FAQs (frequently asked questions)


What is the curriculum like?

What areas of study do you offer?

Can I enroll mid-year or only at the beginning of each fall term?

Do I have to do the 5-6 week study abroad program?

What is the tuition and cost?

Can I apply for financial aid or scholarships?

Are there any scholarships I can apply for?

I want to take a tour and visit the college. How can I do this?

Can you tell me about your residential, one and two-year Education for Life Teaching Certificate Programs?



What is the curriculum like? Here’s an overview of the A.A. and B.A. degree curriculum

What areas of study do you offer? For the A.A. and B.A. degree in Living Wisdom Studies, here are the areas of study

Can I enroll mid-year or only at the beginning of each fall term? We are a small, very focused college offering a truly unique experience. Since we limit our enrollment to 24 people, the group you are starting with each fall term usually become life-long friends, traveling together, studying together, creating presentations together and living in ashram community together. We want to provide the best learning environment possible, and rarely offer mid-year enrollment so as not to disrupt the classes and experiences already in motion. Since we travel and study abroad each year, some of our classes are geared to these learning environments that may take place 6 to 7 months after the fall term begins.
In rare instances, we may entertain mid-year enrollment.

Do I have to do the 5-6 week study abroad program? Each study abroad program is different, designed for the current study body. After having spent several months in a very isolated forest environment, students look forward to the expansive experience of taking what they’ve learned here in the classes out to the world through this dynamic program. Credit is given for a variety of subjects covered during these trips, especially “World Cultures & Consciousness,” “Eastern and Western Philosophy,” “World Religions,” some “Foreign Languages,” “Meditation & Yoga,” “Cooperative Communities Studies,” “International Business via Material Success Through Yoga Principles” and “Inspirational Arts.” Classes are held during the trips, along with other events . If you elect not to do the study abroad, you would work with your academic advisor on a program here on campus.

What is the tuition and cost? We strive to be an affordable college, and our costs are even lower than some California State Colleges.

Can I apply for financial aid or scholarships? Yes, you can: Ananda College Financial Aid and Scholarship Information. However, we do not encourage the typical big loans that other colleges offer, mainly because these debts will still have to fall on the student after graduation.

Are there any scholarships I can apply for? Yes, but apply early for these: Scholarships and Work-Study

I want to take a tour and visit the college. How can I do this? We strongly encourage a personal tour, visit with faculty and other students. This is not your usual college campus, and it’s not for everyone. We do offer an incentive, however. If you’d like to come for a personal visit or during one of our open-house dates and you live far away, here is our commitment:

Once you have visited our campus and you have decided to officially apply AND you have been officially accepted to the college, we will deduct the cost of your travel expenses up to $450 for your airplane ticket and transfer to the campus, provided you give us the receipts (with your name and correct date). This deduction will be taken off your room & board costs. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with winning one of our larger Sri Yukteswar scholarships or a large work-study scholarship. However, all applicants are entitled to a discounted stay at our meditation retreat during your visit for one person overnight, with meals. To access this discount, you must contact our Admissions Administrator, Dr. Nefretete Rasheed, at (530) 292-3024.

Can you tell me about your residential, one and two-year Education for Life Teaching Certificate Programs? This is a very popular program here, and is ideal for those who already have a college degree, have taught before, or want to explore the possibility of teaching in one of our several Living Wisdom Schools either in the US, Italy or India. Here’s an an overview of the course

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