Requirements for Admission
Applicants with a high school cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher in university preparatory courses are normally given regular admission if their university 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 2018) 960
Rochester University 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.collegeboard.org.
Academic Alert for New Students
Academic Alert applies only to students new to Rochester University who are admitted but do not meet the unconditional admission requirements due to high school or university GPA or ACT/SAT scores. Students admitted on academic alert must provide evidence of their desire to succeed by utilizing resources made available to them by the university. Students on academic alert are required to complete an intake survey and attend a meeting with an ACE staff member during the first two weeks of the academic semester in order to develop an academic plan for their success. Once enrolled, students are expected to use the Rochester University resources designed to help students succeed, such as ACE peer tutoring, career counseling, and academic advising. Traditional students on academic alert can take no more than 15 credit hours, and accelerated learning students on academic alert can take no more than 13 credit hours. Utilization of ACE resources and completion of required hours will be a significant factor in the outcome of appeals to remain eligible for financial aid.
Students who do not meet the three SAP requirements during the first semester after being admitted on academic alert are placed on academic/financial aid warning, as defined in the SAP policy. The status of academic alert will be changed to Good Standing for those students who meet all SAP requirements at the end of the first semester.
Admission Procedures
To apply for the traditional undergraduate program at Rochester University, each of the following steps must be completed. For those seeking financial aid, completing these steps as early as possible is important.
- Submit a completed application for undergraduate admission to the Admissions Office. Application forms may be submitted online at https://RochesterU.edu/admissions/.
- Request delivery of your official transcripts to Rochester University.
- For students who are entering college for the first time or have 15 or fewer credit hours of college course work completed, official high school and college (if applicable) transcripts must be submitted. To request a high school transcript, a Transcript Request Form is available for downloading at https://RochesterU.edu/admissions/. Transcripts are required before an admission decision is made. Students must make arrangements to have a final high school transcript sent to Rochester University after graduation. GED graduates must submit an official copy of their GED scores to the Admissions Office. The deadline to submit the official high school transcripts (or GED scores) is by census date (census date is the second Friday of each semester) of the semester the student first begins attendance. Appeals to this deadline, due to mitigating circumstances, may be submitted in writing to advising@rc.edu. Please note, in order to be eligible for financial aid, final high school transcripts, showing successful graduation status, must be submitted.
- Students seeking to attend Rochester University who have 16 or more hours of university coursework completed must submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities they have attended.
- If you are entering college for the first time or you are transferring 15 or fewer credit hours from an accredited college or university, you are required to submit ACT or SAT scores to Rochester University (this is not applicable for accelerated programs). ACT or SAT scores noted on a high school transcript are acceptable for an admission decision, but the detailed score report is required for students pursuing teacher education. You may request that your scores be submitted to Rochester University at these websites: www.actstudent.org (ACT) and www.collegeboard.org (SAT). Rochester University’s ACT code is 2072, and our SAT code is 1516.
- Rochester University recognizes the experience of living on campus as a valuable part of every student's university experience. The residential experience at Rochester University provides students with opportunities to grow and examine issues including value development, decision making, problem solving, leadership development, and personal faith commitment. All first- and second-year students are required to live on campus in the residence halls. Exceptions to the residency requirement are outlined in the student handbook, available on the student portal, and at https://RochesterU.edu.
First Time in College (FTIC) Students
High school graduates with 15 or fewer credit hours of college or university credit are required to meet the following criteria for unconditional admission to Rochester University: a minimum 2.25 cumulative high school GPA and a minimum ACT composite score of 18 or new SAT score (effective 2018) of 960. 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.
Home-Schooled Students
Rochester University 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 admission 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 University before their graduation:
- Verification of home-school status and coursework
- Home-schooled, Dual Enrollment, or Guest Student Application
Early Admission
High school students are eligible for early admission as full-time students at Rochester University 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 University. Students who have not earned a high school diploma or GED are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Early College and Enhanced Dual Enrollment
Rochester University partners with area school districts to allow high school students to earn university credits while still in high school. Rochester University offers various avenues for earning university 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 university credits up to an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree. Students have the opportunity to earn up to 60 university credits from Rochester University. Early College students are also eligible to earn the Michigan Transfer Agreement stamp. Courses can be taken at the high school, online, and/or on the campus of Rochester University
- Enhanced dual enrollment through early college allows students to take Rochester University courses at their high school for university credit.
Current school districts participating in the Rochester University early college program are Avondale School District, Bloomfield Christian School, Fraser School District, Lapeer County Schools, and Oxford School District.
Dual Enrollment
(HIGH SCHOOL AND ROCHESTER UNIVERSITY)
High school students who do not have an arrangement with Rochester University through their district may also dual enroll at Rochester University. After completion of their sophomore year, students may dual enroll at Rochester University 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 university environment and earn university credits while completing the high school diploma. Students should consult their high school counselors to determine how university 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 coursework per semester.