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Salem State University has a commitment to academic excellence and a continuing concern to provide access to a four-year baccalaureate program for a broad range of students. All applicants are carefully evaluated to ensure that their previous academic preparation and scholastic achievement indicates the capacity and motivation to produce the quality of scholastic work that Salem State has established as its standard of achievement.
The following minimum admissions standards have been developed by The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. Please be advised that the minimum admissions standards do not guarantee admission to Salem State University and we reserve the right to set higher standards. Many of our academic programs are competitive and require the completion of additional academic course work, as well as higher GPAs and ACT or SAT test scores. For complete information on current admissions standards and requirements, please visit salemstate.edu/admissions.
Freshman Admissions
All admissions applications and requirements are listed at salemstate.edu/admissions.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must submit a secondary high school transcript which includes a broad distribution of college preparatory courses. Students are required to complete a minimum of 17 college preparatory academic units, which must include four years/units of English; four years/units of mathematics, which included Algebra 1 and 2, and geometry or trigonometry or comparable coursework including mathematics during the final (senior) year of high school, three years/units of science, of which two years must be laboratory science, a third year of laboratory science will be required for students entering 2017; two years/units of social science; one of which must be US History; two years of the same foreign language; and two additional units from the academic areas listed above.
Students are reviewed based on their recalculated secondary high school grade point average and their official standardized test scores.
Early Action
Freshmen Applicants Only
To apply as a fall early action applicant you must apply to the University and have taken the SAT or ACT before the November test dates.
Three Year Completion Programs
Freshman Applicants Only
Academic majors in the three year track include History, Political Science, Criminal Justice (Administration concentration only), Mathematics, Economics, Spanish (for native speakers or others with advanced standing), and certain concentrations in Business.
In addition to the freshmen application requirements, applicants must submit a personal statement addressing their reason for applying and commitment to completing the three year bachelor degree program.
Non-Traditional Freshman Requirements
GED students and students who graduated from high school more than three years before applying to the University are reviewed based on their secondary high school transcript and/or GED scores. Students out of high school three or more years must submit a resume and an essay.
Freshman applicants with Learning or Other disabilities
Applicants with professionally diagnosed and documented learning disabilities (documentation must include diagnostic test results) are exempt from taking standardized tests for admission. Such students, however, must complete the 17 required academic courses with a minimum required GPA of 3.00 or present other evidence of the potential for academic success.
**An applicant may substitute two college preparatory electives for the two required foreign language courses only if the applicant has on file with the high school results of a psycho-educational evaluation completed within the past three years that provides a specific diagnosis of a learning disability and an inability to succeed in a foreign language.
Freshman Application Requirements and Procedures
All freshman application requirements including but not limited to deadlines, application costs, special admissions requirements and online application procedures are online at salemstate.edu/admissions. Back to Top
Transfer Admissions
Salem State University welcomes approximately 1000 transfer students each year. Transfer students represent various community colleges, two-year private colleges and four-year public and private colleges and universities. Our goal is to provide a barrier-free transition and we strive to accommodate students’ individual needs. For information on transfer opportunities and the transfer of credit at Salem State University, please see the Transfer Services section of the catalog.
Transfer Admissions Requirements
All admissions applications and requirements are listed at salemstate.edu/admissions.
Transfer applicants should have completed a broad distribution of college-level courses with a GPA that meets the minimum admission requirements. In general, a student who completes 12 to 23 transferable college credits must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5; a student who completes up to 23 transferable college credits with a grade point average of 2.2 must also meet the minimum admission requirements for freshman applicants; lastly, a student with 24 or more transferable college credits must have a minimum grade point average of 2.2. Please be advised that the minimum requirements do not guarantee admission to the University. Many of our academic programs are competitive and require the completion of more academic course work, as well as higher GPAs. These listed admissions standards are informational only.
Transfer Application Procedures
All transfer application requirements including but not limited to deadlines, application costs, special admissions requirements and online application procedures are online at salemstate.edu/admissions. Back to top
International Students
Salem State students come from over 70 different countries and the University provides a friendly environment for international students. The Center for International Education offers services such as: immigration advising, housing, ESL, TOEFL, counseling and airport pick up for first time arrivals. In general, an international student must have the financing to support their education for the usual nine-month academic year. No financial aid assistance can be provided by the University. International students must submit official copies of academic credentials in English and a complete listing of the funds that are available for each year to the student’s education in the United States which must be verified by a banking official. All admissions information is available at salemstate.edu/admissions. Students who wish to study English as a Second Language prior to apply for an academic program at Salem State University may apply online to the Intensive English program by visiting the ESL web site.
International Freshman Student Requirements
International students must be graduates of secondary schools in their own countries and must be fully competent in the English Language—listening, reading, writing, speaking, as well as complete the 17 course major academic disciplines. International students should have the equivalent of a 3.0 GPA, if a student does not have a 3.0 equivalent GPA they default to the sliding scale which requires an SAT or ACT. If the applicant is unable to take the SAT due to extreme circumstances beyond their control in their home country they must submit a letter. In addition the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of those students from countries where the native language is not English.
International Transfer Student Requirements
International students must be graduates of secondary schools in their own countries and must be fully competent in the English Language—listening, reading, writing, speaking, as well as all major academic disciplines. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of those students whose native language is not English. Students must submit official university transcripts and an official translation if the language is not English. In addition, all international academic transcripts require evaluation from a professional evaluation service. There are many evaluation services available; however, most students applying to Salem State University contact The Center for Educational Documentation at www.cedevaluations.com or World Educational Services at www.wes.org. Transfer students who have successfully completed Writing 1 and 2 at an accredited college or university in the United States may not have to complete the TOEFL. salemstate.edu/admissions/26579.php Back to Top
Readmit Applicant Requirements
Students who previously attended - Salem State University as degree seeking students, but did not graduate, regardless of whether they have attended another institution subsequently, are considered readmit applicants. All application materials must be completed and mailed to the Academic Advising office. Only completed applications will be reviewed. Readmission is not guaranteed.
If you are a Salem State graduate applying for a second degree, please follow the transfer admission requirements. Applicants who did not achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 at the time they departed from Salem State must submit a personal statement with a plan for academic improvement with the application for readmission. Current information on readmit application procedures can be found at salemstate.edu/academics/18752.php. Applicants with questions about readmission procedures may contact the Academic Advising office at 978-542-7049 or advising@salemstate.edu. Back to Top
Readmit Application Procedures (for the semester immediately following academic dismissal)
Students who have been academically dismissed from the University and wish to appeal this decision for readmission to the semester following the academic dismissal should contact the Selective Retention Committee in care of the Registrar’s Office. Please see the catalog section on Academic Status and Satisfactory Academic Progress in the Academic Policies section of the catalog. Back to Top
Fresh Start Program
Students who left Salem State University in academic difficulty and who are applying for readmission after an absence of at least two academic years may be eligible to apply for readmission under the Fresh Start policy. For full information on this policy, please visit the Academic Policies section of this catalog. Questions about how this will apply to individual academic records should be directed to the Academic Advising office at advising@salemstate.edu.
Applicants wishing to be candidates for undergraduate degrees through late afternoon and evening study in the University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, or evening division, follow the same application procedures as described for day division applicants. Back to Top
Admissions Application Fees
The online application fee is $40. The application fee may be waived for those applicants with extreme financial need who have submitted a fee waiver provided by the CollegeBoard or other approved agency. For information on fee waivers, visit admissions online at salemstate.edu/admissions. The admissions application fees are set by the University and are subject to change. Back to Top
Admissions and Housing Deposit Fees
A non-refundable tuition deposit is to be paid when a day division student notifies the University that its offer of admission is accepted. This deposit will be deducted from the tuition charges when the student enrolls. A non-refundable residence hall deposit is to be paid by students who are accepted as resident students. This deposit will be deducted from the residence hall fee when the student establishes residence on campus. Information is provided at the time of acceptance to the University. Back to Top
Applicant’s Reply Options
If admission is offered on or before April 1 for entrance in September, applicants must inform the University that the offer of admission and housing (if offered) is accepted and pay all required deposits by May 1, thereby confirming admission. If a student is offered admission after April 1 for entrance in September, applicants must inform the University that the offer of admission and housing (if offered) is accepted and pay all required non-refundable deposits within 30 days, thereby confirming admission. If admission is offered for entrance in January, applicants must inform the University that the offer of admission and housing (if offered) is accepted and pay all required non-refundable deposits within 30 days, thereby confirming admission.
If students do not inform the University within the required time period the offer of admission and housing may be rescinded. Back to Top
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