First-Year Student Admission
Fontbonne University considers first-year students as those degree-seeking students who are graduates of an accredited high school and who have not previously enrolled in a degree program at an accredited college or university. Students enrolled in college coursework (dual enrollment) while completing high school will be considered first-year students.
Candidates seeking admission should begin application procedures up to one year before their intended entry term. To complete their application, each first-year student must submit the following:
- A completed undergraduate application for admission including any required fee
- An official or unofficial high school transcript of all coursework completed to date (at least six semesters).
- Additional supporting materials if requested, such as an interview, personal statement or recommendation letter(s) from school personnel. Additional supporting materials should evaluate weaknesses in the student’s past academic record and/or reveal a candidate’s motivation, determination, or resilience.
Note: Students must submit a final, official transcript confirming the graduation date and successful completion of all coursework. This transcript must be on file prior to the final registration date of the student’s intended entry term.
Minimum Standards for Admission as a First-Year Student:
- Automatic Admission: Students who present a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale will be admitted. (GPAs reported on alternate scales will be converted to a 4-point scale).
- Holistic Admission: Students who present a cumulative GPA between 2.0 and 2.99 will be holistically reviewed. Additional supporting documentation may be requested.
- Students with cumulative GPAs below 2.0 will be automatically denied, but can petition for a holistic review.
- Students with transcripts from home schools, proficiency-based schools, standards-based schools or with a traditional cumulative GPA will be holistically reviewed for admission.
- Students applying for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) major must meet additional requirements outlined in the ‘Nursing BSN’ section of this catalog.
- Core requirements: Students will have completed the following core requirements:
- Four units English;
- Three units mathematics;
- Three units social science;
- Three units science (one must include a lab);
- One unit visual/performing arts;
- Three units electives (including foreign language).
Students who fail to meet one or more of these standards will be holistically reviewed.
GED/HISET Applicants
In lieu of a high school diploma, Fontbonne will honor a satisfactory score on the General Education Development (GED) or HiSET® exam. Students using the GED must earn a 2350 on the examinations. Students using the HiSET® exam must:
- Score at least 8 out of 20 on each of the five subtests
- Score at least 2 out of 6 on the essay
- Achieve a total scaled score on all five HiSET subtests of at least 45 out of 100
Students who fail to meet one or more of these standards will be reviewed holistically.
Transfer Admission
Fontbonne considers transfer students as those degree-seeking students who have obtained a high school diploma or the GED/HiSET, have accredited post-secondary institution(s) at the undergraduate level, and are entering Fontbonne University for the first time. Students whose credits were solely attempted while completing high school (dual enrollment) will be considered first-year students, not transfer students. Candidates seeking transfer admission should begin application procedures at least two months before their intended entry term.
Candidates seeking transfer admission should begin application procedures at least two months before their intended entry term. To complete their application, each transfer student must submit the following:
- A completed undergraduate application for admission including any required fee.
- An official transcript from each accredited college or university attended (including college credit or AP credit earned while in high school) showing all coursework in progress and completed to date. Students who have earned fewer than 30 semester hours must also submit an official high school transcript.
- Additional supporting materials if requested, such as an interview, personal statement or recommendation letter(s) from school personnel. Additional supporting materials should evaluate weaknesses in the student’s past academic record and/or reveal a candidate’s motivation, determination, or resilience.
Note: Students must submit a final, official transcript confirming successful completion of all in-progress coursework. This transcript must be on file prior to the final registration date of the student’s intended entry term.
Minimum Standards for Admission as a Transfer Student:
- Transfer students must have earned a cumulative college grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students who fail to meet this standard will be reviewed holistically.
- Students applying for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) major must meet additional requirements outlined in the ‘Nursing BSN’ section of this catalog.
Transfer Credit Evaluation
Students receive an unofficial evaluation of transfer credit upon acceptance.
Course credits from other institutions will be evaluated for transfer to Fontbonne. Credits must:
- be completed from an accredited, degree-granting institution of higher learning;
- be college level courses (100 level or above);
- be completed with a grade of D or better. Coursework meeting major, minor, or concentration requirements must have a grade of C- or better.
A student may transfer a maximum of 64 credit hours to Fontbonne University from a community college.
The major department determines the number of hours and the specific courses that will be accepted for transfer into the student’s intended major. All candidates must meet their program’s minimum GPA requirements to continue in the program and to graduate.
Transfer students must complete all Fontbonne degree requirements and the residency requirement of a minimum of 30 credit hours. All courses taken during the semester of degree completion/graduation must be completed at Fontbonne University.
Transfer students are exempt from placement testing in any area in which transfer credits are accepted to meet a Fontbonne requirement. Transfer students who are not exempt from the computerized university placement tests must take the tests before registering for courses. The tests assist the university in evaluating, placing, and advising incoming students.
Fontbonne University accepts the Missouri General Education Block and the Illinois Articulation Initiative as completing its Culture and the Common Good General Education Requirements. Transfer students are responsible for completing other graduation requirements, including a religion or theology course.
International Undergraduate Admission
Fontbonne University is a global community and encourages applications from international students. To complete their application, each international undergraduate student must submit the following:
- A completed international undergraduate application including any required fee.
- Certified, official transcripts (translated into English) from all secondary schools, colleges or universities previously attended. The minimum required grade point average (GPA) for undergraduate first-year student admission is 2.5 on a 4-point scale. The minimum required GPA for transfer student admission (must have earned over 30 credits) is 2.0/4.0 scale. Students who have earned college-level credit outside of the United States and wish to apply those credits toward a degree will be asked to have their transcripts evaluated by a U.S. evaluation service.
- Evidence of English language proficiency for students whose native language is not English. Students must submit the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing), MET (Michigan English Test), Duolingo or authorized equivalent. The required minimum TOEFL score is 65 IBT (5.5 IELTS, 56 MET, 100 Duolingo). Students who cannot demonstrate English proficiency may be required to enroll in the Intensive English Program prior to enrolling in undergraduate courses.
- An official letter of sponsorship and an official financial statement from the bank of the guarantor. These are required to meet U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations. The bank statement and letter from the sponsor must be in English. The bank statement must be certified by the bank, dated within 120 days of the application, and have the name of the sponsor (or sponsor’s organization) on the account. The account will indicate the amount of funds available. The sponsor must have sufficient funds to support the student for a minimum of one year while in academic studies.
- A copy of the current passport page with name, date of birth, and expiration date.
- Additional supporting materials if requested, such as an interview, personal statement or recommendation letter(s) from school personnel. Additional supporting materials should evaluate weaknesses in the student’s past academic record and/or reveal a candidate’s motivation, determination, or resilience.
Students who fail to meet one or more of these standards will be reviewed holistically.
Any international student wishing to transfer to Fontbonne University from another institution within the United States must also submit the following documents:
- Copies of all official I-20 documents from previously attended schools.
- A copy of the current I-94 card.
- A copy of the current visa.
All new undergraduate international students must take Fontbonne’s English and mathematics placement tests to determine the appropriate general education level courses.
International students are required to enroll in the required English class (as determined by placement test scores) their first semester at Fontbonne, and maintain continuous enrollment in the courses in the English sequence through the completion of ENG 102.
All international students accepted for study at Fontbonne University will be required to purchase medical/health insurance by an insurance carrier in the U.S. selected by Fontbonne University. Purchase of such insurance coverage will be completed at the time of registration at the university.
Limited scholarships are available to new and transfer undergraduate international students. Priority will be given to F-1 non-immigrant visa holders. Non-immigrant international students are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Second Undergraduate Degree Admission
An applicant who already holds a bachelor’s degree may desire admission to pursue a second undergraduate degree in a major different from the first degree. The applicant must submit a completed undergraduate application, including any required fee, and final official transcripts from each accredited college or university attended showing the degree granted and all coursework completed to date. Additional credentials will be requested as needed.
Students must complete a minimum residency requirement of 24 credit hours at Fontbonne University, as well as all specific requirements for the second major and degree. They are exempt from taking the placement test and from completing Fontbonne general education requirements.
Post-Baccalaureate Certification Only Admission
(Missouri Department of Education and Secondary Education/Council of Accreditation of Educational Programs) or Verification Only (Academy of Nutrition And Dietetics)
An applicant who already holds a bachelor’s degree may desire admission to pursue post-baccalaureate teacher certification or to meet the minimum academic requirements for Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics verification. The applicant must submit a completed application, including any required fee, and final official transcripts from each accredited college or university attended showing the degree granted and all coursework completed to date. Additional credentials will be requested as needed.
The department in which the student wishes to study must accept the candidate for pursuit of teacher certification or for completion of verification requirements for the student to be admitted. The department will determine which courses from the first bachelor’s degree will be accepted toward fulfillment of the certification or verification requirements. The student is exempt from taking the placement test and from completing the Fontbonne general education requirements, and the graduation requirement of a course in religion/theology.
The student must complete a minimum residency requirement of 24 credit hours at Fontbonne University. A student contemplating either teacher certification or verification should check with an advisor regarding master’s degree programs at Fontbonne University which might be of added value.
Full information on teacher certification may be found in the section titled Teacher Certification at Fontbonne University immediately following the graduate programs section in this catalog. This includes policies and procedures for students in teacher certification programs, acceptance into the teacher certification program, and final assessment information in teacher certification at Fontbonne University.
Unclassified Student Admission
A student who does not wish to pursue a degree may register as an unclassified (non-degree seeking) student. Visiting/guest students completing degrees elsewhere should apply as unclassified applicants.
Students must submit a completed undergraduate or graduate application, including any required fee. Additional credentials will be requested as needed.
If an unclassified student believes that they will pursue a degree at Fontbonne, it is to their advantage to submit an official transcript of high school or prior college/university level work completed.
Unclassified students are not eligible for financial aid.
Change of Status from Unclassified to Degree Seeking
An unclassified student who wishes to change to degree-seeking status must submit a completed undergraduate or graduate application, including any required fee, and required supporting documents. Additional credentials will be requested as needed.
A student who has earned college credit with a grade of D or above in the subject areas represented in the tests is exempt from placement testing. An undergraduate applicant who is not exempt must take the university placement tests before acceptance. Please refer to the placement program section following this admission section.
Acceptance to a degree program requires a minimum Fontbonne GPA of 2.0 and department approval. The student must follow all requirements and curriculum in effect at the time of the change of status. With the approval of the chairperson/dean of the department/college in which the student chooses to major, a maximum of 30 semester credits earned as an unclassified student at Fontbonne may be applied toward a degree. The university reserves the right to dismiss an unclassified student who does not maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
Readmission to Fontbonne
Degree-seeking students who have previously attended Fontbonne University, but have not been enrolled for one calendar year are required to apply for readmission. A student who has been dismissed from Fontbonne may apply for readmission after one full calendar year. Readmission requires no application fee. To apply for readmission, candidates must submit:
- A completed undergraduate or graduate application.
- Official transcripts from each accredited, degree-granting college or university attended since leaving Fontbonne. Students who initially transferred to Fontbonne and have not attended for 5 years or longer will need to request transcripts from all institution(s) attended.
A student re-entering Fontbonne University must follow all requirements, including general education and graduation requirements and curriculum, stated in the catalog in effect at the time of re-entry.
Readmission after a Leave of Absence
An undergraduate degree-seeking student who anticipates a need to leave Fontbonne and expects to return after no more than two semesters (not including summer session) may request a leave of absence. (See leave of absence policy in the undergraduate academic policies and regulations section in this catalog.)
To re-enter Fontbonne the student may go directly to the registrar’s office for a change in status and for registration materials, beginning at the time of early registration. The student must obtain an advisor’s signature and web clearance to be eligible to register.
Readmission with a New Start
A returning Fontbonne undergraduate degree-seeking student may petition to participate in the New Start program with the following stipulations:
- The student has not been enrolled for five consecutive years at Fontbonne University.
- The student may petition for the New Start program after returning to Fontbonne and completing 12 consecutive credit hours with a minimum grade of C- in each course and a 2.0 GPA.
- Previous credits and grades from a maximum of six courses with grades of D and/or F may be removed from the grade point average, but not from the transcript.
- All previous courses and grades will remain on the transcript. Previous grades of C- or better will count in the grade point average and the credits will be carried forward.
- The grade point average will be recalculated.
- The transcript will indicate New Start.
- The student participating in the New Start program is ineligible for Latin honors at graduation. (See Latin honors in this section of the catalog.)
To petition to participate in the New Start program, a student must obtain a new start program petition form from the registrar’s office, complete the form, and return it to the registrar’s office.
Graduate Admission
Applications for admission, considered according to program availability, must be on file no later than one week prior to the first day of classes in the student’s intended entry term. Individual programs may have earlier deadlines.
To complete their application, each student must submit the following:
- A completed graduate application, including any required fee.
- Official transcript(s) from accredited colleges or universities that:
- Granted the applicant’s undergraduate degree
- Granted the applicant’s graduate degree
- Demonstrated program prerequisite(s) have been met
- Demonstrated completion of transfer graduate coursework
- Three professional references to be contacted for recommendation into the program.
Specific graduate programs often require additional supplemental application materials such as all undergraduate and graduate transcripts, a statement of purpose, a resume or curriculum vita, letters of recommendation, etc. Additional admission criteria are listed under each individual graduate program.
Accelerated Path Master’s Programs
Accelerated Path Master’s programs offer qualified students the opportunity to shorten the time required to complete a master’s degree by applying a limited number of hours to both graduate and undergraduate requirements. The University has established minimum admission requirements; however, departments may set additional or more stringent requirements. Interested students should check with the department offering an Accelerated Path Master’s Program option regarding the department’s specific requirements.
Eligibility
Students applying to an Accelerated Path Master’s Program must:
• Be a currently enrolled Fontbonne University student
• Have completed at least 60 credit hours
• Have at least one full semester as an undergraduate remaining
• Possess a minimum Fontbonne cumulative GPA of 3.25
Admission
Students must submit a completed graduate application.
Application can be made as early as the first semester of the junior year, but typically in the third semester prior to completion of the undergraduate degree and with at least one full semester remaining at the time of application. Students must have completed at least 12 credit hours in the undergraduate major by the time they are admitted into an Accelerated Master’s.
Students must earn at least a ‘B’ in graduate courses taken as an undergraduate to maintain eligibility to advance to the master’s level following conferral of the bachelor’s degree. Students who do not retain their Accelerated Master’s admission to a graduate program are eligible to apply for admission to the graduate program through the regular application process. Failure to satisfy admission requirements or leaving Fontbonne University before completion of the bachelor’s degree negates admission to an Accelerated Master’s.
Degree and Tuition Policies
Once admitted to a master’s program through the Accelerated Path, students may take up to a maximum of 13 credit hours of graduate coursework and have those hours count toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Students will be charged at the undergraduate rate and retain eligibility for undergraduate scholarships. For each semester in which they take courses for both undergraduate and graduate credit, students must complete a “mixed credit” registration form that is approved by the graduate program director or department chair. Students taking courses for graduate credit must adhere to all relevant graduate policies.
Students admitted to an Accelerated Path Master’s Program must meet all graduate program admission requirements at the time they complete the baccalaureate degree and must meet all degree completion requirements of the graduate program.
Dietetics/Health Advancement Promotion Accelerated Program
Students in the accelerated master’s program between Dietetics and Heath Advancement and Promotion may transfer a maximum of 15 credit hours of graduate coursework and have those hours count toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Graduate only classes taken during the summer term could be charged the graduate rate for the graduate courses.
International Graduate Student Admission
Fontbonne University is a global community and encourages applications from international students. To complete their application, each international undergraduate student must submit the following:
- A completed international undergraduate application, including any required fee.
- Certified, official transcripts (translated into English) from all secondary schools, colleges or universities previously attended. Students who have earned college-level credit outside of the United States and wish to apply those credits toward a degree will be asked to have their transcripts evaluated by a U.S. evaluation service.
- Evidence of English language proficiency for students whose native language is not English. Students must submit the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing), MET (Michigan English Test) or authorized equivalent. Students who cannot demonstrate English proficiency may be required to enroll in the Intensive English Program prior to enrolling in graduate courses. English proficiency score minimums are required and delineated by program:
Programs requiring 6.0 IELTS (59 MET)
- Department of Education/Special Education
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
- Doctor of Education
- Instructional Design and Technology
Programs requiring 6.5 IELTS (62 MET)
- Department of Business Administration
- Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Programs requiring 7.0 IELTS (65 MET)
- Department of Communication Disorders/Deaf Education
Programs in the Department of Fine Arts are at the discretion of the program.
- An official letter of sponsorship and an official financial statement from the bank of the guarantor. These are required to meet U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations. The bank statement and letter from the sponsor must be in English. The bank statement must be certified by the bank, dated within 120 days of the application, and have the name of the sponsor (or sponsor’s organization) on the account. The account will indicate the amount of funds available. The sponsor must have sufficient funds to support the student for a minimum of one year while in academic studies.
- Two letters of recommendation in English.
- A personal statement in English indicating why the student wishes to attend Fontbonne University. The requirement for the personal statement varies by department.
- A copy of the current passport page with name, date of birth, and expiration date.
- Additional specific admission criteria, including grade point average, are listed under the individual graduate programs.
An international applicant not meeting one or more of the entrance standards may be asked to submit additional information for review by the specific graduate program.
All international students accepted for study at Fontbonne University will be required to purchase medical/health insurance by an insurance carrier selected by Fontbonne University in the U.S. Purchase of such insurance coverage will be completed at the time of registration at the university.
International Transfer Graduate Students
Any international student wishing to transfer to Fontbonne University from another institution within the United States must also submit the following documents:
- Copies of all official I-20 documents from previously attended schools;
- A copy of the current I-94 card; and
- A copy of the current visa.
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