First-time, Domestic College Students

Students who have had no previous college experience, after high school graduation, will be considered for admission to Ball State University after the Office of Admissions has received the following:

1. An application for admission. Applicants submit a completed application for admission before March 1 for priority consideration for fall semester, before December 1 for spring semester, and before April 1 for summer semester. Applications submitted later than the priority deadlines will be considered as space is available. Applications may be submitted up to one year in advance.
   
   Students seeking admission to academic programs in dance, interior design, music, theatre, or the first-year program in the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) will be required to provide additional information within the online application to be considered for admission to those programs. Students will also be required to provide additional information within the admission application to be considered for admission to the Honors College. For information about the supplemental application process, students should contact the Office of Admissions. Students are strongly encouraged to apply early, as a limited number of students are admitted to these programs.

2. A $60 nonrefundable application fee. Applicants must pay a $60 application fee before they will be considered for admission. The fee can be paid by a credit card or electronic check process included in the online application for admission. In cases of financial difficulties or other approved reasons, a request can be made to have the application fee waived. Supporting documentation must be sent to Ball State University Office of Admissions documenting the reason for the fee waiver request on behalf of the applicant.
3. Secondary school record (official transcript) or GED/TASC/HiSET certificate. Students should ask their high schools to send official copies of the secondary transcripts to the Office of Admissions, including lists of courses in progress. Students who have been home schooled or who have attended unaccredited high schools may be required to submit an official General Education Development (GED) and/or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) and/or High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) certificate. Transcripts or GED/TASC/HiSET certificates must show that applicants meet the standards for certification as secondary school graduates. If schools send partial transcripts, students must make certain that complete official transcripts showing the specific date of graduation are submitted as soon as possible after graduation. Failure to do so will result in a registration barrier and university hold placed on the student’s record. Students who have not produced certification of high school graduation are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. If admitted, the quality of students’ academic achievement must remain the same or improve, or the admission classification may be changed or admission rescinded.
4. Standardized test scores. Ball State is a test optional institution. Applicants may elect to provide the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or American College Testing Assessment (ACT) score. The test scores should be sent directly to the university. Some students 21 years old or older may also be required to take the SAT or ACT. For additional information, visit bsu.edu/admissions.  
5. Dual credit/college credit. Students taking college-level courses at an accredited institution while enrolled in high school must submit official college transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions in order to receive credit for completed courses. For advanced standing information, please see Advanced Standing section.
6. Advanced Standing Credit. Official score reports must be sent to Ball State University to earn credit for these courses. Additional information on how these scores transfer into Ball State can be found in the Advanced Standing section or here.  
7. College Credits post High School graduation. Ball State follows the IPEDS definition.  First-time students are those who have not attended college, with the exception of summer courses taken after they graduate (less than 12 hours), or dual credit courses taken before they graduate.  Transfer students have attended college after high school graduation (not including the summer immediately after graduation).  Learn more in the Advanced Standing section or here.