Office of Admissions
Admission Procedures
A completed admission file includes an application for admission, official high school transcripts from the last high school attended, official ACT or SAT scores, and official college transcripts from all colleges attended. Admission to Finlandia University is considered after the above-listed documents have been received. Students applying for admission are considered without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. Admission to the university does not constitute automatic admission to academic programs with requirements beyond those for general admission and does not imply automatic continuation in future semesters. The university reserves the right to refuse admission or continuation to any incoming, transfer, or returning student. Any student who intentionally withholds relevant information, or who falsifies such information, may be required to withdraw or may be dismissed from the university. All admission files will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
Application Deadlines
Admission applications are accepted at any time before the last drop/add day of each semester and acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis. Some programs, however, have specific application deadlines. Priority dates, listed in the Financial Aid section of this catalog, are intended to assure students full consideration for financial aid.
General Requirements
Qualifications for Admission
Admission to the university for the 2020-2021 academic year requires graduation from a high school program with at least a 2.25 cumulative grade point average (GPA) as reported on the final official high school transcript or a 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) as reported on college transcripts for transfer students. Admission will also be granted to students who have earned a General Education Development (GED) certificate with a score of at least 521 (prior to 2003) or 521 (2003 and beyond). ACT or SAT scores may also be provided in the application for consideration of admission.
Applicants whose overall high school GPA is lower than 2.25 must submit to the Admissions Committee an essay or complete an interview with the Admissions Committee for admission to the university. The Admissions Committee will review the file, along with the content of the essay or interview, for acceptance or denial. Students accepted with below a high school GPA of 2.25 are limited to registering for 14 credits in the first semester of enrollment at Finlandia University. Any student admitted with below a 2.25 high school GPA who fails to meet the required satisfactory academic standing will be placed on academic warning for the following semester and limited to 14 credits. All other Finlandia University academic standards will apply.
Please note that certain degree programs have special admission requirements. Admission to the University does not mean automatic admission to all degree programs.
Home-Schooled Students
For admissions consideration, home-schooled students must provide official copies of all work completed and ACT or SAT scores. The Office of Admissions will work with each family individually to evaluate the home-schooled curriculum.
Test Optional
In an effort to make higher education accessible to all who wish to pursue a degree, Finlandia University adopted a test-optional admissions policy. Research shows that previous academic performance is the best indicator of college readiness. Research also shows that test-optional policies provide opportunities for institutions to build a more diverse student body, as standardized tests often fail to demonstrate the academic capabilities of some populations of students, especially minority and low-income students.
Evidence Used for Test-Optional Admissions Decisions:
- High school or college GPA
- Rigor of previous coursework
Students may still choose to submit an SAT/ACT score as part of their application process, should they feel the standardized test scores provide a more holistic view of their academic ability. Students who choose to apply test-optional cannot later submit test scores for consideration of admission.
Students who choose to apply test-optional will be considered for merit scholarships the same as those who apply with test scores.
Students Unable to Apply Test Optional:
Homeschooled Students: Applicants who are homeschooled are required to submit official ACT or SAT scores.
International Students: International applicants who are non-native English speakers must submit an acceptable score on either the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) to be admitted into a degree program. If an international student has spent the majority of the most recent four years of school in a setting where English is the primary language of instruction in all academic subjects (excluding foreign language and ESL/ELL courses), they are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement.
Early Admission
The university will admit an academically qualified student upon completion of their junior year of high school. Admittance is based on their high school transcripts showing the completion of their junior year of high school and that acceptance is pending their final official transcripts upon graduation. The admissions policies for regular students apply to early admission students.
Notification of Acceptance
Students must submit all required documents to complete their admission file. When all documents have been received and evaluated, students will be notified of university acceptance or non-acceptance by the Office of Admissions. Following notification of university acceptance, students will receive information about course registration, housing, check-in, and further information regarding application to a specific program.
Tuition Deposit
A non-refundable, non-transferable tuition deposit of $200 is required of all accepted students who intend to enroll. The tuition deposit should be paid as soon as possible after the notification of acceptance is received, as residence hall assignments are made, scholarship and grant offers are confirmed, and course schedules are completed only after the deposit is received.
Students with Less Than 24 Earned College Credits
Incoming students with 24 or fewer earned college credits are required to take the one-credit SISU Seminar, UNS 115, and attend orientation activities the week prior to the start of classes.
Dual Enrollment
Eligible high school students may enroll in university courses as dual enrollment students while in their junior and senior year of high school. Registration forms are available from high school guidance counselors and the Office of Admissions. High school guidance counselors are responsible for determining student and course eligibility for school district state funding. The Admissions Committee determines eligibility for home-schooled students interested in dual enrollment at the university. Dual-enrolled students are responsible for all tuition and registration fees not covered by school district state funding.
Guest Students
Students in good standing at another regionally accredited college or university may enroll at Finlandia University as guest students. Guest student applications are available from the university registrar at most colleges and universities in Michigan. Out-of-state students should contact the Finlandia University Office of Admissions for a guest student application.
Audit Students
Only certain courses can be audited. Courses in math, ESL, and music cannot be audited. If a student audits a course in the areas of Art & Design, Nursing, or Physical Therapist Assistant, additional fees will apply. Audit students do not receive course grades or university credit. Students interested in auditing a course must apply through the Office of Admissions. Audit students are permitted to enroll in courses only after all degree-seeking students have registered.
Transfer Students
Regular Admission
Provided they meet all high school admissions requirements, regular admission for the 2019-20 academic year is granted to transfer students who have successfully completed 6 or more credits at another institution of higher education with a GPA of 2.00 or higher. A satisfactory review of a transfer student’s academic history is required for regular admission. Transfer students must submit official high school transcripts, ACT or SAT scores, and official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
Provisional Admission-Transfer Students
Provisional admission may be granted to transfer students with a transfer GPA below a 2.0, pending an academic history review by the Admissions Committee. Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirements must submit to the Admissions Committee an explanation of at least 250 words about why the applicant feels he or she should be considered for admission to the university. The Admissions Committee will review student files for acceptance or denial. Transfer students admitted on provisional admission are limited to registering for 14 credits in the first semester of enrollment at Finlandia University. Any student admitted on provisional admission who fails to meet the required satisfactory academic standing will be placed on academic probation for the following semester of attendance and limited to 14 credits. All other Finlandia University academic standards will apply.
Transferring Credit to Finlandia University
The Finlandia University policies for acceptance of academic credit from other colleges and universities, and from Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate Program (IB), Ontario Academic Credits (OAC), Institutional Challenge Examination (ICE), and Experiential Learning are listed in the Academic Information section of this publication. Finlandia University course equivalencies for many Michigan colleges and universities can be found at www.finlandia.edu/transfer-guides and through the Michigan Transfer Network website at www.michigantransfernetwork.org. Finlandia also has articulation agreements with various Michigan colleges and universities. Contact the Office of Admissions for more information.
Former Finlandia University Students
Applications for readmission to the university must be approved by the University Registrar, Director of Financial Aid, and Director of Student Accounts. The Office of Admissions initiates this process, and before any action is taken Admissions must receive official transcripts from all colleges attended since leaving Finlandia University. Students who have been academically suspended and desire to return to Finlandia University (after an absence of at least one semester) must apply through the Office of Admissions and file a formal appeal form. Students should not expect automatic readmission after serving a period of suspension. Academically dismissed students who wish to return to Finlandia University must apply through the Office of Admissions. Students who have been academically dismissed will not be re-admitted to Finlandia University until they earn grades of “C” or better in at least 12 credits of college-level courses at another college or university. Socially dismissed students must submit documentation showing compliance with re-admission directives.
International Students
International students may enroll directly in an undergraduate degree program, or enroll in the university’s English as a Second Language (ESL) certificate program for a semester, a year, or longer. In addition to meeting the Regular Admission requirements, entrance to undergraduate programs for international students requires one of the following official scores for admission: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, STEP (Japan only), or SAT 1.
- TOEFL: minimum 550 PBT, 213 CBT, 79 iBT (paper-based, computer-based, Internet-based), www.ets.org/toefl.
- IELTS: minimum 6.0 overall band score (minimum 6.0 writing and speaking portion), www.ielts.org. (IELTS is jointly operated by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.)
- PTE: minimum score of 53, www.pearsonpte.com/PTEAcademic. (NOTE: Score reports available in 5 days.)
- STEP (Japan only): “STEP Pre-1st” allows for admission to any undergraduate degree program; “STEP 2A” allows for conditional admission to a degree program (ESL or English language program required).
- SAT 1: minimum of 420 writing, 500 critical reading, www.collegeboard.com. (Score report must be sent directly from the testing service.)
Degree-seeking students who require additional English language support may enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) certificate program described below. All international students must be enrolled full-time. A completed international admissions file includes: 1) international application for admission; 2) personal statement; 3) certified and sealed official transcripts in English from all institutions where previous academic work has been completed (high school or secondary school, college or university); 4) completed Finlandia University affidavit of financial support form; 5) an original bank statement showing support in U.S. funds for one academic year; and 6) a copy of the applicant’s passport photo page.
After admission is granted to an international student, in order to issue an I-20 immigration form the university must receive a completed Finlandia University health form, a doctor’s statement testifying to the good health of the student, and a record of inoculations. The policies for transferring credit from universities outside of the United States and Canada are listed in the Academic Information section of this publication. An international application checklist and the required forms are available at finlandia.edu/admissions/international-students/.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
Nursing Program (B.S.N.)
Freshmen BSN students are enrolled as pre-nursing students and are eligible for entry into the Nursing major upon successful completion of the pre-nursing curriculum. Students may enter pre-nursing at any time. Entry into the Nursing major occurs in the fall semester of each academic year. Admission to the Nursing major is limited.
Eligibility requirements for entry into the pre-nursing freshman curriculum include the completion of one full year of high school courses in algebra, chemistry, and biology (and/or equivalents). High school science courses require completion with a minimum grade of “B-”, math placement in MAT 140 Intermediate Algebra is based on University requirements, and a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0-point scale is required. College-level course equivalents require a minimum grade of “C” or better with the exception of Anatomy and Physiology I and II and MAT 140 Intermediate Algebra which require a minimum grade of B- or better, and a minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.70. Admission to the pre-nursing curriculum does not guarantee admission to the nursing major. For information regarding progression from pre-nursing to the nursing major, please refer to the Nursing Program requirements located under the College of Health Sciences.
Transfer students who wish to directly enter the Nursing major must be in good academic standing with a minimum earned GPA of 2.7 on all work attempted and must satisfy the Finlandia University pre-nursing curriculum. Transfer students enter on a space-available basis and should plan on at least three years to complete the Nursing major. Interested students are encouraged to review the suggested course sequence and detailed program requirements in this publication. Transfer students may direct inquiries to the Nursing Department.
RN – BSN Completion Program (B.S.N)
Students seeking admission in the RN-BSN program must:
- Be eligible for admission to the University and clinical component of the nursing program.
- Have graduated from a state-approved nursing (RN) program.
- Possess an active and unencumbered state license to practice nursing at the RN level.
- Have completed all transferred Gen Ed and Pre-Nursing courses with a minimum grade of “C”.
- Have attained and maintained a college GPA of 2.7 or above.
- Have completed basic science and math requirements including 8 credits of Anatomy and Physiology, 4 credits of Microbiology or combination of human biology coursework, and 4 credits of Intermediate Algebra; or their equivalents with the required grade expectations.
Physical Therapist Assistant Program A.A.S. (PTA)
Freshmen PTA students are enrolled as pre-PTA students and are eligible for entry into the PTA major upon successful completion of the PTA admission requirements. Students may enter the pre-PTA curriculum at any time. Entry into the PTA major occurs in the fall semester of each academic year. Admission to the PTA major is limited.
To be eligible for admission to PTA Major, the student must;
- Complete a PTA Program Application for admission to the Finlandia University PTA Program;
- Have earned a minimum of a 2.7 (B-) in the following courses: BIO 171 and BIO 172 or equivalent within the past five years and must achieve at least a C (2.0) in any individual required course and must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in the required general education core course work. Required courses may be repeated only once, including any combination of Finlandia University courses and transfer courses. All prerequisite course work must be completed before the final year;
- Complete 12 documented hours of clinical observation in more than one physical therapy setting prior to the start of the technical phase coursework;
- Participate in an interview with the PTA faculty in person or via telecommunications.
The PTA Department strives to admit students who can provide evidence of adequate potential to succeed in the PTA program. Students are selected on a competitive basis based on their GPA and interview content. The PTA faculty reserves the right to use professional judgment when selecting students for admission. Although GPA is strongly considered, other factors such as communication, interpersonal skills, and critical thinking ability are considered. Qualified students are considered for admission to the PTA program regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin or disability that does not interfere with the performance of physical therapy.
Students who have attended a college elsewhere may apply as transfer students. Qualified students that meet the PTA admission requirements and meet the application deadline will be considered. Although preference is given to Finlandia students, enrollment is not limited to such applicants. Qualified students that meet the PTA admission requirements and apply after the deadline will be accepted on a space-available basis. Transfer students must be in good standing and eligible to return to all institutions previously attended and have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better (on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent) on all work attempted. Transfer students must satisfy the pre-PTA curriculum in order to transfer directly into the PTA Major.
For more detailed PTA admissions information please see the PTA Student Handbook
Admissions Staff
