Admission Policies

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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2025, 04:10 PM

[The following requirements for admission to Southern Illinois University Carbondale were approved on July 6, 1984, with amendments on June 12, 1987, June 9, 2000, March 7, 2005, October 5, 2010, March 24, 2011, and April 6, 2025 in accordance with provisions set forth in SIU Board of Trustees 1 Policies E.1.]

Undergraduate Admissions Policy

  1. First-time, First-year Students
    High school graduation and fulfillment of mandated course subject pattern are required for admission. Additionally, applicants meeting any of the following criteria will be automatically admitted to the University. Exceptions to this rule are those programs that have, with the approval of the Chancellor, established additional admission requirements beyond the University's minimum standards for admission and recommendations of the Campus Violence Prevention Committee that deny or place conditions on admission.

    The automatic admission criteria are:

    1. A high school GPA of 2.75 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
    2. An ACT score of 23 or higher (or equivalent SAT score)
    3. A ranking in the top 10% of their high school graduating class

    The preferred application deadline shall be December 1st, for the following fall semester. The Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management shall publish all other deadlines related to admissions.

  2. Transfer, International, Former and Special Students
    1. Admission of transfer students: transfer students who have a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (as calculated by the transfer institution grading policy) for all post-secondary institutions attended by the applicant and are eligible to continue enrollment at the last institution attended, will be eligible for admission to the university. For admission to a particular college or school, the faculty of that college or school may, upon approval of the Chancellor, establish additional requirements beyond the university's minimum standards for admission. Students with fewer than 12 semester hours must meet the admission standards for beginning first-year students. Students who do not meet these requirements may be admitted conditionally.
    2. Admission of International Students: admission requirements for international students are the same as for native students except that international students must complete the test for English as a second language according to criteria approved by the Chancellor. Students whose TOEFL score is less than 520 may be admitted to limited undergraduate studies based on the level of competency in English certified by the Center for English as a Second Language.
  3. Conditional Admission
    High school students with a grade point average of less than 2.75 but equal to or greater than 2.0 may be eligible for conditional admission. The student’s application shall be subject to a review by Admissions which shall include an opportunity for the student to provide context on their past academic performance and future academic commitment. Admissions may consult or request a review by college/schools/programs or others at the University prior to conditionally admitting the student. If a conditionally admitted student fails to comply with the conditions and stipulations set forth at the time of admission, the student will be dismissed from the University. By enrolling in a course at the University, the student accepts the conditions of this admission. Failure to meet the requirements or conditions shall result in removal from the University.
  4. Re-entry Students
    Students who attended other institutions since attending SIUC will be considered for re-entry in the same manner as a transfer student. Students who were suspended for scholastic or disciplinary reasons during their previous enrollment at the University must be approved for reinstatement/readmission by the appropriate academic or student services units. Students with less than a C average must be approved for reinstatement/readmission by academic affairs.
  5. Veterans
    Veterans who have not attended other higher education institutions since discharge are admissible in good standing. Veterans who attended other institutions after discharge will be considered as transfer students..
  6. Early Admission of First-time, First-year Students
    Students may be admitted before high school graduation under criteria approved by the Chancellor.
  7. Nondegree-seeking Students
    Adults may be considered for admission as unclassified, nondegree-seeking students.
  8. Criminal Background Check
    SIUC's application for admission includes a series of Public Safety Questions in which applicants are asked to disclose convictions and/or guilty pleas for felonies or other crimes involving violence or the threat of violence, pending charges involving a felony, violence, or the threat of violence, and any disciplinary sanction from any other college or university for an offense involving violence or the threat of violence. If a positive response is given to any of the Public Safety Questions, the applicant is asked to provide supplemental information regarding the conviction, charges, and/or disciplinary suspension and to authorize the University to conduct a criminal background check. Upon receipt of the supplemental information from the applicant, former institution, or court, Enrollment Management will forward the documents to the Campus Violence Prevention Committee (hereinafter, "Committee") for review.

    The Committee will determine, based on the information provided by the applicant, whether the applicant presents a potential threat to the safety of the campus community. If a potential threat is identified, the Committee will request, through the Department of Public Safety, a criminal background check on that applicant for the purpose of making a recommendation to Enrollment Management on the admission of the applicant. In evaluating the results of the criminal background check, the Committee shall consider the rational relationship of the nature, severity, and residency of the crime or disciplinary action to the interests and needs of the University and shall also consider the responsibility and repentance of the applicant.

    When reviewing the criminal background check, the Committee shall:

    1. Compare the results of the criminal background check to the application and supplemental information supplied by the applicant to determine any discrepancies. If there are no discrepancies and if the Committee has made a determination that the applicant does not pose a significant threat to campus safety, the Committee will recommend to Enrollment Management that the applicant may be admitted.
    2. If there are discrepancies between the information provided by the applicant and the criminal background check, the Committee must provide the applicant an opportunity either to demonstrate that the report of criminal, disciplinary or other relevant history was erroneous (e.g., wrong person) or to explain the discrepancy.
    3. If the report is determined to be accurate and there is a discrepancy between the reported information and the application or supporting material the applicant submitted, the presumption is that the admission will be denied if the applicant has failed accurately to disclose relevant information in response to a question on the application. The burden is on the applicant to demonstrate that the omission or misinformation was the result of an honest mistake, that it was not intended to mislead, and that the applicant should be admitted in spite of the failure to disclose.
    4. If the failure to disclose accurate information does not result in the denial of admission or there is no discrepancy between the report and the information provided by the applicant, but there is information that draws the decision to admit into question, the Committee must make an individual determination as to whether the nature of any crime committed or other behavior disclosed, together with other available information, suggests that the applicant will pose a threat to campus safety and advise Enrollment Management of its determination. If the Committee determines the applicant poses a threat to campus safety, it shall recommend that the applicant may be admitted with specific conditions devised to minimize or eliminate that threat, if possible, or that admission should be denied. Enrollment Management shall consider the Committee’s recommendation, make a decision regarding whether the applicant will be admitted, and advise the applicant of the decision. If Enrollment Management decides that the applicant will be admitted and if the Committee has recommended specific conditions, the applicant will be admitted subject to those conditions, and those conditions will be communicated to the applicant by Enrollment Management.

    If an applicant to the undergraduate program is denied admission, or if admission is conditional, based on the determination that the applicant presents a threat to the safety and security of the campus community, the applicant may appeal that decision to the Associate Chancellor for Enrollment Management. An applicant to the graduate school may appeal the decision to the Associate Dean and Director of the Graduate School.

Acknowledgment

Because many universities have been involved in revising their Admissions Policies to include criminal background checks, these policies may look similar. Specifically, several other University policies were reviewed in creating this policy including: University of North Carolina, State University of New York, and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.