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Admission Requirements

(U.S. Citizens, Canadian Citizens and U.S. Permanent Residents)

(International applicants refer to Admission Requirements and Procedures for International Students)

Walla Walla University practices a selective admissions policy. To be considered for admission to the University, students should demonstrate scholastic achievement, good character, and financial support.

Prospective students must submit a completed application form available online. Paper copies of the official form are available from the Marketing and Enrollment Services Office. Although Walla Walla University has rolling enrollment for most areas of study, the preferred deadlines are: Autumn Quarter, September 1; Winter Quarter, December 1; Spring Quarter, March 1; Summer QUarter, June 1.

The following entrance requirements apply to students entering all bachelor and associate degree programs.

FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN. Students who have not received post-secondary credit from another institution after the summer, or subsequent summers, of their high school graduation. Minimum requirements for admission include:

  1. Official transcript from the high school graduating the student. Transcripts from the accredited high school must be received from the school registrar. Transcripts from an unaccredited high school must be signed and sealed by a designated school official. Home school transcripts may need to be notarized as an official transcript representing the student’s academic work, and signed by the home school program administrator. All transcripts must show a cumulative grade point average and date of graduation or completion of high school.
  2. A minimum unweighted cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 for all high school work.
  3. The high school transcript must show completion of the following credits and evidence of meeting the student's home state requirements:
    1. English – 40 credits
    2. History – 20 credits
    3. Math – 30 credits* to include Algebra 2/Intermediate Algebra, or equivalent.
    4. Science – 10 credits
    5. Laboratory Science – 10 credits
  4. Transcripts from unaccredited high schools and unaccredited home school programs must demonstrate that all their state requirements for high school graduation have been completed.
  5. Students who cannot provide an official transcript that meets the above requirements 1-4 must provide official GED scores showing a total score of 640 or higher with sectional scores of 150 or higher.
  6. Official copy of the ACT and/or SAT exam scores, while not required for admission, may be used for scholarship and advising purposes. 
  7. 7. Satisfactory personal reference. One completed recommendation form from a teacher, school counselor, principal, employer, pastor, co-worker, or other adult who has insight into the character/academic ability of the prospective student. This person must be a non-family member. 
  8. Official copy of TOEFL/iTEP/IELTS test scores if English is not the student’s primary language. A score of 79 or higher is required for the TOEFL, 3.9 or higher for the iTEP, or 6.5 or higher for the IELTS to be admitted. English proficiency scores may be waived if the most recent four years of school attendance has been in a school where the language of instruction was English.
*Students who are missing Algebra 2/Intermediate Algebra, or equivalent, can be accepted with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher but must make up the math deficiency. If the math deficiency is not made up before coming to Walla Walla University, they will be placed in MDEV 003.

Occasionally students are admitted into WWU who have a high school grade-point average below 2.5 and/or who lack one or more of the other requirements for entrance. Students with a high school grade point average below 2.5, if admitted, will be admitted on academic probation as listed under Conditions of Academic Probation, during the first term of enrollment. If this requirement is met, the student may continue enrollment on regular basis. If a 2.0 term grade-point average is not achieved during the probationary term, the student is automatically dismissed from the University. If Conditions of Academic Probation have been met, the student may continue enrollment under normal status.

Any student admitted with a grade-point average below 3.25 is required to enroll in GNRL 102 On Course.

A student who has "P" grades (pass grade) on their high school transcript should be aware that in order for a student to meet the entrance requirements and/or be eligible for the First-time Freshman scholarship grade point average criteria they must produce a transcript with a minimum of two years of calculable high school grades from an accredited agency. For scholarship purposes, If a student is unable to produce the required amount of calculable grades, they will default into the ACT/SAT test score. 

A student accepted with entrance deficiencies must either make up the deficiencies prior to enrollment or enroll in the appropriate remedial course(s) at WWU. The student should consult the Director of Academic Advisement about specific courses for making up these deficiencies. All students must satisfy the entrance requirements in mathematics before enrolling in any college-level mathematics course.

In order to continue enrollment at WWU, students must make up all entrance deficiencies by the end of the third term of enrollment at WWU. 

In addition to the requirements for admission, the following semester credits are highly recommended for entrance to the undergraduate curriculum:

    Semester Credits
   Foreign Language 20
  Social Studies 10
  Laboratory Science (additional) 10
  *Mathematics 10

*Some departments require 10 semester credits of advanced mathematics, including trigonometry. These departments include Chemistry, Computer Science, School of Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, and School of Business.

TRANSFER STUDENTS. Transfer students are those who have received post-secondary credit from another institution after the summer of their high school graduation. Minimum requirements for admission include:

  1. A grade-point average of 2.00 on all transferable, post-secondary work from all institutions combined.
  2. An official final high school transcript with graduation date from an accredited secondary school, or an official GED score report. GED scores must show a total score of 150 or higher for each section of the exam and a total average score of 640 or higher. (Transfer students who have junior or senior status [90+ quarter credits] are not required to supply WWU with an official high school transcript.)
  3. Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended. Any student receiving GI Bill®* education benefits while attending WWU is required to obtain transcripts from all previously attended schools and submit them for review of prior credit.
  4. Satisfactory personal reference. WWU requires one completed recommendation form from the most recent educational institution attended. The recommendation form needs to be completed by a former teacher, guidance counselor or school administrator. Transfer students who apply to the WWU School of Nursing are required to submit three completed recommendation forms. Students who have been academically dismissed or have been on academic probation and students who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony may be asked to submit recommendation forms or court papers. Recommendation forms may be submitted online or emailed directly to admissions@wallawalla.edu.
  5. Official copies of TOEFL/iTEP/IELTS test scores if English is not the student's primary language. Ask the testing service to send these scores directly to the Walla Walla University Admissions Office. English proficiency scores may be waived if the most recent four years of school attendance has been in a school that uses English as the medium of instruction.    

Students who have not previously attended a Seventh-day Adventist college, please see the Religion and Theology section under General Studies requirements.

*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website.

Accredited Colleges. Applicants who have attended North American accredited institutions of higher education and who have official transcripts showing a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 on all course work taken may be admitted at a level determined by the number of credits transferred.

Non-Accredited Colleges. Students transferring from non-accredited institutions may be required to take validating examinations should they wish credit to be transferred to Walla Walla University.

Community Colleges. A minimum of 96 of the 192 quarter hours required for graduation must be taken at a four year accredited college or university.

Vocational or Technical Credit. A maximum of 15 credits of vocational or technical courses, C- or better, taken at a regionally accredited college or university, may be transferred to Walla Walla University as general electives. Credits do not apply toward a major, minor, or general studies.

Foreign Transcript Evaluation. Transcripts received from foreign institutions will be evaluated on an individual basis. In most instances, the student will be required to obtain an official evaluation from a foreign credentialing education service. Any transcript not in English, or where the program is not similar to college/university in the USA, will require a transcript evaluation to be submitted to WWU from an NACES member evaluation service. Accepted courses will be issued a pass/fail grade and will not be calculated into the cumulative GPA for graduation.

Senior Transfer Students. Transfer students with senior standing are required to be in residence three consecutive quarters and complete a minimum of 40 quarter hours, including nine quarter hours of upper-division work in the major and three upper-division quarter hours in the minor, and meet all degree requirements. See minimum residency requirements section of this bulletin.

Engineering Transfer Students. Students enrolled in the Engineering affiliation program will be allowed to graduate under any official Walla Walla University bulletin dated not more than three academic years prior to their first year on this campus. Students who withdraw from engineering studies for a continuous period of one year or more will forfeit the right to graduate under bulletins which were current prior to their withdrawal.

Engineering transfer students applying for admission to Walla Walla University must supply a letter of recommendation from one of their engineering professors at their most recent educational institution attended. Recommendation forms may be submitted online.

Nursing Transfer Students. Refer to the Nursing section of this Bulletin for additional requirements.

Military Credits. Two quarter credits of the general studies physical education requirement will be waived for students eligible for VA benefits. Students who provide an official accredited military transcript listing Basic Training may be awarded a maximum of 6 quarter credits of physical education. The remainder of the transcript will be evaluated as other accredited transcripts. No credit will be awarded for specialty training or vocational programs.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Students who engaged in college-level study in high school through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program can obtain credit toward a WWU degree on the basis of their performance on the higher level IB exam. Students should submit an official IB transcript to the Academic Records Office for evaluation. All IB evaluations will be in collaboration with the appropriate WWU department. Credits accepted will be on a pass/fail basis.

Appeal of Transfer Credit Evaluation. If a student questions the evaluation of their transfer credits they may appeal to the Registrar. The student may be requested to submit a syllabus of the course(s) in question and/or any documents that may support the appeal. If resolution is not met in consultation with the Registrar, the student may petition Academic Standards Committee for a review of their request.

POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS. Students who have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution and are not applying for an advanced degree. Minimum requirements for admission include:

  1. A grade-point average of 2.00.
  2. Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
  3. Satisfactory personal reference. Recommendation forms may be submitted online.
  4. If English is not the student’s primary language, then official copies of English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, iTEP, or IELTS) unless graduation is from a four-year English-speaking institution. Request the Testing Service to send these scores directly to the Walla Walla University Admissions Office.

RETURNING STUDENTS. Students who have attended Walla Walla University previously but were not enrolled at Walla Walla University the preceding quarter (excluding summer quarter) are classified as returning students. Returning students must reapply for admission into and be accepted again to be enrolled at Walla Walla University. Minimum requirements for readmission include:

  1. A grade-point average of 2.00 on course work taken at Walla Walla University or a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00.
  2. An acceptable citizenship record while at Walla Walla University.
  3. Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended since the last quarter at Walla Walla University with a grade-point average of 2.00.

NONMATRICULATED STUDENTS. These are students who are not seeking or ineligible for regular admission and who are not candidates for a degree or financial aid from Walla Walla University. Nonmatriculated students may register for credit for any course for which they have sufficient academic background and teacher approval. By completing requirements for regular admission, a nonmatriculated student may become a degree candidate. Application must be made through the WWU Records Office.

GUEST STUDENTS. These are students who have been in residence at other institutions of higher education and who are not candidates for a degree or financial aid from Walla Walla University. Guest students must show that they are in good and regular standing at the university or college to which the credits are to be transferred. The application process is initiated through the Office of the Vice President for Academic Administration.

DUAL CREDIT STUDENTS. Students who are currently enrolled as a junior or senior in secondary school, have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher, have successfully completed Algebra I and Geometry with a C or higher, and who have permission from their high school instructor or principal, may register for selected Walla Walla University courses up to eight credits per high school semester (16 credits per year). Dual credit students are not eligible for financial aid. Application needs to be made through the WWU Academic Records Office. Please see Dual Enrollment Policies in the Academic Information and Policies section of this bulletin for more details.