Traditional Admission

First-Time Freshmen and Transfer Applicants

A first-time freshman application for admission may be evaluated upon completion of the fifth semester of high school. Students who have completed college coursework following high school graduation will be considered for transfer admission. The application priority dates are December 1 for early admission and March 1 for regular admission.

First-Time Freshmen

Admission decisions and academic scholarships are granted upon receipt of official transcripts and test scores. Official documents sent directly from the institution previously attended must be received prior to acceptance.

Transfer Students

In evaluating a transfer student’s application for admission, the university takes into account the accreditation and the general quality of previous coursework. Any applicant with less than 30 transferrable credits will be required to produce a high school transcript in addition to all college transcripts. The admission of transfer students is on a selective basis. To be considered for admission, a transfer student must have earned at least a cumulative GPA of 2.0/4.0 in previous university coursework. Transferrable credit will be officially determined by the registrar after admission.

Required Documents

The following are required to complete your admission file:

• A completed application.
• High School transcript  
  • Official transcripts from ALL colleges or universities attended are required (including dual credit) regardless of hours completed or reasons for leaving, sent directly to Bethel.
  • Unofficial transcripts may be used to render admission decisions; however, official transcripts are required to officially complete the admission file.
  • Students with transcripts that indicate the receipt of a non-standard diploma will be required to complete a high school equivalency exam (GED).
  • Transfer students - high school transcript is not required if you have at least 30 transferrable college credit hours with the exception of nursing majors.
  • International students:
    • All academic transcripts must be submitted in their original language along with official certified translations in English.  For international transfer students, official certification and a comprehensive course-by-course evaluation must be completed by an approved accredited agency for students transferring.
• Official SAT, ACT and/or CLT scores may be required under the following conditions:.
  • Students with a high school GPA less than 2.5 (out of 4.0).
  • Students planning to major in nursing.
  • Scores are not required if the student has completed successfully appropriate college-level courses with a C- or better in both math and English (100 level or higher).
• International Students - In order to meet English proficiency requirements for admission to the university, one of the following tests is required:
  • SAT
  • ACT
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  • Duolingo
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
  • Tests may be waived under certain circumstances in which proficiency is proven (graduation from a US high school, transferring from a US university, English is the official language of native country)

Admission Process

When all required materials are on file, a decision regarding the applicant’s enrollment is made by the admission committee and the student is notified by the Office of Admission. Some academic programs (education and nursing) also require a separate application and admission to the academic program following enrollment to the university. Acceptance to Bethel University does not guarantee later admission to a specific academic program. See the descriptions of specific programs in this catalog for applicable details.

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year. Admitted students may elect to defer their enrollment for one year by notifying the Office of Admission. All application materials are kept on file for two years and become the property of Bethel University. Transcripts received from other institutions will not be returned to the student or released to another institution or third party.