Admissions

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Admission as a First Year Student

Admission

An individual is eligible for admission to the University as a first-year student under a test-optional system if they have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher (i.e., on a non-weighted 4.0 scale) from an accredited high school. Students may be required to submit ACT/SAT scores to be considered for early admission into various undergraduate and graduate health science programs, to be considered for specific scholarships, and in support of NAIA athletic eligibility. 

Students who enjoy the greatest success at the University have generally completed a college preparatory curriculum while in high school, which typically includes a minimum of 4 years of English, 3 years of mathematics, 3 years of science, 3 years of social studies, and 3 years of a single foreign language. 

Conditional Admission

Each year, the University admits a limited number of students who may not meet all the admission requirements, but whom, it believes, have the potential to succeed at the University. A student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be considered for conditional admission (on a non-weighted 4.0 scale).

Conditions of admission for these students may include, but are not necessarily limited to, a limit on the number of hours a student can take in their first term of enrollment, participation in a summer bridge or transition program, enrollment in peer academic coaching, or participation in a learning skills class. Advising and support services are provided through the Academic and Career Planning Center and Academic Coaching & Enrichment (ACE) office.

Petition Process

Applicants who do not meet the minimum criteria for either category above may petition the Admissions Standards Committee for admission to the University. More information on this process is available from each campus Admissions Office. 

Admission as a Transfer Student

Admission

  1. The University welcomes transfer students for admission. The University considers a student a transfer student if they have attended another University on either a full-or-part-time basis prior to enrolling at the University. High school students who have taken dual-enrollment courses as high school students are not considered transfer students.
  2. Transfer students who have completed 12 credit hours or more of college coursework will be evaluated based on their college GPA. Transfer students who have maintained a college GPA or 2.0 or higher are eligible for admission.
  3. Transfer students who have completed fewer than 12 credit hours of college coursework will be evaluated based on their high school transcript.
  4. Transfer students who do not meet either of the above criteria may be considered for conditional admission.

Admission as a Home School Student

Prospective students who do not have a high school diploma are required to receive a passing score on the General Education Development Test (GED).

Admission with a General Educational Development (GED) Test Certificate

Prospective students who do not have a high school diploma are required to receive a passing score on the General Education Development Test (GED.) There is no numeric score for GED. The University, therefore, requires a score of “Pass.”

Applying as a Non-Degree Seeking Student

Individuals may be admitted as a non-degree seeking student by completing a St. Ambrose application. Non-degree seeking students are limited to a maximum of 12 credit hours each semester and are not eligible for any financial aid. If a student is taking any courses with pre-requisites, they are required to provide official transcripts or have an instructor’s permission. Non-degree seeking students may later apply to change their status to degree-seeking through the Office of the Registrar. Twelve hours of non-degree seeking work may be applied toward a degree. 

Applying as a Post-Degree Seeking Student

Students who have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution may enroll as a post-degree seeking student to complete a second bachelor's degree. The student will be admitted after completing an application and providing all transcripts of previous undergraduate coursework. Financial aid is limited to loans. 

Applying as a Re-Admit Student

Students who have left the University in good academic standing, but who have not applied for a leave of absence may be readmitted to the University by reapplying for admission. Students who attend other colleges or universities after leaving the University are required to provide transcripts from all schools they have attended during their absence from the University. A student’s cumulative GPA from all schools they have attended since leaving the University should be 2.0 or higher. Students who have left the University and who were not in good academic standing at the time of their departure may be re-admitted in accordance with the University’s guidance on academic standing and academic notice. Student applications for readmission are subject to review by the Dean of Students' office. Therefore, applications for readmission are not guaranteed approval.   

Application Procedures

To be considered for admission as an entering undergraduate, students must:

  1. Complete the Application for Admissions to the appropriate campus.  
    1. St. Ambrose Campus: https://admit.sau.edu/portal/apply
    2. Mount Mercy Campus: https://admissions.mtmercy.edu/portal/apply
  2. Students who have no prior college work must have an official transcript of all high school work sent directly to the Office of Admissions at the appropriate campus.
  3. Students who have attended another college or university must have an official transcript of all work attempted at each institution sent directly to the Office of Admissions at the appropriate campus. Applicants who have completed less than 12 semester hours of credit also should have an official transcript of their high school records sent directly to the Office of Admissions at the approppriate campus.
  4. Submit a copy of test results from either the ACT or the SAT. High school students are encouraged to take either the ACT or the SAT examinations early in their senior year. (Individuals over the age of 22 years are exempt from this requirement).
  5. Submit a properly completed health form including health history, a physical examination by a physician, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant or any other primary health care provider and immunization history to the Health Services Office. Transfer students may forward a copy of the health form they originally submitted to their previous institution. This information is confidential and available only to the director of the Health Services. No information will be released without written consent of the student.

International Students

Admission Policy

The University welcomes applications from qualified international students. International applicants must submit a completed application for admission; official secondary school transcripts and post-secondary transcripts, if applicable; a copy of a diploma or graduation certificate, if issued separately from the transcript; a scanned color copy of the biographical page of their passport; a Declaration of Finances and proof of financial support; Form I-94 documentation, if applicable; and official results from an approved English proficiency examination that meets the admission requirements outlined below. Additional documentation may be required by individual academic programs or to verify academic credentials.

First-year applicants must demonstrate a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, and transfer applicants a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, on a 4.0 scale. International GPA equivalents are accepted. International academic credentials are evaluated using AacraoEdge, or another recognized credential evaluation service, to determine U.S. grade point average (GPA) equivalencies. International student-athletes must also submit an InCred credential evaluation as required by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

International transfer applicants must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Applicants who have completed fewer than 12 semester hours of transferable college credit must also submit an official high school transcript. Transfer credit is evaluated after admission and awarded in accordance with the University's transfer credit policies.

International students admitted to the University must maintain valid immigration status throughout their enrollment. Admission to the University does not guarantee the issuance of a student visa.

Admission to the University is separate from admission to individual academic programs. Students must meet any additional requirements established by their intended program of study, which may include supplemental materials, interviews, auditions, portfolios, prerequisite coursework, or other program-specific criteria.

English Language Proficiency 

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency by meeting one of the following minimum requirements:

  • TOEFL iBT: 4.5 (or 79 on the pre-2026 scoring scale)
  • IELTS: 6.0 undergraduate, 6.5 graduate
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: 53
  • Duolingo English Test: 115
  • SAT: 970, including a minimum Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 550
  • ACT: Composite score of 18, including minimum Reading and English scores of 18
  • ELS Language Centers: Level 112
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level English: Score of 5

Applicants transferring at least 24 semester credits from an accredited institution in the United States or another approved English-speaking country may qualify for a waiver of the English proficiency requirement with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. English as a Second Language (ESL) coursework does not count toward the 24-credit minimum.

Individual graduate programs may establish additional admission criteria, including higher English proficiency requirements or supplemental application materials.

Enrollment Procedures 

To complete the enrollment process applicants must complete the following steps:

  1. Complete the Application for Admission to the appropriate campus:
    1. St. Ambrose Campus: https://admit.sau.edu/portal/apply
    2. Mount Mercy Campus: https://admissions.mtmercy.edu/portal/apply
  2. Submit all required international student documentation as outlined above and receive confirmation of approval from the Office of International Admissions.
  3. Confirm enrollment by submitting the one-time enrollment fee.
  4. Enroll in the University-approved student health insurance plan or provide documentation of qualifying health insurance coverage to receive an approved waiver.

Students Enrolling in Fully Online Programs

The University offers a limited number of fully online degree programs. These include:

  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology
  • Bachelor of Business Administration in Management
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN-BSN, RN-BSN)
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Organizational Leadership
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Master of Arts in Education
  • Master of Science in Education
  • Master of Social Work

For additional information, email online@sau.edu or visit our website.

Graduate Admission Requirements

Each graduate program coordinates their own admissions process. See individual graduate program descriptions in the Catalog or visit their website for more details.

Offer of Admission

Admission is contingent upon receipt and verification of all required documents. St. Ambrose University reserves the right to request additional documentation to verify academic records, identity, or eligibility for admission. The University also reserves the right to rescind an offer of admission or terminate enrollment at any time if submitted information is determined to be false, incomplete, misleading, or otherwise fails to satisfy admission requirements.