Admissions

Bethel University will consider applicants who meet the general requirements for admission to the University. For admission to certain majors or certificates, applicants must meet additional admission requirements.

Meeting minimal entrance requirements does not necessarily guarantee admission. Exceptions to minimum criteria may be made at the discretion of the admissions committee.

Students who have not achieved the minimum GPA, grade standards, or other assessment criteria may still apply to be considered for provisional acceptance. See Admission Categories defined below.

Applicants will be notified in writing of their admission decision. A student’s application, including all required materials, is valid for one year from the date of initial admissions decision.

If there is reason to doubt the validity of the high school diploma, transcript, or recognized equivalent, Bethel University will follow its procedures to verify completion of high school, recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, or college coursework.

Admission Calendar

Once accepted, Bethel University offers multiple opportunities for students to start their program throughout the year, in either a term format or a dynamic rolling basis. Students may contact the Office of Admissions for the next available start date for each program.

Course/Cohort Cancellation

Bethel University reserves the right to change the start date or to cancel any course at any time up to ten calendar days before the start of the course.

Admission Categories

Acceptance

All admission criteria have been met and all admission materials have been received.

Conditional Acceptance

The student has not met all admission requirements. Remaining requirements must be met prior to deadlines stated in the acceptance letter.

Provisional Acceptance

Students whose past academic performance falls below Bethel’s requirements for admission may be admitted on a provisional basis. These students must attain good academic standing at the end of their first year at Bethel in order to continue at Bethel.

Limited Enrollment

Limited Enrollment is for students who do not meet or do not wish to meet the General Admission Requirements. Students with Limited Enrollment are permitted to enroll as non-degree seeking students for no more than two courses in their first term from a limited list of available courses. Limited Enrollment students must maintain good academic standing in their first term before continuing as non-degree seeking students.

International Students

An international student is any applicant who wishes to enroll with non-immigrant visa status. [Students who are US citizens (including those who are living outside the US), those who are legal permanent residents, those who have refugee status, those who have been granted asylum, or those who are undocumented are not considered international students.]

In addition to the general requirements in this section, international applicants to Bethel University's online undergraduate programs must meet additional criteria for admission. International candidates may enroll as fully online students who plan to complete their program outside the United States. CAPS does not enroll residential international applicants. Residential options for international applicants exist.

For international applicants, attending school in the U.S. on a Visa, the following additional items are required to apply to Bethel University:

Copy of valid passport
After financial aid has been received, submission of a Certificate of Finance and most recent copy of bank statements going back 6 months

For international applicants living outside of the US, the following items are required to apply to Bethel University:

Copy of valid passport
Once financial aid has been received, submission of a Certificate of Finance and most recent copy of bank statements going back 6 months
If applying as a first-year student, an evaluated transcript with a cumulative GPA by an official NACES or AICE member, or TruMerit (WES is a preferred vendor.)
If applying as a transfer student, a course-by-course transcript with a cumulative GPA by an official NACES or AICE member, or TruMerit (WES is a preferred vendor.)
IELTS, TOEFL, or DET (Duolingo) score if English is not the student's first language or his/her education did not take place in an institution where English was the primary instructional language
- Minimum scores: 4 iBT-TOEFL, 550 PBT-TOEFL, 6.5 IELTS, 110 DET

Once the above requirements are met, students will be considered for conditional acceptance. To complete the acceptance process, students need to submit the following once the financial aid award is received:

Certificate of Finance and most recent copy of bank statements going back 6 months
- Additional bank statements and a sponsorship letter may be required

In order to enroll at Bethel, Bethel requires official transcripts from all institutions student has attended. Uniquely for high school transcripts, the posted graduation date must be listed on the transcript.

International students are only eligible to apply for Fall term
Acceptance Deadline: May 1, prior to the start of the student's first Fall term
Applicants must be conditionally accepted by May 1 to be eligible to enroll for Fall term

Fully Online International Applicants

A fully online international applicant is any candidate who is not a U.S. citizen and intends to complete their fully online program in their home country. Note that non-U.S. citizens cannot receive a U.S. Visa if they are intending to enroll in a fully online program. Fully online international applicants must complete the general requirements for admission as well as the items listed below:

International student applicants whose primary language is not English must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), or Duolingo English Test (DET) examination score report. Note: Some programs may require scores from a specific test such as TOEFL to be submitted. This English proficiency requirement can be waived if the student received an undergraduate or higher level degree at a U.S. college or university.
- TOEFL minimum score of 4 on the Internet-based test or 8 on the Essentials test.
- IELTS minimum score of 6.5.
- PTE minimum score of 55.
- DET minimum score of 110.
Transcript(s) from colleges and/or universities where the highest degree was earned is/are required to be submitted. Unless excepted by a program's admission requirements, all non U.S. transcript(s) is/are required to be evaluated by one of the members of National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE) or the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools International, Inc. (TruMerit) if the student's degree(s) is/are received outside of the U.S. It is advised that students received a course-by-course evaluation that shows a cumulative GPA.

Academic Catalog 2026-2027