FAQ’s
Admissions Questions
Am I required to go to a specific church?
No, but we do expect that all our students will be actively involved in a local, evangelical church. There are four assemblies in town, as well as a number of other evangelical churches from which to choose.
Is Emmaus accredited?
Emmaus Bible College is nationally accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). ABHE is a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the national organization that coordinates accreditation activity in the United States. The Association for Biblical Higher Education is the recognized accrediting agency for biblical higher education by relevant federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Justice, and the Veterans Administration.
In addition, Emmaus Bible College is a candidate with the Higher Learning Commission and an affiliate of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. NCA is a regional accrediting agency, and a member of CHEA.
Emmaus Bible College is also approved by the Iowa State Department Education to offer programs leading to teacher licensure in elementary education.
How many Bible classes will I take if I major in Computer Information Systems or Elementary Education?
Every student pursuing a 4-year degree at Emmaus completes 45 credit hours of Bible, a complete Bible major. A second major can be added in Elementary Education, Computer Information Systems, Intercultural Studies, or Youth Ministries. In addition students take general studies courses in English, History, Science, and Math.
How hard is it to transfer credits into Emmaus?
Pretty easy! We don’t want any classes that you have taken to go to waste so we work very hard to fit them in with your required courses.
Do you accept AP and CLEP scores?
We require you to get a 50 on each CLEP test in order for us to accept it. AP test scores vary depending on the subject.
Am I required to submit SAT and ACT scores?
We require only one of these tests. If you have at least 48 college credit hours or graduated from high school 2 years earlier, we will waive this requirement.
Is Emmaus a four-year college?
Yes, but in addition to our 4-year Bachelors degrees, we offer a one-year Certificate in Biblical Studies as well as an Associate’s degree.
Is there an application deadline?
While we don’t have an application deadline, we encourage you to turn your application in as soon as possible. We do still take applications through August but we have a deposit due June 1st or as soon as you are accepted after that point. You can apply online right now!
Are the rules at Emmaus strict?
The rules that Emmaus has established are in order to establish and maintain Christian values. For a full list of rules, check out our Student Handbook.
How many students attend Emmaus?
Around 300 full time and part time students.
Will I have a roommate at Emmaus?
The majority of rooms are single rooms. The sooner you turn in your deposit, the better choice for dorm rooms you get.
How do I get to Emmaus? Click here to get directions.
How can I arrange a personal tour?
You can either call us and set up a time you’d like to visit or plan your own visit here on our website. Just let us know what works for you and we’ll do what we can to make it work. We also have Discover Emmaus Weekends, which are a great way to check out the college with other prospective students.
Do you have financial aid available?
Yes, we do! Look on this page to view the Financial Aid FAQ's.
If I’m studying all the time will I have time to apply what I’m learning and be involved in some type of Christian service?
Yes. Emmaus requires 30 hours of Christian Service a semester and even give you college credit for it! We offer a Christian Service Program, which is designed to help you get plugged in with a variety of ministries.
What is there to do in Dubuque?
Dubuque is a college town right on the Mississippi River. We have a lot to see and do right here in town. We are enjoying the recently constructed Mississippi River Aquarium and Museum at the Port of Dubuque. There’s skiing (more skiing), visiting coffee shops, shopping, hanging out a different parks, checking out the water park, and a lot more. We are also only 3 hours from Chicago, 1 ½ hours from Madison, and 1 ½ from Iowa City. Click here to see more about what Dubuque has to offer.
Can I have a car if I am living on campus?
Absolutely! Parking permits are available for $30 for both semesters.
Will I have Internet access and a phone in my room?
Yes, each room is Internet ready with broadband service and has its own phone extension with voice mail. A phone is provided.
Once accepted, what should I bring to Emmaus?
What You’ll Definitely Need
- Bedding (regular twin sheets)
- Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc.)
- Towels
- Sticky Tack to hang items on the wall
- If you have a computer, a standard Ethernet 10/100 network card and 10’ to 14’ Ethernet cable
- Laundry Detergent
- Quarters for Laundry
- Bible
What You May Want
- A phone card
- Lamp
- Rug (all rooms but Smith Hall)
- Microwave
- Small Refrigerator
- Stereo
- A loft bed (click here for loft requirements)
What You Can’t Bring
- Television
- Hot Plates
- Candles
- Toasters
- Incense
- Pets (besides Fish)
- An inadequate loft bed (see loft requirements)
Athletics Questions
What sports does Emmaus have to offer?
Intercollegiately, we offer men’s and women’s basketball. Currently as club sports, with a vision to add them as intercollegiate sports, we offer volleyball and soccer. Many more sports are played in our very popular intramural program including: Men’s Flag Football, Women’s Volleyball, Co-ed Ultimate Frisbee, Women’s Floor Hockey, Men's Floor Hockey, Co-ed Badminton, Men's Dodge Ball, Women's Dodge Ball, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Women's Indoor Soccer, Men's Indoor Soccer, Co-ed Volleyball, Men's Softball, Women's Softball, Ping Pong, Racquetball, and Pool.
Financial Aid Questions
What’s the 1st step I need to take in order to get the Financial Aid process started?
Complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). You can do this online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Once this is complete it will come to the Financial Aid Office in 3-5 days and they will contact you regarding the next steps that need to be taken.
What is “verification” and what does it require of me?
1 out of every 3 students who complete a FAFSA are chosen by the government to be verified. This simply means that the Government is doing a random check to make sure you’ve reported the correct tax information on your FAFSA. If you are chosen, the Financial Aid Office will notify you by asking you for copies of your tax forms, W-2s and any applicable itemization worksheets. You will also be asked to complete a Verification Worksheet.
How will I know what I’m eligible for in Federal grants and loans?
Once the FAFSA process is complete through the Financial Aid Office, they will send you an Award Letter. This will show you how the Government calculates your financial need, and then how much you are eligible for in a Pell Grant and in Stafford Loans.
Are there any other Federal grants available through Emmaus besides the Pell Grant?
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant each year goes to the neediest students at Emmaus, as decided by the FAFSA. This is given each semester and ranges anywhere from $200 - $600 per student.
What kinds of scholarships are available through Emmaus?
There are about 25 different institutional scholarships available. The descriptions are located in the “Financing Your Education” pamphlet which is included in the Financial Aid Packet each prospective student receives.
What’s the best way to get my hands on other scholarships outside of Emmaus?
The simplest and most effective method is through a company called FastWeb, at www.fastweb.com. This is a customized scholarship search that sends you automatic email updates about scholarships available to every student in the US. Sign up for a free account and you’ll see updates almost immediately.
What’s the difference between a Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan and a Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan?
The Subsidized Stafford Loan is interest-free until 6 months after the student is no longer enrolled in at least 6 credits during a semester. The Government pays the interest during this time, and the loan can be deferred as long as the student is enrolled.
I’ve taken my maximum amount of Stafford Loan available, but I’d still like to cover my remaining balance with a Student Loan. Are there any options for me to do this through Emmaus, or do I need to go to a bank?
The Federal Plus Loan is another Government loan that a parent can take out for the student. The interest rates on Plus Loans are excellent, second only to the Stafford Loan. Emmaus also offers 4-5 different kinds of Alternative Loans. These loans are through private lenders, most requiring a co-signer.
Alumni Questions
How can we contact the college?
Feel free to email:
Steve Witter, Director of Advancement and Alumni Services switter@emmaus.edu
Justin Smith, Associate Director of Alumni jdsmith@emmaus.edu
As an alumnus, what should I do if I move?
Contact us with your new information by emailing alumni@emmaus.edu.
How can I get EBC publications?
Contact the college via email, phone, or postal mail to receive Journey Magazine, The Emmaus Journal, The Emmaus Experience, or the Emmaus Prayer Letter.
What denomination is Emmaus?
Emmaus is associated with the Plymouth Brethren, a non-denominational, loose fellowship of like-minded evangelical churches. 60% of our student body comes from the assemblies, while the other 40% comes from other evangelical backgrounds. We value New Testament principles such as the priesthood of the believer, multiplicity of gift, and plurality of leadership. Consult our doctrinal statement for details.
Who are the Plymouth Brethren?
Emmaus Bible College was founded and is supported by the open branch of the Plymouth Brethren assemblies in North America. These brethren are a loose fellowship of like-minded, yet interdependent churches rather than a tight-knit, formal denomination. Each church is autonomous, but enjoys sharing preachers, camps, conferences, national service organizations, and mission-sending agencies. Their theology fits well within protestant evangelicalism. There are 800 congregations with 60,000 members in the U.S., and 400 congregations with 30,000 members in Canada (known as Christian Brethren).
The movement began in England and Ireland in the late 1820s. Christians from various churches who had become dissatisfied with the formalism, clericalism and spiritual dryness of many British churches met for communion, prayer, and Bible teaching. They sought a simple New Testament pattern of meeting. Some of their early leaders were John Nelson Darby, Anthony Norris Groves, William Kelly, C. H. Mackintosh, and George Mueller. Two of their larger centers were in Plymouth and Dublin. They rallied around several distinctives. The brethren do not ordain clergy, but prefer to emphasize the priesthood of every believer and lay ministry in the church. They consider worship a primary reason to gather as believers, so they break bread weekly, celebrating communion in an hour-long meeting with open verbal participation from the floor. They are led by a plurality of elders and use various preachers in their pulpits. The theology and practice of the brethren fit well within mainstream evangelicalism. Two of their best contributions to evangelicalism as a whole are plurality of leadership and a dispensational, premillennial view of Christ’s kingdom. They were known for evangelism, missions, and personal knowledge of the Bible.
