Jacksonville State University Admission Requirements

Application Procedures

To apply for admission to Jacksonville State University, students must first complete an electronic application on www.jsu.edu/apply. Paper applications are available upon request. Applicants must select their appropriate student type (detailed below) and send all required documents of their application to the Office of Admissions. JSU charges a $35 application fee for first-time applicants, unless they are dual enrollment applicants (See Application Fee Waiver for details of exemptions).

Official documents must be sent to JSU directly from the high school, college, or testing agency. Decisions regarding admissibility to the university will be made as soon as all necessary credentials are received in the Office of Admissions. Admissions decisions are assigned only for the term a student applies. Students who have been admitted to JSU but do not enroll are required to submit an updated admissions application and meet the admission requirements for the updated term and student type. It is highly recommended that students apply at least three months prior to the term of which they plan to enroll.

JSU offers some academic programs which have additional assessment requirements beyond those listed below for admission to the university. Acceptance to JSU does not constitute assessment by any of these programs. Students who desire to study in academic programs that have additional requirements should refer to the academic program for information regarding requirements to study in that area.

I. Freshman Student Admission (never attended college/university or only attended as a dual enrollment student)

First-time freshman student applications should be submitted after completion of the junior year of high school. It is recommended that first year students apply for admission before graduating from high school. Students who seek admission as a first-year student to the university must satisfy all requirements for first-time freshman admission, as follows:

A. Minimum high school GPA and graduation with acceptable diploma type – Prior to graduation, an official high school transcript is required indicating the GPA of work completed through the junior year of high school. To be offered provisional admission before high school graduation, applicants should have a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale (75/100). Upon graduation, an official high school transcript showing the date of graduation and type of diploma received is required. To meet admission requirements, applicants should have graduated with an acceptable diploma and a high school cumulative grade point average of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale (75/100). (JSU Policy No. III:19 High School Diploma Validation Policy)

1. Transcripts must be sent from the accredited high school by mail or email. Mailed transcripts should be in a sealed envelope and emailed transcripts should indicate the sending address is a school official. Students are encouraged to emphasize the following subjects in their high school programs: English, social studies, mathematics, foreign languages, and the natural sciences.

2. Students who have earned college credit while in high school through dual enrollment must request the credit awarding institution to send a transcript indicating the credit is not conditional or pending.

3. Non-graduates of high school may apply if they have passed the high school level General Education Development (GED) test and present an official score report of their test results. The score report should be sent to JSU directly from the testing agency or should be placed in a sealed envelope from the testing agency and presented unopened to the Office of Admissions.

B. Standardized Test Scores (ACT/SAT) – First year students are also required to submit official scores. JSU does not combine test scores to create a super score but will accept super-score calculations made by the testing agency. The writing score is not utilized for admission purposes but may be utilized as requirements in admission to specific programs. ACT/SAT scores that are over eight (8) years old will not be considered for admission or scholarship purposes. JSU reserves the right to remove test scores from a student record if ACT/CollegeBoard sends a test score cancellation notice. First-year students who apply for admission but have not attended high school or a secondary education institution in eight (8) or more years or are at least 25 years of age must submit proof of high school graduation or the equivalent, but are exempt from the grade point average and ACT/SAT requirement listed in the sections:

Freshman Admission CategoriesAdmissionQualificationsRequirementsAdmission RequirementsACT Composite 20 or higher OR SAT Combined Critical Reading and Math 1030 or higher AND and High School Grade Point Average 2.00 on 4.00 scale ¹Conditional Admission ²ACT Composite 18-19 OR SAT Combined Critical Reading and Math 960-990 AND High School Grade Point Average 2.00 on a 4.00 scale ^{1, 3}Must be continuously enrolled in prescribed developmental skills courses; participate in prescribed counseling and advisement activities; and remediate all academic skill deficiencies (including LS-104) within one year¹Applicants must also provide evidence of high school graduation with an acceptable diploma. Successful completion of the GED is acceptable in lieu of high school graduation. GPA will be taken from the final high school transcript provided to the Admissions Office after graduation. Students will be provisionally admitted until the final high school transcript has been received by the Admissions Office. Once the final transcript has been received, the GPA will be reviewed and must meet the required minimum for admission.²Any student who does not initially meet admission requirements will be reviewed for admission to the university by the admissions committee for conditional admission or other admission catagories, i.e. Fast Start Academy. ³Students may be exempt from taking LS 104 depending on the student’s high school grade point average.

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION TESTS WAIVER

JSU is temporarily waiving the ACT/SAT test score submission requirements for admission purposes for the 2020-2021 admission period. Students will be admitted based on High School GPA in lieu of ACT/SAT test score submission. Admission status will be determined by high school GPA as follows:

3.0+ = Unconditional admission
2.5 to 2.9 = Conditional admission
2.0 to 2.4 = Admission to Fast Start Academy

C. JSU dual enrollment students who have completed at least one course and remain eligible to take other courses as dual enrollment students will be considered for conditional or unconditional admission to the university as first year students. Successful completion of a JSU dual enrollment course will allow the Office of Admissions to accept a student even if their ACT or SAT scores fall below the regular admissions requirements, or if the student does not have a test score. ACT or SAT scores are still required for scholarship consideration. These students must still meet the high school GPA requirement of 2.0.

D. The Admissions Office shall consider the appeals of applicants who are denied admission to the university due to not meeting the admission requirements. (See Appeals)

E. Students who have pled guilty to, or pled no contest (nolo contender), or has been convicted of a felony must disclose their disciplinary history in their application for admission. Any student with the disciplinary history listed will be required to submit additional information. Information disclosed will be reviewed by the Director of Community Standards and Student Ethics and an admissions decision will be made based on the student’s individual situation.

II. Transfer Student Admission (never attended JSU but have attended a college/university)

Students who seek to transfer to the university after attending another accredited college or university must satisfy all requirements for transfer admission as follows:

Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (GPA used is that which is computed by JSU).
Eligible to re-enter all institutions previously attended.

A. The university reserves the right to accept or deny coursework presented for transfer. Jacksonville State University will evaluate coursework successfully completed at other college and universities recognized by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Higher Learning Commission, Middle States Commission on Higher Education, New England Commission of Higher Education, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and WASC Senior College and University Commission. College level coursework completed at other US Department of Education nationally accredited colleges/universities which are not listed above may also be considered for transfer credit on a case-by-case basis. Credit for any course or part of a course will not be granted twice. Courses not having equivalents at JSU may be accepted as an elective. The transfer credit decision will be made on a course-by-course basis by the Registrar’s Office during the credit evaluation process. For additional information, such as appeals of transfer credit, students may contact the Registrar’s Office. Grades earned with a “D” or higher from other institutions will be used in computing the transfer grade point average. Students transferring coursework are advised that program GPA requirements will be based on institutional GPA requirements as well as resident requirements when considering assessment into or retention in certain programs, major and minor requirements, and graduation requirements. Courses with grades of “D” will be accepted except for certain JSU courses listed in the catalog with a grade mode of NC (no credit). However, a course in which a “D” grade has been earned is not creditable toward the major and/or minor requirements and may not be creditable toward some specific program requirements. If transfer courses are repeated at the transfer institutions, only the highest grade will be initially evaluated. Additionally, “I,” “F,” “W,” “WP” and “WF” grades in courses will not transfer. Any transfer course evaluated after the initial evaluation, in which that course has been repeated, will transfer but will not be included in the transfer GPA or hours earned. Once the final transcript has been received, the transfer GPA will be recalculated and must meet the required minimum for admission. Students academically ineligible to return to the last institution attended may not be admitted to JSU.

B. Transfer students are required to present one official transcript from each institution previously attended. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure transcripts are sent to JSU. These transcripts must be sent to JSU directly from the institution or placed in a sealed envelope from the institution and presented unopened to the Office of Admissions. JSU accepts transcripts sent electronically through sending networks. (Contact the college/university sending the transcript to determine if this is an option at that institution.)

C. If fewer than 24 semester hours are accepted, based on hours computed by JSU, students must also fulfill all requirements listed under the First Time Freshman Admission section unless the applicant has an associate’s degree from an accredited institution. Students who earned dual enrollment credits at JSU and are transferring from another institution will have their JSU dual enrollment credit hours calculated in the admissions decision.

D. Students under academic probation at other accredited institutions are admissible to JSU on probation, provided they are eligible to return to that institution. Students academically ineligible to return to previous institutions attended may not be admitted to JSU. They may, however, appeal to the Admissions Committee for consideration of their individual situation. Students under disciplinary probation or suspension at other institutions must disclose their disciplinary history in their application for admission. This is also the case for any student who has pled no contest (nolo contender), or has been convicted of a felony. Any student with a disciplinary history will be required to submit additional information. Information disclosed will be reviewed by the Director for Community Standards and Student Ethics and an admissions decision will be based on the individual’s situation. Further appeals may be made to the Vice President for Student Affairs for consideration of their individual situation.

E. AGSC/STARS: the Alabama Articulation and General Studies Committee/Statewide Transfer and Articulation Reporting System is part of a system created by Alabama legislation designed to help a student transfer from one institution to another. This system is a course-by-course display of Alabama two-year and four-year institutions to assist students with questions pertaining to credit hour and course transfer. Applicants can review the AGSC/STARS guide at www.jsu.edu/stars/. Students may transfer from a two-year college at any time. Note: Although an unlimited number of hours are acceptable from a two-year college, students must earn a minimum of 60-64 semester hours, depending on major, from a four-year college or university, 32 of which must be earned from JSU.

F. Students with less than a 2.00 cumulative GPA may be considered for admission after a review by the Admissions Committee. The GPA will be computed from all transcripts received by the Office of Admissions at the time of application. In order for a review of the application to occur, all transcripts from previously attended colleges/universities must be in the Office of Admissions. The Office of Admissions shall consider the appeals of applicants who are not admissible to the university due to not meeting the minimum college/university grade point average requirement or suspension from a prior institution. To appeal to the Undergraduate Admissions Committee, transfer students should have submitted all requirements for admission and adhere to the Appeals process (see Appeals). Students who apply and have earned 1-23 transfer credit hours, who also do not meet first time freshman admissions, may appeal to the Undergraduate Admissions Committee and be considered for unconditional acceptance or conditional acceptance, including admissions into special programs such as Fast Start Academy or other programs deemed beneficial for the student.

III. International Student Admission

A. International students who seek admission to the university and have never attended college in the United States must satisfy all requirements for admission, as follows:

Minimum score on one exam (see below)
Proof of higher secondary school graduation
Copy of valid passport
Completed International Student Proof of Financial Statement stating required balance (will be used only for I-20/DS issuance purpose)

B. International students who have never attended college in the United States must present a minimum score on one of the exams listed below. The chosen test must have been taken within the last two years and be sent to the university from the test agency. These test scores should be sent to JSU directly from the testing agency.
Alternately, international students may be admitted as English Language Institute Conditional Admission first year students or transfers and study in the English Language Institute (ELI) before university study. To apply under this option, students must contact ELI (eli@jsu.edu) for information. Students who begin in the ELI may meet the university language requirement either by successfully completing the English Language Institute program prior to beginning study for an academic degree or meeting the TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, iTEP, ACT or SAT scores.

Test Type	Required Minimum
TOEFL (paper-based)	500
TOEFL (computer-based)	173
TOEFL (internet-based)	61
IELTS	5.5
PTE Academic	45
iTEP	3.7
ACT Composite	18 (English subtest 14)
SAT Critical Reading and Math	960 (Critical Reading subtest 19)

Exempted Countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Montserrat, Micronesia, Namibia, Nigeria, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, St. Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, US Virgin Islands, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

C. In addition to the test score requirement, an international student must send a certified English translation of secondary school transcripts and proof of secondary school graduation when needed to the JSU Admissions Office. These documents should indicate attestation of translation from an original document. Alternately, international students may send their higher secondary school documents to an approved evaluation agency listed below. This evaluation must be mailed to JSU directly from the evaluation agency. A grade point average of 2.00/4.00 (U.S. scale) is required as a minimum GPA.

D. International students who have attended a regionally accredited institution in the United States and are transferring to JSU must present official transcripts from each institution attended. Those students who have earned 24 transferrable hours from regionally accredited institution(s) are not required to meet the test score requirements listed in Section III Part B.

E. All international students are required to submit a copy of their passport to ensure correct spelling on the I-20/DS-2019. Additionally, all international students are required to provide documentary evidence showing adequate financial resources are available to attend the university. If the student is attending another college/university on a F1/J1 Visa, the “International Student Transfer Form” must be submitted.

F. International students who have been accepted as participants in special university-approved programs with JSU (the International House Program, exchange agreements, dual degrees by inter-university collaboration or other contractual agreements) will have met JSU’s International Admission requirements, and all other admission requirements may be waived.

The application for admission to JSU will not be accepted without the documents listed above and the $35 (U.S.) non-refundable application fee. Application materials must be received by the deadlines:

July 1- fall semester
November 1 – spring semester
March 1 – summer semester

International course-by-course evaluations with GPA calculations must be completed by any NACES member agency: http://www.naces.org/members.htm and mailed directly to JSU.

International undergraduate students may make an appeal to the International Admissons Appeal Committee, an extension of the Undergraduate Admissions Committee.

IV. Returning Students (students who have attended JSU and earned credit)

Students who have either previously attended JSU, earned credit, and have not attended within a year or are pursuing a second bachelor’s degree should update their admission status. Returning students are not required to pay the undergraduate admission application fee, but are required to complete and submit an updated application.

Students who seek to return to the university and have attended elsewhere since attending JSU must satisfy all requirements for admission, as follows:

Submit transcripts from each institution
Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (GPA used is that which is computed by JSU)
Eligible to re-enter the institution last attended

Former students who plan on returning to JSU after attending other institutions will be evaluated as transfer students and must meet the transfer student admission requirements. After all required documents have been received, the returning student will be notified of their eligibility to continue taking courses at JSU. The university reserves the right to accept or deny course work presented for transfer from returning students. Typically, all course work from regionally accredited institutions will be accepted as fair equivalent courses at JSU provided JSU has an equivalent course at the appropriate level. See II.a. for transfer credit policies.

Students under disciplinary probation or suspension at other institutions must disclose their disciplinary history in their application for admission. This is also the case for any student who has pled guilty to, or pled no contest (nolo contender), or has been convicted of a felony. Any student with disciplinary history will be required to submit additional documentation. Information disclosed will be reviewed by the Director for Community Standards and Student Ethics and an admissions decision will be made based on the student’s individual situation.

V. Transient Students

Transient students will not be considered degree-seeking students at JSU but rather taking courses to transfer to the institution where the degree is being pursued. Transient students planning to transfer JSU credits to another institution should consult the appropriate dean or registrar at that institution to determine the acceptability of the JSU credit. Should a transient student wish to continue taking courses as a transient student in future terms, a new transient letter will be required in each future term in which the student wishes to enroll. Please note that transient students are not eligible for Title IV funds. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

Students who seek admission to the university as a transient student must satisfy all requirements for admission, as follows:

Transient letter
Eligible to re-enter the institution last attended.

International transient students must meet requirements for regular international student admission and immigration regulatory requirements.

VI. Non Degree-Seeking Students (non-degree candidates enrolling for one term)

Non-degree students will not be considered degree-seeking students but rather taking courses for personal enrichment or professional development. Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for Title IV funds. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office. Students who seek admission to the university as a non degree-seeking student must satisfy all requirements for admission, as follows:

Official transcript or letter of good standing from the current or previous college or university OR completed high school
Eligible to re-enter the institution last attended

VI. Dual Enrollment Admission

A student who is currently enrolled in high school may be admitted as a Dual Enrollment student by meeting the following conditions:

Complete the Dual Enrollment Admissions Application. There is no admissions fee associated with this application.
Must have earned a “B” average or better in ninth grade work.
Must have completed the ninth grade before enrolling as a Dual Enrollment student.
Must have written permission from a school administrator (counselor/principal/superintendent). Authorization is accepted by an official High School Authorization Form.
Dual enrollment credit for high school units may be granted by the school system. High school units may be earned in addition to college credits with the permission of the superintendent.

Dual Enrollment students are subject to all rules and regulations of the university as well as its rights and privileges. Dual Enrollment students may register for 100- or 200-level courses in any academic field in which the student has completed high school requirements and/or prerequisites. To maintain program eligibility, a student must earn a “C” or better in all attempted University courses and maintain a “B” average in high school. A student who earns less than a “C” in a JSU course will be required to wait one full Spring or Fall term and then re-apply for admission to the Dual Enrollment program.

VII. Early Admission

To accommodate high school students with exceptional ability, Jacksonville State University considers them on an individual basis for early admission. Students who wish to enter college after completing the 11th grade in high school must present evidence that admission to college would be more beneficial than continuation in high school. Such individuals are considered for admission as regular students.

Minimum requirements for early admission include a grade of “B” on academic subjects in high school and an ACT composite score of 26. To consider an applicant, the following material must be presented to the Office of Admissions for review by the Admissions Committee:

A completed application to the university with the non-refundable application fee
A letter of request from the applicant
One copy of the official high school transcript
The official ACT report
A letter of recommendation from the high school principal or superintendent
A letter of approval from parent(s) or guardian

Nondiscrimination

Jacksonville State University has filed with the Federal Government an Assurance of Compliance with all requirements imposed by or pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Regulation issued thereunder, to the end that no person in the United States shall, on the ground of age, religion, race, color, sex, disability, veteran’s status, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored by this institution. Under this Assurance, this institution is committed not to discriminate against any person on the ground of age, religion, race, color, sex, disability, veteran’s status, or national origin in its admission policies and practices or any other policies and practices of the institution relating to the treatment of students and other individuals, including the provision of services, financial aid and other benefits, and including the use of any building, structure, room, space, material, equipment, facility or other property. Any person who believes himself/herself, or any specific class of individuals, to be subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title VI or the Act and Regulation issued thereunder may, by himself/herself or a representative, file a written complaint with the United States Commissioner of Education or with this institution, or both.

Self-Disclosure

Jacksonville State University is committed to maintaining a safe, learning-centered setting for all persons in the community. In support of this commitment, JSU requires all applicants to answer questions related to disciplinary history at educational institutions and felony history. Previous disciplinary action and/or felony history will not automatically bar applicants from admission but will require review. Applications requiring review should arrive at least two months prior to start of classes.

Application Fee Waiver

JSU will accept requests from first year applicants who have a financial need to waive the $35 admissions application fee. Requests for first time freshman applicants include ACT/CollegeBoard fee waivers, NACAC fee waivers, and letters/emails from a high school administrator or counselor that addresses the financial need will be accepted. JSU also waives fees of any student applying from a Title 1 school. Requests for first time transfer applicants include documentation of Pell-eligible estimated family contribution (EFC). More information can be found at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/pell. Applicants may indicate they will be requesting a fee waiver when applying. Supporting documentation will be required to waive the fee.

Residency

Students who have resided in the State of Alabama or approved Georgia counties (Bartow, Carroll, Chatooga, Coweta, Douglas, Floyd, Haralson, Heard, Paulding or Polk) for more than 12 months must certify their present intent to maintain substantial connections with the state of Alabama on their application. Student who do not complete this certification on their application, or who list a permanent address other than Alabama or one of the ten Georgia counties, will be considered as out-of-state residents. Students who indicate their citizenship status as Permanent Resident will have their residence classified as “International Out-of-State.” Students who are not classified as in-state residents will be charged at the out-of-state rate. The Office of the Registrar will consider in-state tuition waivers and residency change requests prior to the start of each term.

Appeals

Any student who does not initially meet admission requirements (due to not meeting the minimum ACT/SAT score requirement, the minimum high school grade point average requirement, the minimum college/university grade point average requirement or suspension from a prior institution) will be preliminarily reviewed by the Undergraduate Admissions Committee at the time all admission documents are received. If a student is denied admission to the university, the student may appeal the admissions decision to the Undergraduate Admissions Committee. The Undergraduate Admissions Committee is a standing committee whose members are appointed by the President of the University. To appeal an admissions decision, the student should submit a letter/email of appeal explaining any extenuating circumstances and why an exception to admission requirements should be granted. They should also provide two (2) official letters of recommendation from a high school or college teacher for which they have taken core classes. The institution reserves the right to reject by action of the Office of Admissions the application of any individual whose characteristics or actions are considered detrimental to the institution. All applicants will be notified concerning admission as soon as all their records have been processed. A student who is denied admission by the Admissions Committee may send their appeal to the Vice President for Enrollment Management. A student whose appeal is denied by the Vice President for Enrollment Management has the right to appeal to the president of the university whose decision is final.

International undergraduate students may make an appeal to the International Admissions Appeal Committee, an extension of the Undergraduate Admissions Committee.

If a student is admitted to JSU through the summer bridge program, Fast Start Academy, and are unable to attend Fast Start Academy due to an extenuating circumstance, they may appeal their admissions decision through the Admissions Committee. The student will need to submit the requirements of the Admissions Committee and also provide documentation of their extenuating circumstance.

Immunization Requirements

All students admitted to JSU for the first time must meet the JSU Immunization Requirements and submit proof of immunization via medproctor.com.

MMR -Measles, Mumps, Rubella – Students born after 1956 -2 doses of MMR at least 28 days apart after 12 months of age OR a copy of a lab report showing proof of immunity from measles (rubeola), mumps, and rubella can be submitted in lieu of the vaccine
VARICELLA – (Chickenpox/Shingles)– Students born after 1979- 2 doses of Varicella vaccine at least 28 days apart OR healthcare provider documented history with the date of the disease OR (or documented history of chicken pox by provider)
HEPATITIS B – Three doses are required for all students or a blood test showing immunity. All students will be required to have all three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine as outlined in the following schedule. The second dose should be at least 28 days after the first dose and the third dose at least 16 weeks after first dose and at least 8 weeks after the second dose. If there is no time to complete a series before enrollment, an appointment may be made at the SHC when the next dose of vaccine is due.
TUBERCULOSIS SCREENING: All students are required to complete the Tuberculosis Screening questions. Further tuberculosis testing may be required based upon information received from the screening questions.

Students who are screened and found to have a positive screening test will not be permitted to attend classes until follow-up testing determines there is no active Tuberculosis disease. All TB testing must be performed in the United States.

All students must register with medproctor.com as soon as possible after receiving their JSU email address. Submission of records requires the JSU email address.

The Student Health Center advises all adults to be properly immunized. If your classes are fully online and you will not be on campus, you may request consideration for exemption by waiver. You should submit an Appeal for Exemption from Immunization for each vaccine requirement that is not met, regardless of the reason. You will need to submit a signed statement of medical exemption from your primary care provider to studentaffairs@JSU.edu. This confirms with your health care provider if your “medical reason” is based on current information.

You may also be exempt from immunizations due to your religious beliefs. In this case, you should submit an Appeal for Exemption from Immunization, explaining how immunizations conflict with your religious beliefs. This statement should be submitted to studentaffairs@JSU.edu.

Students that have not completed the immunization requirements by the first day of class will be assigned a default temporary waiver and asked to schedule an appointment at the Student Health Center. Students that default into a non-compliance waiver, may be prohibited from registering for classes the following semester.

Orientation

First year students, under the age of 25, must attend an orientation session prior to the semester they wish to attend (See section: Application Procedures). The orientation/advisement session includes a brief introduction to campus life, academic advisement, schedule preparation, and registration. Following registration, students can obtain an I.D. card, and automobile registration. Questions regarding orientation should be directed to the Coordinator of First and Second Year Experience.