Lipscomb University admits men and women who demonstrate the ability to succeed academically and who possess good moral character. A student desiring to enter must apply and furnish evidence of intellectual capacity and moral character.
Freshman Students
In general, applicants are expected to have followed a college preparatory course of study in high school. This track includes at least four units of English, two units of mathematics (preferably Algebra I and II), two units of natural sciences, two units of history/social sciences, two units in the same foreign language and two academic electives (selected from natural sciences, mathematics, foreign languages or social sciences). Applicants 18 years and older may be admitted with a GED.
We welcome your application and are excited about assisting you in enrolling at Lipscomb. To apply, follow these five steps:
- Fill out an application form. All blanks must be filled in, and the form must be signed by the applicant and the person responsible for payment, if applicable. The application may be mailed before the submission of the high school transcript, references, and the ACT/SAT scores.
- Send in a $50 application fee. Contact the admissions office for details.
- Submit a transcript of high school credits. Students applying during their senior year may submit credits completed through their junior year.
- Give a reference form (educational) to the individual listed on the application.
- Arrange to take the ACT or SAT test and have the score sent to Lipscomb University. (Our institutional code for the ACT is 3956. The SAT code is 1161.)
If acceptance is granted, three additional items must be submitted: a final high school transcript, a health form and a Student Consent to Release Academic Information Form (FERPA). All records must be filed in the admissions office and approved before a student can enroll.
Applicants who present an ACT composite score of 21 or higher (or SAT equivalent), a high school GPA of 2.5 or higher and strong educational references are generally admitted without conditions.
Applicants who do not meet all four criteria will be automatically reviewed, which in some circumstances may require admission through the Transitions Program or other conditions. Any student, regardless of acceptance status, who does not score a 21 or higher on the math portion of the ACT (500 or higher on the SAT) is required to take Introductory and/or Intermediate Algebra.
Appeal of an admission decision may be submitted in writing to the Office of Admissions. The university cannot accept the responsibility for a delay in the enrollment of an applicant submitting records later than two weeks prior to registration. The university reserves the right to reject any applicant, or rescind admission to the university, at its sole discretion. For any reason deemed sufficient, the university may require a medical examination, intelligence test or subject matter examination and may revise at any time the status given a student on admission. The provisions of this paragraph are subject to Lipscomb University’s nondiscriminatory policy contained elsewhere in this catalog and will not be used in any way to violate that stated policy.
Home-schooled Students
Lipscomb recognizes the unique nature of home schooling and welcomes applications from home-schooled graduates. In general, a home-schooled student applying as a first-time freshman should follow the same application procedures as other freshman applicants. In lieu of a high school transcript, a home schooling record or transcript is required. If an educational reference is not available, a personal reference from a non-family member must be submitted.
If acceptance is granted, three additional items must be submitted: a final high school transcript, a health form and a Student Consent to Release Academic Information Form (FERPA). All records must be filed in the admissions office and approved before a student can enroll
Transfer Students
Lipscomb accepts applications for admission from students who have attended other accredited institutions. Transfer students must follow, in general, the first three enrollment steps for freshman students.
All college transcripts are required, as well as high school transcripts and ACT or SAT scores if the student is transferring with fewer than 60 semester hours. If an applicant is currently enrolled at
another institution, a final college transcript will be required to validate admission. In addition, transfer students must be eligible to return to the institution previously attended. Transfer students who are admitted with a GPA below 2.0 will be placed on academic probation. Normally, courses with a grade equivalent to or exceeding a “C” will transfer. The university reserves the right to reject any applicant, or rescind admission to the university, at its sole discretion.
Tennessee Board of Regents Schools. Lipscomb University will accept the general education requirements from Tennessee Board of Regents schools as meeting the general education requirements when one of the following exists:
- The student has completed all requirements for an A.S. or A.A. degree,
- The student has completed all the TBR general education requirements, or
- The student is completing one of the approved Tennessee Transfer Pathways.
Students who do not meet one of these options will have their general education course work approved for transfer on a course-by-course comparison.
If acceptance is granted, three additional items must be submitted: a final high school transcript, a health form and a Student Consent to Release Academic Information Form (FERPA). All records must be filed in the admissions office and approved before a student can enroll.
Tennessee Transfer Pathway
Lipscomb University is a participant in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway. Tennessee Transfer Pathways (TTPs) are designed to help community college students plan for transferring to a Tennessee public university or select regionally accredited, nonprofit Tennessee private colleges and universities to complete their baccalaureate degree. The TTPs also reflect an agreement between community colleges and four-year colleges/universities confirming that community college courses meet major preparation requirements. A student who completes all of the courses listed on a particular Transfer Pathway will earn an A.A. or other degree at the community college.
The student is responsible for following the TTP exactly to ensure transfer of hours. A minimum grade of “C” is required for courses to transfer. Admission into Lipscomb University does not guarantee admission into a specific program.
The Guaranteed Tuition Option
Undergraduate students enrolling full-time (12 hours or more) in the Fall of 2019 may elect one of the following tuition rates:
The Guaranteed Tuition Option provides eligible students with the opportunity to pay a fixed tuition rate for four years instead of paying a tuition rate that typically increases each year. While the fixed tuition rate for the 2019-2020 academic year under the Guaranteed Option is slightly higher than the standard tuition rate, a student who elects to participate in the Guaranteed Tuition Option is not susceptible to increased tuition rates during the four-year period but is guaranteed to pay a fixed rate over that period.
Eligible students must formally elect to participate in the Guaranteed Tuition Option by properly selecting this option on myLipscomb between June 1, 2019 and July 31, 2019.
Students who participate in the Guaranteed Tuition Option but enroll in less than 12 credit hours during any semester will not be eligible for the Guaranteed Tuition Option rate during that semester, but must instead pay the standard tuition hourly rate. Students who participate in the Guaranteed Tuition Option but enroll in more than 18 credit hours during any semester will pay the Guaranteed Tuition Option rate plus the standard tuition hourly rate for such excess hours. Further, students who do not graduate within four years must pay tuition at the university’s regular rate for any additional years.
This Guaranteed Tuition Option rate only applies to the four academic years beginning with the Fall 2019 semester and ending with the Spring 2023 semester. All university traditional undergraduate students are eligible to select and participate in the Guaranteed Tuition Option, except those students who (i) receive the University’s Freshmen or Transfer Trustee Award; (ii) are dependents of university employees and receive the corresponding tuition discount; or (iii) receive an athletic scholarship. Students who enroll in any of the university’s adult degree, graduate or professional programs are not eligible to select or participate in the Guaranteed Tuition Option.
The Guaranteed Tuition Option only applies to tuition and the general student fee, and does not relate to costs for room and board, nursing fees, specific course fees, study abroad fees, expenses related to mission trips or any additional University fees other than the general student fee. All students who select and participate in the Guaranteed Tuition Option will be responsible for paying such other fees.
A student may cancel and revoke his or her participation in the Guaranteed Tuition Option at any time by providing written notice to the Bursar’s Office in person or by email at bursar@lipscomb.edu. Any such notice that is received before the end of the first week of a given semester will terminate the student’s participation in the Guaranteed Tuition Option effective as of that semester. If notice is received after the first week of a given semester, the student’s participation in the Guaranteed Tuition Option will be terminated effective as of the following semester. After a student’s revocation of the Guaranteed Tuition Option becomes effective, the student will be charged the regular tuition rate for subsequent semesters in accordance with University policies.
If the enrollment of a student participating in the Guaranteed Tuition Option is canceled for any reason (including, without limitation, withdrawal, suspension or expulsion), any refund of tuition will be subject to the terms of the university’s refund policy, as set forth in this catalog and other official publications. The university reserves the right to offset any tuition amounts that might be deemed refundable against any other amounts owed by the student. No portion of the guaranteed tuition rate is refundable in any manner except as expressly set forth in the university’s refund policy.
Visiting Students
Admission as a visiting student is granted for only one semester. If the student desires to attend Lipscomb after that one semester as a visiting student, then he/she must reapply. A prospective student who has attended or is currently enrolled in another institution and desires to enroll in a course(s) at Lipscomb must:
- Complete the application.
- Submit the application fee.
- Have an official transcript or official letter of good standing sent to Lipscomb from the last institution attended. For a course requiring a prerequisite, an official copy of the student’s transcript must be sent to the admissions office.
- If a specific course taken at Lipscomb is to be transferred to the degree-granting institution, permission must be granted from that institution.
- Submit a health form, if student is full-time.
International Students
International students are welcome at Lipscomb! They must file an international student application and meet the admissions requirements specified for international students. An entrance exam is required of international students, though they are given the choice between ACT, SAT, TOEFL or IELTS. For unconditional acceptance, an international student must receive the following scores: 550 on the TOEFL paper-based test, 80 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.5 on the IELTS, 1100 on the SAT, or 21 on the English section of the ACT. Your results must be sent to the University directly from the testing service. If you do not meet these requirements, our English for Academic Purposes Program can help you learn English.
All applicants whose academic records are from schools, colleges, or universities outside of the United States may provide an optional course-by-course report from an approved evaluation service. This is not a requirement, but is recommended. Here are the two approved services: Lisanto, and WES.
Lisanto International
Foreign International Credential Evaluation
P.O. Box 407
Auburn, AL 36831-0407
Fax: 334.745.0425
Email: lisanoINTL@aol.com
Web: www.lisano-INTL.com
World Educational Services
P.O. Box 01-5060
Miami, FL 33101
Phone: 305.358.6688
Web: www.wes.org
Due to federal regulation, an international student must demonstrate financial resources for one year of study and prepay one semester before receiving documentation to apply for a student visa, and are required to have health insurance while a student at Lipscomb. For more information, contact the Office of Admissions by telephone at 615.966.1776 or 877.582.4766, by email at admissions@lipscomb.edu, by visiting international.lipscomb.edu, or by mail at Lipscomb University - Office of Admissions, 1 University Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37204-3951 USA.
If acceptance is granted, three additional items must be submitted: a final high school transcript, a health form and a Student Consent to Release Academic Information Form (FERPA). All records must be filed in the admissions office and approved before a student can enroll. The university reserves the right to reject any applicant, or rescind admission to the university, at its own discretion.
Superior high school students may be admitted for regular university work. A student applying for early admission must submit an application, transcript, ACT or SAT scores, two references and a letter of recommendation from the high school principal or counselor. Each request for early admission is considered by the admissions office on a case by case basis.
Lipscomb cannot guarantee that credits earned in the early admission program will automatically transfer to any other institution. Each college/university reserves the right to determine transfer credit.
In some cases, students choose to bypass the senior year of high school and enter college. These students apply in the same way as other prospective first-time freshmen. Three additional items are required: a letter of recommendation from the high school principal or counselor, the high school principal’s intention in writing to award the applicant a high school diploma upon completion of the student’s first year at Lipscomb and a personal essay stating the reasons for desiring early admission to Lipscomb. In addition, a health form must be submitted before enrolling.
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy
Lipscomb University is a private, Christian university open to any qualified student without regard to race, religion, sex, age, color, national or ethnic origin, or disability. The university shall comply with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws, and does not engage in prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, color, national or ethnic origin, or disability in the administration of its educational policies, programs and activities, including without limitation, admissions policies, scholarships and loan programs, employment practices, and athletic and other school administered programs. As a religiously controlled institution of higher education, Lipscomb University is exempt from compliance with some provisions of certain civil rights laws.
Required Documentation for Off-Site Learning Experiences
Off-site learning experiences (e.g., clinical, practicum and internship) are required in many courses of study at Lipscomb. Successful completion of these experiential courses is required for graduation and/or licensure. Students should be aware that many experiential sites require satisfactory documentation of personal identification in the form of driver’s licenses, social security cards, passports, drug screening and background checks. Students should make sure that they are aware of and can meet all documentation requirements well in advance of the time frame for admission into the respective program and placement into these sites. Failure to provide required documentation for successful entry into these experiential courses will result in failure to complete the desired program of study.
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