On-Site California Student Disclosures

Location

On-site classes are held at the following location:

* Nelson University at Catalyst Bible College (Visalia First), 3737 S. Akers St., Visalia, CA 93277

Approval to Operate

Nelson University is a private, Christian university affiliated with the Assemblies of God churches.

Nelson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Nelson University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Nelson University is approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education to operate in California in accordance to the standards as set forth in the CEC 94890(a)(1) and Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 71390. www.bppe.ca.gov

Financial Status

Nelson University does not have a pending petition in bankruptcy, is not operating as a debtor in possession, has not filed a petition within the preceding five years, or has not had a petition in bankruptcy filed against it within the preceding five years that resulted in reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. Sec. 1101 et seq.).

Review of Catalog and School Performance Fact Sheet

As a prospective student, you are encouraged to review this catalog prior to signing an enrollment agreement. You are also
encouraged to review the School Performance Fact Sheet, which must be provided to you prior to signing an enrollment agreement.

Mission & Objectives

Nelson University exists to equip students spiritually, academically, professionally, and cross-culturally for their God-given
careers and callings. Students will learn how to integrate biblical principles of faith into their lives while demonstrating
academic competence in their respective field of study. Students will formulate a personal strategy for Christian service to
help them engage a global community with societal awareness, cross-cultural appreciation, and a biblical worldview.

Description of Facilities

Nelson University’s Catalyst Bible College facilities are owned by Visalia First, an Assembly of God Church.  The off-campus instructional site is comprised of five administrative offices, one library with over 1,000 volumes and a white board, a lounge space for students that can serve as an additional classroom with an 70-inch smart TV, a dedicated kitchen space for students to meet and prepare meals together, and a 2,700 square foot chapel meeting room. The primary classroom houses three, 70-inch smart TV’s, a SMART Board and the camera and microphone technology needed to serve students studying at a distance.
Students have WiFi access in all of these locations. The space continues to expand into additional classrooms, an additional library to house 30,000 volumes, and an administrative office. The dedicated facility space of 9,000 square feet and equipment are adequate to ensure a positive learning environment. 

Library Services

Nelson University’s library, Nelson Memorial Library (NML), supports and aligns with the university’s mission by providing adequate support for the institution’s curriculum. The library has a long record of serving its on-campus and online students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It provides support and access to off-campus partners and sites, including the Nelson University Catalyst Bible College site in Visalia, CA.

The library offers a comprehensive collection of resources, including physical and digital materials, to support the academic programs offered at Nelson University. Students and faculty have access to online databases, open-access collections, approximately 70,000 physical books, e-books, course reserves, and online research guides. The library is committed to fostering an environment that promotes learning, research, personal and spiritual growth, aligning with the university’s mission to equip students to pursue their God-given callings. 

The library offers over 151 databases with educational content curated from academic vendors, such as Gale, Ebsco, ProQuest, and many open source collections. Examples of subject-specific collections include:

Academic Video Online (over 70,000 titles spanning a wide range of subject areas)

ATLA Religion Database with ATLA Serials

Behavior and Mental Health Online (video, documentaries, transcripts, and reference works)

Leadership and Management OneFile (21st-century skills, organizational leadership)

Religion and Philosophy OneFile (1,949,461 documents)

Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN) (over 18,511 theses/dissertations)

Academic or General OneFile (comprehensive databases covering almost any topic)

Business Expert Press (330 e-books related to Business)

Gale, Ebsco, and ProQuest eBook collections

American Psychological Association’s PsycArticles (scholarly and scientific articles in Psychology)

JSTOR Collections (journals, books, images, and primary sources)

Literature Resource Center (supports literary analysis, biographical information, and reviews)

Fine Arts OneFile (to support drama, music, art history, and filmmaking)

Oxford Reference (reference work covering European history, society, and culture)

These resources can be accessed from nelson.edu/library. On this page, library users can log in with their student credentials to access the library catalog and perform a search by keyword, subject, title, author, or other related fields. Students can navigate to course reserves, subject guides, databases, journals, e-books, and interlibrary loan. For immediate assistance during regular or off-hours, a student can reach a librarian via email directly at [email protected] or by filling out a request for help on the library website.

The library has three full-time professional librarians, three part-time staff, and several student assistants. The three librarians are reference librarians who are available to assist students and faculty in person in the library, in a classroom, or at a distance through telephone, email, or virtual appointment. 

Librarians offer information literacy classes at the beginning of each semester, and freshmen and other first-time students
attend an in-person or online orientation. In this training, they learn how to conduct searches to find resources in the format they need. This includes how to navigate the library’s home page, accessing physical resources in the library, using the
WorldCat Discovery search engine, subject or course guides, Boolean searching and other advanced database filtering.

Frequently asked questions and tutorials are available on the library website. Additional assistance is available by email at [email protected], or by phone at 972-825-4761. The library has two study rooms for checkout and two floors of space zoned for quiet or collaborative study. There are 26 individual study carrels, 13 computer stations, 2 computer labs (each offering 30 computers), and study space in the copier or archive spaces.

Unresolved Question Pertaining to Catalog

Any questions a student may have regarding this catalog that have not been satisfactorily answered by the institution may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education at 1747 North Market Blvd., Suite 225, Sacramento, CA  95834,
at www.bppe.ca.gov, and at (888) 370-7589, (916) 574-8900, or by fax at (916) 263-1897.

Complaint Policy

A student or any member of the public may file a complaint about this institution with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education by calling (888) 370-7589 or by completing a complaint form, which can be obtained on the bureau’s internet Web site www.bppe.ca.gov. 

Student Rights and Assistance

The Office of Student Assistance and Relief is available to support prospective students, current students, or past students of a private postsecondary educational institutions in making informed decisions, understanding their rights, and navigating
available services and relief options. The office may be reached by calling toll-free: (888) 370-7589 or by visiting:
www.bppe.ca.gov.  

NOTICE CONCERNING TRANSFERABILITY OF CREDITS AND CREDENTIALS EARNED AT OUR INSTITUTION 

The transferability of credits you earn at the Nelson University – Catalyst Bible College Partner Site is at the complete discretion of an institution to which you may seek to transfer. Acceptance of the degree you earn in the educational program is also at the complete discretion of the institution to which you may seek to transfer. If the credits or degree that you earn at this institution are not accepted at the institution to which you seek to transfer, you may be required to repeat some or all of your coursework at that institution. For this reason, you should make certain that your attendance at this institution will meet your educational goals. This may include contacting an institution to which you may seek to transfer after attending Nelson University – Catalyst Bible College to determine if your credits or degree will transfer. 

More details on the credit transfer policy can be found in the Academic Information portion of the catalog under the Transfer Policies section. 

Admission Policies & Articulation Agreements

The admission policies for Nelson University are provided in the Academic Information section of the university catalog.

Nelson University does not accept applications from Ability-to-Benefit students. ATB students are defined as those who do not possess a high school diploma, GED, or recognized equivalent and are beyond the California State age of compulsory
school attendance.

Nelson University has not entered into an articulation or transfer agreement with any other college or university. 

Credit for Experiential Learning

Students who decide to appeal the decision by the Portfolio Assessment Committee will follow the following steps:

Step 1: Confer with the Portfolio Development Instructor within 10 days of notification of credit denial/ If you disagree with the instructor’s explanation, proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Request for appeal of a “No Credit” recommendation for a petitioned course. Students must submit an official request for appeal to the Executive Dean of Nelson Online. If the request is denied, the student will be contacted and no further action will be taken. If the request is approved the process moves to Step 3.

Step 3: A second portfolio review will be conducted by a reviewer from the college of which the petitioned course is part. The college dean will choose the reviewer. Once the second review has taken place, the reviewer, the Executive Dean of Nelson
Online, a representative from the Portfolio Assessment Committee, and the Portfolio Development instructor will meet to discuss the reviewer’s recommendations.

Step 4: The student will receive the decision regarding the appeal to their student email account.

International Students

International students are not allowed to attend the Nelson University – Catalyst Bible College site. Any international student interested in attending Nelson University must attend the main campus in Waxahachie, Texas. 

All instruction at Nelson University is conducted in English. The university does not offer English language services or ESL instruction to students.

Professional Licensure Disclosures

None of the programs offered at the Nelson University Catalyst Bible College site in Visalia, California are designed to lead to positions in a profession, occupation, trade, or career field requiring licensure in the state of California.

Program Costs

Associate’s Programs Total Credit Hours

Associate of Arts in Church Ministries 61

Associate of Science in Business Administration 61

Bachelor’s Programs Total Credit Hours

Bachelor of Business Administration 120

Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Theology 120

Bachelor of Arts in Church Leadership 120

Bachelor of Arts in Education (Pre-Professional) 120

Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies 120

Bachelor of Science in Human Services 120

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees
	2025-2026	2026-2027	2027-2028	2028-2029
Tuition per 24 credit hours	$7,320.00	$7,560.00	$7,800.00	$8,040.00
Academic Support Fee	$120.00	$120.00	$120.00	$120.00
Catalyst Bible College Fee	$1,350.00	$1,350.00	$1,350.00	$1,350.00
Student Tuition Recovery Fund (non-refundable)	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total	$8,790.00	$9,030.00	$9,236.00	$9,469.00

The 2025-26 costs are actual amounts based on set tuition and fees. The University reserves the right to increase tuition and fees following each academic year, therefore the costs for years two through four are estimates and should not be considered final.

Estimated undergraduate tuition and fees total over two years is $17,820 and over four years is $36,525, which is subject to change based on tuition and fee modifications.

Students should expect additional textbooks and related educational expenses as a part of their enrollment.

Effective April 1, 2024, the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) assessment rate was set at ($0.00) per $1,000 of institutional charges.

Rights & Responsibilities: Student Tuition Recovery Fund

The State of California established the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a student in an educational program at a qualifying institution, who is or was a California resident while enrolled, or was
enrolled in a residency program, if the student enrolled in the institution, prepaid tuition, and suffered an economic loss. Unless relieved of the obligation to do so, you must pay the state-imposed assessment for the STRF, or it must be paid on your behalf, if you are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition.

You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment, if you are not a California resident, or are not enrolled in a residency program.

It is important that you keep copies of your enrollment agreement, financial aid documents, receipts, or any other information that documents the amount paid to the school. Questions regarding the STRF may be directed to the Bureau for Private
Postsecondary Education,1747 N. Market Blvd., Ste 225, Sacramento, CA 95834, (916) 574-8900 or (888) 370-7589.

To be eligible for STRF, you must be a California resident or are enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid or deemed to have paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:

The institution, a location of the institution, or an educational program offered by the institution was closed or
discontinued, and you did not choose to participate in a teach-out plan approved by the Bureau or did not complete a chosen teach-out plan approved by the Bureau. 

You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution within the 120 day period before the closure of the institution or location of the institution, or were enrolled in an educational program within the 120 day period before the program was discontinued.

You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution more than 120 days before the closure of the
institution or location of the institution, in an educational program offered by the institution as to which the Bureau determined there was a significant decline in the quality or value of the program more than 120 days before closure.

The institution has been ordered to pay a refund by the Bureau but has failed to do so.

The institution has failed to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federal student loan program as required by law, or has failed to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the institution in excess of tuition and other costs.

You have been awarded restitution, a refund, or other monetary award by an arbitrator or court, based on a violation of this chapter by an institution or representative of an institution, but have been unable to collect the award from
the institution.

You sought legal counsel that resulted in the cancellation of one or more of your student loans and have an invoice for services rendered and evidence of the cancellation of the student loan or loans.

To qualify for STRF reimbursement, the application must be received within four (4) years from the date of the action or event that made the student eligible for recovery from STRF.

A student whose loan is revived by a loan holder or debt collector after a period of non-collection may, at any time, file a written application for recovery from STRF for the debt that would have otherwise been eligible for recovery. If it has been more than four (4) years since the action or event that made the student eligible, the student must have filed a written application for recovery within the original four (4) year period, unless the period has been extended by another act of law.

However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number.

Student’s Right to Cancel

Students have the right to cancel an agreement for a program of instruction, without any penalty or obligations, through
attendance at the first class session or the seventh calendar day after enrollment, whichever is later. After the end of the
cancellation period, they also have the right to stop school at any time; and they have the right to receive a pro rata refund if they have completed 60 percent or less of the scheduled days in the current payment period in their program through the last day of attendance.

If for any reason an applicant is not accepted by the school, the applicant is entitled to a refund of all monies paid.

Cancellation Policy:

An applicant who provides written notice of cancellation within seven days of signing an enrollment agreement is entitled to a refund of all monies paid. No later than 30 days after receiving the notice of cancellation, the school shall provide a 100% refund.

An applicant requesting cancellation more than seven days after signing an enrollment agreement and making an initial payment is entitled to a refund of all monies paid up through attendance of the first class session.

Cancellation Procedure: To make a formal cancellation request, email the Registrar’s Office at [email protected] and
request to cancel your enrollment agreement and to completely withdraw from classes for the current semester.

For more information about the withdrawal and refund policies for Nelson University see the Financial Information section of the catalog.  

Participation in Federal & State Aid Program

Nelson University participates in federal financial aid programs for its students. Federal financial aid programs include the Pell Grant, Direct Subsidized loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct Parent PLUS loans, and Direct Graduate PLUS loans. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines eligibility for all federal student aid programs. To qualify, students must meet basic eligibility criteria and, for most programs, demonstrate financial need. 

The Pell Grant is awarded to students based on their SAI (student aid index) as determined by filing the FAFSA. Students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens (permanent residents) have the option of borrowing from the Federal Direct Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized) program. Students must complete the FAFSA as well as other loan requirements. 

Parents of dependent students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens (permanent residents) have the option of borrowing from the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan program.  Students must complete the FAFSA as well as other
loan requirements. 

The Direct Parent PLUS Loan is a credit-based loan and requires an application. Students must sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for each loan program before any loan disbursements are made. 

Federal aid is reevaluated each year based on the results of the FAFSA, which must be completed every year. In addition,
students must make satisfactory academic progress. Consumer information is intended to provide current students,
prospective students and their families with important information regarding the university. To view this important
information, please visit the consumer information page. 

If a student obtains a loan to pay for an educational program, the student will have the responsibility to repay the full amount of the loan plus interest, less the amount of any refund, and that, if the student has received federal student financial aid funds, the student is entitled to a refund of the moneys not paid from federal student financial aid program funds.

For additional details pertaining to the university’s participation in federal aid programs, see the university’s catalog and the financial information webpage. 

Veterans Benefits

Students who are eligible for educational benefits under any Veterans Administration program will find additional details on the university website at https://www.nelson.edu/admissions/veterans-affairs-education-benefits/ 

Change in Student Status

Nelson University does not currently have an official Leave of Absence (LOA) Policy. Should an emergency arise for a student requiring a Leave of Absence from their studies, students should contact the Registrar’s Office to see what arrangements can be made based on the student’s unique situation. 

Student Services

Practicums

We want all of our students to be well-versed in all aspects of ministry and practicums are one way we are able to do this!
Each student will rotate through the site’s three different practicum focuses. These areas have been carefully curated to
emphasize key elements of ministry and leadership development.

World Experience Missions

One of the goals of the site is for every student to graduate with a passion and heart for missions. That is why we have developed the Catalyst World Experience. Every eligible student will have the opportunity to visit five foreign countries during their four years with the site. We aim to visit South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Holy Land all before a student graduates
our program.

Student Chapel

All on-campus students will be asked to attend one chapel service a week and sign up for a small group in their respective
ministry area (i.e. Young Adults or Adults). Services will be devotional in nature and have guest speakers.

Networking Opportunities

Students will be able to interact, network, and learn from prominent leaders across the country multiple times each semester. Students will also have the chance to engage with local community leaders during their time as students.

Community Life

Monthly, students will be able to participate in a community-building activity such as bowling, laser tag, a movie, or a
“family dinner.”

Leadership Labs and Crossfire

Each week, students will gain practical insights on future career preparation through Leadership Labs. In addition to Labs,
students will participate in Crossfire discussions that challenge their worldview and encourage them to dive deep into
the Bible.

Housing Options

Nelson University Catalyst Bible College does not have dormitory facilities under its control. There is a current arrangement with a local apartment complex for students needing housing. Students pay $450/month, which includes rent, utilities, and furniture. Students have one or two roommates, depending on the size and location of the apartment.

Student Records

Student data will be stored permanently by the university, including the following: the degree or certificate awarded and the date on which that degree or certificate was awarded, the courses on which the certificate or degree was based, and the grades earned by the student in each of those courses.

Retention of Student Records

Student transcripts and degrees are maintained indefinitely and all other records are maintained for 5 years.

Gainful Employment

Students who earn degrees in the following programs can find employment in these and possibly other fields.

School Performance Fact Sheet

The School Performance Fact Sheets are mandated disclosures for private postsecondary schools, providing prospective students with standardized data on completion rates, job placement, license exam pass rates, and salary information for our degree programs offered in the state of California.

Nelson University Catalogs