Bulletin - Admission
All completed applications will be evaluated holistically by a member of the admission staff. Final decisions regarding required materials, application fees, application deadlines, and admission decisions are at the discretion of the vice president for enrollment management.
Oglethorpe University welcomes students from all areas of the United States as well as international students as candidates for admission. Oglethorpe does not discriminate on the basis of: race; color; religion; national origin; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or gender expression; marital status; pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions; age; disability or handicap; genetic information; citizenship status; service member status; or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.
The admission staff selects for admission applicants who present strong evidence of purpose, maturity, academic ability, integrity, good conduct and the potential for success at Oglethorpe. Should the admission committee question whether such qualities exist in an applicant, the student may be required to participate in an interview with a member of the admission staff.
If an applicant:
- Has been found guilty of any violation of a federal, state or municipal law, regulation or ordinance (other than minor traffic violations) including offenses for which any type of first offender status has been granted, or
- Has ever entered a plea of guilty, no contest, nolo contendere, or an Alford plea, or has otherwise accepted responsibility for the commission of a crime, or
- Is currently charged with, or has been found guilty/liable of any violation of academic honesty, honor code, or conduct regulations (be they academic or non-academic in nature) at a previously attended post-secondary institution (college or university); or
- Left a previous post-secondary institution (college or university) while there were pending charges of any violation of academic honesty, honor code, or conduct regulations (be they academic or non-academic in nature), or
- Has received any type of discharge from military service other than an honorable discharge, then the applicant’s case will be reviewed to ensure that the applicant meets the satisfactory academic performance, good character, and good conduct requirements noted above. If, after a letter of acceptance has been issued, information comes to light that shows that an applicant did not meet all admission requirements or that an applicant’s application contained omissions or misrepresentations, the applicant’s offer of admission will be automatically revoked. If this information comes to light after the student has enrolled, the applicant’s enrollment at Oglethorpe will automatically be terminated and earned credit may be revoked.
All documents gathered by the University for admission purposes concerning applicants become the property of the University upon receipt, and are not under any circumstances returned to the applicant or forwarded to another institution.
On This Page
- 4.1 - General Undergraduate Admission Information
- 4.2 - Traditional Undergraduate (TU) Admission *
- 4.3 - Adult Degree Program (ADP) Admission
- 4.4 - Admission for Non-Degree Seeking Students **
- 4.5 - Additional Information of Interest to all Undergraduate Applicants (TU, ADP and Non-Degree Seeking)
- 4.6 - Additional Admission Policies
- 4.7 - Master of Business Administration Applicants
There are two undergraduate programs for those who are intending to earn a degree at Oglethorpe. These are the Traditional Undergraduate (TU) program and the Adult Degree Program (ADP). Every degree-seeking undergraduate student is admitted into one or the other of these two programs. For undergraduate students who are not wishing to pursue a degree at Oglethorpe but still would like to take one or more classes at our University, there are also several admission options (see below).
4.1.1. Traditional Undergraduate (TU) Program
Principally designed for degree-seeking students who are not working full-time or nearly full-time. Applicants who are younger than 22 years old at the time of initial application may only apply for admission to the TU program. Applicants who are 22 years or older at the time of original application may select to be in the TU program or may select the ADP instead. For those aged 22 years or more, the TU program is recommended only for those who are working, at most, 20 hours per week and who have significant amounts of available time during mornings and afternoons to accommodate coursework; otherwise, the ADP is recommended. Students in the TU program may earn Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees. Please see especially Sec. 8. and Sec. 9. of this Bulletin for additional information.
4.1.2. Adult Degree Program (ADP)
Degree-seeking applicants must be 22 years of age or older at time of original application. Special provisions may be made for students who will be 22 by the time they begin their first semester or who turn 22 soon thereafter. The program offers coursework during the morning, afternoon and evening hours, and is therefore ideal for adults who work full-time or nearly full-time. Students in the ADP may earn Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (B.A.L.S.) or Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degrees. Please see especially Sec. 8. and Sec. 9. of this Bulletin for additional information.
4.1.3. Hammack School of Business (HSB)
The Hammack School of Business (HSB) was established in 2017 by a $50 million gift commitment from alumnus Q. William “Bill” Hammack, Jr. ’73. Opened in fall 2019, HSB includes the faculty and all programs in business and economics: accounting, business administration, economics, human resource management, international business, management, and nonprofit management.
There is no separate application for the Hammack School of Business. Admitted or currently enrolled students will automatically be admitted to HSB at the time they declare a major or minor in an HSB program.
For information regarding the Master of Business (MBA) program, see Sec. 8.6.
4.1.4. Undergraduate Admission for Non-Degree Seeking Students
Those who wish to take one or more courses at Oglethorpe but who do not intend to pursue a degree can be admitted as joint enrollment students, dual enrollment students, transient students, special status students or to audit one or more courses. Please see Sec. 4.4. for further information on the admission possibilities and requirements for these types of students.
4.1.5. Switching Between TU and ADP Programs
Students admitted into the TU program may, in time and as a result of changing circumstances, find they might be better served by being in the ADP, and vice versa. Students are cautioned that switching between these programs is never easy and is sometimes impossible. For example, TU students must complete an entirely different general education program than ADP students. Further, the number of majors and minors available to ADP students is a small fraction of those available to TU students. There are other significant differences, as well. Students are urged to consult Secs. 7., 8.1. and 8.5., and to talk with their academic advisor and personnel in enrollment services, prior to earnestly contemplating switching between these programs. Students who ultimately wish to attempt to switch between these programs may do so by filing an appeal using the process outlined in Sec. 3.9.1.
Please see Sec. 4.1.1. above for an overview of the TU program.
Please direct all inquiries to:
Office of Admission
Oglethorpe University
4484 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
(404) 364-8308
[email protected]
The TU application is available online at https://oglethorpe.edu/admission/. Oglethorpe also accepts the Common Application, available at www.commonapp.org, and the Coalition application, available at www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org.
Additional important information includes:
ACT college code: 0850
SAT and TOEFL college code: 5521
Click here to view the subsections below in more detail:
- 4.2.1. Freshmen Applicants
- 4.2.2. Transfer Applicants
- 4.2.3. Articulation Agreements (Freshmen and Transfer Applicants)
- 4.2.4. International Students (Freshman and Transfer Applicants)
- 4.2.5. English Proficiency
Please see Sec. 4.1.2. above for an overview of the ADP program.
Please direct all inquiries to:
Office of Admission
Oglethorpe University
4484 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
(404) 364-8307
[email protected]
The ADP application is available online at https://oglethorpe.edu/admission/apply/adp.
4.3.1. Deadlines
For all start sessions, adult applications are considered on a rolling admission basis. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they are completed, provided that sufficient time remains for processing and enrollment.
Adult candidates may apply for admission for the ADP fall, spring or summer semesters.
4.3.2. Admission Consideration
Candidates for adult admission must be at or near 22 years of age. Candidates should demonstrate an eligible academic record by one or more of the following measures:
- Minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0, 2.5 preferred (on a 4.0 scale) on the secondary school diploma.
- Minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0, 2.5 preferred (on a 4.0 scale) on any college coursework completed in the previous two years.
- Acceptable scores on the GED examination.
4.3.3. Application Requirements
A completed adult application includes submission of the application form, payment of the application fee, and the following:
- Official academic records:
- Official transcript from each and every college or university attended, if the applicant has completed at least 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours.
- Official secondary school transcript or official results of the GED examination, if the applicant has never enrolled in a college or university, or if the applicant has completed less than 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours.
- Application essay of at least 250 words (typed).
Supplemental materials (such as a letter of recommendation) may be required at the discretion of the admission committee before a decision will be made.
4.3.4. Enrollment Policies
All entering students must fulfill the requirements of our immunization policy (see Sec. 6.5.). Instructions are available at https://oglethorpe.edu/life/support/wellness/health-services/immunization-and-insurance-requirements/.
Please see Sec. 4.1.4. above for an overview of admission for non-degree seeking students.
Click here to view the subsections below in more detail:
- 4.4.1. Joint Enrollment
- 4.4.2. Transient
- 4.4.3. Special Status
- 4.4.4. Audit
- 4.4.5. Certificate Programs
4.5.1.
For information on Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or Cambridge International AS and A Level tests and equivalencies please see Sec. 6.8.1. of this Bulletin.
4.5.2.
For information on obtaining academic credit as a result of joint enrollment or dual enrollment; transferring credits from another college or university; credits via an articulation agreement; and credits through courses recognized by the American Council on Education (including courses appearing on the AARTS), please see Sec. 6.8.2. through Sec. 6.8.4. of this Bulletin.
4.5.3.
For information about foreign language placement and prior study of Chinese, French, German or Spanish please see Sec. 6.4.4. of this Bulletin.
4.5.4.
For information on placement into introductory levels of mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics, please see Sec. 6.4.1. through Sec. 6.4.3. of this Bulletin.
Each of the following applies to all applicants for all programs, unless noted otherwise.
4.6.1. Admission Appeal
Candidates who were denied admission into one of the undergraduate programs or as non-degree seeking students may appeal in writing for reconsideration. Candidates should notify their counselor of their desire to appeal and submit the appeal form to the vice president for enrollment. Additional evidence of academic success must be submitted with the letter of appeal. The candidate may be required to schedule a personal interview with a member of the admission staff.
4.6.2. Admission Deferral
Candidates who have been admitted to Oglethorpe may defer the offer of admission for up to two academic years. Such a student might propose to: take a gap year for travel, work or service; attend to family or medical circumstances; or otherwise pursue activities that do not include college or university enrollment.
Deferring candidates must notify the admission office in writing and complete all necessary deferral documentation by the first day of class in the semester from which they are deferring. A student may only defer twice within a two-year time frame – the initial deferral, and then an updated deferral if requested. After which, the student must reapply regardless of whether they have reached their two-year maximum. All students wishing to defer will be asked to place an enrollment deposit to hold the spot for their new start term, and refunds are at the discretion of the vice president for enrollment management.
4.6.3. Admission Reactivation
Candidates who are admitted to Oglethorpe but who never enrolled may reactivate their application if no more than two years have passed since the original offer of admission. Such a student might or might not have enrolled at another college or university in the interim.
Reactivating candidates must notify the admission office in writing and submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended before the previous application materials will be reactivated. The admission committee then re-evaluates the application based on the most recent transcript(s) and issues a new admission decision.
Application documents from applicants who were admitted but never enrolled are retained by the University for a period of two years. After two or more years have elapsed since the original offer of admission, candidates may not reactivate their materials and must begin a new application.
For information regarding admission and policies of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, please see Sec. 8.6.
