Requirements for Admission
Applicants with a high school cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher in college preparatory courses are normally given regular admission if their college entrance test scores meet the following guidelines:
Minimum College Entrance Exam Scores for Admission
ACT Score (#2072) Composite Score 18
SAT Score (#1516) New SAT (effective March 2016) 940
Rochester College does not require the writing section of the ACT or SAT. However, prospective students are encouraged to take the writing section if they are interested in pursuing a degree in teacher education. The ACT is administered several times throughout the year. Registration forms are generally available from high school counselors or online at www.act.org. Registration information for the SAT is also available from high schools and at www.sat.org.
Applicants whose high school records, college records, or ACT/SAT results do not meet regular admission standards or who did not take the ACT/SAT exam may be admitted to Rochester College if there is other evidence of academic promise. Students who are granted conditional admission cannot register for more than 15 credit hours per semester and are required within the first two weeks of classes to attend an appointment with the director of the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) who will assist in creating an academic plan for the semester. Students who fail to do so are subject to suspension from classes until the appointment is set and attended. After creating an academic plan at the required appointment, students must attend special advising sessions throughout the semester. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA at the end of each semester in order to sustain an acceptable academic standing at the institution.
Home-Schooled Students
Rochester College recognizes and values the educational experience of home-schooled students. These students are welcomed and encouraged to apply for admission through the process described above. The admissions criteria for home-schooled students are the same as for students who graduate from traditional high schools.
The following information is required from home-schooled students who wish to take courses at Rochester College before their graduation:
- Verification of home-school status and course work
- Home-schooled, Dual Enrollment, or Guest Student Application
First Time in College (FTIAC)
High school graduates with fewer than 15 credit hours of college credit are required to meet the following criteria for unconditional admission to Rochester College: a minimum 2.25 cumulative high school GPA and a minimum ACT composite score of 18 or new SAT score (effective March 2016) of 940. Additional consideration may be given to component scores on each test. Students who did not graduate from high school may be admitted unconditionally if they earned a minimum GED score of 680 with no single test below 170 (GED scores prior to 2014 must be at least 2250 with no single test below 410) and meet the minimum ACT or SAT score.
Transfer Students and Residency Requirements
Transfer students from other colleges or universities must provide official transcripts from each institution by the end of their first semester of enrollment and complete the steps listed under admissions procedures (above). ACT or SAT scores are not required of students who have earned 16 or more college credit hours. Transfer students must have earned a minimum 2.25 cumulative GPA in their college course work for unconditional admission to Rochester College. Rochester College grants credit for courses completed at regionally accredited colleges, schools accredited by the Association of Biblical Higher Education, or a select list of voluntarily unaccredited institutions when course grades are C- (1.7 on a four-point scale) or higher. Applicants should note that standards within individual majors may be higher. Composition A and B are exceptions; to transfer either of these classes, a minimum grade of C is required. Up to 30 hours of lower division credit might also be transferred from other unaccredited programs (see the section of this catalog titled “Non-traditional Credit”); these are subject to validation by the relevant academic department(s) at Rochester College and by a probationary semester of full-time coursework in which the student achieves a GPA of C (2.0 on a four-point scale) or higher. Students cannot receive transfer credit for developmental or remedial coursework taken at other institutions.
Students receive a transfer evaluation based on unofficial and/or official transcripts, prior to admittance. Admitted students have one semester to send official transcripts to the admissions office. A registration hold is placed on a student’s account at the end of their first semester if official transcripts are not received. Transfer evaluations for traditional students are final as of the Census date (Census date is the second Friday of each semester; transfer evaluations for students in an accelerated program are final as of the session start date. Transfer hours are permanent once they are posted as credit (CR) to a student’s Rochester College transcript; changes are not permitted.
Students whose prior academic experience includes coursework completed outside the United States or Canada must provide a transcript evaluation from a third-party evaluation company. For more information about evaluation of international transcripts, see “Transferring Credit for International Students.” Credit received on a basis other than the semester unit will be converted to semester hours. Transfer credit counts as upper-level credit only if the course has junior or senior status at the institution where it was taken.
Transfer students may transfer up to 45 credit hours toward the Associate Degree or 90 hours toward the Bachelor’s degree. For any degree, at least 50% of a student’s major and minor core must be earned at Rochester College. In addition, once a student has reached senior status and completed 90 hours of coursework, no more than six hours of transfer work will be accepted. Transfer credit is not applied toward the calculation of students’ Rochester College GPA. This policy is referred to as a “residency requirement” and is a standard practice at institutions of higher learning.
Rochester College participates in the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA). In order to fulfill the agreement, students must successfully complete at least 30 credits with at least a 2.0 grade point average in each course and present an official transcript bearing the "MTA Satisfied" designation. These credits, which will be certified by a Michigan community college, should be met according to the following distributions:
- 1 course in English Composition
- A second course in English Composition or 1 course in Communications
- 1 course in Mathematics from one of three pathways: College Algebra, Statistics, or Quantitative Reasoning.
- 2 courses in Social Sciences (from two disciplines).
- 2 courses in Humanities and Fine Arts (from two disciplines excluding studio and performance classes).
- 2 courses in Natural Sciences including one with laboratory experience (from two disciplines)
In keeping with the Christian liberal arts philosophy of Rochester College, students will be required to complete coursework in the following areas in addition to the MTA:
- 9 hours of Theological Literacy core (6 hours if transferring more than 29 hours).
- ENG 1123 Composition B
Transfer students should verify MTA requirements and course selection with their community college advisor.
The MTA applies only to general education requirements and does not exempt students from meeting requirements of their specific program, major, or other graduation requirements at Rochester College. Students should check the college's academic catalog to determine if any courses required for their major can be used to satisfy MTA.
Transferees who hold a bachelor’s degree from another regionally accredited college or university are exempt from all general education requirements except for the Christian Values requirement and any specific general education courses or pre-requisites required for a major. All students must satisfy the writing proficiency requirement, which is outlined in the 'Academics' section.
Early Admission
High school students are eligible for early admission as full-time students at Rochester College based on the following criteria: completion of junior year of high school with a CGPA of 3.00 or higher and an ACT score of 21 or higher. Early admission students must make arrangements with their school districts to earn their high school diplomas or a satisfactory score on the General Equivalency Diploma (GED). The high school diploma or GED must be earned by the end of the second semester of enrollment at Rochester College. Students who have not earned a high school diploma or GED are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Dual Enrollment
(HIGH SCHOOL AND ROCHESTER COLLEGE)
High school students, after completion of their sophomore year, may dual-enroll at Rochester College and take lower division general education courses or, with permission of the appropriate department chair, other lower division courses. Dual enrollment provides a great opportunity to experience the college environment and earn college credits while completing the high school diploma. Students should consult their high school counselors to determine how college credits may apply toward their high school diploma requirements. Students who dual-enroll are granted a fifty percent (50%) tuition discount, are not required to pay the student support fee, and are not eligible for financial aid. This tuition discount is available for up to six semesters prior to the time the student completes the requirements for the high school diploma. Dual-enrolled students may enroll for no more than 11 credit hours of course work per semester.
Early College
Rochester College partners with area school districts to provide a rigorous early college program which allows high school students to receive college credits while still in high school. The early college program offers various avenues for receiving college credit:
- The Early College five-year program offers both online and face-to-face instruction to enable students to earn their high school diploma and college credits up to an Associate Degree. Students have the opportunity to earn up to 64 college credits from Rochester College. Courses can be taken at the high school, online, and/or on the campus of Rochester College
- Enhanced dual enrollment through early college allows students to take Rochester College courses at their high school for college credit
Current school districts participating in the Rochester College early college program are Oxford School District, Madison School District, L’Anse Cruese School District, West Bloomfield School District, and Fraser School District. Students should check with their high school regarding the early college application process.
Re-Enrollment
To return to Rochester College after an absence of 12 or more months, students must complete the online application for admission (rc.edu/apply) and submit it to the Enrollment Services office. Once the application for admission is received, Enrollment Services will process it and contact Academic Services, Student Financial Services and the Center for Student Life to make them aware of the student’s desire to return to RC. If the student was suspended or dismissed for academic, financial, or social reasons, Academic Services, Student Financial Services and the Center for Student Life must approve the student’s re-admission to Rochester College. Students who re-enroll after an absence of 12 or more months may only be re-admitted under the latest degree plan offered for the degree and major being pursued.