Entrance Requirements

Wheaton College selects candidates for admission from applicants who evidence a vital Christian experience, high academic ability, moral character, personal integrity, concern for others, and the desire to pursue a liberal arts education as defined in the aims and objectives of the College.

The College seeks to enroll, from its many applicants, a well-rounded first-year class of dynamic individuals with a wide variety of attributes, accomplishments, backgrounds, and interests.

These qualities are evaluated by considering each applicant's academic record, autobiographical statements, recommendations, participation in extracurricular activities, and an interview (should the applicant choose to have one). Applicants are encouraged to submit standardized test scores for admission and academic scholarship consideration. Applicants from non-accredited secondary schools (including homeschoolers) are required to submit a standardized test score for admission. An audition is required for Conservatory of Music applicants.

Secondary School Record

Wheaton College requires an official transcript from a school providing secondary education or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate (GED) for admission as a degree seeking student. This includes students who have completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under State law.

Therefore, students who do not have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent (e.g. GED), or do not meet the home school requirements, and who first enroll in a program of study on or after July 1, 2012, will not be eligible to receive Title IV student aid. "Ability to benefit" (ATB) alternatives to a high school diploma or its equivalent are no longer accepted.

A student’s final high school transcript including all completed high school coursework and exact date of graduation serves as proof of a high school diploma. Official final high school transcripts must be signed and sent directly from the high school (or homeschool official) through an approved electronic transcript service or mailed in a sealed envelope. If we are unable to validate a student’s high school diploma, the student will not be eligible for federal financial aid. There is no appeal process should this situation occur.

Applicants should have followed a challenging college preparatory curriculum and meet the unit requirements listed below.

A minimum of 18 units should be earned in high school. (A unit is one full year of a subject). Only courses taken in grades 9-12 are counted. An applicant should plan to complete at least 14 units by the end of the junior year.

Of the 18 units, 15 must be earned in the academic areas of English, social studies, mathematics, science, and foreign language. Applicants are encouraged to have completed at least two years of one foreign language.

Courses That Meet the Unit Requirements

Subject Recommended Units
English (Examples: grammar, literature, composition, speech, debate, forensics, writing) 4 units recommended
Mathematics (Examples: algebra, geometry, algebra II, trigonometry, analytic geometry, precalculus, calculus, math analysis) 3-4 units recommended
Science (Examples: biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, physical science, geology, astronomy) 3-4 units recommended
Social Studies (Examples: world history, global studies, U.S. history, western/world civilization, European/African/Asian history, geography, psychology, economics, political science, government, sociology, philosophy) 3-4 units recommended
Foreign Language (Examples: French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Italian, Latin) 2-3 units recommended
Other (Examples: accounting, art history/survey/appreciation, Bible/religion, business, child development, communications, computer science, consumer education, drama, ESL, family living, general math, journalism, marketing, music history/theory/appreciation, pre-algebra)

No units are granted for health and activity courses such as physical education, driver education, or vocational courses. A maximum of one unit of computer science may be counted toward the 18 units.

Homeschooled applicants are encouraged to submit additional curricular information, by completing the Homeschool Information Form.

Students who are in an accelerated program in high school and who can complete all requirements for a diploma and Wheaton entrance requirements in three years may be considered for admission. They must satisfy all Wheaton's requirements for admission, including the 18 units of coursework and assurance that a diploma will be granted before enrollment at Wheaton. They must also demonstrate exceptional academic ability as evidenced by grades and display sufficient maturity to perform at the college level.  An interview may be required.

In recent years, the average unweighted grade point average of students accepted for admission has been 3.7 on a 4.0 scale. Over 50% of these applicants graduated in the top 10% in their class. These figures are not minimums, but are provided to give a general profile of the first-year class.

Entrance Tests

Wheaton College strongly encourages all applicants to submit a standardized test score for admission and academic scholarship consideration.  Applicants from non-accredited secondary schools and homeschool students are required to submit a standardized test score for Fall 2024 admission and later. Standardized tests Wheaton College considers include the Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination Board (SAT), the American College Testing Assessment Program (ACT), or Classical Learning Test (CLT). Wheaton's code number is 1905 for the SAT; 1160 for the ACT. All test scores must be sent directly from the testing service or recorded on their high school transcript. First-year applicants should take their test prior to application deadline for their desired admissions round.

Recommendations

The following are required:

  • Recommendation by an academic teacher (English, social science, science, math, or foreign language).

  • Faith Recommendation by a pastor, Christian mentor, Bible study leader, church official, or another mature Christian who has had the opportunity to observe the student's spiritual life. It should not be a relative. Alternatively, an interview with an admissions counselor can satisfy the Christian Faith Reference requirement.

  • Conservatory applicants must also request a recommendation from one of their music teachers.

Community Covenant

The Community Covenant is designed to express the Christian convictions, aspirations, commitments, and responsibilities shared by the members of the Wheaton College campus family. All students enrolling in Wheaton College will be required to sign the Community Covenant published in this catalog and in the admissions application.

Interview

An admission interview is optional except for students who chose to use an interview to satisfy their Christian Faith Recommendation. Please keep in mind that interview appointments are limited and often fill up a few weeks before the application deadline.

Application Procedures

First-Year Students

There are four application deadlines during the year for Fall First-year applicants. Students who apply for Early Action I, which is non-binding, receive their decision letters by November 30. Students who apply for Early Action II, which is non-binding receive their decision letters by December 31. Students who apply for Regular Decision I receive their decision letters by March 1. Students who apply for Regular Decision II receive their decision letters by April 1. Students who apply for Spring entry terms by October 1 will receive their decisions by December 1. For information on deadline dates for Early Action and Regular Action, as well as for applying to the Conservatory, consult the current year’s application information at https://www.wheaton.edu/undergraduate-admissions/apply-to-wheaton/about-the-admissions-process/. Applications submitted after the deadline dates cannot be guaranteed equal consideration with those submitted on time.

A student must complete the following steps to be considered for admission to Wheaton as a First-Year student:

  • Submit a completed application form along with a nonrefundable application fee (if applicable) using our institutional application or the Common Application.

  • Request that their secondary school send an official transcript of credits, including grade point average and the rank in class at the end of the junior year. The transcript must include work through the junior year and contain the freshman year record. If you have attended more than one high school, you must request a transcript from each school. Transcripts must be sent directly from the school.

  • Have the Academic Recommendation completed by an academic teacher.

  • Satisfy the Christian Faith Recommendation requirement by choosing one of the following:

    • Arrange for a pastor, youth pastor, former pastor, Bible study leader, church official, or other mature Christian to complete the Christian Faith Recommendation.

    • Complete an interview with an admissions counselor.

  • Take the SAT, ACT, or CLT and have the score reports sent to the Admissions Office directly from the testing agency should you choose to have a standardized test considered for admission (required for applicants from non-accredited secondary schools and homeschoolers for Fall 2024 admission and later). The application for admission may be submitted before taking the tests. First-year applicants who choose to have their standardized test scores considered with their admission application should take their test prior to application deadline for their desired admission round.

All students admitted for fall semester have until May 1 to submit an enrollment confirmation and $300 advance deposit.  All students admitted for spring semester have until the date stated in the admission letter to submit an enrollment confirmation and $300 advance deposit.

Enrolling students must request a final official transcript from their school as soon as possible, reflecting senior year credits, grades, final class rank, and exact date of graduation. Final transcripts must come directly from the school. Students are expected to satisfactorily complete all coursework in which they are enrolled at the time of acceptance.

Conservatory of Music

The Conservatory of Music offers professional music degrees: Bachelor of Music (B.M.) and Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.). Wheaton College is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. Those wishing to pursue a liberal arts music degree should select Bachelor of Arts-Music when applying.  A student must apply to either the Conservatory of Music or the Arts and Sciences division of the College, but not both.  Applicants to the Conservatory of Music should refer to the Conservatory of Music section in this catalog for additional requirements for admission.

Transfer Students

Transfers should apply the previous spring for fall semester and the previous fall for spring semester. For information on deadline dates, consult the transfer student portion of our website. Typically Wheaton has about 65 openings for the fall semester and 25 for the spring. Admission is offered on a rolling basis beginning in March (for fall) and November (for spring). Applications submitted after the deadline dates cannot be guaranteed equal consideration.

A transfer is defined as any student who has previously enrolled full-time in a college or university after graduating high school or who will have earned 24 or more college credits from an accredited college or university between graduating from high school and beginning at Wheaton College. The student must have at least a B average and be in good standing at the school last attended. Credit is granted for work of satisfactory grade (C-) taken in accredited schools, provided courses apply toward the Wheaton program. Up to 30 credits of coursework may be transferred from nationally accredited schools; these credits may not be used to satisfy Wheaton's upper division course requirement. Junior college students may transfer up to two years (62 semester hours) of credit.

Students applying for transfer to Wheaton must complete the following steps:

  • Submit a completed application form along with a nonrefundable application fee (if applicable) using our institutional application.

  • Request that the secondary school send an official final transcript of credits, including an exact date of graduation. Transcripts must come directly from the school.

  • Request transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended, whether or not credit was earned. Transcripts must be sent directly from the school either electronically or in a signed and sealed school envelope.

  • Have the Academic Recommendation completed by a professor or faculty advisor at the previous college.

  • Satisfy the Christian Faith Recommendation requirement by choosing one of the following:

    • Arrange for a pastor, youth pastor, former pastor, Bible study leader, church official, or other mature Christian to complete the Christian Faith Recommendation.

    • Complete an interview with an admissions counselor.

  • Have the SAT or ACT scores sent to Wheaton directly from the testing agency should you choose to have a standardized test considered for admission (required for applicants from non-accredited secondary schools for Fall 2024 admission and later).

If admitted, students are required to send an advance deposit of $300 by the date stated in the admission letter. (See section on advance deposit.)

Enrolling students must also submit final transcripts of college work as soon as it is completed. Final transcripts must come directly from the school. Students are expected to satisfactorily complete all course work in which they are enrolled at the time of acceptance.

Readmission

When a matriculated student withdraws or is academically dismissed from Wheaton and desires to return, a Reenrolling Student Application must be submitted to the Admissions Office. Application deadlines for students applying for re-admission are the previous spring for fall and summer, and the previous fall for spring. For information on deadline dates, consult the current year’s application. Readmission is not guaranteed; however, preference is given to reenrolling students based on the number of openings in a given semester. Students who were previously academically dismissed are encouraged to show academic readiness to succeed by completing 12 credits in a term with a 2.5 GPA at another institution prior to reapplying.  Students are advised to submit the application and supporting documents well in advance of their desired date of reenrollment.

If the student has attended another college since leaving Wheaton, an official transcript of all courses taken must be sent to the Admissions Office. Upon acceptance, readmitted students are required to submit a $300 advance deposit (if applicable). Housing requests will not be processed until enrollment has been confirmed with the Admissions Office.

If a student has not been enrolled for ten years or more and is readmitted into a degree program ten years from initial enrollment, the requirements listed in the catalog for the year of readmission must be met for graduation. Such students may file an Academic Petition with the Registrar's Office to extend degree completion beyond the ten-year limit. Students also may petition departments to be allowed to use credits more than ten years old to meet requirements of the newer catalog.

International Students

Qualified international students (non-citizens without a U.S. permanent resident visa) of high scholastic standing are invited to apply for admission to the College.

International students who do not attend an accredited high school will be required to submit a transcript evaluation (WES, SpanTran).

English Proficiency Requirements for International Applicants

International applicants from non-English speaking countries and for whom English is not their first language can complete one of the following for admission to Wheaton College:

  1. Submit TOEFL, IELTS, CEFR, or Duolingo English Test Scores. Admitted students must have an Internet-based TOEFL score of 95-105 or higher (587-620 or higher on the paper-based test) or an IELTS Academic score of 7-8 or higher, a CEFR level of C1 or above, or a Duolingo English Test score of 125 or higher.

  2. Submit ACT, SAT, or CLT Test Scores. Admitted students must have an ACT English score of 56 or higher, an SAT combined reading and writing score of 530 or higher, or a CLT composite score of 55 or higher on the verbal reasoning and grammar/writing sections.

  3. Submit Transcripts. Applicants with strong performance in international schools where English is the language of classroom instruction may submit transcripts to demonstrate competency in English.  Applicants must meet all three of the following criteria: 

  • Applicant has studied as a full-time student in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the British West Indies within the last two years or has studied at an international school where English language is the language of classroom instruction within the last two years.

  • AND applicant has taken at least one English class with a grade of B or better.

  • AND applicant has a good academic record at the school attended.

An applicant who is a native speaker of English and is a citizen of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the British West Indies is not required to take the TOEFL exam or IELTS Academic test.

NOTE: We must receive official score reports directly from the testing service.

Scores must be no more than two years old. If a student took the exam more than two years ago, it must be taken again. Students who do not meet the minimum English proficiency requirements will not be admitted.

Financial Documentation for International Applicants

International undergraduate applicants requesting an F1 student visa must show sufficient funds to cover expenses while attending Wheaton College. To verify adequate financial support, all international applicants (including citizens of Canada) must complete the International Financial Verification Form and submit it along with required financial documentation.

Wheaton College will not make an admissions decision until all required financial forms and documents are received.

Selection Process

Admission Decisions

The Enrollment Subcommittee under the Academic Policies Committee may grant an exception for a candidate who does not meet the academic standards for admission. Notification dates are listed in the application, or in the above section pertaining to your application type. For fall admission, all applicants with completed files should have received a decision letter by early April.

Waiting List

In April, some candidates will be notified that they have been placed on a waiting list. In the event that cancellations from those offered admission create openings in the class, those openings will be offered to candidates on the waiting list.

Advance Deposit

An advance deposit of $300 must be submitted to accept admission to the College or Conservatory of Music. The deposit is not refundable after the deadline and is forfeited if the student does not enroll. Upon enrollment, the deposit is credited toward tuition.

Deadlines for submitting the advance deposit are as follows: May 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester (or the deadline listed in the letter of admission). If the deposit is not received by the above deadline, the student’s spot in the class may be forfeited to a candidate on the waiting list.

Test Information and Credit

Competency and SAT Subject Tests

Competency in the areas of foreign language, speech, and writing should be demonstrated through the testing programs listed below. If competency is not demonstrated, the course or courses become part of the general education requirement. (See General Education Requirements for specific competency requirements.)

  • Foreign Language - Competency exam administered on campus if a student does not demonstrate competency through SAT Subject Tests, AP, or IB exams. For languages not taught at Wheaton, exam availability may vary;

  • Oral Communication - Test administered on campus;

  • Writing - See Writing under the English section of this catalog.

The SAT Subject Tests are not required for the admissions process. Foreign language subject tests may earn college credit as noted above. Students should arrange with their guidance counselors to take the tests sometime during their senior year, preferably no later than May. For further information on competency, see the General Education Requirements section of this catalog.

Note: If an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate course and exam are taken, the SAT Subject Test is not necessary.

Additional information will be sent to admitted first-years.

Advanced Standing - Dual or Concurrent Enrollment Credits

A maximum of 40 credit hours earned prior to high school graduation may be applied to the undergraduate degree. Use of courses taken prior to college matriculation for major requirements will be at the discretion of the Academic Department.

Advanced Standing — Credit by Examination

A student may be granted advanced standing or college credit on the basis of examination. The amount of credit and level of placement will be determined by the Registrar and the department chair in which the course is taught or the Director of Core Studies. Credit for advanced standing can be acquired by the following means:

  • Advanced Placement Program of the College Board with scores of 4 or 5. AP credit will be forfeited if an equivalent college course is taken for credit;

  • International Baccalaureate courses with grades of 5 or higher;

  • Certain foreign credentials.

Additional information will be sent to admitted students.

Acceptance of Degrees and Credits

The College reserves the right to decide the acceptability and relevance of degrees and credits earned at other institutions. The Registrar is responsible for specifying the criteria and conditions for the acceptance of such degrees and credits. College credit taken before the first year in high school will not be considered for transfer to Wheaton College.

Graduation Rate Information

As prospective students consider which college to attend, they often question what graduates do after graduation and how many students who start a degree program complete it. Of the first-years who enrolled at Wheaton for the fall 2022 semester, 94% returned to Wheaton for the fall 2023 semester. Of the 580 first-years who enrolled for the fall 2017 semester, 82% graduated from Wheaton in four years, 86% within five years, and 87% within six years.

Within five years of graduation, approx. 60% of Wheaton graduates have gone on to some form of graduate study.

This information is being provided as a service to students and in compliance with the Federal Student Right-to-Know Act.