Admissions Requirements for Students who wish to study in the U.S.

Undergraduate Admissions

What do I need to apply?

• Official high school transcript or GED test scores. High school transcripts must be evaluated by an approved international credentialing service, such as World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators. Transfer students who wish to have college credits considered for transfer must also have a course-by-course evaluation completed by World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators®.
• Proof of English Proficiency (TOEFL score of 80 IBT, IELTS score of 6.0., or DuoLingo Score of 105 or higher).
• Non-native English speakers must submit a TOEFL score of 80 IBT, IELTS score of 6.0, or a DuoLingo score of 105 or higher.
• Copy of Passport. Transfer students are also required to provide a copy of their Visa, I94 and current I20.
• A bank statement (from within the past 6 months) is required to show $36,450 for student financial support ($23,900 for tuition + 12,550 for living expenses). Applicants with dependents need to provide documentation for an additional $5,000 for first dependent (spouse or child), and $2,500 for each additional dependent. If you are using a sponsor (someone other than yourself) for your bank statement, you will also require an affidavit of support: Affidavit of Support.

This is waived if the student has completed an undergraduate college degree program from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education; or completed a full-time semester of graduate studies from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education with a 3.0 or higher GPA.

When should I apply?

There is no application deadline for undergraduate admissions. High school students are encouraged to apply during the fall or early spring of their senior year in high school. An adult learner is encouraged to apply at least two months prior to the start of any semester. This application process allows ample time to be accepted, develop an academic schedule, and process financial aid applications, if applicable. Each applicant’s candidacy is evaluated once all admissions materials have been received. Offers of admission are made to qualified candidates on a rolling basis.

How do I apply?

Step 1. Complete your free online application. 

Step 2. Submit your transcripts, goal statement, test scores, international documents, passport copy and optional letters of recommendations online to Transcripts@HarrisburgU.edu.

Request that your high school and all undergraduate transcripts (if you’ve attended post-secondary school already) are emailed or sent to:

Harrisburg University
Office of Admissions
326 Market Street

Graduate Admissions

1. Complete the application. You can email Masters@HarrisburgU.edu to receive one.
2. Submit your final official undergraduate transcript(s) from the college or university at which your baccalaureate degree was conferred, and any other institution of higher education attended (whether or not academic credit was earned) to GradTranscripts@HarrisburgU.edu.
3. Submit a personal goal statement exploring topics such as future goals, leadership or group contributions, examples of leadership experience, or contribution to group efforts over time, plus two letters of recommendation to Masters@HarrisburgU.edu
4. Submit a hard copy resume or by email to Masters@HarrisburgU.edu

The University does not require the GRE/GMAT for students seeking a master’s degree. However, the GRE/GMAT is strongly recommended for students seeking admission to a doctorate program.

Graduate Admissions for F-1 Students

The deadline for all student applications is 15 days before the start date of a semester.

In addition to the requirements listed above, you will need to provide the following:

• Proof of English Proficiency (TOEFL score of 80 IBT, IELTS score of 6.0., or DuoLingo Score of 105 or higher).
• Copy of passport. Transfer students must also provide a copy of their Visa, I94, and current I20.
• Please have your previous institution(s) send your official transcripts directly to Harrisburg University to ensure there are no registration issues as you progress in your studies. Transcripts must be sent directly from each institution to GradTranscripts@HarrisburgU.edu. Alternatively, sealed official copies can be mailed to Admissions, Harrisburg University, 326 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.  
• Bank statement of $27,040 USD ($16,440 for one year of tuition and $10,600 for living expenses) or affidavit of support if applicable. Applicants with dependents and children must show additional financial support of $5,000 for a spouse and $2,500 per child. 
• If a student is transferring a SEVIS, it must arrive one day before the start of the semester. Otherwise, Registration will withdraw the student from classes and defer the student to the subsequent semester. Submit an online SEVIS transfer recommendation request.
• An approved international credentialing service, such as World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators, must evaluate students who only have a bachelor’s degree. Students who wish to have graduate college credits considered for transfer must also have a course-by-course evaluation completed by World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators®.  Up to six credits may transfer at the graduate level.

F-1 graduate students take weekly classes online and come to campus three Saturdays per semester for the duration of their studies at HU. You can complete the online application here. If you’d like to receive information on the requirements for graduate admissions for F-1 students, please email your request to HMS@HarrisburgU.edu.

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Email Masters@HarrisburgU.edu for more information on our Master’s programs.

Doctoral Admissions

The doctorate admission process requires the candidate to submit the following documents when applying:
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• Complete the online application found at www.HarrisburgU.edu/Apply
• Write an essay (in English) on how this degree supports the candidate’s academic and career aspirations.
• Submit the final official transcript(s) from the college or university where the highest degree earned was conferred. An unofficial transcript can be used for an admissions decision, but an official transcript must be sent before registration.
• Evidence of research potential. Such evidence could come from submitting a Master’s Thesis (or equivalent published research).  Students finishing the thesis may submit the incomplete thesis as part of their application packet.  Students with no published thesis or other research should have other means of showing their potential to do research, such as courses taken or significant documented projects.
• Submission of an official record of the Graduate Record Examination score (GRE) is required for ISEM.
• Provide two letters of recommendation.  At least one must come from corporate.
• Submit a resume.
• A minimum master’s GPA of 3.30 (3.5 or higher is preferred).
• A faculty review committee may select the candidate for an interview.

In addition to the documents required above, a student planning to attend the University on a student (F-1) visa must include the following:

• Copies of Visa, passport, 1-20
• Bank statement of $27,040 USD or affidavit of support if applicable. Applicants with dependents and children must show additional financial support of $5,000 for a spouse and $2,500 per child.
• A WES/ECE general evaluation of your transcripts from your master’s degree, if it was not from a U.S. institution of higher learning, can be sent to GradTranscripts@HarrisburgU.edu.

In addition to satisfying the appropriate admissions requirements and procedures, an international student must demonstrate proficiency in the English language if admitted as a non-resident candidate.  Accepted minimum scores are 80 IBT on the TOEFL, 6.0 on the IELTS, or 105 on the Duolingo exam. Students do not need the English proficiency exam if they have transcripts from a U.S. institution.

Email PHD@HarrisburgU.edu for more information on our Doctoral programs. 

English Requirement for Non-U.S. Citizens

A demonstration of English language proficiency is required of any student who is not a United States citizen. Acceptable demonstrations include one of the following:

• Completing a college degree program from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education
• Scoring above average on the Analytical Writing section of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Earning a TOEFL score of 80 or higher on the web-based version, 200 on the computer version or 520 on the paper version,  an IELTS score of 6.0 or higher, or an overall score of 105 or higher on the Duolingo English Test.

Students who have earned a degree in the UK, Australia, or Canada may be exempt from providing an English proficiency exam. Additionally, students from these countries are usually exempt from providing an English proficiency exam:

Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Malta, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Ireland, Rwanda, Samoa, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sudan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe

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