LEWISTON, Idaho – The quality and affordability of Lewis-Clark State College’s Business Technology & Service Division programs continues to receive accolades from online publications with the paralegal and graphic communications bachelor degree programs earning top affordability honors, while the web design and development program also was feted.
Affordableschools.net ranked LC State as the top affordable college in the nation for a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies. The methodology used in the rankings is a point system that puts a priority on affordability and student-to-faculty ratio. LC State was one of four schools to receive the most points, but when taking all into consideration, affordableschools.net ranked the college as the top program.
LC State offers two degrees – a bachelor’s and an associate of applied science – as well as a certificate in paralegal. The bachelor’s program requires 50 credits from the associate program, 37 credits in general education coursework and 33 credits of approved upper-division coursework. Topics covered at the bachelor’s level include tort law, family law, business organizations, advanced civil litigation, real estate law and procedures, and wills, estates, and trusts. Students select an additional 10 upper-division credits to round out the program and participate in an internship in law before earning their degree.
Last year, paralegal.edu ranked LC State as having the top bachelor and certificate paralegal programs in Idaho.
The graphic communications bachelor degree program was honored by Collegecalc for having the lowest out-of-state tuition cost, which is 30 percent below the national average. CollegeCalc, which used figures from the U.S. Department of Education’s 2017-18 IPEDS survey, listed the average cost for an out-of-state student in graphic communications at $37,922 per year, which includes tuition, room, board, books, and supplies, for a total four-year cost of $151,688. LCSC’s annual out-of-state cost is listed at $26,610 per year, $11,000 less than the national average.
LCSC also is below the average cost on in-state residents seeking a bachelor’s degree in graphic communications The average cost per year for an in-state student nationally is $17,668, while LCSC’s cost is around $14,534.
The graphic communications program at LC State gives students a fundamental knowledge of graphic design, digital imaging, film imposition, offset presswork, and bindery processes. It also incorporates corrugated packaging classes for students interested in packaging design and production.
Affordableschools.net also ranked LC State’s web design bachelor program as the fourth best nationally for traditional (on-campus) programs. The methodology used in these rankings included affordability, graduation rates, and bachelor degree offering.
LC State offers a bachelor’s and an associate’s degree in web design and development as well as a certificate in web design. The bachelor’s degree program requires 120 credits and students must complete the AAS degree before entering the bachelor’s program. Students can use up to 50 credits from the AAS program toward their bachelor’s degree along with 33 upper division electives and 37 general education core credits. Coursework includes applying contemporary web technologies, standards, and applications to web design and development projects.
CollegeCalc and Affordableschools.net were created to help parents, students, and prospective students navigate financial calculations associated with college planning. By using data from the U.S. Department of Education, CollegeCalc provides college cost estimations by school, and also does several rankings based on affordability. Affordableschools.net promotes finding quality education while avoiding huge college costs.