Admission

The admission policies of Avila University are designed to assist in the selection of those students who are most likely to benefit from and contribute to the educational opportunities offered at the University. The following types of undergraduate students must be admitted through the Office of Admission prior to enrollment:

1. First-year Students (high school graduate or G.E.D. recipient),
2. Transfer Students,
3. International Students (students on an F-1 Visa),
4. Re-admit Students (those who have been away from Avila for more than four consecutive semesters, not including summer),
5. Non-Degree Students (enrolling for more than nine (9) credit hours without seeking a specific degree).

However, other types of students (listed below) may enroll simply by advising, registering and submitting the required materials outlined below through the Registration and Student Records Office prior to enrollment:

1. Re-admit Students (those who have been away from Avila for less than four consecutive semesters, not including summer) - Required Materials: official transcripts from any institution attended since Avila,
2. Enrichment Students (enrolling for up to nine (9) credit hours) - Required Materials: None,
3. Visiting Students (students seeking a degree elsewhere) -Required Materials: Written permission from home institution,
4. KCASE Exchange Students (students of eligible institutions may take one course per semester, excluding summer sessions, without additional tuition charges) - Required Materials: KCASE Registration Form signed by appropriate personnel of the home institution.
5. Dual High School-College Enrollment Students (Juniors or seniors in high school may enroll for first-year level classes) - Required Materials: Written permission from high school principal or counselor.

Admission Requirements

Graduation from an accredited secondary school or its equivalent (G.E.D.) is a prerequisite for admission.

For successful admission to the University, Avila strongly recommends that high school applicants complete a minimum of 16 units chosen from the disciplines outlined below. The suggested minimums and ranges are provided to assist students in choosing high school courses that will best prepare them for college. Graduates from non-accredited high schools will be considered on an individual basis.

First-year Applicants

First-year student applicants (high school graduate or G.E.D. recipient) are encouraged to submit their application for admission by December 15 prior to the fall semester of intended enrollment. Avila University notifies students as admission decisions are made (“rolling admission”).  Admission decisions are based on at least six semesters of transcripted high school coursework.

The items listed below must be submitted to the Office of Admission before the student’s application for admission can be evaluated.

1. Secondary School Transcripts (sent directly to the Office of Admission by college counselor). Final official transcripts indicating high school graduation must be submitted to the Office of Admission as soon after graduation as possible, but must be received prior to the start of classes.
2. ACT or SAT scores are required of all first-year student applicants who have attended secondary school in the U.S. If ACT or SAT scores are printed on the student’s official transcripts, a separate score report is not needed. Avila’s ACT College Code is 2278 and Avila’s SAT College Code is 6109.

Financial aid awards are typically made in the spring for the following academic year. Therefore, prospective first-year students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) between January 1 and March 1 to maximize their opportunities for receiving financial aid awards for the following fall term. Transfer students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA by April 1 for the following fall term or October 1 for the spring term. When applying, students should insert Avila’s institution code (002449) in the appropriate space on the FAFSA.

G.E.D. Applicants

Applicants who have not completed high school may be considered for admission on the basis of the General Educational Development. For applicants less than five years out of high school an ACT or SAT test score may also be requested. Passing scores must be achieved in each area of the G.E.D. For these applicants, an admission decision will be made based on the following required materials:

1. Application for Admission
2. G.E.D. test score

Home-Schooled Applicants

Home-schooled applicants are reviewed on an individual basis. However, all applicants must provide evidence of successful completion of a high school level of study.

Applicants may be requested to submit some or all of the following materials:

1. Application for Admission
2. Official Secondary School Transcript/Portfolio sent directly to Avila University.
3. Official transcript(s) of all college-level work completed.
4. G.E.D. Scores. Home-schooled students may be requested to complete the General Education Development test.
5. ACT or SAT scores are required of all first-year student applicants who have attended secondary school in the U.S. If ACT or SAT scores are printed on the student’s official transcripts, a separate score report is not needed. Avila’s ACT College Code is 2278 and Avila’s SAT College Code 6109.

Home-schooled students who plan to participate in intercollegiate athletics at Avila University will need to visit with the Athletic Department to gain a full understanding of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) regulations regarding home-schooled student athletic eligibility. Admission to Avila University does not guarantee athletic eligibility.

Transfer Applicants

Transfer students are degree-seeking students who have previously enrolled in a post-secondary degree program after graduating from secondary school.

Applicants may be requested to submit some or all of the following materials:

1. Application for Admission (Nursing applicants are directed to http://www.avila.edu/academics/schools-colleges/school-of-nursing for program specific application procedures).
2. Official transcript(s) of all college-level work completed.
3. Official secondary school transcripts. Official secondary school transcripts are required for students who have completed fewer than 24 college credit hours since graduating from high school (dual credit received while in high school does not count against this total) or whose collegiate grade point average is below 2.0. Transfer hours are those hours obtained after graduating from secondary school.
4. Official transcripts of dual credit received while in high school are required before an official transcript evaluation can be made.

Transfer students who plan to participate in one of the agreements Avila holds with a community college will need to visit with the Director of Undergraduate Admission to gain a full understanding of the agreement. The partnership Avila University holds with community colleges does not guarantee admission to Avila.

Re-Admit Applicants

Former Avila students who have not attended Avila for less than four consecutive semesters, not including summer, may re-enroll through the Registration and Student Records Office after being advised and will be bound by the academic catalog and program requirements coincident with their first term of enrollment.

Former Avila students who have not attended Avila for four or more consecutive semesters, not including summer, must re-admit through the Office of Undergraduate Admission and, if re-admitted, will re-enter the University under the current academic catalog and program requirements. They must submit:

1. Application for Admission (Nursing applicants are directed to http://www.avila.edu/academics/schools-colleges/school-of-nursing for program specific application procedures).
2. Official transcript(s) of all college-level work completed since their last Avila enrollment.

International Applicants

International students are applicants who are not United States citizens or permanent residents. They must submit the items listed below.

1. Application for Admission (Nursing applicants also are directed to http://www.avila.edu/academics/schools-colleges/school-of-nursing for program specific application procedures)
2. Official transcripts from secondary schools and universities attended. Secondary transcripts must be submitted if a student has not completed a full year of postsecondary equivalency. All transcripts not written in English must be accompanied by notarized English translations. All transcripts should include the following information:
   1. dates of attendance
   2. courses taken and grades received
   3. degree earned and date received
3. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report or an equivalent approved English proficiency test score. All international students must submit proof of proficiency in the English language by means of the TOEFL or previous college coursework. If native language is English, no TOEFL is required. No TOEFL is required if student has successfully completed 12 hours in Level I and Level II core curriculum courses as defined in the Avila University Catalog with a cumulative grade point average of a 2.0 and no “F” grades. The TOEFL requirement may sometimes be waived for students who have completed high school or at least one year of study at a college where all instruction was conducted in English.
4. If the TOEFL is required, students must submit an official TOEFL score report. The minimum TOEFL score for admission to an undergraduate degree program is 61 for the Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) or 500 for the Paper-based TOEFL test. The TOEFL University Code for Avila University is 6109. No TOEFL score is needed for the Intensive Language and Culture Program (ILCP).
5. All admitted international students must submit a Statement of Finance. Proof of support may be a bank statement or other documents guaranteeing the student’s ability to meet the costs of study in the United States. If the funds belong to a parent or sponsor, the sponsor must also submit a letter of intent to sponsor the student’s tuition and living expenses.
   
   When an accepted international student has provided a Statement of Finance, the Office of Admission will issue an I-20 for a non-immigrant student visa. Upon arrival at Avila University, all accepted international students are billed for Avila University health insurance coverage, unless proof of equal to or better than the Avila University insurance is obtained.

ILCP and English Language Study at Avila

International students wishing to improve their English can apply directly to Avila’s Intensive Language and Culture Program (ILCP) before applying for admission to a degree program. The ILCP program is part of the School of Education and the International Student Services. ILCP offers three entry points per year.  ILCP students can enroll in selected academic courses while they are studying ESL. Please contact the Director of the Intensive Language and Culture Program for further information about the program at: Tel. (816) 501-3771 or (816) 501-3772 or by e-mail international@avila.edu.

Teacher Certification Applicants

The School of Education provides the opportunity for students who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university to become eligible for a Missouri and Kansas teaching certificate by successfully completing a graduate level teacher certification program. Consult the School of Education Teacher Candidate Handbook for competency requirements.

Graduate Teacher Certification applicants must:

1. Attend an information session
2. Complete and submit an Application for Admission
3. Submit official transcript(s) for all university/college-level work completed. Final university/college transcript must indicate conferral of bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 2.75.

Non-Degree Applicants (beyond nine credits at Avila University)

Avila University provides the opportunity for students who do not wish to seek a degree at Avila to continue study at Avila beyond the nine credit hour limit for Enrichment Students. Such students must submit:

1. Application for Admission.
2. Official transcript(s) of all college-level work completed.
3. Official secondary school transcript is required for students with fewer than 24 credit hours.

Admission Status

Upon receiving the required application materials, the Office of Admission will consider each student’s application. On a rolling basis and within two weeks of an application being complete, the University will notify the applicant of her or his admission status.

Regular Admission

The University considers several factors in admission decisions. No single factor eliminates consideration or guarantees admission. In general, applicants are considered for regular admission based on the following minimum standards:

First-year Students

1. High school grade point average of 2.5 or above (4.0 scale)
2. Recommended 16 units of college preparatory coursework as reflected in the high school transcript
3. ACT score of 20 or above or SAT score of 940 or above

Transfer Students

1. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or greater in college academic coursework attempted
2. College coursework indicative of success in future Avila coursework
3. Students who have completed less than 24 hours college coursework must also submit an official high school transcript

Re-admit Students

1. In good standing with Avila
2. Cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or greater in all college work attempted since leaving Avila

International Students

1. TOEFL score of 500 or better for Paper-based TOEFL or 61 for the Internet-based TOEFL test or an equivalent approved English proficiency test score
2. Academic achievement equal to that required of all applicants

Provisional Admission

Applicants who do not meet the regular admission criteria (due to previous grades, SAT or ACT scores, TOEFL scores), but who show promise for academic success may be reviewed for provisional admission.

Students who are provisionally admitted may be required to participate in a university skills training program designed to develop academic and college organizational skills. These students may also be restricted in the number of credit hours for which they may enroll within their first semester.

Admission Appeals

Should a student wish to appeal the admission decision he/she must submit a written request to the Director of Admission of the appropriate admitting office. Grounds for the appeal must be contained in the appeal request. Standard grounds for an appeal include:

1. The decision was based on inaccurate information
2. New information or facts have come to light that were not presented at the original review of application.

Appeals on admission decisions will be considered for up to one semester after the term the student was denied. After one semester, the student must re-apply for admission and complete the required admission process.

Send the signed appeal letter and supporting material to:

Avila University
Attn: Director of Admission
11901 Wornall Road
Kansas City, MO 64145

The University official/committee reviewing the appeal will communicate the final decision to the student.

Campus Visits

We encourage students to visit Avila University. Visits may be scheduled Monday through Friday or by special appointment through the Office of Admission. When scheduling a campus visit, students may take a campus tour guided by an Avila student, meet with an admission representative, observe a class, talk with faculty, coaches and activity sponsors in your areas of interest. The University also sponsors several campus-wide group visit events called View AU.

Admission Information and Applications

For admission information and application materials, please contact the Office of Admission at Avila University, 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145, or by e-mail at Admission@Avila.edu. Or call the Office of Admission at 1-800-GO-AVILA or (816) 501-2400 or FAX at (816) 501-2453. Also, visit our website at www.avila.edu.