Is Zaytuna College for Me?

Zaytuna College can only achieve its aspiration of becoming an elite college if it is able to attract excellent students. For us, an excellent student is not necessarily one who is merely among the “best and the brightest,” although an excellent student is certainly one who has been generously blessed intellectually. However, intellect without character, a strong work ethic, an open mind, and a commitment to the betterment of humanity will do little to fulfill the purpose of Zaytuna College.

We wish to attract students who are not only blessed with these characteristics, but who also have a deep and abiding respect for the heritage of prophetic knowledge and wisdom, students who see in the past keys that unlock the door to a brighter future. It is our vision to wed students who meet this description with teachers of a similar character to create a vibrant educational institution where knowledge is placed in the service of tradition, and where learning is an ongoing, dynamic process that works for a healthy future for all who inhabit this planet.

Requirements for Admission back to top

Our goal is to accept individuals who have excelled in multiple facets of their life. Besides the requirement of a high school diploma or equivalent, factors to be considered in evaluating applications for admission include GPA, SAT and/or ACT scores, course work, and extracurricular activities. We will examine their academic records, community service records, recommendations, as well as a personal statement indicating why they want to attend Zaytuna College. Applicants may also be invited for an interview with the Admissions Committee. We will consider each candidate individually and will make decisions based on a thorough evaluation of each application. Zaytuna strives to admit a diverse student body.
 
Zaytuna College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin in the admission of applicants, the administration of its educational or other policies and its scholarship and tuition assistance programs, and any other Zaytuna-administered programs. Zaytuna admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the College.

Note on the Arabic language prerequisite:

Incoming freshmen must have completed the equivalent of one year of university-level Arabic prior to enrolling at Zaytuna College.

• Applicants who believe they have satisfied this requirement must take a proficiency exam administered by Zaytuna College (scheduled after they are admitted to the College).
  
• Applicants who have not satisfied this requirement prior to admission, or who do not pass the proficiency exam administered by Zaytuna, must attend the Zaytuna Summer Arabic Intensive program (June 21 – August 13, 2010).

For more information about the Summer Arabic Intensive program, visit arabicintensive.org.

Application Procedure back to top

1. Application - Complete the Online Application for Admission
2. Letters of Recommendation - Download the Letter of Recommendation Form and provide a copy to two people who know you well (at least one must be a teacher in the school you last attended; neither can be related to you). Ask them to mail the completed recommendation directly to the Zaytuna College Admissions Committee at the address on the form. 
3. Transcripts - Send sealed official transcripts from all secondary and post-secondary schools you have attended to the Zaytuna College Admissions Committee.
4. Standardized Test Scores - Take the SAT Reasoning test or the ACT Assessment test, and submit your scores to the Zaytuna College Admissions Committee. Zaytuna's College Board code to receive SAT and AP scores is 6152. (If you graduated from a high school outside the United States, you must also take the TOEFL/IELTS/MELAB test of English language proficiency; college graduates applying to Zaytuna College are not required to submit SAT or AP scores.)
5. Interview - Zaytuna College may schedule a phone interview with applicant.

Zaytuna College will be accepting late applications with an additional late fee of $20. Send all materials to: Admissions Committee, Zaytuna College, 2070 Allston Way, Suite 300, Berkeley, CA, 94704. 

Application Dates and Deadlines back to top

Tuition and Fees back to top

Regular tuition for the Zaytuna College academic year is  $11,000 per year for full-time students. Tuition does not include room and board, books, transportation, and other student life costs. This cost applies to all Zaytuna College students because the College cannot currently accommodate part-time students.

Bachelor's Degree Program

2010-2011 Tuition Schedule
Per Semester: $5,500
Per Year: $11,000

Students admitted for the 2010-2011 academic year who do not fulfill the Arabic prerequisite must attend the Zaytuna College Summer Arabic Intensive.

Zaytuna Summer Arabic Intensive

Summer 2010 Tuition and Fees
$4,750 to $5,050 (based on double, triple, or quadruple occupancy for housing)

Student Expenses back to top

Zaytuna College offers the following figures to help estimate yearly student expenses other than tuition.* 

• Housing and Food: $12,440
• Books and Supplies: $800
• Transportation: $1,280
• Personal: $960

* Student-related expenses are estimated based on costs of living in the San Francisco Bay Area and do not include health insurance costs. Actual student-related expenses may vary. 

Tuition Assistance and Scholarships back to top

We understand the cost of a private college education is beyond the means of many people. We also believe in rewarding students with exceptional academic backgrounds. Our tuition assistance and scholarship programs will take into consideration both of these factors.

Financial Aid

If you plan to apply for financial assistance, please fill out and submit this form. To complete the application, you will need your 2009 IRS 1040 form. You will also be required to submit a copy of your 1040 to Zaytuna College after you complete the application. It can be mailed to the following address:

Admissions
Zaytuna College
2070 Allston Way, Suite 300
Berkeley, CA 94704

Priority consideration will be given to applicants who submit their Financial Assistance Application by Wednesday, April 28. If you submit your application by April 28, you will be notified of the amount of assistance you were granted by May 4.  

Click here to access the financial aid application.

Admissions FAQs back to top

If you have a question not related to Admissions, please visit our FAQs page or feel free to contact us using our online contact form.

• Is Zaytuna College for Me?
• Requirements for Admission
• Application Procedure
• Application Dates and Deadlines
• Tuition and Fees
• Student Expenses
• Tuition Assistance and Scholarships
• Admissions FAQs

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