Admission to Bluffton University is gained through the admissions office, which acts on behalf of the faculty. Admission may be granted to first-year students, transfers, special and transient students and, on a limited basis, to current high school students through the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program and Dual Enrollment Program.
All candidates for admission to the university upon applying do agree to uphold the standards of campus conduct.
University statement of nondiscrimination
Bluffton University admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, regardless of gender or handicap, to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the institution. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender or handicap in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.
Application materials are available from the Bluffton University admissions office and on the university Web site. Application should be made late in the junior year or early in the senior year. The deadline for submitting the application is two weeks prior to the intended date of enrollment (semesters begin in August and January).
After obtaining the necessary forms, the applicant should do the following:
Because Bluffton University operates on a rolling admissions plan, the admissions office will make the decision on admission and notify the applicant soon after receiving all of the above items. Students are encouraged to apply early.
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Following graduation from high school, final transcripts must be sent to Bluffton prior to actual enrollment.
When accepted, a student will be sent a medical history form. This form must be completed and returned to the university prior to enrollment.
Conditional admittance (Discovery Program)
The Discovery Program is designed to support students of academic promise who do not meet Bluffton University's admission requirements. The Discovery Program includes a semester of carefully planned classes to help students develop the skills necessary for post-secondary academic success. Students admitted to the university through this program must enroll in the Discovery Program Foundation Courses. In addition, students in the Discovery Program must enroll in LAS 050 (Applied College Skills) and complete it with at least a C- in order to continue at Bluffton University. Other expectations of students in this program will be outlined in the acceptance letter.
Home school policy
Bluffton University welcomes applications from home school students. In addition to standardized test scores such as the ACT or SAT and a transcript of courses, a personal interview is required. A reading list and writing sample also may be requested. Contact the admissions office for more information.
Bluffton University participates in the Post-Secondary Enrollment Option of Ohio Bill 140. This program allows a limited number of high school students to enroll in college courses and receive both college and high school credit. Bluffton University also partners with a selected number of high schools through a Dual Enrollment program. Contact the admissions office for details on application and admission requirements for the Post-Secondary Enrollment Option and Dual Enrollment programs.
Advanced placement
The advanced placement program of the college entrance examination board was developed to give recognition to applicants who take college-level courses in secondary school. Thus, some students may be excused from certain college requirements by satisfactorily passing the advanced placement examination in American history, European history, biology, chemistry and mathematics.
Credit and waiver will be issued to applicants who earn a score of four or five on any of these examinations. Credit and/or waiver may be issued for a score of three upon recommendation of the department concerned and/or the dean of academic affairs.
In determining eligibility for admission, Bluffton will carefully consider whether each applicant individually has the proper background for study at a liberal arts university.
Criteria will include high school academic standing, the subjects taken, participation in co-curricular activities, moral character, purpose for college study, counselor and teacher recommendations, and ACT/SAT scores. Requirements for admission to the first-year class are the following:
Three-year program
A student who plans to transfer to Bluffton University from another college or university must submit the following:
Full credit will normally be given for all courses completed at any other regionally accredited college or university in which the applicant has earned a grade of C- or better and which are comparable in content to courses offered at Bluffton.
Admission preference is given to applicants who have maintained a C average or better in all college-level work. Students who have been dismissed from another college or university for academic or disciplinary reasons are not eligible for admission to Bluffton University until they are also eligible for admission to the previous institution. Applicants must have met all financial obligations at the former institution.
An accepted applicant who has graduated from an accredited two-year institution of higher learning with an associate in arts degree will be admitted with first-term junior standing.
Transfer Articulation Agreements
Bluffton University has articulation agreements with Clark State Community College, Edison Community College, Hesston College, Northwest State Community College, Owens Community College, James A. Rhodes State College, Rosedale Bible College and Terra Community College whereby students with associate degrees in appropriate majors can finish baccalaureate degrees. Students will normally need the equivalent of two additional years to complete the bachelor of arts degree. Hesston College students with associate of arts or associate of science degrees are assured junior standing and have met all lower level general education requirements. Rosedale Bible College students with an associate of arts degree are assured of meeting all lower level general education requirements with the exception of science. All students interested in transferring are encouraged to contact the transfer coordinator in the admissions office for a full transfer evaluation.
Individuals who are not candidates for a degree may be admitted as special or unclassified students and allowed to take courses on a part-time or full-time basis. Applications may be requested from the admissions office.
Bluffton University students who have not been enrolled for one or more registration periods must apply for readmission to the university. The application form is available from the admissions office. A new medical form is required of students not enrolled for more than two years prior to readmission.
The factors considered in readmission include those used in the initial admission decision. The decision will be made by the admissions office, which may consult the administrative officers and/or the Admissions and Scholarship Committee in cases where readmission is questionable.
Students who have outstanding bills will not be readmitted until those obligations are met.
A student who plans to apply as an undergraduate international student to Bluffton University must submit the following:
1. Application for admission
2. Results of the TOEFL or SAT (critical reading and math only)
3. Transcripts and/or national exam results
4. Declaration of finances form
5. Financial aid application
6. Transfer recommendation form (for international transfer students)
7. Teacher recommendation
On occasion, international students may be asked to submit additional information to establish English proficiency (i.e. writing sample).
June 2011
