Frequently Asked Questions

Why Apollos?

There are any number of excellent reasons to pursue your higher education at Apollos, but our focus is on being mission driven. Our goal is to provide accessible, affordable, high quality education to our students.

Where isthe Apollos Campus located?

Apollos is located at in downtown Great Falls, Montana, USA at 600 Central Avenue. As a predominantly distance and blended program provider, we do not maintain a traditional campus, however, we have a small campus consisting of our administrative offices, student support services, and classrooms. All necessary amenities are available publically and within walking distance of Apollos including parking, residential areas, hotels, grocery, shops, restaurants, local attractions, parks, and public transportation. Apollos holds a graduation ceremony each June at the historic Ursuline Centre. Great Falls is accessible via Interstate 15, MT State Highways 87 and 89, and the Great Falls International Airport. Driving time to nearby cities and national parks: Helena, MT 1:30; Bozeman, MT 3; Missoula, MT 3; Glacier National Park 3:45, Yellowstone National Park 4:45, Seattle, WA 10:30; Spokane, WA 6; Portland, OR 12; Jackson, WY 6:30.

Is Apollos accredited, approved and licensed?

Yes. Apollos is approved as a private institution by the state of Montana and authorized by the Montana Board of Regents. Apollos is approved by the state of Montana to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and for the use of Veterans and Dependents Education Benefits. Apollos is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and the Council for Higher Education (CHEA). Apollos is listed by the World Higher Education Database (WHED) International Association of Universities. For further details see https://apollos.edu/Page/12/Default.aspx

What does open enrollment mean at Apollos

To fulfill our mission, Apollos offers open enrollment. All applicants who meet our basic admissions requirements are offered conditional acceptance and the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to succeed in the Apollos classrooms. Even students who do not meet the basic admissions requirements are encouraged to contact our admissions team (admission@apollos.edu) to discuss possible conditional acceptance.

What are the computer requirements for students at Apollos?

Apollos students must have reliable computer and internet access and an email address to complete online classes and the online portions of hybrid online/on-ground classes. For details of the necessary computer hardware and software see https://apollos.edu/Page/168/Default.aspx

How long will it take to complete my certificate or degree?

Students typically complete Apollos certificate programs within 4 to 8 months, undergraduate programs within 4 years, master’s level programs within 12 to 30 months and doctoral level programs within 2 to 4 years. The programs are designed for students to work at their own pace, so individual completion times vary widely. There is no minimum amount of time students are required to be in the programs. There is a maximum of 6 years to complete an associate's degree program, 8 years to complete a bachelor's degree program, 5 years to complete a master's degree program, and 7 years to complete the doctoral program.

Can I complete my degree faster?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is the majority of our students are working professionals with full time jobs and other work and life responsibilities and our timeline estimates are based on this demographic. Full time students may be able to complete programs more quickly if they are able to dedicate the time to studying and completing classes.

What standardized tests do I need to take to be admitted to Apollos?

Apollos does not require standardized exams for admittance.

Are there special requirements for international students?

International students whose native language is not English and have not earned a degree from an appropriately accredited institution where English is the principal language of instruction must demonstrate English language proficiency. For further details of acceptable documentation of English language proficiency, see https://apollos.edu/Page/30/Default.aspx.

Does Apollos offer student visas?

Apollos does not currently offer student visas to study in the United States. Apollos does issue invitations to graduates so that students may apply for a visa to attend their graduation.

Does Apollos participate Title IV or other federal financial aid programs?

Apollos is approved to accept VA educational benefits to pay tuition at Apollos. However, Apollos does not participate in federal financial aid or other financial aid programs aside from the Veterans Administration.

Does Apollos accept transfer credits?

Apollos makes every attempt to maximize credit transfer in accordance with our mission. Apollos will evaluate student transcripts and estimate number of transfer credits for applicants. Official transcripts sent from the originating school must be on file before credits can be transferred. Combined transfer/challenge exam credits cannot exceed maximums determined by our accreditor.

Does Apollos accept work/life experience for credit?

Apollos does not currently accept work/life experience for credit. However, students can use their work/life experience when taking challenge exams to earn credit for courses. Combined transfer/challenge exam credits cannot exceed maximums determined by our accreditor.

How can I apply?

To apply go to https://apollos.edu/account/register.aspx You will need to submit some required paperwork and information about your academic history. If you do not have all information ready, we will work with you to complete your application through the conditional acceptance process.

Now that I’ve applied, what happens next?

First, be sure you have responded via email to confirm your email address and application. Next, the Apollos admissions team will review your application. If you have the necessary prerequisite degrees, you will receive your letter of conditional acceptance within a few business days and directions on how to access your orientation and get started earning your degree!

What is conditional acceptance?

Apollos meets its mission of providing accessible education by offering conditional acceptance to all students who have the necessary prerequisite degrees, regardless of academic or professional achievement. Once conditionally accepted students can start classes and demonstrate their academic potential and qualifications to be fully accepted in the classroom and by submitting necessary paperwork.

When will I be fully accepted?

Students are fully accepted after demonstrating academic potential in the Apollos classrooms (successfully earning at least 9 credits) and completing all required paperwork.

How long will it take to complete the Apollos Orientation?

The Apollos orientation is a brief administrative and paperwork completion process that takes most students 1-3 hours. The Apollos Orientation is located in the classroom platform and orientation access instructions are attached to your conditionally acceptance letter.

When can I start classes?

Classes start every Monday with the exception of holiday breaks in the winter (2 weeks), spring (1 week), and summer (1 week). Students must register by Wednesday to start a class the following Monday. After applying, students can start classes within 3-7 business days depending on application processing and student response times.

What are Apollos Standard Terms and Apollos Your Terms?

Apollos has two scheduling options. Standard Terms have a fixed beginning and end date in each course as well as due dates for assignments, papers, and exams each week. Students all start and finish the class at the same time. This format is ideal for students who prefer a structured format with clear deadlines for planning purposes. Your Terms classes start every Monday and students complete all work at their own pace. There are no due dates within the class but all work must be completed by the end of course date. This format is ideal for students with hectic professional or personal lifestyles who need the flexibility of open-ended deadlines for course and program completion.

How long are classes?

Three (3) credit classes are 8 Sessions long. In Apollos Standard Terms, students have one week to complete each session, for a total of eight weeks. In Apollos Your Terms, students can complete a course in as few as four weeks or take up to sixteen weeks to complete the 8 Sessions.
One and a half (1.5) credit classes are 4 Sessions long. In Apollos Standard Terms, students have one week to complete each session, for a total of four weeks. In Apollos Your Terms, students can complete a course in as few as two weeks or take up to eight weeks to complete 4 Sessions.

How many classes will I be taking?

Most of our students take 1 or 2 courses at a time; however, you may take up to 3 courses at a time with academic advisor approval.

Where can I access the Apollos catalog?

You can always access the current Apollos catalog at https://apollos.edu/Page/4/Default.aspx. Older catalogs are archived behind our firewall in the ATLAS Resources and are only available to active students, faculty, and staff.

How much will my degree program cost?

Apollos Mission is to offer high quality, low cost education. Details about tuition and fees for all of our programs, including cost per credit hour for comparison purposes, can be found at https://apollos.edu/Page/32/Default.aspx Note that these figures include all required tuition and fees and there are no hidden costs or additional required fees. In addition e-books are provided to the student at no additional cost.

How do I access my e-books?

Apollos provides students access to e-books through the classroom at no additional cost to the student. Textbook access instructions are located in the Writing and Testing Center. For most textbooks, students must first register an account with the publisher and then enjoy 2 click access to books via a link in each classroom.

What is the Apollos Tuition Guarantee?

Apollos guarantees that it will not subject any student to any tuition increase as long as the student is continuously enrolled in classes and maintains good financial and academic standing with the university. Apollos also guarantees that tuition costs will not go up if a graduate decides to continue on to the next degree level immediately after completing their degree. For example, if a student completes their MBA with Apollos and moves into the DBA program without a break in between, they are guaranteed the same tuition cost for the DBA as the day they enrolled in the MBA—even if a tuition increase has occurred in the interim!

How can I finance my degree?

The Apollos mission is to ensure that everyone can attain their academic goals without the fear of taking on burdensome debt. Apollos offers a variety of payment options and payment plans to help students afford their education without incurring student loan debt. Details about these options can be found at https://apollos.edu/Page/33/Default.aspx

Does Apollos offer Scholarships?

Apollos regularly offers scholarships throughout the year. Notices of scholarship opportunities, when they are offered, are published on our homepage and throughout social media outreach channels.

How to I make a payment?

Apollos accepts a wide variety of convenient payment options. Acceptable methods of payment and links to access specific payment options can be found at https://apollos.edu/Page/34/Default.aspx

What is Apollos’ refund and cancellation policy?

Apollos refund and cancellation policy follows best practices prescribed by the Distance Education Accreditation Commission (DEAC). Details of this policy can be found at LINK

Who teaches at Apollos?

Apollos faculty are a diverse and dedicated group of researchers and practitioners from around the United States and around the world. More details about individual faculty members can be found at https://apollos.edu/Page/17/Default.aspx

What degrees does Apollos offer?

Apollos offers undergraduate certificates in Business Management, Financial Management, Global Leadership, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. Apollos offers degrees from the associates to the doctoral level including: Associate of Applied Science in Business, Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, Bachelors of Science in Information Technology, Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Science in Organizational Management, and the Doctor of Business Administration.

Where will I study?

Apollos offers online classrooms for students around the world. Students may also take hybrid online/on-ground classes at our campus in Great Falls, Montana.

Are there any travel or residency requirements to earn my degree?

No, there is no required travel. Students may complete their degree 100% online from the comfort and convenience of their home location. Students can take hybrid online/on-ground courses at our campus in Great Falls, but this is not required. In addition, all graduates are invited to attend our annual graduation, though attendance is not mandatory. Letters of invitation are provided for international students and graduates.

How will I access my textbooks?

Apollos provides all students with access to electronic textbooks at no additional charge to the student. Books are accessed via two simple clicks from the classroom page.

Where is the Apollos Library?

All Apollos students have access to the Apollos Library and Library resources 24/7 via secure student log in. Library services are provided via LIRN, a state-of-the-art academic and professional research database.

When do I attend classes?

Apollos online classes are asynchronous, meaning that students log in and complete work at any time of the day or night that suits their schedule. Meetings for hybrid online/on-ground classes are scheduled according to the convenience of the professor and students in the daytime, evening, or weekend hours.

How can I contact my professors?

All professors are regularly available in the classroom and via email. In addition, professors maintain dedicated office hours and may also schedule individual and group meetings on request. At these time, professors are available to students in real time via email, phone, or video conference.

Can you describe an Apollos Classroom for me?

Apollos classrooms are hosted on our online classroom platform. Each classroom has a home page that describes the course content and requirements and contains links to learning resources such as textbooks, articles and videos as well as learning activities such as discussions, research and application assignments, quizzes and exams. Professors regularly log into classrooms throughout each week to respond to student posts and assignments. In hybrid online/on-ground classes the discussion component of the class is conducted in the weekly on ground classroom sessions. Grades are recorded in the online classroom for all classes but are only visible to the individual student and the professor in the class.

How will I know which classes to take?

You'll find the requirements for your specific program and the recommended course sequence for your program in the catalog and in your ATLAS student profile. The planned schedule of course offerings is located in the ATLAS Resources Center, available with your student log in from your ATLAS home page. Your academic advisor will help you figure out which classes you should take and when.

What about my academic advisor?

Experienced academic advisors are assigned to students and will work with the student from acceptance to graduation to make sure the students are succeeding in their classes and programs.

How much time should I expect to spend on each course?

Depending on specific learning style and schedule, time students spend on courses may vary widely. Generally, students should expect to spend a total of 135 hours (45 active engagement and 90 preparation) in a three credit class. For standard terms classes, students should expect to spend 15-18 hours per week on coursework. For Your Terms classes, students can expect to spend a minimum of 8 hours per week on coursework. Students wishing to complete courses more quickly that the maximum allowable time of 16 weeks should expect to spend significantly more time on coursework per week.

Are there proctored exams?

Yes, students complete several proctored exams at various intervals throughout the program. Proctored exams are conducted using a remote proctoring system that is provided at no additional charge to Apollos students. No travel or scheduling is required.

How can I connect with the Apollos Community?

The Apollos community is on all of your favorite social media sites. To connect with Apollos on social media, visit our homepage (https://apollos.edu) to jump to and follow our social media sites. You can also follow Apollos through our newsletters and announcements. To join our listserv, email info@apollos.edu and request to be added to our mailing lists. Of course, if you are in the area, you can always stop by and see us in Great Falls, Montana and you can also look for announcements for scheduled gatherings in your area.

What are Apollos alumni up to?

Apollos has an active alumni association and loyal advocates of the Apollos brand. Apollos regularly publishes alumni updates through various media outlets and announcements such as social media, news releases, etc. You can also find out more information about Apollos alumni and the Apollos Alumni Association at https://www.apollosalumni.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/apollos.edu/

How does Apollos safeguard student information?

Apollos maintains all student records in secure password or lock-and-key protected locations. All data is regularly backed up and electronically monitored. All Apollos personnel who have access to student information are trained on industry best practices, including Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regulations and guidelines.

How does Apollos safeguard student information?

Apollos maintains all student records in secure password or lock-and-key protected locations. All data is regularly backed up and electronically monitored. All Apollos personnel who have access to student information are trained on industry best practices, including Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regulations and guidelines.

I have more questions. Where can I find answers?

You will find the answers to many of your questions on the Apollos website or in the Apollos catalog. For additional information, please join us on our website for a live chat, call our offices at (406) 604-4300 (toll free and after business hours try 1-844-476-5567), or email the info team at info@apollos.edu