue a special circumstance to adjust their cost of attendance should use the Charlotte Bot by clicking the Owl icon in their myWalden portal or contact Financial Services to initiate this request.