Traditional Admission

First-Time Freshmen and Transfer Applicants

A first-time freshman application for admission may be evaluated upon completion of the sixth 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 transfer applicant whose high school record would not have qualified him or her for admission as a freshman is required to demonstrate a strong college transcript after a minimum of one year of college level study (a minimum of 24 credit hours). 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 determined after admission.

Required Documents

The following are required to complete your admission file:

• A completed application.
• Official SAT, ACT and/or CLT scores, if student's high school GPA is less than a 2.5 (4.0).
  • Students considering nursing, education or athletics are encouraged to submit test scores during the admission process, regardless of GPA.
  • 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).
• Official final high school transcript sent directly to Bethel
  • Transfer students - high school transcript is not required if you have at least 30 transferrable college credit hours with the exception of nursing majors.
• Official transcripts from ALL colleges or universities attended, regardless of hours completed or reasons for leaving, sent directly to Bethel.
• Transfer Students only - A Transfer Form must be completed by the Dean of the institution you attended prior to Bethel.

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.

All credentials for admission must be submitted to the Office of Admission before the student’s application can be processed. It is the student’s responsibility to see that all official documents are submitted prior to an enrollment decision being made. 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.