Academic/Admissions Questions

Is the College open to both men and women?

Yes, the College of St. Joseph the Worker accepts both men and women into its program.

Will my completed college courses or trade certificate transfer in?

While we may accept transfer credits, please be aware that it will neither decrease tuition costs nor accelerate the time it takes to complete the program. It will simply lighten your course load.

Tuition is an all-inclusive cost and is not broken up by credit hours. Our program, being both unique and small, does not afford the flexibility for students to get ahead or shorten their program.

Students who have formal training or certificates in a trade may be exempt from small portions of the trade education. This is not guaranteed and will be assessed by the college on a case-by-case basis.

Can I submit my CLT score instead of the SAT?

Yes, CLT scores are accepted. CLT, ACT, or SAT scores are optional in the application to the college, although they can certainly help your candidacy for acceptance.

Can I study a trade only?

No. The program at the College of St. Joseph the Worker is a unique blend of intellectual and skilled trade formation, for a whole-person Catholic education. For students who wish a trade-only education, we recommend considering their local trade school and getting involved in the local Catholic community (or consider moving somewhere with a trade school and a strong Catholic community).

Do you accept international students?

We are not certified to accept international students at this time; our students must be U.S. citizens or nationals. The certification has extensive requirements and fees, and we have discerned that it is best for our students if we focus our staff time and resources on developing and perfecting our current program. However, we may reevaluate in the years to come based on interest levels and available resources.

How do the students secure apprenticeships?

We are building a national network of master tradesmen who desire to hire our students as apprentices, but students have wide freedom to apprentice with whomever they choose (so long as that person is a master tradesman who will commit to the apprenticeship).  The student does have the responsibility to apply to, secure, and fulfill their apprenticeship.

Why is the program six years?  That seems like a long time!

While the whole program is six years, only the first three are on ground in Steubenville.  The second three years are in the student’s chosen state, in which they will work as a full-time apprentice in their trade while completing one academic course per quarter remotely. The program is intentionally crafted this way so that students can accumulate paid labor hours to off-set their tuition and build up training hours for certification. Ideally, during years 4-6, students are building relationships in the area where they want to settle with the community they want to serve.

Is the college accredited?

The College of St. Joseph the Worker has received state approval to operate as a college and grant degrees. The accreditation process takes several years (which is the normal process for new colleges). We have already begun this process and will be sure to communicate updates as soon as we have them.

Will you be certified in a trade by the end of the program?

Yes, as long as the student completes all of the classroom/shop work (Related Instruction), sustains full time work during years four, five and six (On the Job Training) and passes all exams and skill assessments. This progress will be maintained by the College and submitted to ApprenticeOhio who will issue a Journeyman Certification. This certification is portable and will be recognized by all 50 states.

Can older persons or married persons apply?

Applicants are primarily college-age students, but any age is welcome to apply; however, we are not able to provide housing for married couples, so they would be responsible for their own housing. Also, our students will not have an income that could support a family during their three years in Steubenville. Applicants who do not find these two concerns a problem for their own marriage/family are welcome to apply.

Will you admit students with disabilities?

Due to the heavy emphasis on hands-on learning and the intensive academic rigor, if an individual’s disability prevents them from completing the essential requirements of the College’s curriculum, or, in the discretion of the College, creates an unsafe/problematic environment for the individual or others, the individual may not be admitted to the College; however, Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply for admission to the College. Where reasonable, the College will make an effort to accommodate an individual's disability, whether physical or intellectual. 

In order to have a disability considered for accommodation, the individual should contact the VP of Operations, [accommodations@collegeofstjoseph.com]. At that time, a confidential disability disclosure form will be provided to be filled out and returned by the individual. Accompanying the disclosure, the individual must submit proof of diagnosis from a treating medical provider via official medical documentation. Test-taking accommodation requests must be made at the beginning of the academic quarter, within the first week of classes (also submitted to the VP of Operations).