SCPS graduate celebrating with their family.

Impact Report

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"We are mindful of the lifestyles these students have as well as the families and the jobs they have. SCPS is the perfect place to take that leap. Just because you have a family or are working full time does not mean you have to stop your dreams..." KATRICE MILLER, SCPS PARALEGAL INSTRUCTOR

Academic Excellence

Propelling lives with a top-tier education

For more than a century, Loyola University Chicago and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) have been serving adult learners. Committed to empowering students to excel in all areas of their lives, SCPS delivers an accessible, impactful, and holistic education rooted in innovation and action. Curriculum is designed—thoughtfully and strategically—to reflect market conditions and position students for sustainable success in their chosen field.

Online Bachelor's Degrees

Top-Ranked Nationally

SCPS offers more than two dozen academic programs covering business, law, public service, education, technology, and more, many of them ranked among the best in the United States.

94%

OF SCPS STUDENTS REPORT THEY ARE LIKELY TO ENROLL AT SCPS AGAIN

98%

OF SCPS STUDENTS RATE THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE HIGHLY

98%

OF SCPS STUDENTS FEEL PREPARED FOR THEIR NEXT STEPS, WHETHER IN EDUCATION OR CAREER

Access

Accessing a brighter future

Loyola University Chicago and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) excel at providing an accessible, high-quality education to a diverse community of adult learners in the Chicago area and, increasingly, across the United States. SCPS’s success is rooted in a sincere respect for the adult learner and a profound understanding of the responsibilities students hold beyond the classroom, such as full-time employment and family obligations.

Yvette Garcia, BA '25

Unlocking opportunities with online learning

For Yvette Garcia (BA, '25), SCPS became a valuable ally. Online evening courses in the BA in paralegal studies program enabled Garcia to balance her academic pursuits with full-time work while remaining a present force for her two children.

98%

OF SCPS STUDENTS REPORT A STRONG SENSE OF BELONGING

97%

OF SCPS STUDENTS EXPRESS SATISFACTION WITH THEIR IN-CLASS LEARNING EXPERIENCE

90%

OF SCPS STUDENTS REPORT SATISFACTION WITH THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Affordability

Facilitating a high-quality education

The School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) at Loyola University Chicago understands the cost of higher education stimulates anxiety in many adult learners and, in some cases, even hinders them from returning to the classroom. SCPS, however, aims to remove as many financial obstacles as possible to make a Loyola education affordable and accessible.

Danessa Bredicean, BA ’25

Investing in the ambitious

Pursuing a career shift from law enforcement to medicine sparked enough anxiety in Danessa Bredicean (BA ’25). The challenge of financing the necessary education at SCPS to facilitate that change ignited even more stress.

87%

OF SCPS STUDENTS APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM FINANCIAL AID SERVICES

42%

OF SCPS UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OBTAIN PELL GRANTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

30%

OF SCPS STUDENTS RECEIVE A MAP GRANT FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

STUDENT SERVICES

Fueling students' drive to succeed

Student Services aims to strip away any angst, providing students the access and information they need to be comfortable and confident in their pursuit of a degree or certificate.

88%

FEEL PREPARED TO SUCCEED IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL PLANS

85%

SAY LOYOLA PREPARED THEM TO DEVELOP A MEANINGFUL PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE

86%

SAY LOYOLA PREPARED THEM TO SUCCEED IN THEIR EMPLOYMENT PLANS

98%

EXPRESS SATISFACTION WITH THE ACADEMIC ADVISING GUIDANCE THEY RECEIVED

90%

REPORT SATISFACTION WITH THE COURSE ENROLLMENT PROCESS

81%

FIND STUDY SKILLS ADVISING HELPFUL IN ENHANCING THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

78%

ARE SATISFIED WITH THE SUPPORT CAREER SERVICES OFFERS TO HELP THEM PLAN THEIR FUTURES

80%

ARE SATISFIED WITH TUTORING SUPPORT

SCPS AMBASSADORS

Sharing the journey

A volunteer leadership program, SCPS Ambassadors trains liaisons to new and prospective students. Alumni and current students, ambassadors come from multiple SCPS certificate- and degree-granting programs, professional industries, and geographic locations.

Asia Adams, BA '22

Asia Adams (BA ’22) knows what it’s like to be a full-time working adult returning to school to earn a bachelor’s degree. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Adams did just that, enrolling in SCPS’s BA in management program to fulfill a long-elusive goal.

FACULTY

Committed to igniting student growth

A mix of seasoned academics and practitioners who have thrived in professional environments, SCPS faculty universally embrace the school’s mission to provide high-quality education and focused support for adult learners. They bring extensive real-world expertise into their teaching and a genuine commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences through innovative instruction and a focus on engagement.

Devon Price, Clinical Associate Professor

Applying psychology

In studying social psychology, Devon Price works to understand people, including how individual behavior is subject to social pressure and culture as well as social norms.

Dianne Dawson Daniels, Clinical Professor

Leading with experience

In teaching courses in organizational development, leadership, and management, Dianne Dawson Daniels leans heavily into a distinguished corporate career that includes leading units and working with executives.

Eva Mika, Interim Associate Dean, Assessment and Compliance, Clinical Associate Professor of Applied

Uncovering paths to student success

While continuing to teach courses in applied behavioral science herself, Mika has played an instrumental role in developing outcomes assessment and metrics across SCPS.

Chris Fulton, Clinical Instructor of Information Technology Programs

Encouraging a growth mindset

At SCPS, Fulton leads a variety of technical courses focused on coding and software development as well as the user experience.

VETERANS

Serving those who've served

The Office for Military Veteran Student Services (MVSS), for instance, provides access to resources and services to help veterans navigate their Loyola experience, from determining course schedules to applying for external scholarships.

Alex Grady, BA '25

When Alex Grady (BA, '25) found SCPS’s paralegal studies program, he saw fresh possibilities and a path to law school. While SCPS offered online courses and a pledge to meet Grady’s accelerated pace, Loyola welcomed military veterans with open arms and established resources designed to meet their unique needs.

STUDENT AND ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS

Nourishing minds

Ambitious and industrious, SCPS students dive into their Loyola education with intent and resolve. Supported by a school culture prioritizing their well-being and development, students leave SCPS more confident and capable individuals. Their professional success across diverse fields and the intense purpose they inject into their activities proves as much.

"Everyone connected to SCPS wants you to succeed, which is an amazing thing to experience as an adult. You know you can reach your goals with that kind of support." Jackie Gilbert, BA '25

Eddie Fay, BA '25

Advocating for youth

As an SCPS student studying applied psychology, Fay’s passion for youth development accelerated his understanding of how to be a better advocate.

Laurel Gilkerson, BA '26

Finding her calling

After earning an associate’s degree through the City Colleges of Chicago, Gilkerson transferred to Loyola to pursue an applied psychology degree at SCPS, drawn to the flexibility of the program’s hybrid learning model.

Genevieve Gonnigan, BA '19

Reaching new heights

While Gonnigan's intrinsic drive, lively personality, and willingness to learn new skills opened professional doors in her current job, the lack of a college degree limited her ascent. In 2017, she enrolled in SCPS to pursue a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology.

Jackie Gilbert, BA '25

Seizing opportunity

As she prepared to return to school in 2001, Gilbert lost her husband and friends during the September 11 terrorist attacks. Two decades later, Gilbert’s son encouraged her to explore returning to school. He directed her to SCPS, and Gilbert enrolled.

FEATURED PROGRAMS

Academic programs with a purpose

SCPS offers more than two dozen degree- and certificate-granting programs, a list consistently evolving to meet shifting marketplace realities and student needs. SCPS designs each of its academic programs to cater specifically to adult learners and working professionals. Programs are application oriented and career focused, carefully designed to help students achieve their personal and professional goals.

"Our graduates are successful, confident legal professionals whose work ethic and training are valued and sought out." Marie Harrigan, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Institute for Paralegal Studies at Loyola University Chicago

Graduate

Master of Arts in Public Service Leadership

Blending interdisciplinary knowledge with a solutions-oriented mindset and a concrete mission to address pressing societal issues, the Master of Arts in Public Service Leadership (MAPSL) program at SCPS prepares individuals to be confident, steady, and motivated.

Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies

Loyola's BA in paralegal studies at SCPS pairs legal knowledge with practical skills to help both current and aspiring paralegals sharpen their skills and expand their professional possibilities.

Master of Professional Studies in IT Leadership and Strategy

The Master of Professional Studies in IT Leadership and Strategy at SCPS—a distinctive degree encompassing leadership, strategy, and technical skills— cultivates strong, forward-thinking IT professionals and aspiring business leaders for this contemporary reality.

Continuous learning

At SCPS, student learning isn’t limited to the classroom. Beyond required readings, lectures, and course projects, students can engage with faculty to gain new insights, network with accomplished professionals, and expand their skillset through virtual and on-campus programming crafted specifically for SCPS’s adult learning community.

"Whether we are looking to completely change the trajectory of our careers or we are looking for an asset to set us apart in the workforce, there is no time limit on learning, it will always be beneficial. The networking opportunities that come from putting ourselves in a new environment around new people can inspire us." Morgan Andree, SCPS Ambassador

PARTNERSHIPS AND DONORS

Forging strategic connections

Through carefully curated external partnerships with corporate entities and nonprofit organizations, SCPS broadens its ability to reach motivated adult learners and creates compelling opportunities to facilitate personal and professional growth. These partnerships enhance accessibility to SCPS’s transformative education, spur interactions with accomplished faculty, and feed curiosity and intellectual hunger wherever it may be.

You cannot fix the whole world, but you can make a difference in a little piece of it.” Ray Ginther