University Admissions Requirements

Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

Instruction at the University is delivered in English. Students must be able to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English. The University does not offer English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction.

Students must apply for admission to their program of study to be considered for acceptance. The University reserves the right to deny admission to applicants if the admissions requirements are not successfully met.

An undergraduate student applying for admission into West Coast University must:

1. Submit a completed application for admission;

2. Participate in a qualitative admissions interview arranged by a University admissions advisor;

3. Submit documentation of high school graduation or its equivalent;

Examples of acceptable high school equivalency documentation:

a) High school transcript or copy of diploma,

b) General Educational Development Test (GED®),

c) High School Equivalency Test (HiSET®), Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASCTM), 

d) Postsecondary transcripts demonstrating an earned degree/diploma from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

Please Note: All foreign high school diplomas must be submitted for U.S. equivalency by a NACES, AACRAO,  or AICE-approved organization.

4. Meet any program specific entrance requirements;

5. Complete an enrollment agreement (must be signed by a parent or guardian if the applicant is under 18 years of age)

Graduate Admissions Requirements

Instruction at the University is delivered in English. Students must be able to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English. The University does not offer English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction.

A student applying for admission to a graduate program at West Coast University must:

1.  Submit a completed application for admission;
2.  Participate in a qualitative admissions interview arranged by a University admissions advisor;
3.  Submit official transcripts by the stated deadline demonstrating completion of an accredited bachelor’s degree program;
4.  Meet program admissions requirements;
5.  Complete an enrollment agreement. If English is not the student’s primary language, and the student is unable to understand the terms and conditions of the Enrollment Agreement, the student shall have the right to obtain a clear explanation of the terms and conditions and all cancellation and refund policies in his or her primary language.

International Admissions
Programs that are primarily online are not open to enrollment by foreign students under a student visa.

Admission to Programs with Prerequisite Requirements

West Coast University offers several programs that require prospective students to have completed prerequisite requirements prior to admission.  Prospective students who meet all other requirements for admission, but who lack prerequisite coursework required for admission may be admitted and enrolled in the program, however must complete prerequisite coursework prior to entering any core courses for their program. 

The following criteria will be used to determine if a prospective student, who has not completed all prerequisite course requirements is eligible for admission.

1. Should the admissions criteria include a requirement to have earned a specified degree, the prospective student must have completed all coursework required to earn the degree and be scheduled for graduation in the required program as documented by an official transcript.
2. Preparatory coursework may not be taken to improve a student’s cumulative grade point average in order to meet the admissions requirements of a program.
3. Prospective students may choose to take preparatory courses at West Coast University or at another accredited institution, however, only those who take the courses at West Coast University are eligible for admission.
4. A prospective student:
   1. who requires fewer than 6 semester credits in preparatory coursework in order to qualify for admission may be admitted to West Coast University, but must complete the preparatory coursework on a cash pay basis.
   2. who requires 6 or more semester credits in preparatory coursework to complete in order to qualify for admission may be admitted in order to take the preparatory courses, which may be financed through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (FDL) program, only if the student can be scheduled to complete all preparatory coursework within one calendar year.
   3. enrolled at least half time in preparatory coursework qualifies only for the Stafford and Plus loan programs, and is not eligible for Pell or other grant programs until the completion of all prerequisite requirements.
5. Students completing preparatory coursework on a less than half-time basis must pay cash.
6. Prior to registering for preparatory coursework, the student must have provided documentation to the Admissions department demonstrating that the student has met all other requirements for admission.
7. The student may not be admitted to or enroll in any courses in the program for which the preparatory course is prerequisite until the preparatory coursework is successfully completed.
8. All preparatory courses must be passed with a minimum grade of C+. 
9. All preparatory coursework must be completed within a calendar year.
10. Upon successful completion of all preparatory coursework, undergraduate students will become eligible for Pell disbursements should they qualify.

Prerequisite courses tuition costs may vary by program; see the Tuition and Fees section of the catalog for more information.