First-Year Applicants

Any high school graduate (or anyone who will be a high school graduate prior to attendance) or anyone who has passed the General Educational Development test (GED) who has not yet enrolled at a college, university, or other post secondary educational institution and intends to enroll at Slippery Rock University to pursue a degree granting program shall apply for admission as a new first-year student. Students who enroll in dual-enrollment college credit programs prior to high school graduation are still considered new first-year students.

Admission Guidelines for New First-Year Students

New first-year students are admitted to Slippery Rock University on a rolling basis for all terms. Admission criteria used to evaluate an applicant usually include the student’s previous academic record. Slippery Rock University adopted a test-optional admissions policy for new students entering Fall 2021 and beyond. Admission guidelines are based upon the academic profiles of previously successful students. First-time, full-time students (new first-year students) who succeed most often at Slippery Rock possess a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in high school at the time of admission. Other students who apply may be asked to supply additional information and may be considered for admission on an individual basis using a Waitlist process. Additional admission criteria for applicants on the Waitlist may include: high school course rigor, grade trends, grades in core college preparatory courses and class rank (if available). Waitlisted applicants are offered admission on a rolling, space available basis and applicants closest to the academic guidelines are offered admission most frequently.

Slippery Rock University recommends that entering first-year students complete a college preparatory curriculum in high school consisting of four years of English; three years of social studies (with a fourth year recommended); three years of science with two years laboratory science; three years of mathematics (with a fourth year recommended, including algebra one, algebra two and geometry). Two years of a foreign language in the same language is preferred but not required.

How to Apply for Admission as a New First-Year Student

Applicants need to supply the following credentials to apply for admission:

• A completed Application for Admission (admission applications are available through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and via the web at www.sru.edu)
• A $ 30.00 application fee (non-refundable) or fee waiver documentation
• Official high school transcripts or GED, and senior year (12th Grade) class schedule if enrolled in high school

Official transcripts are those that either 1) are sent directly from the school to Slippery Rock University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, or 2) are delivered to Slippery Rock University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions in a sealed envelope from the school. No other transcripts will be considered official. Transcripts should reflect all grades up through the end of the junior year (six completed semesters). Final official high school transcripts documenting graduation from high school will be required upon graduation prior to the start of the initial semester of enrollment. Failure to document high school graduation will result in the revocation of admission.

Slippery Rock University recommends that official transcripts include a student’s complete curricular and grading history, semester and cumulative grade/quality point averages (both weighted and un-weighted if weighting is practiced), and class rank if calculated. If the high school uses a percentage grading scale, any conversion guide to a 4.0 scale is also recommended. Home schooled students should supply transcripts of home school curriculum as well as any previous high school transcripts if applicable.

If an applicant is submitting a GED rather than a high school diploma, the GED documentation must be a copy of the diploma and include the official test results.

Credentials should be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Slippery Rock University. Once all credentials are received, Slippery Rock University admits new first-year students on a rolling basis for all terms. Applicants who are offered admission must reply to Slippery Rock University to accept their offers of admission, along with submitting a required enrollment deposit, before they are considered matriculated. Admission offers not acted upon by making an enrollment deposit, are subject to rescission after May 1 of the students senior year of high school. New first-year students seeking admission for the fall semester are encouraged to apply early in the preceding fall prior to enrollment.

First-year admission is valid for the term it is offered, or any subsequent term for not later than one academic year, as long as a student does not enroll in college courses at another college/university. Students who enroll in college courses elsewhere must reapply for admission as a transfer student for the semester they wish to enroll in. Students wishing to defer admission should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

First-Year Residence Requirement

All new first-year students are required to live on campus. First-year students living with their parents or legal guardian within a reasonable commuting distance may request a release from this requirement in order to commute from home. The Residence Life Housing Appeals Board will review all written requests for this exception.