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Admission Information

Admission Criteria

Concordia University Irvine does not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, race, color, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin or any other protected class in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and other university-administered programs, except to the extent that religious freedom exemptions apply.

Concordia stresses sound scholarship, yet realizes that academic achievement is not the sole end in life. It stresses social interaction, realizing that individual worth is not always capable of expression in group-oriented settings. Therefore, each applicant will be given careful individual consideration and no one criterion can be identified in advance as the most crucial single factor. Thus, the following admission criteria are flexible guidelines used by the admission committee for the benefit of the student to measure and determine the potential for successful completion of a university education. Factors evaluated in the decision include: academic preparation, scholastic aptitude, recommendations, character, motivation, leadership potential, and the ability to benefit from and contribute to the goals and mission of Concordia. The university reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant. Space limitations may also affect the total number of applicants admitted in a given year

General admission to the university does not constitute admission to a program of study. Some programs may have their own admission requirements. Consult the respective program director for specific requirements.

Students desiring admission to a post-baccalaureate, graduate degree program or adult degree program should consult Concordia's admission website.

Basic Requirements for General Admission

Concordia welcomes applications from students who have demonstrated ability to succeed in college-level work. Criteria for selection include the following:

Academic Preparation

All applicants must be high school graduates or have completed the equivalent of the high school level of education. Concordia accepts some students who have received equivalency certificates or diplomas through the General Educational Development Test (GED) or the California High School Proficiency Exam (CPE).

Applicants for regular admission status are recommended to have successfully completed the following high school courses:

  1. English: 4 years

  2. Mathematics:  3 years including algebra 1, algebra 2, and geometry

  3. Science: 3 years including at least 2 years of laboratory science that includes at least 2 of the following: biology, chemistry, and physics

  4. Social Science: 2 years

  5. Foreign Language: 2 years recommended

Scholastic Aptitude

Entrance eligibility is determined by the cumulative academic grade point average (GPA).

Credit by Examination

Credit by examination at Concordia is available only through AP (Advanced Placement), CLEP (College Level Examination Program), DSSTS (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) or International Baccalaureate examinations. A maximum of 30 combined units can be earned. Concordia's standards for granting credit for these tests are available from academic advising. To receive credit, the student must submit official scores to the Office of the Registrar prior to the beginning of the student's final semester.

Falsification of Admission Documents

Any student who enters the university using false information or omits required information is subject to penalty, including immediate dismissal without a refund.

Admission Status

Regular Admission

Applicants who have fulfilled all of the basic criteria described in the Basic Requirements for General Admission section.

Wings Admission

WINGS is a bridge program for first-time freshmen and continuing sophomore students who do not meet regular admissions standards. In order to ensure student success, admission to and enrollment at Concordia is contingent on participation in the WINGS program. Students will benefit from a series of support services which include, but are not limited to, an introductory summer bridge program, academic workshops, tutoring services, and academic support through scheduled meetings with their assigned Student Success Mentor.

Admission Classifications

First-time Freshman Student

The first-time freshman is an applicant who has not enrolled and earned units at a postsecondary institution in any term following the summer immediately after high school graduation.

Admission Requirements for First-time Freshmen

High school minimum cumulative academic GPA of 2.8 or above.

Entering freshmen may submit an application any time after completion of their junior year of high school. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. The following must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to complete an application as a first-time freshman student:

  1. University admission application which is available online at www.cui.edu.

  2. The most recent official high school transcript and evidence of graduation must also be presented when high school work is completed.

Admission decisions may be determined using unofficial transcripts. Students must submit an official final high school transcript, equivalency certificates or diplomas through the General Educational Development Test (GED) or the California High School Proficiency Exam (CPE) before the start of the student's first semester at Concordia.

Transfer Student

A transfer student is an applicant who has enrolled and earned units at a postsecondary institution prior to entering Concordia following high school graduation.  Students who attended college for the first time during the summer immediately prior to fall admission at Concordia are not considered transfer students.

Admission Requirements for Transfer Students

  • Students who were eligible for admission as freshmen may transfer at any time with no minimum number of units and a recommended minimum college GPA of 2.3.

  • Students who did not meet admission requirements as freshmen must earn a minimum of 24 semester units from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum college GPA of 2.3.

The following must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to complete an application as a transfer student:

  1. Concordia admission application which is available online at www.cui.edu.

  2. Official final high school transcript, equivalency certificates or diplomas through the General Educational Development Test (GED) or the California High School Proficiency Exam (CPE).

  3. Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.

Admission decisions may be determined using unofficial transcripts. Students must submit official final high school, equivalency certificates or diplomas through the General Educational Development Test (GED) or the California High School Proficiency Exam (CPE), and college transcripts before the start of the student's first semester at Concordia.

Transcript evaluations are made to determine the equivalency of transferred courses. Equivalent credit from institutions on the quarter calendar is determined at a ratio of 1.5 quarter units to 1 semester unit.

Please refer to the Transfer Credit policy for detailed information about transfer credit.

A current list of accepted ADT's can be found at www.cui.edu/transfer, and the transfer articulation agreements can be found at www.cui.edu/ articulation.

Homeschooled Student

The admission process is similar to that of students entering from a traditional high school background. Concordia requires an official high school transcript at the time of application and evidence of graduation must also be presented when high school work is completed.

International Student

An international student (undergraduate or graduate) is one who does not hold United States citizenship or lawful permanent residency. International students must fulfill the following special international student admission criteria in addition to the previous stated requirements:

Admission Requirements for First-time Freshman International Students

  1. High school minimum cumulative academic GPA of 2.8 or above

  2. TOEFL score of 79, IELTS score of 6.5, or Duolingo score of 100.

  3. Evidence of financial arrangement to meet educational costs for the designated period

  4. Compliance with provisions of the Student Visa (I-20)

Admissions decisions are determined using official transcripts, and English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo) test scores.

Admission Requirements for Transfer International Students

A transfer student is defined by the same rules and parameters as a domestic transfer student (see Transfer Student).

  1. Submit an application through the Concordia online application or Common App.

  2. Official final high school transcript or proof of high school graduation (diploma). A graduation date must be provided.

  3. Official transcripts from every undergraduate institution attended in the United States and regionally accredited institutions abroad.

  4. If the student attended a non-regionally accredited college or university outside the United States, the transcript(s) must be evaluated by a NACES-approved evaluation agency (IERF is preferred).

  5. English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo) are required if a student is transferring from a non-English speaking college/ university abroad, or if the student has not taken or passed an English composition course with a grade of C or above.

  6. Evidence of financial arrangement to meet educational costs for the designated period

  7. Compliance with provisions of the Student Visa (I-20)

I-20 requirements for International Students can be found here.

Readmitted Student

Students who previously attended Concordia, but withdrew or transferred to another institution and now desire to re-enroll at Concordia must be readmitted to the university. All students who are applying for readmission must go through the admission process.

The requirements are:

  1. Students being readmitted following disqualification must show evidence indicating that the deficiency that led to disqualification has been removed.

  2. Students must submit official transcripts from all institutions attended during the absence from Concordia. All readmission applications are reviewed by the Admission Committee. Just as new students must make an enrollment deposit, the same is required of readmitted students. Readmission to the university is not guaranteed.

Students returning to Concordia after an absence of one (1) term or more will re-enter under the catalog that is current at the time of return. Students with junior or senior status may appeal this policy unless the student chooses to re-enter into a different program than previously enrolled. If a student leaves Concordia on academic probation and is subsequently readmitted, or if the student is dismissed and readmitted, the student will return on academic probation, regardless of any courses the student may have taken and grades earned in the interim and transferred into Concordia.

Petition for Exception

Students denied admission may submit an appeal to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Appeals must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation and a written statement describing the request for appeal and the plan for academic success. In addition, freshmen applicants must submit an updated transcript with 7th-semester grades and a mid-semester grade report. Transfer applicants must submit an updated transcript and a mid-semester grade report.

Deferred Admission

Admitted students may request deferred admission for one semester in the same academic year. Deferral requests must be submitted in writing to the admissions counselor and will be reviewed by the Director of Undergraduate Admissions.

Validation of Official Transcripts

As part of the undergraduate admission process application, all students must submit official transcripts from all high schools and colleges attended. Students must submit an official transcript from the high school where the student graduated. The transcript must include the date of graduation. Transcripts are deemed official when either:

  • The transcripts arrive directly from the sending institution via the U.S. Mail or are hand-delivered in a sealed envelope that includes the institution's return address. The transcript must include the sending institution’s requirements to be deemed as official, for example, the signature of the school designee, embossed school seal, or any other written instructions.

  • OR, the transcripts are transmitted electronically directly from the sending institution. Electronic transcripts must be received via one of the following approved agencies and have a corresponding CEEB/ACT code:

  1. Common App/Naviance

  2. Parchment

  3. National Student Clearinghouse

  4. Scribe/Scribbles

  5. IERF/Spantran/IEE (for International institutions)

When official transcripts are received by Concordia University Irvine’s Admissions Office, official transcripts will be entered into TargetX/ Salesforce with a timestamp recording the date received. Transcripts are then scanned and indexed into Banner Document Management System (BDMS).

The Office of the Registrar at Concordia University Irvine may alter the requirements and process for the validation of official transcripts at any time.

Categories of Students

Degree and/or certificate-seeking students

These are students who are seeking a degree, certificate, or credential on either a full-time or part-time basis. These students must apply for and be accepted to Concordia through the appropriate admissions office.

Non-degree students

These are students attending Concordia on a part-time basis who are not working toward a degree, certificate, or credential. These students must complete a Guest Application for non-degree course work through the Office of the Registrar before registering for classes. Credit for these courses cannot be applied toward a degree, certificate, or credential until these students have completed the application process through the appropriate admissions office.

Freshman Advantage Nursing Pathway Program

New freshmen attending Concordia University Irvine are eligible to participate in the Freshman Advantage Nursing Pathway which guarantees admission into our ABSN program. More information can be found here.