General Requirements for Admission
 

You must provide an admission application and evidence of appropriate scholastic achievement through prior educational experience.

Please note that certain degree programs have separate, special admission requirements. Admission to the university does not mean automatic admission to all degree programs.

Instructions for 12 admission categories appear below. Please find your admission category based on the definitions in each section, and follow the instructions for that category. Use these definitions to answer item 19 on the Application for Undergraduate Admission.

To be admitted to the University as a freshman you must:

• Be a high school graduate, have a G.E.D., or have completed an approved home-school curriculum. If you are in your senior year, you may be admitted tentatively upon submission of a sixth-semester (through your junior year) high school transcript. After graduation, you must submit a final high school transcript certifying the actual date of graduation.
• Provide American College Test (A.C.T.) or Scholastic Achievement Test (S.A.T.) Scores.
• Have completed Kentucky's Pre-College Curriculum, or the equivalent thereof. This curriculum requires four specified units of English (English I, II, III, and IV), three units of mathematics (algebra I and II and geometry), three units of social science, three units of science, two units of a foreign language, one-half unit of health, one-half unit of physical education, one unit of history and appreciation of visual, performing arts and five units of electives. If you have not completed the Pre-College Curriculum, you will be required to remediate deficiencies.

First-time freshmen will be admitted into one of three categories: full admission, admission with conditions, and special admissions.

Full Admission

To be granted full admission you must have:

Graduated from an accredited high school, and earned a minimum cumulative high school grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale

OR received a General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.)

OR completed an EKU-approved home-school or distance learning high school program
AND

• Submitted a minimum ACT composite score of 18 (with sub-scores meeting or exceeding 18 in English, 19 in Mathematics and 18 in Reading) or SAT combined verbal/critical reading and mathematics score of 870 or higher. And
• Met the Kentucky Pre-College Curriculum.
• Submitted official copy of final high school transcript or GED exam results.

Admission with Conditions

Students admitted with conditions must have:

Graduated from an accredited high school, and earned a minimum cumulative high school grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale

OR received a General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.)

OR completed an EKU-approved home-school or distance learning high school program
AND

• Submitted an official copy of final high school transcript or GED exam results.

Students admitted with conditions:

1. have not met the requirements of the Kentucky Precollege Curriculum
2. OR have submitted ACT scores with sub-scores less than 18 in English, 19 in mathematics, or 18 in reading) or an SAT combined verbal/critical reading and mathematics score less than 870.
3. OR have submitted an ACT composite score of 16 or 17.

Special Admissions

Students not meeting admission requirements as outlined above may apply to attend Eastern Kentucky University through a retention support program by applying for special admission. Enrollment at the University will be contingent on selection into this category. Continued enrollment will require full participation and success in identified support programs and coursework as approved through special admissions. 

Collaborating retention support programs may include: Bridge Program/First Step to College Success, NOVA, Project Success, HCOP, Education Pays Center, Center on Deafness, Academic Monitoring through Multicultural Student Services, and Student Athlete WIN Program. Retention support programs will be reviewed and approved yearly based on their retention successes.

Transfer Applicants

Transfer applicants are those who have taken college or university courses at other regionally accredited institutions, not including those attempted while they were still in high school. To be admitted as a Transfer Student you must:

1. In addition to submitting the application for admission, ask the Registrar of each regionally accredited college and/or university you have attended — and the high school guidance counselor, if you have completed less than 24 semester hours of college work — to send an official transcript of your record directly to the Office of Admissions. An official transcript is defined as having the seal of the college or university and the signature of the registrar. The transcript must be sent directly to EKU.
   
   Hand-delivered transcripts or transcripts mailed by the student or stamped "Issued to Student" will not be accepted.
2. To transfer to EKU, you must have a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 (4.0 scale) on all work attempted at regionally accredited institutions. In addition, you should be eligible to return to each institution you previously attended. Applicants not meeting these conditions should contact the Office of Admissions at 859-622-2106 or 800-465-9191.
3. Students, who do not meet the above criteria, particularly non-traditional students, and who have not been enrolled in a college or university for a minimum period of 2 years may apply for admission under the provisions of EKU's academic bankruptcy policy. Please contact the Office of Admissions for information at 859-622-2106 or 800-465-9191.

ACT scores are not required for admission as a transfer student; however you are strongly encouraged to submit scores for proper course placement and/or to establish your proficiency in the basic skills of English, mathematics, and reading.

NOTE: If you are admitted as a transfer student, your cumulative GPA will include hours attempted and quality points earned from all regionally accredited institutions. The Academic Advising Office and the academic department of your major will determine the applicability of your courses to your academic program.

NOTE: Eastern Kentucky University subscribes fully to the policies of the "General Education Transfer Agreement" of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. Thus, Eastern Kentucky University will apply courses transferred from Kentucky public institutions to its general education requirements in accord with those policies.

Readmission Applicants

• If you have not maintained continuous enrollment at Eastern Kentucky University, you must reapply for admission to the University.
• If you are eligible to reenroll at Eastern Kentucky University and have not attended another institution since leaving, you will be readmitted upon submitting an application for readmission.
• If you left Eastern Kentucky University with any outstanding holds on your student status (for financial reasons, on academic probation or suspension, on social/judicial probation or suspension), you must remediate these holds prior to your application for readmission.
• If you have attended another institution since leaving Eastern Kentucky University, you will be considered for admission under the guidelines for transfer students above.

 
Post-Bachelor's Students

Post-bachelor's students are those who have earned a four-year degree and are attending EKU for the purpose of earning an additional undergraduate degree or who are seeking certification only in a particular curriculum. Post-bachelor's students must submit an application for admission and official transcripts from all institutions attended.

Visiting Students

Visiting students are those who are pursuing a degree at another institution and wish to enroll at EKU for the purpose of transferring Eastern credits back to the other institution. They must submit an application for admission and verification of good standing from their home institution. Visiting students are not eligible to receive financial assistance.

High School "Special" Students

Students who have one unit less than the number required for high school graduation with superior grades (i.e., 3.0⁺ grade point average) may be admitted. To be admitted in this category, a high school student must submit an application for admission and a letter or recommendation from his or her high school principal. High school special students are not eligible for financial assistance.

High School EKU Now! Students

EKU Now! is a scholarship program for high school juniors and seniors in EKU's service region. This scholarship lets you take one course for FREE each fall and spring semester.

• You must be a junior or senior in high school in EKU's service region.
• You must have a GPA of 3.0 and ACT scores on file with EKU at the time you apply for the program.
• You must have minimum ACT scores of 18 in English, 19 in Mathematics, 20 in Reading and a composite ACT score of 21.
• Your high school must be a “participating” high school (check with your guidance counselor).

Non-Degree Students

Upon submission of an application, you may be admitted as a non-degree student. If so admitted,

1. Your eligibility for enrollment in specific courses will be dependent upon meeting the stated course prerequisites.
2. You must meet with an academic advisor to be advised and receive a RAC number;
3. You will not be eligible to receive financial assistance awards. If you subsequently decide to pursue a degree, you must reapply for admission as a degree seeker.

If you are thus admitted,

1. You will be required to remediate all pre-college curriculum deficiencies and to satisfy all Eastern Kentucky University developmental requirements.