Admission Requirements
Depending on your incoming student status, your admission requirements to the university may be different. Please click on the type of student you are in order to see your admission requirements, or contact your admissions counselor for more information on your student status.
- Traditional First-Time Student (Under Age 24)
- ACE Student
- Transfer Student
- Adult Student (Over Age 24)
- International Student
- Readmitted Student
- Non-Degree Student
Traditional First-Time Student (Under Age 24)
If you are under the age of 24 and have not attended any other college or university, you are a traditional first-time student. Admission requirements for traditional first-time students are as follows:
- Graduate from an accredited high school.
- Rank in the upper 1/2 of your high school graduation class.
- Earn 2.3 grade point average or above on a 4-pt. scale.
- Earn a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score of 1000 or above on the critical reading and math sections of the test, or earn an American College Test (ACT) composite score of 21 or above. This requirement applies to all first-time applicants who will graduate or have graduated from high school within the last two academic years. Information and application for either test may be obtained from your high school guidance counselor.
- If you did not graduate from high school, you must have completed the General Education Development (GED) tests and must have a total score of 2500 with no sub-score below 500. Prior to 2002, a composite score of at least 50 and no sub-score below 40 is required.
- If you are a home school student, please supply the Admissions office with information about the curriculum studied and an official signed transcript. You should also provide any and all official results of standardized test results (SAT, ACT, other) to the university. Additionally, you must also provide a bibliography of books read during high school and a list of extracurricular activities. Home schooled students must take placement tests as well.
- Request the secondary school counselor or principal to send an official copy of your high school transcript, showing rank in class, grade point average and SAT or ACT test results, to the Office of Admissions. E-transcripts, where available, are preferred.
Indiana students are strongly encouraged to complete the Core 40 or academic honors high school curriculum.
Students considering courses in the medical sciences, including nursing, have additional scholastic requirements, including successful completion of at least one year each of high school chemistry, biology and algebra.
High school students who take advanced placement (AP) courses are encouraged to take the CEEB (College Entrance Examination Board) advanced placement examinations and have their scores sent to the University of Saint Francis. The university grants college credit for a score of 3 or better for CEEB examinations. (See also Prior Learning Assessment in Academic Policies.) International Baccalaureate credits will be evaluated on an individual basis.
ACE (Achieving Credits Early) Student
Students may begin taking part-time classes as non-degree students at the University of Saint Francis during their sophomore, junior and senior years of high school as part of the Achieving Credits Early (ACE) program. If you wish to participate in the ACE program, you must submit a completed ACE program application, an official high school transcript and a recommendation from a high school counselor or teacher. ACE program applicants should have at least a 3.0 GPA (sophomores must have a 3.3 on a 4-point scale), have satisfactory scores on the SAT or ACT, and rank in the upper half of their class. ACE students receive a discounted tuition rate of $275 per class. Students in the Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend high schools (Bishop Dwenger and Bishop Luers) will receive a discounted tuition rate of $225 per class. For further information, visit the ACE program page.
Transfer Student
If you currently attend or have previously attended another college or university, besides college courses taken in high school, and wish to transfer to the University of Saint Francis, you may do so at any time during your academic career. Transfer students must complete the regular admissions process, as well as having official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended sent directly to the Office of Admissions.
Transfer students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or above on a 4-point scale to be considered eligible for admission to the university.
Once the candidate has supplied all necessary documents, the Office of Admissions will review his or her record and make a decision about the student’s acceptance to the university. After notification of acceptance, the student will receive a transcript evaluation from the Registrar which shows how transferred credits fit within the student's planned program of study. Credit may be accepted only for course work which applies toward degree requirements and in which a grade of "C" or better is attained.
Students who attend or have graduated from a school that is non-accredited or a college that is not regionally accredited may contact the Admissions Office for information or clarification about acceptance and validation of credit.
Adult Student (24 years of age and older)
If you are over the age of 24, you are an adult student. Adult students must meet the following requirements in order to be considered eligible for admission to the University of Saint Francis.
- Graduate from an accredited high school with a 2.3 grade point average of above on a 4-point scale.
- Transfer students are also required to have a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or above on their college transcript(s).
- Students who do not graduate from high school must have completed the General Education Development (GED) tests and must have a total score of 2500 with no sub-score below 500. Prior to 2002, a composite score of at least 50 and no sub-score below 40 is required.
International Student
If you are from a foreign country and wish to study at the University of Saint Francis, please start your correspondence eight to 12 months prior to your planned enrollment date. You must also meet the following requirements:
- Submit a completed application and supporting documents.
- Present official records of completion of academic work comparable to a secondary school program in the United States. All documentation in languages other than English must be accompanied by certified English translations and a course-by-course evaluation completed by World Education Services (WES) or a similar organization.
- Provide certification of English proficiency by earning a score of 500 or above on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or a score of 213 or above on the computer-based TOEFL, or a score of 80 or above on the Internet-based TOEFL. Students who do not complete this requirement must demonstrate their mastery of English by proof of completion of an ESL (English as a Second Language) program prior to beginning their university course work.
- Show proof of financial capability sufficient to meet all expenses for one year. Once an applicant has provided this documentation, and after the applicant has been accepted for academic admission, a deposit of $150 in U.S. currency must be submitted to the University of Saint Francis Office of Financial Aid. After the deposit is received, the I-20 form needed to obtain a student visa will be issued. The University of Saint Francis offers minimal financial support to international students.
- Show proof of adequate health and accident insurance coverage upon arrival in the U.S. or arrange for such coverage.
Readmitted Student
If your studies at the University of Saint Francis have been interrupted for one or more semesters, you must apply for readmission. All students readmitted to the university are readmitted under the current catalog and departmental requirements.
A student who left in good standing and is requesting readmission must:
- Complete an application for readmission and submit it to the Office of Admissions.
- Request that official transcripts from all institutions attended since leaving the University of Saint Francis be sent to the Office of Admissions. Transcripts will be evaluated and the cumulative GPA will be calculated by the Registrar.
- Students whose cumulative GPA is 2.3 or above on a 4.0 scale will be notified of readmission by the Office of Admissions and will be sent an updated evaluation of all courses.
- Students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.3 will be reviewed by committee on a case-by-case basis. Students who are currently on suspension from another institution will not be admitted until the suspension is served and they are eligible to return to that institution.
A suspended USF student must supply a letter to the Director of Admissions for AAP committee review.
Non-Degree Student
If you wish to enroll at the University of Saint Francis without working toward an academic degree you are a non-degree student. Non-degree students may apply for regular admission and must meet all requirements of the standard admission process. Non-degree and audit students may register for open classes only and can register for that term the same day as freshman students. Call the Office of Admissions for more information.
Non-degree students fall into the following four categories:
- Guest Students: Students enrolled at other colleges or universities who wish to earn credit at the University of Saint Francis must obtain a letter of good standing or an official transcript, approval of their attendance from the dean or registrar of their home college, a completed Application for Admission, and a $20 application fee and submit them to the Office of Admissions at USF for review. If you apply online, the application is free.
- Adult Students: Students age 24 and over interested in enrolling part time and taking courses for credit, for self-enrichment, and/or for job improvement may apply as non-degree adult students. Non-degree adult students must submit a transcript from the last academic institution attended, a completed Application for Admission and a $20 application fee. If you apply online, the application is free. Adult students 55 years of age or older will receive a tuition discount per credit hour.
- High School Students: Students may begin taking part-time classes as non-degree students at the University of Saint Francis during their sophomore, junior and senior years of high school as part of the Achieving Credits Early (ACE) Program.
- Audit Students: If you wish to enroll in a course or courses on a non-credit basis, you are an audit student and must complete an audit application form. No other credentials are required for admission, and no application fee is charged. As an audit student, you will receive a grade of "AU" and no college credit for your courses. Students registering as audit students are requested to consult the current semester schedule for the per-credit-hour audit fee. To audit, you must have met the prerequisites for courses or have the instructor’s permission to take the class. Audit students may register for open classes only and can register the same day as freshman students. Audit students receive a tuition discount per credit hour.
If you do not meet the criteria for automatic admission to the University of Saint Francis, you may still apply for admission. Your applications for admission will be reviewed by the Applicant Review Committee.