Nov 04, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Undergraduate Admissions



Prospective students and their parents are cordially invited to visit Ferrum College. Appointments for interviews and tours of the campus may be arranged by calling the Office of Admissions, which is located in the Spilman-Daniel House, at (540) 365-4290 or 1-800-868-9797 or online at https://www.ferrum.edu/visit-ferrum-college/. Staff are available weekdays for campus tours at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and by appointment on Saturdays. 

Admissions Standards

To be accepted as full-time degree candidates, applicants must meet the following qualifications: graduate from an accredited high school with a standard or advanced studies diploma, receive a high school equivalency certificate based on the GED, or complete a home-school curriculum comparable to that required for high school graduation. Home-school students can provide a Notice of Intent that includes a description of their curriculum. When an applicant is considered for admission, the following may be considered in the review process: courses taken in high school, grades in courses recommended for admission to Ferrum College, extracurricular activities, SAT or ACT scores, recommendations, admissions interview, and other information available relevant to the applicant’s academic or disciplinary record.

Recommended High School Preparation

Students applying to Ferrum College should have completed the recommended number of years suggested for each of the following courses:

English 4 World Language 3
History Social Science 4 Fine Arts or Career and Technical Ed. 1
Laboratory Science 4 Health and Physical Ed. 2
Mathematics (Algebra II or higher) 4 Economics and Personal Finance 1
Electives 3

Ferrum College is willing to consider students whose preparation does not include all of these subjects. Personal interviews are not required for all students. However, a Ferrum College representative may request an interview with students who have not completed the recommended number of academic courses. The results of the interview will be used in the admissions decision.

When to Apply for Admission

Fall – Candidates for the fall semester at Ferrum College may apply for admission upon completion of their junior year of high school.

Spring – Candidates for the spring semester should apply at least thirty days prior to the beginning of the spring term.

How to Apply for Admission

Visit www.ferrum.edu or you can apply via the Common Application www.commonapp.org/.

Applicants should:

  1. Send a copy of their transcript to the Office of Admissions or upload and attach to the individual application. This interim record will be used in making the admissions decision.
  2. Upon graduation from high school, applicants must request a final transcript be sent certifying graduation with a standard or advanced studies diploma. Home school students may provide the Notice of Intent they filed with their local school division. Those with GEDs must provide that documentation.
  3. If an applicant has taken the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), (www.collegeboard.org), or the American College Testing (ACT), (www.act.org), those test results need to be sent to the Office of Admissions.

How to Accept an Offer of Admission

An accepted student will give his or her intention to enroll at Ferrum College by submitting a $250 confirmation deposit. The deposit is not an additional charge, but an advance payment that will be credited to the student’s account for the upcoming semester. The deposit is refundable until May 1 of the current year. 

Special Admissions Categories

Admission as a Special Student

Individuals registering for fewer than 12 semester hours per term and not intending to complete a specific program of study may be admitted as special students.

Admission as a Transfer Student

Ferrum College welcomes transfer applicants and encourages them to visit the college campus. Transfer students should follow the same admissions procedure as outlined for recent high school graduates. In addition, transfer students must request that an official transcript of their college work be sent to the Ferrum College Office of Admissions. Transfer students with more than 24 hours of transfer credit may be exempt from submitting high school transcripts and college entrance tests.

Students with transferable credit will not be required to repeat equivalent course content at Ferrum College. Students must meet the number of upper level hours required for graduation by the student’s major program and the College. Only credit hours, not grade point average, transfer to Ferrum College. Therefore, transfer credit does not enter into the grade point average for honors.

Transfer students will receive full consideration for housing, financial aid, and campus co-curricular activities. Transfer students may be eligible for academic merit scholarships.

Transfer Credit Policy

Ferrum College will accept credit, towards graduation, for all courses which correspond to those offered at the College, have been passed with a “C” or better grade, and have been earned from an appropriately accredited college or university. However, degree recipients must complete at least 25% of the hours required for major(s) and minor(s) at Ferrum College. Transfer students are required to meet the General Education requirements as outlined in the catalog. All non-developmental courses above 100 level which have been passed with a “C” or better grade, will be accepted for credit as necessary for graduation. Students with transferable credit will not be required to repeat equivalent course content at Ferrum College. Students must meet the number of upper level hours required for graduation by the student’s major program and the College. Only credit hours, not grade point average, transfer to Ferrum College, therefore transfer credit does not enter into the grade point average.

Guaranteed Admissions Agreement for Virginia Transfer Students

When a student who has graduated under the Guaranteed Admissions Agreement from an accredited Virginia Community College with an Associate of Arts degree, an Associate of Science degree, or an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree, transfer in to Ferrum College, Ferrum College agrees that the student has satisfied the General Education Requirements portion of its graduation requirements. This agreement requires the student to have earned a grade of “C” or higher in courses applicable to the transfer-oriented degree program, have earned a minimum of 60 transferable credits, and hold an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher prior to enrollment at Ferrum College. The student must satisfy all other graduation requirements. (See Graduation Requirements  for specific guidelines.)

Similar agreements may be established with other community and junior colleges in the mid-Atlantic states. To receive additional information or a listing of these cooperative institutions, please contact the Ferrum College Office of Admissions.

The Ferrum Promise

Students who transfer from a Virginia Community College with an appropriate Associate Degree will be able to graduate within two years of transfer or they will receive free tuition for the remaining coursework. Students who are on track, with successful completion of all degree requirements, are guaranteed a clear path to graduation.

Students will receive: Seamless credit transfer, timely credit evaluations, communication on course equivalences, guaranteed two-year graduation, and individualized course mapping.

Readmission for Former Ferrum College Students

Former Ferrum College students who have not enrolled at the College for a semester or more may apply for readmission. Interested students must submit a written request for readmission to the chief academic officer. Students must provide official transcripts if they have taken any courses at another institution since leaving Ferrum. Readmission petitions from students who are not in good academic standing will be reviewed by the chief academic officer. Full-time students who leave Ferrum College and are readmitted will be subject to meeting the requirements of the current catalog (refer to the Academic Policies section of this catalog under the “Regulations Governing Catalog ” for additional clarification).

Students who have applied for and have been granted readmission have one year (365 days) to begin classes. If the student does not begin classes within one year, they will need to apply for readmission again.

Admission as an International Student

International students desiring admission to Ferrum College are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Students must submit:

  • Copy of high school transcript translated into English.
  • Score results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (T.O.E.F.L.) exam, or the English Proficiency Exam (E.P.E.), International English Language Testing System (I.E.L.T.S.), or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (S.A.T.), or Duolingo English test are required.
  • Personal Financial Information sheet (provided by the Office of Admissions).
  • The I-20 Form is provided only after a student is accepted and has demonstrated the ability to pay tuition, room, board, and fees, and has submitted the $250 confirmation deposit indicating intent to enroll.

Veterans’ Credit

Credit for educational experiences in the Armed Forces may be granted, based on recommendations of the American Council of Education. Credits are recorded for students after completion of at least one semester (15 or more semester hours) of resident study at Ferrum College with a GPA of 2.0 or better. Veterans must provide their DD-214 along with any military transcripts to the Office of the Registrar.

Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Course credit as well as advanced standing may be earned through the Advanced Placement Test Program of the College Entrance Examination Board, the International Baccalaureate Program, and the College Level Examination Program. Advanced Placement credit may be granted upon presentation of a score of 3 or above. International Baccalaureate credit may be granted upon presentation of a score of 5 or above. Ferrum College will accept scores from the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) in accordance with the recommendations set forth by the American Council of Education (scores of 50 or higher are required). Official scores directly from the testing centers are required before credit can be granted.

New Student Programs

Orientation

Ferrum College offers several programs to ensure that all new students successfully transition to the higher education learning environment. All new freshmen, transfer students and their families are introduced to the campus during one of the Black & Gold Days. Connection Weekend, an orientation program for all freshmen and transfer students, is offered immediately prior to the opening of fall semester. All incoming students must attend a Black & Gold Day and Connection Weekend which include advising, orientation, activities, and social gatherings.