Admissions and Enrollment Services

Bethune-Cookman University seeks to enroll students with the potential and desire to further their intellectual, spiritual, and social development. Each applicant is evaluated individually. Academic performance at the secondary education level is extremely important. The University also considers the applicant’s character and personality, as well as a commitment to achieving a university education.

Students seeking admission to Bethune-Cookman University must have satisfactorily completed or earned a standard diploma from an accredited high school and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.25 or greater on a 4.0 scale. The rigor (International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement classes) of the student’s high school program is also carefully considered.

Because high school programs and graduation systems vary widely, the secondary school program cannot be rigidly prescribed. However, the University is most interested in students with solid academic achievements and leadership development activities during each of the four years of high school. This curriculum includes: four units of English, three units of mathematics, three units of natural science (at least one laboratory), three units of social science and history, and six academic electives. Two units of foreign language and one computer literacy course are strongly recommended but are not required for admission to the University. The General Education Diploma (GED) may be considered in lieu of a complete high school record.

All entering freshmen must have taken either the SAT I: Reasoning Test or the ACT Assessment Test. The University encourages prospective students to take one or both of these tests in their junior year and again early in the fall of their senior year. Information concerning the SAT or ACT can be obtained from the student’s high school guidance counselor or directly from the College Entrance Examination Board, P.O. Box 592, Princeton, NJ 08540. Students may also write to ACT at ACT Assessment, P.O. Box 451, Iowa City, IA 52240. Students may register online or receive additional information at http://www.collegeboard.com and http://www.act.org. Students may also call the College Entrance Examination office at 866-630-9305 for general information and the Southern Region Office of the College Entrance Examination (CEE) at 866-392-4088. Bethune-Cookman’s CEEB code number is 5061; its ACT code number is 0720.

General Admission Procedures

The student seeking admission to Bethune-Cookman University should apply prior to the December 1st Scholarship Deadline for full consideration for all scholarship opportunities. An Application for Admission can be obtained online at https://www.cookman.edu/admissionsaid/apply-now.html, or by writing to request an application from the Office of Admissions, Bethune-Cookman University, 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard, Daytona Beach, FL 32114-3099. Students may also call the Office of Admissions at 800-448-0228.

To take advantage of the Fall Semester Deadline, student credentials must be received no later than May 1. The deadline to get credentials in for the Spring is November 30. The following credentials are required:

• A $25.00 nonrefundable application fee or official fee waiver form obtained from the student’s high school guidance office.
• Official copies of transcript(s), including all high school academic experiences;
• Final official high school transcript with graduation date posted; and
• Results of Standardized tests - Results of either the 15 or greater ACT or 810 combined SAT are to be forwarded directly to the university.

Conditional Admission

Bethune-Cookman University has always reached out to students whom other institutions of higher education might have considered unprepared for college-level work. The Legacy of the University’s founder is one that compels the institution to reach out to students who are genuinely seeking higher education but whose application materials reveal the need for additional academic support. The University is proud to say that scores of these students have taken up residence in communities throughout the United States as productive members of society and citizens committed to civic engagement.

The University’s Office of Admissions has the authority to consider indicators in individual applicants that would place them at academic risk, including having a cumulative grade point average of less than the required 2.25. Following deliberations, the Office of Admissions may elect to deny or admit, on a conditional basis, a percentage of these applicants.

Re-Activation of Students That Did Not Attend

An Application for Re-Activation, obtainable from the Office of Admissions, must be submitted by June 1st for the Fall Semester or by November 30 for the Spring Semester. Inactive students (not registered) for one Semester must complete an Application for Re-activation. When a student fails to enroll for classes at the University for two consecutive Semesters, he or she must apply for readmission. The Office of Admissions will notify the student, in writing, of the decision in a timely fashion.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Application for admission as a non-degree seeking student must include records of previous educational experience (high school or college transcript), a statement of studies to be pursued, and evidence of the ability to pursue studies as may be prescribed by the Office of Admissions. These students are normally limited to 9 Hours each Semester.

An undergraduate student enrolled at another accredited collegiate institution may be permitted to enroll at Bethune-Cookman University as a non-degree seeking student in order to complete work for transfer back to the home institution. No evaluation of previous work completed will be made, and it is the student’s responsibility to secure approval from the home institution.

Credit earned by a student while in non-degree status will not automatically be applied to a Bethune-Cookman University degree program. Should the student be admitted as a regular student, he or she may petition the University to have such courses applied to the major area, if the courses are a part of the student’s required program of study. Students admitted under non-degree status who decide to become regular students must apply through the University’s Office of Admissions.

Transfer Students Admissions

A transfer student is defined as a candidate for admission who has attended a regionally accredited college or university. The credits must not have been earned at the time the student was also enrolled in high school.

If the candidate has less than 28 transferable Semester Hours (one full year) of credit from an accredited college or university, all requirements of a first-year student at the University must also be satisfied.

The following credentials must be received by the June 1st deadline for Fall Semester admission. Priority deadline for Spring Semester admission is November 30.

•    A completed Application for Admission 
•    A $25.00 nonrefundable application fee 
•    Official copies of transcript(s) for all college work attempted;
•    Final official high school transcript including graduation date; 
•    Results of either the ACT or SAT are to be forwarded directly to the university. The student may be exempted from this requirement if he or she completed high school at least 10 years before the date of his or her transfer application to Bethune-Cookman University.

Bethune-Cookman University General Transfer Policy

1. The credits are obtained from an institution that is regionally accredited or equivalent.
2. A grade of C or better was achieved.
3. The credits can be applied to a selected degree program at B-CU.
4. Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores of 3 or higher are achieved.
5. With an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, a minimum score of 4 on the IB exam must be achieved.
6. In the absence of an IB Diploma, IB exam scores of 5 or higher must be achieved on each exam.
7. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) scores of 50 or higher are achieved.
8. Official transcripts and appropriate documentation are received for evaluation.

Transfer Students With Associate of Arts Degrees

Students holding A.A. degrees from a regionally accredited College or University will be fully admitted and accepted as upper-level transfer students. Students must also meet admission requirements for specific majors.

Additionally:

Transfer grades are not included in computing a student’s grade point average at Bethune-Cookman University.

To earn a degree from Bethune-Cookman University, at least 25% of the credit hours required for the degree must be earned at the University (25 percent rule). As such, a maximum of 90 transfer credit hours may be applied towards the degree.

For some transfer students, additional institutional learning outcomes may be required before graduation.

For the evaluation of International and Military credits, the University may use third-party services.

Credits will not be accepted for transfer into the University if courses are more than 10 years old. Exceptions to this policy can only be made by the Office of the Provost.

Transfer Students With Associate Degrees Other Than The Associate of Arts

Official transcripts from all Associate degree recipients will be reviewed course by course to determine if courses previously earned qualify the students for full admission with upper-level transfer status. The transfer students must also satisfy any other requirements unique to the selected Bethune-Cookman University academic school. The transfer student may have to take the Bethune-Cookman University placement test upon review of the official transcript.

Transfer grades are not included in computing a student’s grade point average at Bethune-Cookman University. Individual “D” grades are not accepted for transfer.

Courses completed at a regionally accredited community or state college will be accepted pending review by the department chair and/or academic dean.

Transfer credits based on CLEP scores will be accepted if the scores meet Bethune-Cookman University’s standards for the minimum required score. Not more than six Semester Hours of credit may be earned in any one area. Not more than 30 Semester Hours of credit may be earned by examination. Official CLEP scores must be received by B-CU before credit may be posted to the students’ record.

If a transfer student wishes to transfer without an A.A. degree, transfer credit will be awarded only for coursework with a grade of “C” or better. If the candidate has less than 27 transferable Semester Hours (1 full year) of credit from an accredited college, all requirements for a first-year student must also be met.

Transfer students with 30 or more credits will be exempt from Freshman Seminar. No developmental, preparatory, or basic skills courses (non-degree credits) can be transferred into Bethune-Cookman University. They must be satisfied at this institution. These courses do not satisfy the general education requirements for graduation.

In order to earn a degree from Bethune-Cookman University, at least 25% of the credit Hours required for the degree must be earned at the University (25 percent rule). Of this minimum amount of work, the last Semester must be taken at the University. Additionally, 30 percent of the student’s work in the major field must be completed at Bethune-Cookman University.

Transfer Students With Bachelor’s Degrees

A transfer student must complete at least 30 Semester Hours of coursework in residence to receive a degree from Bethune-Cookman University. Of this minimum amount of work, the last Semester must be taken at the University. Additionally, 30 percent of the student’s work in his major field must be completed at Bethune-Cookman University.

Re-Admission of Former Students

An Application for Re-admission, obtainable from the Office of the Registrar, must be submitted by July 30 for the Fall Semester or by November 30 for the Spring Semester. Inactive students (not registered) for one Semester must complete an Application for Re-admission. When a student fails to enroll for classes at the University for two consecutive Semesters, he or she must apply for readmission. The Office of the Registrar will notify the student, in writing, of the decision in a timely fashion.

Students who have not enrolled at the University for five or more years are responsible for completing the most recent curriculum in their major area. These students may also be required to take oral or written examinations to demonstrate proficiency in undergraduate courses previously taken.

International Students

The University requires an International Evaluation of all high school and college transcripts. The evaluations must be completed by an accredited evaluation agency. A list of acceptable agencies can be found here. 

The high school transcript evaluation must include a cumulative grade point average, the year of graduation, and indicate the equivalency of a standard US high school transcript. 

The college transcript evaluation must include a cumulative grade point average, a course-by-course breakdown with the names of the courses, the number of credits awarded per course, and the individual grade received in each course.

Evaluations are to be obtained by the applicant, and all costs associated with the evaluation will also be covered by the applicant. The evaluations must be sent directly to the University by the evaluation agency. They can be sent via email using this email address: bcuintlstu@cookman.edu.

They can also be mailed to the University at the following address:

Bethune-Cookman University
Attn: The Office of International Student Services
640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard
Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Special Note: High School/College Transcripts (required in lieu of the International Evaluation in a select few countries)- If the applicant is a citizen of an eligible country, we will need the high school transcript, including 9th grade, and/or any college transcripts. Please contact the University for clarification regarding what countries are included in this requirement. The transcripts should be sent directly to the International Student Services office using the email and mailing addresses above.

International students who have studied in the United States should provide their US transcripts via the above-mentioned methods. If a college/university student has 30 or more transferable college credits, a high school transcript/evaluation is not required.

When all of the information has been received, an admission decision will be made.  Upon a favorable admission decision, the international student will be required to complete a financial packet and return it to the International Student Services office along with the requested supporting documents. 

The International Student applicant must also submit an official statement of available financial resources, including supporting financial documentation that shows the availability of sufficient funds necessary to cover the expenses associated with attending the University. Students cannot receive the United States Department of Homeland Security Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Students (I-20) until they have been accepted and provided the proper financial documentation.

Qualified Disabled Persons

As these laws only apply to individuals with documented disabilities, it is required by Bethune-Cookman University that individuals provide recent documentation to establish their eligibility under these laws and to document their specific accommodation needs. Individuals with a verifiable learning or physical disability affecting academic studies must submit documentation of a professional diagnostic evaluation (not older than three years) of their disability to the Office of Student Accessibility Services located on the first floor of the Charles Parlin Student Center.

Students without documented disabilities must also contact the Office of Student Accessibility Services regarding living and dietary accommodations. All documentation provided to the Office of Student Accessibility Services will be strictly confidential. No information, except as provided by law, will be released to anyone, including parents, without the student’s written consent.

The academic and technical criteria required for acceptance into a particular program or for approval to participate in a particular activity shall be carefully studied and findings documented by the program’s administrators in order to ensure reasonable access for persons with qualified disabilities. The interest and determination of the student, as well as the feasibility of providing necessary support, shall be weighed in deciding whether or not a disabled person can meet the required academic standards of the program or the activity to which they are seeking access. Appropriate instructional support services are available for students with a documented disability.

This auxiliary assistance must be arranged through the Office of Student Accessibility Services. In situations where special assistance is not sufficient to permit the person with the disability to successfully complete the program or course requirement, course substitutions or formal program modifications may be requested through the Office of Student Accessibility Services. 

Office of Testing 

• Placement Testing (Florida PERT) - B-CU accepts and utilizes the Florida Postsecondary Educational Readiness Test (P.E.R.T.) for college mathematics placement. Students are encouraged to take the P.E.R.T. as soon as possible on campus or at an approved remote testing facility, prior to attending new student orientation and enrollment. Students may be exempted from taking the P.E.R.T. based on the B-CU’s mathematics placement requirements. P.E.R.T. results are used to advise students and their Success Coach to identify appropriate mathematics course enrollment.
• TABE - Measures the skills adults need to succeed on the job and in life. Subject areas include basic skills: Reading, Math, Language, Language Mechanics, and Vocabulary.
• The ATI-TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) Test is used as part of the admissions process by Nursing and Allied Health schools nationwide. 
• ETS® Major Field Tests are comprehensive undergraduate outcomes assessments designed to measure the critical knowledge and understanding obtained by students in a major field of study.

ADA Compliance - Individuals requiring special testing accommodations must provide documentation of a professional diagnostic evaluation to the Office of Student Resources.