Admission Policies and Procedures for Adult and Graduate Students
Capital University offers a variety of options for adult learners, including master’s degrees, graduate-level certificates, endorsements, licensure programs, and non-degree coursework.
The Office of Graduate Admissions oversees the application and admission procedures for the following students:
- Graduate Students: Students in a master’s-level degree program
- Certificate Students: Students engaged in programs leading to certification
- Licensure Students: Students engaged in programs leading to licensure or endorsement
- Non-Degree Graduate Students: Students enrolled in graduate-level classes who are not pursuing a degree, certificate, or licensure
Graduate and Continuing Education Student Admission Policies
General Admission criteria
If you have completed your undergraduate degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) or will have completed it prior to your intended matriculation date at Capital, you may apply to our graduate programs.
- Bachelor’s Degree: A bachelor’s degree is required for admission to Capital University graduate programs.
- Admission to graduate programs at Trinity Lutheran Seminary may not require a bachelor’s degree. Interested applicants should see specific Trinity program policy for more details.
- Grade Point Average: The minimum desired cumulative GPA for admission to graduate study at Capital University is a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- A GPA lower than 3.0 does not automatically disqualify an applicant. Each application is reviewed holistically on an individual basis, and students with GPAs lower than 3.0 may still be considered for admission based on their overall application.
- Individual programs may require specific GPAs for particular coursework.
- GPAs from previous graduate coursework or degrees will also be considered when making admission decisions.
General Application Criteria
- Required Online Application
- We only accept online applications for graduate study. If you require accommodations, please contact our Office of Graduate Admissions.
- No Application Fee.
- There is no application fee for graduate, certificate, licensure, or graduate non-degree applicants.
- Required Official Transcripts
- Capital University requires official final transcripts from every college or university in which the applicant took more than 6 credits, or 2 courses. For a transcript to be considered official by Capital University, it must be sent to Capital directly from the university or college, either electronically or by mail. If courses from one university or college appear on another university or college’s transcript, applicants are still required to submit an official transcript from the college where they initially completed the course work.
- Applicants may not upload transcripts or drop them off in person. Instead, please contact your previous institutions and ask them to send your official transcripts to Capital University.
- Official transcript(s) should be sent to Capital in one of three ways:
- electronically directly from the institution (e.g. Parchment Exchange)
- emailed directly from the institution to Transcripts@capital.edu
- mailed directly from the institution through regular mail, using the following address:
Capital University
Admission Office
1 College and Main
Columbus, Ohio 43209
- The institution name, student name, degree awarded, and degree conferral date must be visible on all final transcripts.
- Official transcripts become the property of Capital University and will not be returned to the applicant.
- Applicants who apply and are admitted prior to the completion of their bachelor’s degree must submit final transcripts upon completion/graduation from the course(s) or degree program. If your academic transcripts were issued in a language other than English, both the original documents and certified English translations are required. - In addition, we require third party evaluation of all foreign credentials (except for study abroad from a U.S. Institution). These can be requested from WES, ECE, or TEC (The Evaluation Company).
Required Supporting Materials and Documents
Most of Capital’s graduate programs require additional supplemental documents as components of the application process. Please visit the relevant program webpage for details.
All of your supporting documents will remain on file with Graduate Admissions for two years after your application’s date of submission. You may reuse these documents for future applications up to one year from the original application term.
Proof of English Proficiency
International students are required to show proof of English proficiency. Specific scores vary by program. Please see the following link for details:
https://www.capital.edu/admission-aid/international-students/english-proficiency/
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program. Please review information on the relevant program websites for program-specific deadlines.
Applications for admission and all supporting materials-including official transcripts-must be received by the program’s deadline.
Some programs offer priority deadlines for which applications may be submitted earlier in order to receive a substantially earlier admission decision.
Application Review Procedures
The Office of Graduate Admissions reviews the completed electronic application and supporting documents. The Office of Graduate Admissions then sends copies of the application and supporting documents to the appropriate program directors for a final admission decision.
Decisions and Offers of Admission
The Graduate School notifies the applicant by electronic letter (uploaded to the applicant’s Application Status Page) regarding any decisions about their admission. Decisions may be as follows:
- Admitted: Fully approved for admission without conditions or additional requirements.
- Conditionally Admitted: Applicant is admissible, but is deficient in one or more areas which require additional evidence of improvement. Examples include maintaining a 3.5 GPA during the first semester, or taking an additional course in a specific area
- Waitlist: Based on the number of currently available spots, the applicant is not currently admitted, but will be reconsidered as spots become available.
- Not admitted: Does not meet requirements for admission. Any applicant who is not admitted may submit a Petition for Admission to the Graduate Admission Office.
Applicants must accept the offer of admission by using the Enrollment Form on their Application Status Page. Some programs have an Acceptance of Admission deadline. Students who are admitted to these programs will have until their program’s specified Acceptance of Admission deadline (listed in their decision letter) to confirm their intended enrollment.
Enrollment Deposit
Some programs require an enrollment deposit. This payment is used to confirm an applicant’s intent to pursue studies at Capital University. The deposit is non-refundable, and the amount will be applied to the tuition of your first term.
Deposit amounts vary by program, and not all programs require a deposit. If your program requires a deposit, you will be notified in your decision letter, and the required payment will be visible on your Application Status Page.
Submission of Final Transcripts
In the event that you are admitted prior to the completion of any required degree or coursework that is in-progress at the time of your admission, you must submit proof of completion by the 15th day of your first semester. Failure to do so may result in your admission being rescinded.
Deferral Policy
- Admitted and Conditionally Admitted students who have formally accepted the offer of admission and paid all required deposits may request to defer their enrollment for up to one academic year.
- Students who decline an offer of admission will be required to submit a new application for any future terms or programs.
Change of Program
Students who wish to change from one program to another must complete and submit a new Online Application. Any additional information or supporting documents for the new program will be required.
Readmission to a Graduate, Licensure, or Certificate Programs
Re-admission for previously admitted students who have not been on official leave-of-absence is coordinated by Capital University’s Office of the Registrar.
Graduate, Licensure, and Certificate program students may request readmission by filling out the Application for Readmission as a Degree Candidate form and submitting it to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@capital.edu.
Right to Rescind Admission
Capital University reserves the right to rescind offers of admission if applicants fail to:
- accept the offer of admission via their Application Status Page before the required deadline
- successfully complete their required current academic program
- maintain grades that meet the requirements for admission to Capital University
- exhibit exemplary personal conduct prior to enrollment
- Otherwise violate the terms and conditions agreed upon when submitting an application
Additionally, Capital may rescind an offer of admission based on cancellation or change of any test score required for admission or if it is determined that admission was obtained through the use of incomplete, falsified, altered, or embellished information.
Admitted students are required to update the Office of Admissions in a timely fashion of any new information that may affect their admission, including, but not limited to, any changes in their participation in their current academic program or their grades, or any conduct related issues (e.g., criminal matters and school discipline matters).
Records Maintenance and Disposal
All admissions documents, including transcripts sent from other institutions, become the property of the Office of Graduate Admissions and part of the applicant’s official university file. These documents will not be returned to the applicant. Applications and supporting documents are retained for only 2 years. They are subsequently destroyed if applicants do not register for courses within the period for which the offer of admission is valid, have been denied admission, do not respond to requests for additional information, or fail to submit complete applications.
|