Students are admitted to Cedar Crest College on the basis of individual qualifications. In addition, some majors require special course preparation and/or grade-point averages. Admission to the College does not indicate admission to a desired major.

The college may require or highly recommend special courses, such as supplemental English courses, workshops in Writing or Math, or college success skills courses. These requirements and recommendations are intended to improve a student’s chances of academic success.

Requests for Information–All Students

Requests for application materials and all correspondence relating to admission should be addressed to:

Traditional Students:

Cedar Crest Admissions
100 College Drive
Allentown, PA 18104-6196
800-360-1222
610-740-3780
FAX: 610-606-4647
E-mail:

Adult Students:

Cedar Crest College
School of Adult and Graduate Education
100 College Drive
Allentown, PA 18104-6196
800-360-1222
610-740-3770
FAX: 610-740-3786

E-mail:

Campus Visits–All Students

Students are encouraged to visit the campus to discuss their educational plans with an admissions counselor. A campus visit generally includes a student-guided campus tour, an opportunity to meet faculty, attend classes, and for student-athletes, the opportunity to meet with a coach. Visits are easily scheduled by calling the admissions office weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at 800-360-1222 or 610-740-3780, or schedule a visit online at www.cedarcrest.edu/visit.

Students can visit the College online at . College Visit Days and Open House programs also are held frequently throughout the academic year.

Admissions counselors are better able to counsel students who bring test records, secondary grade reports, and/or college transcripts when visiting the campus.

Admissions Requirements: Traditional Students

Cedar Crest College seeks to enroll students who have shown academic achievement and promise in combination with varied interests, talents and backgrounds. The high school record is an important factor in the selection of candidates.

A good foundation for the Cedar Crest curriculum includes a college preparatory program of four years of English, three years of mathematics, two years of laboratory science, three years of social studies, two years of international language, and three or four academic electives. In individual cases, the College is willing to consider a good student whose preparation does not include all of these subjects.

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements of the College, candidates for the nursing and nuclear medicine programs should include two consecutive years of laboratory science (biology and chemistry) in their high school curriculum. Candidates for the nuclear medicine program also should include one year of physics in their high school curriculum.

Both women and men may apply for admission to the nursing and nuclear medicine programs.

Application Credentials: Traditional Freshmen

To apply for admission, all candidates should submit a completed admissions application, an official transcript of their high school record, a one-page typed essay,  and one to two teacher recommendations. Results from the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the College Board or the American College Testing Program (ACT) are optional. In individual cases, the Admissions Committee may request additional information. All students are encouraged to visit the College for a personal interview and campus tour. Once officially graduated from high school, they must submit a final official transcript of their high school record with graduation date listed.

In keeping with the College’s philosophy of encouraging students to develop individual talents, candidates are invited to submit any additional evidence of readiness for college. Such evidence may include works of art, original musical scores, independent projects, photographic essays, reports on scientific work, original poetry or prose, or other items of the student’s choice.

A completed health form also must be submitted to Cedar Crest’s center for health and counseling services prior to a student’s enrollment.

Early Admission: Traditional Students

Early admission is available to high school students who have completed their junior year, have permission from their schools, and wish to enroll in college a year early. In addition to a strong academic record, an early admission candidate must demonstrate a high degree of emotional and social maturity. SAT or ACT scores and an interview are optional. The application procedures for early admission involve applying as a visiting student through our School of Adult and Graduate Office, rather than following the standard application process.

Early admission candidates are asked to identify themselves to the admissions office at the outset so that proper counsel may be provided.

Rolling Admissions: Traditional Students

A rolling admissions policy is in effect at Cedar Crest; applications are reviewed on a continuing basis. Students may apply at the conclusion of their junior year in high school. Applicants are usually notified of the Admission Committee’s decision a few weeks after the receipt of all application materials beginning September 15 each year. Acceptance will be made with the understanding that the student will satisfactorily complete the senior year.

To reserve a place in the incoming class, an accepted student is asked to send a $200 non-refundable enrollment deposit. The deposit is credited toward the bill for the first term.

Advanced Placement: All Students

Students desiring advanced placement credit should submit the results of all tests taken through the Advanced Placement Tests of the College Entrance Examination Board. Generally, a score of 4 or 5 will earn credits and/or advanced course placement for most test subjects. A publication listing each subject and the credit available is obtainable from the Admissions Office.

Honors Program: By Invitation for Traditional Students

The Cedar Crest Honors Program is a stimulating and enriching accompaniment to the college experience for traditional students. Honors courses are cross-disciplinary in nature, and may beteam-taught.  Honors courses prioritize the cultivation of the exceptional abilities of students and promote an understanding of various approaches to the questions and challenges inherent in the human condition.

Admissions Credentials: International Students

To apply for admission, an international student should submit the following documents. Application deadlines and more information for international students can be found online at www.cedarcrest.edu/international.

• A completed International Student Application.
• Official transcripts of any secondary school or post-secondary study translated into English. Course descriptions in English should be sent for college- or university-level work.
• A WES (World Education Services) evaluation can be submitted for all college transcripts outside of the USA.
• Results of the TOEFL Examination, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing Program (ACT).
• Required TOEFL/IELTS/DUOLINGO Score

For regular acceptance:

•  425 paper-based TOEFL
•  59 internet-based TOEFL
•  5.0 IELTS
• 85 DUOLINGO
• A scan of passport page
• A completed Financial Affidavit and Statement of finances (for I-20 purposes).

Admissions Credentials: Transfer Students

Cedar Crest welcomes qualified transfers from other colleges and universities. To apply for transfer admission, students should submit a completed Admissions Application. An official transcript from each school attended since high school is required. Transfer applicants should also submit an official transcript of their high school record.  A personal essay may be requested by the Admissions Office if additional information is needed to determine admissions eligibility.

Evaluation of transfer credit is determined on a course-by-course basis by the registrar after an evaluation of official college transcripts. Up to 90 semester hours of credit may be transferred. A maximum of 68 of these may be from two-year institutions. Courses approved to be transferred, satisfyingrequirements the liberal arts curriculum, taken at a regionally-accredited college or university with a grade of C- or better will be given equivalent Cedar Crest credit. Transfer students receive a Statement of Advanced Standing listing all accepted credits from previous institutions attended. The College’s policies for evaluating courses for transfer credit follow the guidelines established by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. Accepted credits will transfer; however grades do not.

Some departments may require a minimum number of Cedar Crest credits in the major subsequent to being accepted to study in the department.

All transfer credits that a student intends to apply toward a major must be approved by the department chairperson.

Non-Matriculated and Visiting Students

A non-matriculated student takes courses at Cedar Crest without the intention of pursuing a degree. In the event a course section reaches its enrollment maximum, matriculated students are given preference over non-matriculated students. For information, contact the Adult and Graduate Admissions Office.

Dual Enrollment: College Courses for High-School Students

Cedar Crest College offers high-school students the opportunity to take college courses for dual-enrollment credit in two ways:

1) The Early College for High-School Students is for higher-school students who would meet the criteria for admission as traditional students, with classes delivered in-person or through a hybrid or online delivery from our Allentown, PA campus.

2) The Dual Credit Academy (DCA) is coeducational, online, and delivered in partnership with TEL Education. The DCA is for high-school students who would meet the admission criteria as traditional students or as undergraduates in the School for Adult and Graduate Education (SAGE). DCA courses are also offered for students looking to satisfy common general-education requirements that may be transferred to other colleges or universities, depending upon those institutions’ transfer policies.

Students should refer to their high-school policies for the extent to which, if at all, dual-enrolled college courses may also satisfy high-school graduation requirements (speak with your high-school guidance counselor).  

1. Early College for High-School Students: Traditional Students

Cedar Crest College offers high-school juniors and seniors who would be admitted as traditional college students the opportunity to take college courses at a reduced tuition rate. High school students participating in this program may choose from a variety of Cedar Crest College courses offered from the Allentown, PA campus and delivered through in-person, hybrid, or online modalities. Tuition for Early College high-school students is $150 per credit for undergraduate day, evening, and weekend courses. The Tuition for Early College high school students cannot be applied to independent studies or  –consortium courses.   Interested students should contact the Traditional Admissions Office at 610-740-3780.

• Dual Credit Academy: Online for All Students 

Cedar Crest College’s coeducational Dual Credit Academy (DCA) offers online general-education courses for high-school juniors or seniors that are delivered through partnership with TEL Education (www.tel-education.org). DCA courses provide college instruction supported with services specifically for dual-enrolled high-school students. For a list of eligible DCA courses, refer to the Dual Credit Academy course section in this catalog. A student may complete no more than 59 total credits (49% of a bachelor degree) through DCA TEL Education partner courses. Interested students should contact their high-school guidance counselor if at a partner school district or, if an individual student, the School of Adult and Graduate Education (SAGE) Admissions Office at 610-740-3770.

Falsified Documents and Inaccurate Information: All Students

At Cedar Crest College, we uphold the highest standards of integrity throughout our admissions process. We expect all applicants to provide accurate and truthful information in their admissions applications. Falsifying documents or willfully providing inaccurate information undermines the integrity of our admissions process and compromises the academic community we strive to foster.

Any applicant found to have provided falsified documents or inaccurate information on their admissions application will be subject to immediate disqualification from consideration for admission to Cedar Crest College. This includes, but is not limited to, misrepresentation of academic credentials, submission of fabricated transcripts, or providing false personal statements.

Furthermore, applicants who are found to have engaged in such dishonest behavior may be subject to additional consequences, including but not limited to the revocation of any offer of admission previously extended and recission of any scholarships or financial aid awarded.

We reserve the right to verify the authenticity of all application materials submitted, and any discrepancies or irregularities discovered during this process may result in the rejection of the application or withdrawal of any offer of admission extended.

SAGE Admissions

The School of Adult and Graduate Education (SAGE) is designed for women and men with the maturity, commitment, and preparation to succeed in an intensive undergraduate or graduate professional degree program.  We seek students who want the challenge of an excellent academic program while pursuing the interests and goals that will shape their future lives. Adult undergraduate students entering through SAGE are those who are either twenty-two years of age or have been out of high school four or more years and are now pursuing a college degree or certificate.  Cedar Crest College is committed to diversity and inclusion and applications are encouraged from interested students of every race, ethnicity, age, and religious affiliation.

Adult women may pursue any of the College’s majors or programs through evening, weekend, online, or daytime study.  Men may pursue a bachelor’s degree, certification, and/or certificate program offered through evening, weekend, and/or online study and are welcome to study nursing and nuclear medicine by day.

Students who have been officially admitted are considered degree-seeking, matriculated students, while others may register for courses at the College on a non-matriculated basis.

Financial aid and registration procedures make it highly desirable that applicants for the spring semester apply by December 1; fall semester applicants by June 1 and summer semester applicants apply by March 1.

SAGE Undergraduate Admission

Students who have attended previous institutions of higher education should have a minimum cumulative college grade point average of 2.0.  Some programs may require a higher-grade point average.  A student may transfer in up to 90 credits with a grade of C- or better from a 4-year institution or up to 68 credits from a 2-year institution.

Application Procedure

A student’s application is reviewed on a rolling basis and considered complete when the following items have been submitted to the School of Adult and Graduate Education:

1. A free, online application, which can be submitted at www.cedarcrest.edu/apply.
2. A final, official high school or GED transcript (required, with the exception of students with an Associate of Art, Associate of Science, or bachelor’s degree)
3. Official transcripts of all college/post-secondary schools attended.
4. A personal essay may be requested if additional information is needed in order to determine admissions eligibility.

International students, please refer to the “Admission Credentials: International Students” section for additional items required.

We reserve the right to verify the authenticity of all application materials submitted, and any discrepancies or irregularities discovered during this process may result in the rejection of the application or the withdrawal of any offer of admission extended. Please refer to the “Falsified Documents and Inaccurate Information” section above for the full policy.

Notification

Notification of admission is made on a rolling basis.  As soon as an applicant’s credentials are complete, they are reviewed, and the applicant is informed of the decision. A student’s acceptance is contingent upon the successful completion of any academic work currently in progress. Following acceptance, a Statement of Advanced Standing (SAS) credit evaluation will be performed by the Registrar’s Office within two weeks of an acceptance, providing all final transcripts have been received, and emailed to the student. 

To indicate acceptance of the offer of admission, the student must schedule an appointment

 with their Academic Advisor and register for classes.  An orientation is hosted one week prior to each semester or term in fall, spring and summer. 

Deferring Acceptance

If a student decides to defer admission, SAGE must be notified to change the start term.  The acceptance and any applicable scholarship may be deferred up to one year.  Should a student attend another college during this time, the application and updated transcript will be reevaluated for admission and scholarship.

Transferring Credit

Evaluation of transfer credit is determined on a course-by-course basis by the registrar after an evaluation of official college transcripts. Up to 90 semester hours of credit may be transferred.. Courses approved to be transferred, satisfying requirements the liberal arts curriculum, taken at a regionally-accredited college or university with a grade of C- or better will be given equivalent Cedar Crest credit. Transfer students receive a Statement of Advanced Standing listing all accepted credits from previous institutions attended. The College’s policies for evaluating courses for transfer credit follow the guidelines established by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. Accepted credits will transfer; however grades do not. 

Some departments may require a minimum number of Cedar Crest credits in the major subsequent to being accepted to study in the department. 

All transfer credits that a student intends to apply toward a major must be approved by the department chairperson. 

Please refer to the “Undergraduate Policies” within the Catalog regarding Advanced Placement (AP) credits, College Level Examination Placement (CLEP) credits, Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support (DANTES) credits, and Experiential Learning credits.

Readmission

Refer to the “Voluntary Separation from the College” section within the Catalog.

Transferring of Additional Credits

Please refer to the “Undergraduate Policies” within the Catalog regarding Advanced Placement (AP) credits, College Level Examination Placement (CLEP) credits, Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support (DANTES) credits, and Experiential Learning credits.

Veterans and Reservists

Veterans and students eligible for VA educational benefits follow the above processes and in addition, they must contact the VA Certifying Official in the Registrar’s Office to apply for educational benefits. Additional information can be found at www.cedarcrest.edu/veteran.

Non-Matriculated Undergraduate Students

Any student who wishes to take classes without first enrolling in a degree program is considered to be a non-matriculated student. Non-matriculated students may enroll in courses for credit or on an audit basis.  Because degree-seeking students of the College have priority for space in all classes, non-matriculated students are admitted to classes on a space-available basis. Students should complete the Visiting Student application at cedarcrest.edu/visiting_students.shtm.

International students, please refer to “Admission Credentials:  International Students” section for additional items required.

3-Year Bachelor Degrees

Through its “Degree in 3” programs, Cedar Crest College offers undergraduate students the ability to complete a bachelor degree in three academic years, rather than four. Students do so by taking a higher-than-average course load in fall and spring semesters and taking online courses during summer terms. Students commit to following the 3-year plan of study, course sequence, and advising program, while Cedar Crest will provide for the availability of required courses or their alternatives.

The accelerated pace to completing the bachelor degree is for highly motivated students and requires the same degree requirements, including a minimum of 120 earned credits, as a regularly paced program of study but is completed on an accelerated schedule.

The benefits of completing a degree in three include entry to the workforce a year earlier, with cost savings and earlier salary potential. Students may also use the fourth year to complete a 1-year master degree or for a head start on a longer graduate degree.

Academic majors able to be completed in the “Degree in 3” program include the following:

• Business Administration
• Accounting
• Chemistry (BA plan of study only, not BS)
• Criminal Justice
• English
• Health Science
• Nursing
• Nutrition
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Special Education
• Writing

Common 3-Year+ integrated combinations for graduate programs include the below, among other options:

• 3+1 Business Administration – MBA
• 3+1 Criminal Justice – Masters of Crime Science
• 3+1 Health Science – MS in Exercise Science
• 3+2 Writing – MFA in Creative Writing
• 3+2 English – MFA in Creative Writing
• 3+3 Health Science – Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)