Undergraduate Admission

Overview

In order to fulfill its mission, Strayer University is an open access university, and therefore the basic requirement for admission to an undergraduate degree or diploma program is a standard high school diploma that meets the state minimum high school completion standards from an approved high school or its equivalent.

In addition to the basic requirements for admission to an undergraduate program, additional admission requirements to the Bachelor of Applied Science in Management (BASM) program include documentation of an associate of science degree (AS or AAS) in a technical, science, technology, engineering, or math area or a transcript showing at least 54 quarter hours of transferable credit in a technical, science, technology, engineering, or math-related field. The applied science credits must be from a single area of study. An AS or AAS in General Studies is not eligible for the BASM program (however, students with these degrees may enroll in another Strayer program).

Prior to admitting to the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) diploma program, students must have secured a site and preceptor according to program requirements, as described below. In addition to the basis requirements for admission to an undergraduate program, additional admission requirements to the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) diploma include the following:

• Students must be 18 years or older as shown on the government-issued photo ID.
• Current CNA certification or equivalent (e.g. HHA, PCT, etc.). If the applicant does not have a CNA certification, HHA, or PCT, the admissions officer should consult with the program dean to determine if what the applicant provides is sufficient for equivalency.
• Current CPR certification.
• Completed/passed criminal background check and/or fingerprints, and drug screen, upon admission to Strayer and prior to beginning the first course of the LPN program.
  • Admission to the program is contingent upon the passing results of a background check/fingerprints and drug screen showing a negative response.
  • Admission may be denied based on the results of the background check/fingerprints and drug screen.
  • Only students with satisfactory results from the background check/fingerprints and drug screen will be permitted to register for classes.
• Immunization requirements (HepB, MMR, Varicella, Tdap, TB, and Influenza).
• ACT score of 22 or minimum SAT score of 530 in the English and Math sections.

Note: Additional information may be requested by clinical faculty as may be required by law in certain states.

Site and Preceptor Requirements

The following professional standards apply to all LPN students regarding practicum sites and preceptors:

• LPN students must secure a legitimate site and preceptor for their practicum courses that meets the program requirements. Students must submit their practicum site and preceptor selection to Strayer for review and verification no later than 30 days before the start of their first quarter.

Practicum Site Requirements:

• All practicum sites must be healthcare related and require an affiliation agreement.
• Students are responsible for discussing the need for an affiliation agreement with their practicum site administrator. These agreements may take several weeks or months to review and finalize, often involving negotiations before approval by all parties.
• Due to administrative complexities, certain types of practicum settings are not recommended, including, but not limited to, Veteran health settings, jails, and prisons.

Preceptor Requirements

• Students must secure an approved preceptor prior to admission into the program. The preceptor must hold an unencumbered, active license or compact license within the state of the clinical experience.
• It is recommended that students begin the process of securing practicum sites and preceptors prior to admission into the program, as these are requirements upon admission.
• All practicum sites and preceptors are subject to review and verification by designated Strayer LPN leadership.
• Practicum site contacts and preceptors must provide a verifiable site-specific, professional email address. Those preceptors without a site-specific, professional email address will require additional email verification and authentication.
• Practicum sites must have a verifiable physical, non-residential location.

For each academic quarter, the deadline for applying to Strayer is the end of the add/drop period as published in the Academic Calendar.

Strayer requires a student's correct identifying number to file certain information returns with the IRS and to furnish a statement to the student. This will be a Social Security number (SSN) or, if not eligible to obtain an SSN, an individual taxpayer identification number. Nonresident aliens who do not have income that is subject to tax are not required to supply this information. Failure to provide the correct identifying number could result in a penalty from the IRS imposed on each incorrect document.

All student applicants must submit to the admissions office:

• Completed application form (https://application.strayer.edu/) available on www.strayer.edu and an enrollment agreement as applicable (varies by state);
• At the time of admission, a valid, current, legible, color, government-issued photo identification; and
• Documentation of high school graduation or high school equivalence. Acceptable forms of documentation of high school graduation or high school equivalence for undergraduate admission must include one of the following:
  • Copy of a high school transcript indicating the graduation date or a copy of a high school diploma from an approved high school that is recognized by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or certified by the state board of education. (Special rule for South Carolina: applicants in this state must provide an official high school transcript from an approved high school that is recognized by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or certified by the state board of education.)
  • Copy of a GED certificate. (Special rule for South Carolina: applicants in this state must provide an official GED certificate.)
  • Evidence of enrollment in an eligible Title IV program prior to July 1, 2012, and evidence that the applicant successfully completed at least 6 semester hours/9 quarter hours eligible for credit toward a degree or certificate offered by the prior institution (not applicable in South Carolina or in the LPN diploma program).
  • Proof of home school completion equivalent to high school level graduation and the Home School Completion certificate, (if the home school state issues a completion credential), diploma, or transcript. The home school curriculum must satisfy any home school state laws or requirements. Self-reported credentials, including a home school completion certificate, diploma, or transcript are subject to verification.
  • Copy of an associate/bachelor's degree or transcript showing degree completion from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. (Special rule for South Carolina: applicants in this state must provide an official college or university transcript indicating the award of an associate/bachelor's degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.)
• Additional admission requirements apply to International Students. Please refer to the Additional Admission Requirements for International Students section of this catalog.

Application materials submitted become the property of Strayer University. These materials will not be returned to students or forwarded to another university. If unexplained discrepancies appear between statements or documents provided to Strayer University as part of the admission materials and information otherwise obtained, applicants may be rejected for admission, admission may be revoked, or students may be dismissed.

Extraordinary circumstances: In the event that a student's official high school and/or college records are unable to be obtained from the issuing agency due to extraordinary circumstances, including but not limited to, flooding, fire, other natural disaster, pandemic, documented cyberattack (including ransomware attack) affecting the school/school system/institution that is independently verified by the school/institution, or in the case of foreign credentials, if there was governmental failure, civil war or social unrest, the student must provide to the University Registrar for a final admission decision: a copy of the Students With Extraordinary Circumstances Form for Basis of Admission Due to School Closure (Exception Form) or other similar form signed by the student and supporting documentation from the state department of education or other governmental agency verifying the information provided by the student, or documentation that the school/school system/institution is unable to process any requests due to the documented cyberattack. Where possible, students should submit other documentation to support what they select on the Exception Form.

All undergraduate students, excluding students in a stand-alone undergraduate certificate or diploma program*, must enroll in WRK 100 in their first term, where they will be assessed for English proficiency. Students who do not earn the university-determined passing algorithmic score on the writing assessment or who do not meet one of the criteria below, must enroll in ENG 090 for their second term. The university's English proficiency standards must be taken/satisfied prior to COM 100 or COM 101, ENG 115 or ENG 116, or any higher-level English course. Proficiency in English must be documented by one of the following methods in accordance with the Developmental English and Foundational Skills Requirements:

1. Score above established minimum level (93 or greater) on the McCann English placement assessment;
2. Passing algorithmic score on the WRK 100 written assessment;
3. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score of 530 or above in the written/verbal section;
4. American College Test (ACT) score of 22 or above in English;
5. Approved transfer credit for collegiate-level English comparable to ENG 115, ENG 116, COM 100, or COM 101 or higher;
6. Earning 70% or higher in the Sophia Writing Fundamentals (ENG 0001) course;
7. Proof of completion of an equivalent U.S. undergraduate or graduate degree conferred prior to the start of term admittance; or
8. Successful completion of ENG 090 (with a minimum grade of C) at Strayer University.

*Students enrolled in a stand-alone undergraduate certificate or diploma program may satisfy developmental English requirements by meeting any of the above criteria.

Mathematics proficiency is a requirement for continued course registration. Mathematics proficiency must be documented by one of the following methods in accordance with the Developmental English and Foundational Skills requirements:

1. SAT score of 530 or above for Math;
2. ACT score of 21 or above for Math;
3. Approved transfer credits for collegiate-level Math;
4. Proof of completion of an equivalent U.S. undergraduate or graduate degree conferred prior to the start of term admittance; or
5. Successful completion of MAT 104/MAT 110 (with a minimum grade of C) at Strayer University.

Note: Students in a stand-alone certificate program do not need to complete MAT 104 or MAT 110 unless it is in the certificate program or unless and until the student enrolls in another program at Strayer University which includes MAT 104 or MAT 110 in the curriculum.

Readmission: Undergraduate

Except for LPN students, a student who has previously attended Strayer University and whose study is interrupted for three or more consecutive quarters must apply for readmission and is subject to basis and other requirements at the time of readmission. Students may be subject to the curriculum and other academic requirements and regulations in effect at the time of readmission. Students should seek academic advising prior to registration. Students who have been dismissed/expelled are not eligible for readmission, or admission to a new program at Strayer, unless the dismissal/expulsion was overturned via the appeal process as described in the Student Handbook.

Readmitting students seeking to re-enroll in the LPN program must return to the most current version of their program, subject to all current program requirements. LPN coursework must be successfully completed within five years from the student's initial term of attendance.

Awarding of Transfer Credit: Undergraduate Programs

Students who have attended other post-secondary educational institutions and transfer to Strayer University may be eligible to receive transfer credit in one of Strayer’s degree, diploma or certificate programs, if appropriate. All applicants are considered on their individual merit. All students are required to meet Strayer’s academic requirements to be awarded a degree. Transfer students should follow the application procedures outlined in this catalog. Evaluation of transcripts and academic experience is conducted in accordance with university policy.

No more than 126 quarter hours of transfer credit from all sources may be applied toward a bachelor’s degree; no more than 63 quarter hours of transfer credit from all sources may be applied toward an associate degree; no more than 22.5 quarter hours of transfer credit from all sources may be applied toward a diploma program*; no more than 4.5 quarter hours of transfer credit from all sources may be applied toward an undergraduate certificate program. Credits from courses in accounting and computer-related areas are subject to a 10-year limitation when being evaluated (except for a class equivalent to CIS101, which does not have a 10-year limitation). Students should request evaluation of transcripts and other previous learning immediately following acceptance to Strayer to avoid possible duplication of courses. An official transcript must be submitted prior to evaluation.

*No more than 12 quarter hours of transfer credit may apply to the LPN diploma program, and only the general studies courses within the program may transfer. No nursing courses may transfer to Strayer University.

For students receiving VA education benefits, all prior transcripts must be on file and evaluated by their second term. VA students may not enroll in or receive credit at Strayer for a course in which they have earned credit at another institution.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no more than 30% of credit in a student’s degree program may be awarded from life or work experience, as follows: No more than 54 quarter hours of credit for a bachelor's degree; no more than 27 quarter hours for an associate degree; no more than 13.5 quarter hours of credit for a diploma program (excluding the LPN); and no more than 4.5 quarter hours of credit for a certificate program. No more than 18 quarter hours of transfer credit from the Skills Advantage Program may be applied toward a bachelor's degree and no more than 4.5 quarter hours of credit from the Skills Advantage Program may be applied to an associate degree.

Incoming courses must be equivalent in content and outcomes to courses at Strayer. Strayer University will examine the content, outcomes and clock/credit hours for each incoming course. Incoming undergraduate courses must meet the following basic criteria in addition to those outlined above:

• For the Major, Concentration, and General Education Core, earned a grade of C or higher, Satisfactory (S), or Pass (P), in the course. A grade of D or higher will be accepted if the student has earned an associate degree from the same institution as the proposed transfer course(s). Must be a minimum of 4.5 quarter hours/3.0 semester hours in length.
• For the Elective area, earned a grade of C or higher, Satisfactory (S), or Pass (P), in the course. A grade of D or higher will be accepted if the student has earned an associate degree from the same institution as the proposed transfer course(s). Must be at least .5 quarter hours/.33 semester hours in length and may be up to 45.0 quarter hours/30 semester hours in length*.
• Come from an institution that is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education, or recognized by the American Council on Education, or be a Strayer-approved corporate training course.

*This does not apply to Arkansas which has different requirements. Residents of Arkansas who enroll through the Little Rock campus will have transfer credit evaluated and applied ensuring there are a minimum of three upper-level elective courses (13.5 credits at the 300 or 400 level).

Strayer works closely with various employers and their employees to determine if specific corporate or military educational training or other professional credentials can be articulated toward college credit at Strayer. When evaluating previous corporate or military educational training, the university requires that the employer provide the name and description of the course, information about the course duration, learning objectives, learning outcomes, and student assessment. An eligible transfer course must be equivalent to 45 contact hours per 4.5 quarter credit hour course and be similar in content and outcomes to courses offered at Strayer. For elective credit, the course being transferred must be the equivalent number of contact hours for credit awarded. Strayer uses guidelines set forth by the American Council on Education, Council for Adult and Educational Learning, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and other recognized agencies to evaluate corporate and military educational training. Specifically, Strayer examines the course content for subject matter and collegiate level work, course outcomes and outcomes measurements.

Strayer's non-credit/non-degree programs, including but not limited to the non-credit DevMountain and Hackbright bootcamps do not qualify for transfer to Strayer degree programs.

Students in residence at Strayer who choose to take a course at another institution in order to transfer those credits into their program are required to submit a Request to Pursue Courses form to an academic administrator prior to enrolling at the outside institution.

Duplicate transfer credit is not permitted and will not be posted. If a student submits transcripts from two institutions or sources that include credit for the same or similar course, credit from only one source will be posted.

Strayer accepts transfer credit from international institutions that is deemed equivalent to coursework in the United States. All international education documents must be reviewed by an approved third-party evaluation provider that is a National Association of Credential and Evaluation Services member and must meet the same criteria as listed above.

Strayer accepts credits from acceptable organizations that have been reviewed by the American Council on Education, National College Credit Recommendation Service, California Law Enforcement Agency or other review bodies deemed appropriate by the university. Students are encouraged to submit transcripts from these organizations for review of credit.

If a student is on disciplinary suspension at Strayer University, any courses taken during the period of suspension at one of Strayer University's affiliates, or at any other institution, will not be accepted as transfer credit towards any Strayer University academic program.

CLEP/DSST

CLEP scores and DSST exams are evaluated for credit toward diplomas and undergraduate degree programs. CLEP and DSST credits do not fulfill residency requirements.

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

Students may submit Advance Placement (AP) exam scores for evaluation for undergraduate college credit in a degree program. AP credit does not fulfill residency requirements. AP exams are given an overall grade of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, with 5 indicating a student who is extremely qualified to receive college credit and/or advanced placement based on an AP exam grade. Strayer University does not accept any score lower than 3 for academic credit. Students seeking college credit for AP exams should refer to the Advanced Placement Equivalency Chart located at www.strayer.edu.

Students may request that scores be sent to Strayer directly from the College Board website: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/score-reporting-services.

To have scores sent to Strayer, students should use school code 5632.

Service School Credit

Strayer University is in partnership with the following institutions:

• Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative
• American Council on Education
• College of the American Soldier
• Defense Acquisition University
• Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support
• ArmyIgnitED
• Joint Forces Staff College
• Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts
• Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership

Strayer University is a member of:

• American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
• Association of Veterans Education Certifying Officials
• Council of College and Military Educators
• National Association of Veterans' Program Administrators
• Western Association of Veterans Education Specialists

Challenge Exam

Strayer University offers active and enrolled students the opportunity to obtain credit through its Challenge Exam program. Students are encouraged to meet with a coach or advisor to discuss credit options, which may include CLEP/DSST examinations among other options. Students must pass the undergraduate challenge exam by scoring at least 70% on the exam and are allowed only one retake. Challenge exam credits do not fulfill residency requirements. See the Books and Fees section for applicable charges.

Skills Advantage Program

The Skills Advantage Program consists of a one-day assessment that allows undergraduate students enrolled in an associate or bachelor's degree program to participate in an online experience utilizing a video-conferencing platform. Each participant is assessed on their performance against a specific predefined rubric for the various competencies. If a student shows proficiency in at least one competency, they may earn elective transfer credit. Students have the opportunity to earn up to a maximum of 4.5 quarter credit hours if in an associate degree program and 18 quarter credit hours if in a bachelor's degree program that can only be used to satisfy available undergraduate elective requirements for their undergraduate degree at Strayer. If a student in an Associate degree program earns more than 4.5 credits and later enrolls in a Bachelor’s degree program, they may use any additional credits earned to satisfy available undergraduate elective requirements in their bachelor’s degree program. Credits earned through the Skills Advantage Program do not fulfill residency requirements.