Get a Head Start on your Career

Our guarantee that you will graduate in four years positions you for grad school or a successful career ahead of most peers.

4-Year Guarantee

We are committed to making Jewell accessible to bright minds seeking an enriching academic experience. Our four-year graduation degree and three-year degree options are just two things that make Jewell a great value.

William Jewell College believes that graduation in four years is essential for an affordable education and provides great momentum into graduate school or a career. This approach saves the added expense of additional semesters and the lost wages of starting a career later. In recent years, approximately 90% of graduates have graduated in four years or less because William Jewell students are engaged, focused and well mentored by faculty. The four-year graduation guarantee is offered to new, first-year students who meet basic guidelines. With careful planning, you can satisfy the requirements for multiple majors or minors in four years.

How the 4-Year Guarantee Works

Jewell guarantees that students can meet graduation requirements within four years (eight consecutive semesters) from the date of their original matriculation. Students who satisfy the guidelines stated below and who do not meet our graduation requirements within the four years may take up to an additional 16 credit hours required for graduation within one year of the originally-projected graduation date, free of tuition and fees.

  • Graduation Requirements

    In order to graduate from William Jewell, one must satisfy three essential requirements:

    1. Earn at least 124 credit hours (AP, dual enrollment, in residence, etc.);
    2. Complete all requirements for Critical Thought and Inquiry (CTI), the College’s Core Curriculum;
    3. Complete all requirements for one academic major.
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  • Exceptions
    1. Self-designed majors or multiple majors. NOTE: With careful planning, students may very well be able to graduate in four years, even with multiple majors. However, the College cannot guarantee this result, as scheduling conflicts between programs may possibly occur.
    2. Secondary Education majors.
    3. Programs of study that require completion at another institution (e.g., the Dual-Degree Engineering Curriculum, Occupational Therapy, etc.)

    Students pursuing these programs of study are urged to work closely with their academic advisors in order to meet requirements for graduation as efficiently as possible.

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  • Specific Guidelines

    Students who satisfy these specific guidelines and who do not meet our graduation requirements within the four years may take up to an additional 16 credit hours required for graduation within one year of the originally-projected graduation date, free of tuition and fees.

    1. Maintain continuous enrollment at Jewell or in an officially approved off-campus study program for eight consecutive semesters following the date of the student’s original matriculation.
    2. Maintain satisfactory academic progress while at Jewell. This means that:
      • At the beginning of the third semester, the student must have accumulated 31 hours of credit; at the beginning of the fifth semester the student must have accumulated 62 hours of credit; at the beginning of the seventh semester the student must have accumulated 93 hours of credit. Maintain timely progress toward the completion of the Core Curriculum. See the Core Curriculum link below.
      • The student must declare a major and register for appropriate classes in a manner that conforms to the Major’s Four-Year Guarantee Guidelines. For example, if a major’s Four-Year Guarantee Guidelines mandate that certain courses must be completed by the end of the First Year, it is necessary that the student declare that major and complete the mandated classes by the end of the First Year. Each major has its specific Guidelines, which are posted below.
      • The student must not fail any classes required for graduation or receive a grade of less than C- for any classes required for the major.
      • Prior to beginning study abroad, students who study overseas must secure approval of specific courses certifying that these courses will allow the student to stay on track toward satisfying graduation requirements. If, upon arriving at the study-abroad location, the student learns that an approved course is not offered or that an irreconcilable scheduling conflict has occurred, she or he must inform the Director of the Center for Global Studies and Journey Grants within three business days of the discovery of the conflict in order to initiate the construction of an approved revised schedule.
      • Should the student follow the steps above and find it impossible (not inconvenient) to construct a schedule that will allow the student to stay on track, the Four-Year Guarantee remains in effect.
    3. Remain in both good academic and disciplinary standing while at Jewell.

    Students who wish to be assured of graduating in four years are responsible for taking certain steps to stay on track. The following guidelines are offered to assist students in responsible course planning and registration:

    • All account holds must be settled prior to the designated time for registration.
    • Students are to meet with advisors during the Advising period each semester so that the advisor can review the student’s schedule and authorize the student to register.
    • Students need to register for classes as early as possible during their designated registration period.
    • Specific sections of courses are not guaranteed. As a result, students might need to enroll for a section of a course that is not a first choice.

    The Jewell Catalog states: “It is the student’s responsibility to comply with WJC Catalog regulations and posted registration policies and to enroll in courses appropriate for meeting degree requirements.” Similarly, it is the student’s responsibility to understand and follow the General, Specific, and Major Guidelines to ensure graduation within four years. Students should consult their academic advisors if they have questions concerning either General or Major Guidelines.

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