Undergraduate Admission - General Requirements

Requirements for admission to Columbus State University are designed to admit and place students in a manner that will ensure them a reasonable chance of success in college. The Office of Admissions reviews all examination scores and academic records. Applicants are notified if an interview is required. A student is considered for admission without regard to race, creed, sex, marital status, age, or national origin. Application forms may be obtained online at https://columbusstate.edu/admissions.

When more applicants are eligible for admission than can be accommodated in programs with limited instructional space, such as nursing, applicants with higher probabilities of success are given preference. In addition, admission to some degrees or programs, such as Theatre, Music, or Teacher Education is based on criteria beyond those stipulated for entrance to the University. Refer to the catalog section covering undergraduate academic programs for admission to specific programs.

Acceptance or denial of admission for each application is determined by the Office of Admissions, and is subject to the right of appeal as provided in the bylaws of the University and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

Every applicant must submit a formal application to the Admissions Office along with a $40, non-refundable, application fee. Georgia residents 62 years of age or older and soldiers serving on active duty are exempt from this fee. Documentation to support the exemption will be required when the application is submitted. All applicants, with the exception of foreign nationals, must provide Social Security numbers (social security numbers are required for institutional purposes only) that can be obtained at any Social Security office. As required under the University System of Georgia policy, a completed certificate of immunization must be received before enrollment. Forms are available online at https://columbusstate.edu/admissions/forms.

Admission credentials for priority processing must be filed on or before May 1st for fall semester, November 1st for spring semester, and March 15th for summer term. Official consideration is given to an applicant only after all credentials are received. Ordinarily, application processing requires three to four weeks. Applicants who wish to defer their date of entry to the University should submit an Admission Application Change Form found at https://columbusstate.edu/admissions/forms. After a year has elapsed, a new application and all official transcripts must be resubmitted if the transcript is not already on file.

Students furnishing Columbus State University with false, incomplete, or misleading information relating to their application or academic record will be subject to denial or dismissal.

Entrance Examinations

• An applicant who has fewer than 30 semester hours of transferable credit from a regionally accredited college or university must submit either an official SAT score report produced by the College Board or an official ACT report produced by the American College Testing Program. An official score report is secured by placing the Columbus State University code (5123 for the SAT and 0807 for the ACT) on the appropriate section of the SAT/ACT registration form.
• Applicants whose high school class graduated five or more years ago, as well as applicants seeking admission to the certificate program, are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, but may have to take compass exams in English, Reading and mathematics. Results of these scores will be used to determine admission to the institution. These exams are administered by the Columbus State University Testing Center, (706) 507-8020. The Admissions Office must approve a student to take these exams before the student can schedule an appointment with the Testing Center.

Official Transcripts

• Official transcripts of previous academic work are required. Applicants should request that the registrar of each college and university attended mail transcripts to the Admissions Office, Columbus State University. Applicants seeking admission as entering freshmen and transfer students with fewer than 30 semester hours of transferable credit (excluding non-traditional sources) must also request an official transcript from their high school verifying the date of graduation and the type of diploma awarded. Transcripts received from other institutions become the property of Columbus State University and will not be released to the student or a third party
• General Educational Development (GED) A General Educational Development (GED) test certificate will be considered in lieu of a high school transcript for non-traditional applicants. Applicants whose high school class graduated fewer than five years prior to the semester of enrollment must meet additional requirements (such as completion of College Prep or Required High School Curriculum courses) as a traditional entering freshman.