Undergraduate Admission

In order to fulfill its mission, Strayer University is an open access university, and therefore the basic requirement for admission to an undergraduate degree or diploma program is a standard high school diploma that meets the state minimum high school completion standards from an approved high school or its equivalent.

In addition to the basic requirements for admission to an undergraduate program, additional admission requirements to the Bachelor of Applied Science in Management (BASM) program include documentation of an associate of science degree (AS or AAS) in a technical, science, technology, engineering, or math area or a transcript showing at least 54 quarter hours of transferable credit in a technical, science, technology, engineering, or math-related field. The applied science credits must be from a single area of study. An AS or AAS in General Studies is not eligible for the BASM program (however, students with these degrees may enroll in another Strayer program). 

For each academic quarter, the deadline for applying to Strayer is the end of the add/drop period as published in the Academic Calendar.

Strayer requires a student's correct identifying number to file certain information returns with the IRS and to furnish a statement to the student. This will be a Social Security number (SSN) or, if not eligible to obtain an SSN, an individual taxpayer identification number. Nonresident aliens who do not have income that is subject to tax are not required to supply this information. Failure to provide the correct identifying number could result in a penalty from the IRS imposed on each incorrect document. 

All student applicants must submit to the admissions office:

• Completed application form (https://application.strayer.edu/) available on www.strayer.edu and an enrollment agreement as applicable (varies by state);

• A valid, current, legible, color, government-issued photo identification; and

• Documentation of high school graduation or high school equivalence. Acceptable forms of documentation of high school graduation or high school equivalence for undergraduate admission must include one of the following:

  • Copy of a high school transcript indicating the graduation date or a copy of a high school diploma from an approved high school that is recognized by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or certified by the state board of education. (Special rule for South Carolina: applicants in this state must provide an official high school transcript from an approved high school that is recognized by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or certified by the state board of education.)

  • Copy of a GED certificate. (Special rule for South Carolina: applicants in this state must provide an official GED certificate.)

  • Evidence of enrollment in an eligible Title IV program prior to July 1, 2012, and evidence that the applicant successfully completed at least 6 semester hours/9 quarter hours eligible for credit toward a degree or certificate offered by the prior institution (not applicable in South Carolina).

  • Proof of home school completion equivalent to high school level graduation and the Home School Completion certificate, (if the home school state issues a completion credential), diploma, or transcript. The home school curriculum must satisfy any home school state laws or requirements. Self-reported credentials, including a home school completion certificate, diploma, or transcript are subject to verification.

  • Copy of an associate/bachelor's degree or transcript showing degree completion from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. (Special rule for South Carolina: applicants in this state must provide an official college or university transcript indicating the award of an associate/bachelor's degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.)

• Additional admission requirements apply to International Students. Please refer to the Additional Admission Requirements for International Students section of this catalog.

Application materials submitted become the property of Strayer University. These materials will not be returned to students or forwarded to another university. If unexplained discrepancies appear between statements or documents provided to Strayer University as part of the admission materials and information otherwise obtained, applicants may be rejected for admission, admission may be revoked, or students may be dismissed.

Extraordinary circumstances: In the event that a student's official high school and/or college records are unable to be obtained from the issuing agency due to extraordinary circumstances, including but not limited to, flooding, fire, other natural disaster, pandemic, documented cyberattack (including ransomware attack) affecting the school/school system/institution that is independently verified by the school/institution, or in the case of foreign credentials, if there was governmental failure, civil war or social unrest, the student must provide to the University Registrar for a final admission decision: a copy of the Students With Extraordinary Circumstances Form for Basis of Admission Due to School Closure (Exception Form) or other similar form signed by the student and supporting documentation from the state department of education or other governmental agency verifying the information provided by the student, or documentation that the school/school system/institution is unable to process any requests due to the documented cyberattack. Where possible, students should submit other documentation to support what they select on the Exception Form. 

All undergraduate students, excluding students in a stand-alone undergraduate certificate program*, must enroll in WRK 100 in their first term, where they will be assessed for English proficiency. Students who do not earn the university-determined passing algorithmic score on the writing assessment or who do not meet one of the criteria below, must enroll in ENG 090 for their second term. The university's English proficiency standards must be taken/satisfied prior to COM 100 or COM 101, ENG 115 or ENG 116, or any higher-level English course. Proficiency in English must be documented by one of the following methods in accordance with the Developmental English and Foundational Skills Requirements:

1. Score above established minimum level (93 or greater) on the McCann English placement assessment;

2. Passing algorithmic score on the WRK 100 written assessment;

3. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score of 530 or above in the written/verbal section; 

4. American College Test (ACT) score of 22 or above in English;

5. Approved transfer credit for collegiate-level English comparable to ENG 115, ENG 116, COM 100, or COM 101 or higher;

6. Earning 70% or higher in the Sophia Writing Fundamentals (ENG 0001) course; 

7. Proof of completion of an equivalent U.S. undergraduate or graduate degree conferred prior to the start of term admittance; or

8. Successful completion of ENG 090 (with a minimum grade of C) at Strayer University.

*Students enrolled in a stand-alone undergraduate certificate program may satisfy developmental English requirements by meeting any of the above criteria.

Mathematics proficiency is a requirement for continued course registration. Mathematics proficiency must be documented by one of the following methods in accordance with the Developmental English and Foundational Skills requirements:

1. SAT score of 530 or above for Math;
2. ACT score of 21 or above for Math;
3. Approved transfer credits for collegiate-level Math;
4. Proof of completion of an equivalent U.S. undergraduate or graduate degree conferred prior to the start of term admittance; or
5. Successful completion of MAT 104/MAT 110 (with a minimum grade of C) at Strayer University.

Note: Students in a stand-alone certificate program do not need to complete MAT 104 or MAT 110 unless it is in the certificate program or unless and until the student enrolls in another program at Strayer University which includes MAT 104 or MAT 110 in the curriculum.