Undergraduate Admission

We accept applications on a rolling basis from the following and provide a decision within three to four weeks:

• Transfer Students
• International Students interested in a January start term

Early Decision: A binding agreement that if admitted, you will attend Saint Joseph’s. It may be a good option if Saint Joseph’s is your first-choice school, and a reasonable financial investment.

Early Action: A nonbinding application option for students with strong interest in Saint Joseph’s and a solid high school record. You will receive your admission decision in mid-December.

Regular Decision: A nonbinding application. This may be a good option if you want to ensure that the admission committee reviews your senior year grades or results for standardized tests taken after October.

We require a high school diploma or recognized equivalent for admission to Saint Joseph’s University. Standard secondary school coursework includes the following core subject areas:

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of mathematics
• 2 years of history
• 2 years of a laboratory science
• 2 years of a world language

Competitive applicants typically exceed the minimum requirements and have taken four years in all five core subject areas.

Submit these materials in time for us to receive them by the application deadline that you've chosen. 

• Online Application: Common Application or Saint Joseph’s Application
• High School Transcript(s) sent directly from your secondary school to Saint Joseph’s University
• Letter of Academic Recommendation from a teacher or counselor, sent to us directly from your secondary school or the recommender
• Personal Essay using prompts from the Common Application
• Early Decision Agreement, if applicable, signed by you, a parent/guardian, and a school counselor
• Application Fee: $50, nonrefundable

Homeschool Applicants

• Two letters of recommendation from outside your immediate family
  • One letter assessing your academic ability
  • One letter attesting to after-school involvement
• Homeschool transcript
• Standardized test scores (ACT or SAT)
• Course outlines or syllabi
• Homeschool Supplement Form to be completed by the adult educator or homeschool program

GED Applicants 

We expect a competitive applicant to achieve a battery average of 550 in the GEDs, which is the equivalent of having been in the top 25% of your high school class. In addition, we expect you to have achieved a minimum score of 520 on each section. Along with test scores, we review your essay, activities and recommendations holistically in order to make sure that you are a good academic match for Saint Joseph’s University.

Submit these if you think they will strengthen your application.

• ACT or SAT scores may be sent directly from the testing agency or self-reported on your application or uploaded to your SJU Admission Account. SAT scores will be super-scored; we’ll take your highest composite ACT score.
• Resume or supplementary documents uploaded to your SJU Admission Account.

You can chose to meet one-on-one with a representative from the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Interviews are not required and are non-evaluative. You will not be at a disadvantage if you are unable to interview during the application process.

Learn more about the academic and geographic profile of our freshman class.

View the Profile

Submit these materials, plus any optional materials, in time for us to receive them by the application deadline for which you are applying.

• Online Application: Common Application or Saint Joseph’s Application
• High School Transcript: Submit official high school transcripts or copies certified by your high school or EducationUSA Center. If transcripts are in a language other than English, please submit a notarized translation. We will not accept scanned or emailed copies.
• Letter of Academic Recommendation: One letter from either a teacher or counselor. The letter must be sent directly from your high school or the recommender.
• Proof of English Language Proficiency
• Application Fee: $50, nonrefundable

Submit these supplemental materials, plus any optional materials, in time for us to receive them by the application deadline for which you are applying.

If transcripts are in a language other than English, please submit a notarized translation. We will not accept scanned or emailed copies.

• High School Transcripts: Official high school transcripts or copies certified by your high school or EducationUSA Center. Provide any national testing results, diplomas and/or certificates (e.g. GSCE, IGSCE, A Levels, CAPE, WAEC).
• University Transcripts: Submit official community college or university transcripts from all previously attended institutions. Provide course syllabi or descriptions for every university course.
• Credential Evaluation: Transcripts from institutions outside the United States must undergo a course-by-course evaluation conducted by an independent credential evaluation agency. These agencies must be members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Students attending U.S. schools abroad or international schools following a U.S. curriculum abroad do not need to submit a credential evaluation; other exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.
• Transfer Recommendation Form completed by your current or most recent community college or university.
• Proof of English Language Proficiency

• ACT or SAT Scores may be sent directly from the testing agency or self-reported on your application or uploaded to your SJU Admission Account. SAT scores will be super-scored; we'll take your highest composite ACT score.
• Resume uploaded to your SJU Admission Account

You can choose to meet one-on-one with a representative from the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Interviews are not required, and you will not be at a disadvantage if you are unable to interview during the application process.

Conditional admission is available for international applicants who may be eligible for admission to Saint Joseph’s University but have not fulfilled the English Language Proficiency requirement.

As an academically bound student, you can apply for conditional admission and take English language coursework at our ELS Language Center on the Saint Joseph’s University campus. You must successfully complete Level 112 to be considered for full admission. Completion of ELS coursework through Level 112 will satisfy Saint Joseph’s University’s proof of English proficiency requirement.

Application Materials

Follow the requirements for International Freshman or International Transfer applicants, above, but submit the following after you complete ELS Level 112.

• Letter of Recommendation: must come from ELS Center Director or advisor
• Proof of English Language Proficiency: ELS Level 112 certificate must be sent from ELS Center Director or advisor.

You must submit proof of English Language Proficiency if you are:

• A High School Applicant who attended all or part of high school in a country where English is not the official language.
• A Transfer Applicant who attended university in a country where English is not the official language, or you completed less than 24 credits at a university where English is the official language.

Proof of English Language Proficiency can be demonstrated with one of the following tests or successful completion of ELS Level 112.

• TOEFL: 79 iBT with consistent subsection scores
• IELTS: 6.5 with consistent subsection scores
• SAT: 500 evidence-based reading and writing score
• ACT: 19 composite score with consistent subsection scores

We accept self-reported ACT or SAT scores. We do not accept self-reported TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores.

See Conditional Admission, above.

Saint Joseph’s honors transfer of some credits earned at other universities or institutions, or through AP programs. 

AP credits

Students who have been enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school may be eligible for some college credits if they participate in the advanced placement testing program offered by the College Entrance Examination Board. Those who take the Advanced Placement examinations and earn scores of 4 or 5 (on a 1-to-5 scale) normally are granted college credits and/or placement. Decisions on all advanced placement credits are made by the academic deans in consultation with the department chairs after a careful review of the student’s exam.

Incoming freshmen receive information over the summer from the registrar indicating what credit (if any) they will be awarded and which SJU course is the equivalent of their exam. Students are reminded to have an official grade report transcript of their AP exam scores sent to SJU.

The advising center can provide more information on AP Credits.

Transfer credits

Incoming freshmen and students who receive a high school diploma in the same year as they enroll may transfer a maximum of 18 earned college level credits or 6 courses achieved in the areas of Dual Enrollment, Diocesan Scholars, College Credit, Online, AP, and/or IB. In order for credit to be awarded, Saint Joseph’s requires the course must meet the following criteria:

• Taken through a regionally accredited college or university
• Earned 3.00 credit hours or higher and the grade of C or better
• Taught by a member of the college faculty
• The course must have been open to enrollment by and graded in direct competition with regularly matriculated students attending that college
• The course cannot supplement high school graduation requirements

Final determination of transferable college-level credit is awarded by the deans' offices.

Please note: Students must submit all materials by the end of the academic year of initial enrollment in order for the course to be applied to the SJU Degree. All incoming freshmen students must complete the Transfer Credit Request Form. All students must also submit an official college transcript.

If you have further questions regarding degree credit, the Transfer Undergraduate Admissions Counselors are your resource to help you understand your transfer credits.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Saint Joseph’s grants college credit for classes taken through a recognized International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Saint Joseph’s University will award credit for up to three successfully completed higher-level classes in which a score of 5 or higher is achieved on the appropriate IB examination. No credit will be awarded for subsidiary subject examinations. Saint Joseph’s University grants college credit for A level exams on a case-by-case basis. Students are encouraged to submit all exam results prior to start of their academic term for review.

Saint Joseph’s University will not grant credit for both Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate credits.

Please review our chart for IB transfer credits here.

Transferring from a community college?

Saint Joseph’s has partnered with community colleges in order to make the experience for transfer students more seamless and efficient. These partnerships allow students to acquire an associate degree and then transfer to SJU in the fall of their junior year and complete a bachelor’s degree. 

Final evaluation of transfer credit is determined by the College of Arts and Sciences' Office of the Dean, the Haub School of Business' Office of the Dean, and the School of Health Studies and Education's Office of the Dean. See our transfer articulation agreements.

• Common Application or Saint Joseph's Application

• Official college transcripts from each institution attended

• Official final high school transcript with date of graduation

• Transfer Registrar’s Report — must be sent directly from the most recent college or university attended.

• $50 application fee, nonrefundable

• Course syllabi can be uploaded to your SJU Admission Account

We may require additional materials after reviewing your application.

First Semester Transfer Students

In addition to the materials listed above, please upload the Transfer Mid-Term Report form.