Typical Admission Requirements for Online Universities

Online education is flourishing. This upsurge means that it's more convenient than ever for an individual to get a college degree. In addition, a degree can often be earned more quickly online than in the traditional manner. Online universities don't accept just anyone. There are admission requirements that must be met for acceptance into a university's online program. The first step is the online application. Although each college differs, general admission requirements commonly surface.

Age

Students seeking admission to an online university, as a general rule, must be at least 17 years of age. Some colleges and state governments mandate parental approval if a student is under the age of 18 or, in rare cases, 19.

Diploma

A prospective online university student, in most cases, must at least have earned a high school diploma, a GED, or its equivalency. A student wishing to earn a GED can start here to find information about area GED programs.

Transcripts

Grade transcripts must be provided when seeking admission to an online university. This includes an official high school transcript. In addition, transcripts of prior academic classes taken at institutions of higher learning such as universities or community colleges are essential. These transcripts often help a student to avoid repetition, and they can clear some of the obligatory degree requirements.

Grade Point Average

Online universities typically look for an applicant to enter with a grade point average of 2.7-although some go as low as 2.0-on a four-point scale. They often require applicants to be in the upper 50^th percentile in high school class ranking. If a student does not meet the GPA requirement, he can speak to a new enrollment specialist to find out if there are other options.

Entrance Exam

Some online universities mandate college entrance exams such as the SAT or ACT. Many, however, have created their own readiness assessment tests. They are designed to determine placement into an online program and to help the university figure out which initial classes would best fit the student. Certain programs require minimum scores on the exams as a prerequisite.

English Proficiency

Since the courses in the United States are conducted in English, a non-native English speaker must ordinarily pass an English proficiency exam, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This will determine whether or not the student has the command of the English language necessary to experience success in the online classes.

Interview

Once a candidate has made application to an online university, he is generally contacted by a university representative. This person serves as the enrollment counselor. She will conduct a twenty to thirty minute phone dialogue for the purpose of finalizing the admission, answering questions, and addressing expectations.

Finance

Naturally, the online university will want to know how a candidate for admission plans to pay for the education. Financial applications are usually part of the process.

Program Specific

There are isolated requirements that apply to particular programs. For example, letters of recommendation may be mandated for degrees above the bachelor's. Those entering the teaching profession may need to pass state-specific skills' tests or comply with criminal background checks. Online universities sometimes request additional information on an individual basis.

Advanced Degree

A student seeking an advanced degree, such as a Master's, must provide the transcript verifying the bachelor's or another conditional degree

See also:

Online Master's Degree: Is It Right for You?
Online Continuing Education Options for Teachers