Admission Requirements

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Applicants are considered for admission to the undergraduate divisions of the university by graduation from an accredited high school, by transfer from an accredited college, or equivalent. Students are expected to be academically prepared to succeed; therefore, academic performance, standardized test scores, and educational preparation are specifically considered. Additional factors may be considered in determining the applicant’s eligibility for admission during a holistic review that includes, but is not limited to, the student’s extra-curricular activities, leadership experiences, special talents, awards, and employment experiences.

Students are admitted to a specific college within the university. The university reserves the right to modify its admission requirements in order to manage enrollment in high-demand areas. The colleges may set various requirements for continuance in certain degree programs in addition to the general university minimum requirements. Texas Tech reserves the right to assign a major if applicants do not meet the qualifications for their major of choice.

First-Time Freshman Admission

Applicants must complete the following:

1. File a freshman application and pay a non-refundable application fee. The ApplyTexas Application is available at www.applytexas.org. The fee may be paid by check, money order, or online with a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, or Discover) at www.admissions.ttu.edu/tools/payment/default.asp. If payment of the fee creates financial hardship, students may submit verification or qualifying documentation of need for a fee waiver along with the application and supporting documents for admission. Applications will not be complete without either the application fee or fee waiver documentation. No waiver of the international application fee is available.
2. Have an official high school transcript showing GPA and class rank sent directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Senior courses in progress must be provided on the transcript, a grade report, or listed on the ApplyTexas Application form. A final official high school transcript showing graduation date will be required after graduation and will become part of the student’s permanent record. A student with a GED must submit their official GED scores as well as a partial high school transcript. If no rank is provided on the high school transcript, one will be assigned.
3. Have college entrance test scores, either the SAT or the ACT, sent from the testing agency at the time the test is taken. If it has been five years or more since high school completion (either through graduation or the GED), the requirement to take the SAT or ACT test will be waived.

Applicants enrolled in their first semester of college after high school graduation should apply as transfer students but must meet freshman admission requirements, submit SAT or ACT scores, and provide a high school transcript showing a graduation date.

Applicants must have completed the Texas Recommended High School Program (RHSP) or its equivalent and their high school transcripts must state their diploma type or further documentation may be required. Applicants must have either of the following:

1. Successfully completed the curriculum requirements for the recommended or advanced high school program or its equivalent; or
2. Satisfied ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks (English 18, Math 22, Reading, 21, and Science 24) on the ACT assessment applicable to the applicant or earned on the SAT assessment a score of at least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the equivalent.

The following courses are required to be considered for admission:

High School Subjects Units Required English 4 Mathematics* 4 Laboratory Science+ 4 Foreign Language^ 2

* Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II are the courses recommended for admission. + Biology I, Chemistry I, or Physics I are the courses recommended for admission. ^ If two years of the foreign language are not completed in high school, at least two semesters    of  a single foreign language will be required at the college level.

Homeschooled Students. The admission requirements for students who have been homeschooled are the same as for students who have attended traditional public or private schools. A transcript with all coursework, completed and in progress, is required with the application, test score, and application fee or waiver. Homeschool transcripts must bear a notarized signature of the parent attesting to the authenticity of the record. See www.admissions.ttu.edu/homeschool.

Early High School. College transcripts should be provided as part of the student's admissions packet.

Assurd Admission

Students who graduate from an accredited high school and have completed the Texas Recommended High School Program (RHSP)or its equivalent (including Department of Defense schools) with required coursework will be assured admission if they present the appropriate combination of class rank and minimum test scores.

Assured admission will be granted to students who hold competitive scholarships awarded by an official Texas Tech scholarship committee.

Admission Review

Students are expected to be academically prepared to succeed; therefore, academic performance, standardized test scores, and educational preparation are specifically considered. Additional information used to evaluate a student’s potential for success includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• High school coursework, including honors and AP
• Dual credit (on an official college transcript)
• Extracurricular activities
• Leadership experiences
• Civic or other service activities
• Socioeconomic background
• Family educational background
• Bilingual proficiency
• Special talents or awards
• Diversity of experience

A response to essay topic A, B or C on the ApplyTexas Application and up to three letters of recommendation are strongly encouraged for students who do not meet the assured admission requirements.

Provisional Admission

Applicants who are provisionally admitted can become fully admitted by completing six qualifying credit hours through the Texas Tech Gateway Program, earn at least a 2.5 GPA at an accredited community college, and provide a final transcript of the qualifying college credit. Because Undergraduate Admissions will continue to review applications until May 15, provisional admits also can provide additional items for consideration, such as updated test scores and revised/updated high school transcripts.

 

Admission Alternatives

Freshman applicants who have been denied admission for the summer or fall semester are eligible to participate in alternative programs..Visit www.admissions.ttu.edu/first-time-freshman for details.

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Transfer Admission

Undergraduate students who have attended an accredited college beyond high school graduation should apply as a transfer and may be accepted for admission to Texas Tech provided they meet admission requirements. Falsification or omission of application information will void admission to Texas Tech University. Applicants must complete the following:

1. File a transfer application and pay a non-refundable application fee. The ApplyTexas Application is available at www.applytexas.org. The fee may be paid by check, money order, or online with a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, or Discover). If payment of the fee creates financial hardship, students may submit verification or documentation of need for a fee waiver along with the application and supporting documents for admission. Applications will not be complete without either the application fee or fee waiver documentation. No waiver of the international application fee is available.
2. Provide official transcript(s) of academic records from all institutions in which the applicant has been or is currently enrolled. Admission will be determined by transferable work only. Applicants must be eligible to return to the institution most recently attended.

An unofficial copy of the high school transcript is necessary for academic advising prior to enrollment, but not required for admission unless the student has less than 12 transferable hours.

Assured Admission

Transfer applicants will be assured admission if they meet the following requirements (cumulative GPA is calculated with transferable credit only):

1. Complete 12 to 23 semester hours of transferable college work beyond high school graduation and have a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
2. Complete 24 or more semester hours of transferable college work beyond high school graduation and have a 2.25 cumulative GPA.
3. If transferring with fewer than 12 transferable completed hours, applicants must meet the same standards for admission as required of new freshmen entering from high school and have a minimum 2.0 transferable GPA in work completed. Applicants enrolled in their first semester of college after high school graduation should apply as transfer students but are required to submit a high school transcript and SAT or ACT scores and must meet freshman admission requirements.
4. Transfer applicants with 45 or more transferable hours must choose a major.
5. The university reserves the right to modify its admission requirements to manage enrollment in high-demand areas.
6. Transfer students choosing the Rawls College of Business must have a cumulative 2.75 GPA; College of Architecture, 3.0 cumulative GPA; Human Development and Family Studies, 2.5 cumulative GPA; Interior Design, 2.7 cumulative GPA; Community, Family and Addiction Services, 2.5 cumulative GPA; and Personal Financial Planning, 2.8 cumulative GPA. The Whitacre College of Engineering requires that a transfer student entering Fall 2013 or later must have 24 or more hours transferable coursework and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 that includes the work at all previous institutions. Regardless of the number of hours and the specific courses included in the transfer credits, external transfer students are initially accepted into the lower-division foundational curriculum of their degree program and must complete a minimum of 12 hours of Texas Tech coursework before application to the upper division. Eligibility for admission to the upper division is based exclusively on the cumulative GPA earned at Texas Tech. Transfer students with fewer than 24 hours of transferable credit will begin in pre-engineering.

Admission Review. Students who do not meet assured admission requirements but have at least a 2.0 transferable GPA will be reviewed. The student’s major, types of courses taken, and pattern of progress, as well as high school records, essays, and standardized test scores may be considered in the admissions process. An essay explaining any extenuating circumstances is highly recommended.

Conditional Admission for Transfer Applicants. Transfer applicants who are currently in attendance at another institution may be conditionally admitted to Texas Tech if they meet the following requirements:

• Texas Tech must receive official transcripts for all work completed up to the point of application.
• After evaluation of their completed work, applicants must meet guidelines for assured admission.
• Applicants whose transfer GPA fall between assured admission and 2.0 will be reviewed for possible conditional admission.
• Applicants whose transfer GPA is less than 2.0 will be placed in pending status until a final transcript is received for evaluation.

Applicants will be conditionally admitted pending receipt of a final transcript. Once the final transcript is received and the work is evaluated, applicants meeting university GPA requirements may be fully admitted to the university. Admission for applicants who do not meet university guidelines will be rescinded.

Transient Applicants. Students who are not seeking degrees at Texas Tech but wish to take courses at the university should use the Transient Application in ApplyTexas.

 

Admission Requirements for Former Texas Tech Students

Application materials and deadlines for former Texas Tech students are available at www.admissions.ttu.edu. Official transcripts from all institutions attended subsequent to Texas Tech enrollment must be submitted by the application deadline. Students who were on probation, suspension, or second/subsequent suspension and are returning to Texas Tech should refer to the admission criteria under “Scholastic Probation and Suspension” listed in the Undergraduate Academics section of this catalog and on the website listed above. Students who left in good standing must have a 2.0 GPA on work taken since leaving Texas Tech.

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