Admissions

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS

Alaska Pacific University has no rigid secondary school requirements but gives preference to students graduating from strong college preparatory programs. This includes four years of English, at least two years of a language other than English, three years of college preparatory mathematics, three years of laboratory science, and three years of history or social science. Applicants planning to seek the Bachelors of Science degree in environmental science or marine biology should complete four years of high school mathematics and should be prepared to begin calculus during their first year in college.

Some students do not display outstanding results as measured by conventional academic measurements. However, many of these students display an outstanding ability to adapt and thrive in the active learning environment that is central to the mission of Alaska Pacific University. The admissions committee works closely with applicants to ensure a successful academic experience.

First Year Students

First year  students are identified as new students with no previous college experience or transfer students who have earned fewer than 30 transferable college semester hours.

Admission Methods

Alaska Pacific University has adopted a modified rolling admission procedure. This procedure will allow students to submit the admissions application at any time during the admissions cycle. For priority in financial assistance, however, students are encouraged to submit their application by February 1. Students are notified of admission decisions immediately after an admissions committee concludes its assessment of the completed application. It is requested that students respond to offers of admission for Fall semester by or before May 1.

Students wishing to apply for admission must submit the following to the Admissions Office:

1. Undergraduate application for admission.
2. $25.00 non-refundable application fee. Please make checks or money orders payable to Alaska Pacific University. The application fee will be waived for applications completed online or through the Common Application.
3. Two letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters may be submitted by the applicant’s counselor, teacher, headmaster, principal, or any individual qualified to comment upon applicant’s academic/intellectual ability.
4. Results of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT I) or the American College Test (ACT). Test scores will not be required for applicants who have graduated three or more years prior the intended start date or for those who have passed their General Educational Development tests and have not earned a High School Diploma.
5. Official transcripts from all institutions attended. A transcript is required from each postsecondary institution in which a student has been enrolled, whether or not credit was earned. Transcripts are considered official when received in an envelope that was sealed by the credit awarding institution and must arrive to us unopened. They may also be uploaded by the credit awarding institution onto a secured electronic transcript service and sent directly to APU. Note: Final high school transcripts verifying graduation are required before the student may enroll as a degree-seeking student. 

Admission Standards 

Completed application packages are reviewed by an admissions committee. The decision to admit or deny an applicant is based on the overall quality of the admissions package. Academic standards include:

1. A cumulative high school GPA of 2.50 based on a 4.00 scale.
2. An SAT composite score of 970 or an ACT composite score of 20.

Applicants who do not meet the published admissions standards may submit and Admissions Exception form. The admissions committee will consult with the Academic Dean and appropriate department chair/program director when an application is in question.

Transfer Students

Students are considered transfers when they have earned 30 or more transferable college semester hours. Transferable college semester hours are defined as semester credits awarded from an accredited institution, earning a “C” (2.0) or better grade, and taken at a college level. Transfer applicants must submit the following to the Admissions Office.

1. Undergraduate application for admission.
2. $25.00 non-refundable application fee. Please make checks or money orders payable to Alaska Pacific University. The application fee will be waived for applications completed online or through the Common Application.
3. A personal essay based on one of several discussion topics.
4. Official transcripts from all institutions attended. High school transcripts are not required for transfer applications. A transcript is required from each postsecondary institution in which a student has been enrolled, whether or not credit was earned. Transcripts are considered official when received in an envelope that was sealed by the credit awarding institution and must arrive to us unopened. They may also be uploaded by the credit awarding institution onto a secured electronic transcript service and sent directly to APU. Note: If there is work in progress reported on the transcript at time of delivery we will require an additional transcript reflecting credit earned or reflecting that those courses were dropped before the student may enroll as a degree-seeking student.

A cumulative GPA of 2.00 is required for transfer students. Students with a GPA of less than 2.00 who otherwise demonstrate potential for academic success at Alaska Pacific University may be considered for admission. Such applicants should submit an Admissions Exception form and may be invited for a personal interview or asked to take courses in areas of weakness.

The Registrar’s Office will assess transfer credits earned by the applicant and will mail an evaluation of the student’s transfer credit prior to class registration. The evaluation will show total hours accepted towards a degree at Alaska Pacific University. It will also show which General University Requirements have been met.

Transfer Matrix – Foundational Studies

(Unless otherwise noted, one ‘course’ equated to an offering worth 2.6 - 4 credits)

Early Honors

Early Honors is a full-time, dual-credit program for high school seniors who want to finish their last year of high school by taking college-level courses.  Early Honors applicants need to submit the following:

1. Early Honors application for admission
2. $25.00 non-refundable application fee. Please make checks payable to Alaska Pacific University. The application fee will be waived for applications completed online.
3. A personal essay about why you would like to attend Alaska Pacific University’s Early Honors Program or a writing sample from a high school course.
4. Official high school transcripts. Transcripts are considered official when received in an envelope that was sealed by the credit awarding institution and must arrive to us unopened. They may also be uploaded by the credit awarding institution onto a secured electronic transcript service and sent directly to APU. Note:  Additionally, transcripts are requested from each postsecondary institution in which a student has been enrolled. Postsecondary transcripts are not required for admission, but they may be requested by the academic advisor for placement testing or course selection purposes.
5. Applicants from Alaska must have passed the High School Qualifying Exams.
6. Applicants must be eligible for placement into or beyond Intermediate Algebra for math coursework.

Early Honors students are requested to submit SAT or ACT test scores after taking the test. These scores are not required for admissions but are helpful in determining admission in some cases. If you haven’t yet taken the exam prior to admission, please send the score to APU when you do take the exam for our reporting purposes. ACT reporting code is 0062, SAT reporting code is 4201.

International Students

International students are students who do not have United States residency. International students wishing to apply for an undergraduate program must submit the following to the Admissions Office:

1. Undergraduate application for admission. Follow the application requirements in the Undergraduate application and submit materials by the deadline stated in the application or the following deadlines (whichever is earlier):
2. Supplemental application for International Student admission. This will be sent to the email provided in your application once it is submitted.
3. Supporting financial documentation. Present financial documentation to support the information provided under the Annual Budget Section of the supplemental application. Supporting documents must be supplied for each person or party who will be providing you with financial assistance. The documents should reflect the individual’s financial history. Examples of supporting documents include: several months’ bank statements, a letter from an employer stating period of employment, planned continued employment and yearly salary, tax returns, or a U.S. Immigration Form I-134 Affidavit of Support (for students who have a financial sponsor in the United States). All documents must be officially translated into English and monetary amounts expressed in U.S. dollars. Students need to keep a duplicate set of all documents. These documents will be needed to apply for a student visa and to enter the United States.
4. Foreign credentials evaluation (in addition to official transcripts). All students with transcripts issued by universities and schools outside the United States must send their transcripts to a credentials evaluation service for evaluation and must request that a copy of the evaluation be sent to the Admissions Office. A course-by-course evaluation providing grade point average is required. A list of agencies that provide this service is contained in the Alaska Pacific University International Student Information Packet.
5. All international students must submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. Alaska Pacific’s reporting code is #4201. A score of 550 on the paper test, 213 on the computer test, or 79 on the Internet based test is required for admission.

Professional Studies Undergraduate Degrees 

Undergraduates pursuing APU’s Professional degrees have options featuring a competency-based curriculum for an Associate of Arts degree with a major in Accounting, Business Administration, Education, or Human Services or a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Accounting, Business Administration and Management, Education, or Human Services. In addition, we offer the Accelerated Business Administration and Management/Master of Business Administration option (BAM/MBA) for accomplished business professionals who seek to move directly into the MBA program as soon as they have completed 104 or more undergraduate credits.

Students wishing to apply as an undergraduate in a Professional Studies degree can follow the Four Steps to Admission:

1. Online Application: Apply online and we will waive the $25.00 application fee. Once your application is received, an Admissions Counselor will contact you promptly to discuss the next steps.
2. Statement of Goals: You will need to compose a 1-2 page essay about your goals. We ask you to describe your academic and professional goals, how the degree will help you accomplish your goals, and the impact it may have on your family, community, or self.
3. Current Resume. Your resume will help your academic adviser understand your professional background.
4. Send Official transcripts from all institutions attended. High school transcripts are required for all applicants who do not have 30 or more transferrable credits*. A transcript is required from each postsecondary institution in which a student has been enrolled, whether or not credit was earned. Transcripts are considered official when received in an envelope that was sealed by the credit awarding institution and must arrive to us unopened. They may also be uploaded by the credit awarding institution onto a secured electronic transcript service and sent directly to APU. Note: If there is work in progress reported on the transcript at time of delivery we will require an additional transcript reflecting credit earned or reflecting that those courses were dropped before the student may enroll as a degree-seeking student.

*Transferrable Credits: semester credits awarded from an accredited institution, earning a C or better grade, and taken at a college level.

A cumulative GPA of 2.00 (3.0 for Accelerated Business Administration and Management BAM/MBA applicants) is required for admission. Applicants with a GPA less than 2.00 who otherwise demonstrate potential for academic success at Alaska Pacific University may be considered for admission. Such applicants should submit an Admissions Exception form and may be invited for a personal interview, asked for additional documentation, or asked to take courses in areas of weakness. 

For the BA degrees in Accounting or Business Administration and Management students must have at least 60 semester credit hours to apply as a bachelor degree seeking student and 72 semester credit hours to apply for the Accelerated Business Administration and Management BAM/MBA.

Applicants can also speak with an Admissions Counselor about earning additional credits in the following ways:

• Documented Experiential Learning Credit (credit for life/work experience)
• Credit by Examination (challenge coursework or subject areas by taking exams)

For students who graduate with an AA from APU and wish to proceed into the bachelor-level professional programs, check with Admissions or the Registrar’s Office for details regarding admission. A Continuing Professional Studies Undergraduate Application form must be completed to indicate you will be continuing on in your studies at APU.

Additional Information

The Registrar’s Office will assess the transfer credit earned by the applicant once admitted and will mail a transfer evaluation to the student prior to class registration. The evaluation will show total hours accepted towards a degree at Alaska Pacific University. It will also show which Foundational Studies have been met.    

Credit by Choice

Credit By Choice is a special program for exceptional high school students who wish to enroll in college level coursework. The cost for Credit By Choice is $200/credit hour. Students may take a maximum of two courses /semester. These students must apply for admission to the Credit By Choice program. Applicants must submit the following:

1. Credit By Choice application for admission.
2. $25.00 non-refundable application fee. Please make checks or money orders payable to Alaska Pacific University.
3. One letter of approval from appropriate high school official approving Credit By Choice admission.
4. Written consent from parent or guardian.
5. Official high school transcripts. Transcripts are considered official when received in an envelope that was sealed by the credit awarding institution and must arrive to us unopened. They may also be uploaded by the credit awarding institution onto a secured electronic transcript service and sent directly to APU.

Financial aid is unavailable to Credit By Choice students. Students must re-apply through Admissions if attending more than one academic year or portion thereof as a Credit by Choice student. Credit By Choice students who later decide to enter an Alaska Pacific University degree program must reapply through the regular admission process.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Students who do not wish to pursue a degree program may attend classes at Alaska Pacific University if they have completed the required prerequisites. Such students are not required to submit application elements other than the $25.00 application fee.

Students in the Non-Degree Seeking category are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. Students will be charged the Professional Studies tuition rate and pay any additional lab fees associated with the course.

If a Non-Degree Seeking student wishes to enter a certificate, undergraduate, or graduate program, he or she must apply for admission by following the application requirements of the program to which they apply.

A maximum of 16 credits can completed as a Non-Degree seeking student. After completing 16 credits within the Non-Degree Seeking status, an undergraduate student must apply for admission to enter a degree or certificate program.

Students wishing to enter Undergraduate Non-Degree Seeking applications must submit the following to the Admissions office:

1. Application for Non-Degree Seeking admission status.
2. $25.00 non-refundable application fee. Please make checks or money orders payable to Alaska Pacific University.

Undergraduate Deferred Applicant Policy

All degree-seeking undergraduate applicants who have received full admission may defer their start date for a period of up to one year. The one-year period begins with the start date indicated on the original application form. Fully admitted students who have chosen deferral are eligible to register for classes for one year and do not need to complete additional application requirements. Applicants who do not register within the one-year eligibility period and wish to reactivate their admission status must complete a new application form and complete all requested documentation prior to being readmitted to the university. An admissions officer will determine, on a case-by-case basis, what additional documentation is required.

Admission Categories

Full Admission

Full Admission status is assigned to students whose completed applications meet the requirements for admission to the university. Financial assistance can be disbursed to students who have been fully admitted to the university.

Early Admissions

Early Admission status is assigned to students whose applications are complete enough to determine that they meet the requirements for admission to the University, but are missing elements necessary for completion of the admission process. Students in this status may register for classes at a designated time but  are not eligible for financial aid until completion of the admissions requirement.

Admission Hold

Admission Hold status is assigned to students who have received Early Admission status and wish to register for classes prior to completion of their application. Qualified students can be placed in Admission Hold status anytime during the semester registration period To qualify for this status, students must meet the following criteria: 1) they have received Early Admission status, and 2) they are seeking financial aid. To be placed into Admission Hold status, students will be asked to fill out and sign a Registration Exception Application.

Admission Hold status requires that the student submit the missing application documents no later than the final day of late registration as defined in the catalog:

Upon Full Admission, Student Financial Services will disburse approved awards. If the student in Admission Hold status does not meet the late registration deadline (see academic calendar), they will be withdrawn from their academic program and placed in a non-degree seeking status. In this status, students will be required to pay full tuition in order to remain registered.

Students who do not meet the Admission Hold criteria and still wish to register must fill out a non-degree seeking application form and register as a non-degree seeking student.

Wait Listed

Wait Listed status is assigned to those students who apply to APU and meet academic standards of the University but, due to circumstances such as lateness, need to be placed on an academic wait list by the Admissions committee. This status is assigned only to candidates applying for the Fall semester. Students who are Wait Listed will be notified of their enrollment status by July 15.

Admission Denied

Admission Denied status is assigned to students whose applications do not meet the minimum requirements for admission to the university. Students who are denied admission may contest such decisions by petitioning the Undergraduate Studies Committee.

Transcripts and Test Scores

All transcripts and test scores required for admission must be official documents preferably sent directly from the high school, college, university, or testing agency to the Alaska Pacific University Admissions Office; although applicants may hand deliver and submit documents in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution. Alaska Pacific University cannot accept student copies of transcripts or test results as official.

GRADUATE ADMISSIONS

Each Graduate program requires admission to the University as well as to the program the student wishes to enter. Application documents are collected by the Admissions Office and then sent to the appropriate department for evaluation by the Program Director. When a decision is made regarding admission, the applicant will be notified by the Graduate Program Director and the Graduate Admissions Counselor.

Note: Each department has individual program requirements and deadlines.

Students wishing to apply to a Graduate program must submit the following to the Admissions office:

1. Application for Graduate Program.
2. $25.00 non-refundable application fee for all paper applications. Please make checks or money orders payable to Alaska Pacific University. The application fee for applications completed online will be waived.
3. College transcripts. Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended. A transcript is required from each postsecondary institution in which a student has been enrolled, whether or not credit was earned. Transcripts are considered official only if they are delivered in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution or if they are delivered through a secure electronic transcript service.
4. Individual program requirements. Please see the Admissions section under each individual program.

International Graduate Students

International students are students who do not have United States residency. International students wishing to apply for a Graduate Program must submit the following to the Admissions Office:

1. Application for Graduate admission. Follow the application requirements in the Graduate application and submit materials by the deadline stated in the application or the following deadlines (whichever is earlier):

2. Supplemental application for International Student admission.
3. Supporting financial documentation. Present financial documentation to support the information provided under the Annual Budget Section of the supplemental application. Supporting documents must be supplied for each person or party who will be providing you with financial assistance. The documents should reflect the individual’s financial history. Examples of supporting documents include: several months’ bank statements, a letter from an employer stating period of employment, planned continued employment and yearly salary, tax returns, or a U.S. Immigration Form I-134 Affidavit of Support (for students who have a financial sponsor in the United States). All documents must be officially translated into English and monetary amounts expressed in U.S. dollars. Students need to keep a duplicate set of all documents. These documents will be needed to apply for a student visa and to enter the United States.
4. Foreign credentials evaluation (in addition to official transcripts). All students with transcripts issued by universities and schools outside the United States must send their transcripts to a credentials evaluation service for evaluation and must request that a copy of the evaluation be sent to the Admissions office. A course-by-course evaluation providing grade point average is required. A list of agencies that provide this service is contained in the Alaska Pacific International Student Information Packet.
5. All international students must submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. Alaska Pacific’s reporting code is #4201. A score of 550 on the paper test, 213 on the computer test, or 79 on the Internet based test is required for admission.

Non-Degree Seeking Graduate Students

Students who do not wish to pursue a degree program may attend classes at Alaska Pacific University if the required prerequisites have been completed. The courses taken under Special Student status may or may not be applicable to a Graduate program at a later date. Non-Degree Seeking students are not required to submit academic transcripts and standardized test scores, but must have departmental approval to take a course.

Students in Non-Degree Seeking status are not eligible to receive financial aid.

If a Non-Degree Seeking student wishes to enter a Graduate program he or she must apply for admission by following the application requirements of the program they intend to apply to. After completion of nine credit hours of course work, a Graduate student must apply for admission to a degree program, or reapply to continue in Non-Degree Seeking status. Continued enrollment in Non-Degree Seeking status will be contingent upon review and approval by an admissions committee. Only nine hours of post baccalaureate course work earned prior to admission to a Graduate program may be accepted toward a Graduate degree.

Students wishing to enter Graduate Non-Degree Seeking status must submit the following to the Admissions Office:

1. Application for Non-Degree Seeking admission.
2. $25.00 non-refundable application fee. Please make checks or money orders payable to Alaska Pacific University.

 Admissions Standards

An admissions committee reviews completed application packages. The decision to admit or deny an applicant is based on the overall quality of the admissions package. Academic standards include:

1. A baccalaureate GPA of 3.00 if applying for the first Master’s degree; or
2. If applying for an additional Master’s degree, a 3.00 GPA for the last Master’s degree completed.

Applicants with GPAs between 2.75 and 2.99 may be considered by the appropriate Program Director. If an applicant’s GPA is below 2.75, the Program Director will make a decision based on the recommendation of the department in which the program is offered. The Program Director has the option of seeking input from the Graduate Studies Committee in uncertain cases. The Program Director will report the admission of students with a GPA below 2.75 to the Graduate Studies Committee.

Graduate Deferred Applicant Policy

Fully admitted, degree-seeking graduate applicants may defer their approved semester start date for up to one year with the approval of the Program Director. Individuals who cannot gain approval for deferral must reapply and submit additional admission documentation. The appropriate Program Director, in coordination with the Admissions Office, will determine on a case-by-case basis what additional documentation needs to be submitted.

Admission Categories

Full Admission

Full Admission status is assigned to students whose completed application meets the requirements for admission to the university. Financial assistance can be disbursed to students who have been fully admitted to the university.

Early Admission

Early Admission status is assigned to students whose applications are complete enough to determine that they meet the requirements for admission to the university, but are missing elements necessary for completion of the admission process. Students in this status may not register for classes and are not eligible for financial aid.

Provisional Admission

Provisional Admission status is assigned to graduate students who have been admitted but still need to complete program prerequisites or remedial and/or tutorial work while enrolled at the University. This status is granted by the appropriate Program Director. The time limit required for completion of this work will be determined by the Program Director that grants this status. Students who have not satisfactorily completed the specified requirements, within the prescribed time period, will have their enrollment revoked. Provisional admission does not qualify for financial aid.

Waitlisted

Waitlisted status is assigned to those students who apply to APU and meet academic standards of the University, but due to circumstances, such as lateness, need to be placed on an academic waitlist by the program director.

Admission Denied

Admission Denied status is assigned to students whose applications do not meet the minimum requirements for admission to the University. Students who are denied admission may contest such decision by petitioning the Graduate Studies Committee.

Graduate Assistantships

Each graduate program offers a limited number of graduate assistantships. The assistantships are available in the form of tuition waivers for a specific number of semester hours of course work. Graduate assistants provide research, instruction, or related project assistance for the department. The Graduate Assistantship application and the application procedures are included in the Application for Graduate Admission.

Transcripts and Test Scores

All transcripts and test scores required for admission must be official documents preferably sent directly from the high school, college, university, or testing agency to the Alaska Pacific University Admissions Office; although applicants may hand deliver and submit documents in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution. Alaska Pacific University cannot accept student copies of transcripts or test results as official.