Marian University Continues Workforce Development Trends With New 2-Year College

Marian University will open a new two-year college in fall 2019.

School officials announced Wednesday morning that the college will offer associates degrees in liberal arts, information technology and business. In the school’s first year it hopes to enroll 75-100 students.

This new school is in line with a workforce trend which emphasizes alternatives to four-year degrees. These programs are typically skills focused, like the Kenzie Academy in Indianapolis, which offers short-term tech education.

Marian University President Daniel Elsner says the college will have a focus on uplifting students from Indianapolis’ poor neighborhoods.

“Too many young people are not going to college that have Core 40 diplomas, or they’re going and they’re not staying very long,” Elsner says. “There’s a cry to higher ed to innovate, to bring new models. New models that students are attracted to, new models that students can graduate from.”

The school will offer eight-week classes, employer partnerships and mentoring.

“We’re going to keep it small and tight-knit, so some people will find this option very personal, very relevant, well designed to meet their needs,” Elsner says. “Not just part of a big operation or a cog in a wheel.”

Elsner estimates tuition at the new two-year college will be around $14,000 per year –– which is almost half the cost of Marian University.