Application Criteria
Entering Freshmen
To be considered for admission to Arkansas State University, an applicant must submit:
1. An application for admission by the first day of classes
2. A $15 nonrefundable processing fee*
3. An official high school transcript mailed directly from the high school** OR the results of
the General Education Development (GED) examination mailed directly from the State
Department of Education. Home schooled students should mail equivalent documents.
Hand carried documents are not considered official unless submitted in a sealed, stamped
school envelope or faxed directly from the previous institution. If you are currently enrolled in high school, a second transcript must be sent after you have graduated listing your graduation date and final school GPA.
4. Official ACT scores, SAT scores, ASSET or COMPASS scores** mailed directly to the
university from the testing institution or the high school (the ACT Test Code is 0116 and the SAT Test Code is 6011). Test scores are only valid five years
from date of exam.
5. Final official transcript from all colleges attended if any.
6. Proof of 2 immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella and rubeola. The vaccine must have
been received after the first birthday and after 1/1/68.
7. Proof of registration with the Selective Service System (males 18-25)
8. A minimum ACT composite score of 15 or a minimum final high school gpa of 2.25.
Comparable scores on the SAT, ASSET or COMPASS may be submitted for consideration.
* Application processing fees are not covered by scholarship.
** Hand-carried documents are not considered official records.
Students enrolling in degree programs at Arkansas State University may present faxed documents with their school's cover sheet (i.e., ACT scores and transcripts) in lieu of official documents for registration purposes during the first week of classes only. Official copies must follow for students to be permitted to register for subsequent semesters and to obtain official transcripts from Arkansas State University. Students who present official documents which are incongruent with faxed documents will face disciplinary action by the university.
Communications concerning admission to the undergraduate programs of the university should be addressed to the Admissions Office, P.O. Box 1630, State University, AR 72467.
Core Curriculum
- ENGLISH - 4 units with emphasis on writing skills, not to include courses in Oral Communications, Journalism, Drama or Debate.
- NATURAL SCIENCE - 3 units with laboratories chosen from Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. Only one unit may come from a Life Science.
- MATHEMATICS - 4 units including Algebra I and II, Geometry, and an advanced math course. It is strongly recommended that students take a math course during their senior year.
- SOCIAL STUDIES - 3 units including one of American History (does not include Contemporary American History), one of World History (not to include World Cultures, World Geography, or Global Studies), and at least 1/2 unit of Civics or American Government (not to include courses in practical arts).
Early Entrance
The university accepts students who are not high school graduates if they have (1) eighteen units of high school credit including three units of English, two units of mathematics, two units of natural science, three units of social science, and not more than two units of activity credit; (2) an overall grade average of 3.25; (3) an ACT composite score of 19 or higher; and (4) a recommendation from the high school principal or superintendent. In addition, the early entrant must submit the credentials required of high school graduates except proof of graduation.
Concurrent Enrollment
- Candidates who meet the requirement for unrestricted admission on a six or seven semester transcript, may enroll in university courses prior to graduation when the combined enrollments (high school and college) during any one semester do not exceed normal academic load. To be considered for this program, a student must obtain approval from the Office of Admissions to participate in the program and submit an application for admission to the university.
All students must present evidence that they meet the criteria stated.
- Students may meet the criteria for admission through a process submitted by the high school that is based upon performance criteria which justify waiver of requirement of the standardized test score OR the high school grade point average. These criteria are expected to be comprehensive and demonstrate exemplary performance. Arkansas State University reserves the right to determine whether the criteria are equivalent to standardized test scores or high school GPA. (Acceptable criteria might include: scores at the 80th percentile on a recent standardized achievement test, grades in AP or Honors classes, performance in the Arts before a state or regional audience.)
Non-Degree Students
Individuals who wish to pursue courses of special interest without submitting academic credentials may register for a maximum of six hours per semester (or 3 per summer term), accumulating up to 12 semester hours of undergraduate non-degree credit. Thereafter, non-degree students must comply with university admission requirements or obtain a written waiver from the Registrar. CAUTION: Non-degree students should not enroll in courses that are required in the general education program. Courses taken for non-degree credit are not applicable toward a degree unless validated later by the student's meeting all conditions of admission to the university, including remediation requirements.
Non-degree students are required to submit all admission credentials listed under "Admission Procedures" except for ACT scores and high school and/or college transcripts.
Non-degree students are required to meet the same course prerequisites as are other students. Non-degree students are generally not eligible to participate in financial aid programs.
Due to specific enrollment limitations, non-degree students may not register through the university's web registration system.