Admissions
The Admissions Office cordially invites prospective students, their parents and friends to visit Graceland's Lamoni campus for an individual visit. We also encourage you to take advantage of several campus preview programs offered throughout the year, such as “Graceland for a Day,” "Fine Arts Graceland for a Day," and “Iowa Private College Week.” Please call 866-GRACELAND to make arrangements for your visit. You may also schedule a visit online at http://www.graceland.edu
Graceland University does not discriminate against any student or prospective student on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation or disability. Graceland does reserve the right to deny admission to a student who is deemed unable to adjust successfully to the Graceland environment.
Table of Contents
- High School Students
- Home School Policy
- International Students
- Transfer Students
- Articulation Agreements
- Part-time Study
- Registered Nurses
- Military Service
High School Students
A student seeking admission to Graceland from high school must submit to the Admissions Office an application form, a high school transcript with at least six semesters of work, ACT or SAT scores and a nonrefundable application fee of $50.00. (The $50.00 application fee is waived when the application is submitted online.) An institutional deposit of $200.00 is required prior to receiving a room assignment or registering for classes. All of the above information should be sent to the Admissions Office, Graceland University, 1 University Place, Lamoni, Iowa 50140.
In order to be considered for entrance to Graceland, an applicant must be a high school graduate and qualify in two of the following three criteria:
- Rank in upper 50% of the class.
- Have a 2.50 grade point average or above based on a 4.00 system.
- Have either a minimum composite ACT score of 21 or a minimum combined SAT I score of 960.
Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be considered individually. If accepted, they may be required to take developmental courses. Some applicants may be requested to test for the Chance Program prior to being considered for acceptance.
Acceptance of a student will be on a conditional basis until Graceland receives the final official high school transcript. The transcript must be mailed directly from the school and have the official school seal affixed.
In unusual circumstances, high school students who have not graduated but have completed 15 units of high school work may be admitted to Graceland at the discretion of the Dean of Admissions. In such cases, successful scores on General Educational Development (GED) tests and an official high school transcript are required. GED scores may be used as high school equivalency.
Students accepted with an ACT English score below 15, SAT English score below 400, or a COMPASS English Placement score below 70 will be required to take Basics of English (DEVL1250). Students who have had at least two high school English courses, one of which must be or prominently require composition (not creative writing), and have scored a "C" or better in both, are eligible to be placed in Modern Rhetoric. Students accepted with an ACT Math score below 16, SAT Math score below 370, or a COMPASS Math Placement score below 39 will be required to take both Beginning Algebra (DEVL0900) and Intermediate Algebra (DEVL1200), unless they have completed two years of high school math, one of which must have been algebra. A minimum grade of “C” must have been achieved in both of the high school math courses. Students taking Beginning Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, Academic Success and Basics of English as a condition of their enrollment are required to achieve a minimum grade of “C”. If a student fails to achieve the minimum grade in any of these courses, that course must be repeated until the minimum grade is achieved.
For athletic eligibility, the ACT/SAT test results must come from official test centers on the national testing dates.
A Compass Placement Test will be required to determine proper placement in English and Math if ACT or SAT scores are not submitted.
Freshmen who fail to achieve a 2.00 GPA during their first full-time semester of enrollment at Graceland, and who have not already successfully completed Academic Success (DEVL1220), will be required to enroll in this course during their next semester of full-time enrollment.
Home School Policy
Graceland welcomes applications from home-schooled students. We acknowledge the important contributions that home-schoolers make, both in the classroom and as part of student life. Graceland makes a deliberate effort to accommodate the special circumstances of home-schooled students during the admissions process.
To maintain a universal standard of achievement among applicants, while also allowing flexibility, Graceland requires two of the following three criteria:
- Have either a minimum composite ACT score of 21 or a minimum combined SAT I score of 960. For athletic eligibility, the test results must come from official test centers on the national testing dates.
- A portfolio demonstrating the breadth and depth of learning by the applicant. The portfolio may express the unique learning of the home-schooler during the years of high school or the last four years of learning. Admissions will assess the quality of the portfolio to determine whether it reflects sufficient preparation for success during college.
- A home-school transcript prepared by the teachers/parents, an independent or supervising teacher, or an organization with whom the student is registered or affiliated. The cumulative grade point average must be 2.50 or above based on a 4.00 system.
A further description of the portfolio and transcript is available from the Admissions Office.
Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be considered individually. If accepted, they may be required to take developmental courses as specified in policies for admission of high school students. Some applicants may be requested to test for the Chance Program prior to being considered for acceptance.
A home-schooled student who has twelve or more college credits will need to comply with Graceland's transfer student policies; however, no high school transcripts will be required.
Placement Test may be required - see High School Students section of Catalog.
International Students
Applicants from countries outside the United States are considered by the Admissions Office on an individual basis. In order to gain entrance, an applicant must show academic proficiency, financial support, and competency in the English language. A TOEFL score of 450 (paper-based) or 133 (computer-based) is required for applicants whose primary language is not English. Students with TOEFL scores of 450-500 (paper-based) or 133-173 (computer-based) must enroll in the Intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) Program. Depending on results of in-house testing, either English as a Second Language I (ENSL1470) or English as a Second Language II (ENSL1480), and in some cases both courses, will be required for those with TOEFL scores of 500-550 (paper-based) or 173-213 (computer-based). An applicant can test out of ESL after arriving on campus. If applying for financial aid, an International Financial Aid Application is required. Advising and support services are provided by the International Programs Office and the academic advisor. All forms are available through the Admissions Office.
Articulation Agreements
Graceland’s articulation agreements facilitate credit transfer. Click on the available links to view equivalency lists or for a detailed listing of the following articulation agreements contact the Registrar's Office:
- AIB College of Business
- China Institute of Technology
- Des Moines Area Community College
- Indian Hills Community College
- Art: Studio Art
- Art: Visual Communications
- Athletic Training
- Business Administration
- Economics
- Elementary Education
- Psychology
- Nursing
- Sociology
- Iowa Central Community College
- Iowa Valley Community College District
- -Ellsworth Community College
- -Marshalltown Community College
- -Iowa Valley Community College Grinnell
- Iowa Western Community College
- Johnson County Community College
- Metropolitan Community College-Omaha
- North Central Missouri College
- North Iowa Area Community College
- Mercy Medical Center - Des Moines, IA
- Clinical Lab Science/Medical Technology major
- Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City
- Clinical Lab Science/Medical Technology major
- Southwestern Community College
- Accounting
- Art: Studio Art
- Art: Visual Communications
- Athletic Training
- Biology
- Business Administration
- Economics
- Elementary Education
- Music
- Nursing
- The Metropolitan Community College District– Kansas City
- -Blue River Community College
- -Longview Community College
- -Maple Woods Community College
- -Penn Valley Community College
- Western Iowa Tech Community College
- Equivalency listings are also available for the following schools:
- Eastern Iowa Community College District: Clinton-Muscatine-Scott Community Colleges
- Northeast Iowa Community College
- Northwest Iowa Community College
- Wentworth Junior College
Part-time Study
Applicants desiring part-time study for personal interest or to pursue a degree program must meet the same criteria as required for full-time study. As long as study continues every semester, a new application is not necessary.
The Accelerated College Education Program (ACE) is designed for high school students who wish to accelerate their college program. Students may enter the program during their 11th and 12th grade years in high school as provided in the Post Secondary Enrollment Option Act. In addition to submitting an application and a $50.00 non-refundable application fee, students must be at least 16 years of age and have a 3.0 grade point average or a recommendation from their high school counselor. Students also must furnish recommendations from their parents and a high school administrator. For Iowa residents, the cost of tuition and textbooks is paid by the local school district as provided in the PSEO Act. Students receive both high school and college credit for the courses they successfully complete. ACE participants may also take college courses during summer sessions, but they are responsible for paying regular tuition costs and may receive high school credit for these summer courses. Courses are available on campus and via the internet.
Applicants participating in the Tuition Waiver Program for Retired Persons, if pursuing a degree program, must meet the criteria for full-time admission to the university. Retired persons who are interested only in taking courses for personal interest and improvement do not need to file academic credentials. Each term, an Application for Admission/ Tuition Grant for Retired Persons and a $50.00 administration fee must be submitted.
Applicants pursuing a degree program through regular academic credit in the Continuing Education Program must meet the criteria established for full-time admission. Applications for part-time study in the Continuing Education Program for college credit are made course by course.
Employees of the university, if pursuing a degree program, must meet criteria for full-time admission to the university. All employees taking classes must fill out and submit the Application for Tuition Benefit Form and the Application for Admission for Part-Time Study, which must be signed by their supervisors and submitted to the Director of Human Resources. Employees must also file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If employees are Iowa residents their FAFSA must be received by the processor by July 1.
Professional Nursing
An opportunity is provided for registered nurse graduates of state approved diploma or associate degree nursing programs to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Advanced placement may be granted to registered nurses through the Iowa Articulation Program:
Requirements for Admission of Registered Nurses to the Nursing Program
- Admission to the university.
- Admission to the Nursing major.
- Evidence of current license to practice as a registered nurse.
- Submission of two reference letters.
In addition to Graceland’s residential B.S.N. and online R.N. to B.S.N. completion programs in Nursing, the university offers a B.A. degree in Health Care Management and a M.S.N. Family Nurse Practitioner Degree, Nurse Educator Degree and Post-MSN FNP and Post-NE programs.
For details, contact the School of Nursing, 1401 West Truman Road, Independence, Missouri 64050-3434 or telephone 1-800-833-0524.
Military Service
Educational programs on the Graceland University campuses are approved for current service members, veterans, and veterans’ dependents, who are eligible for benefits under existing laws. Students eligible for veterans’ benefits should contact the Registrar in Patroness Hall on the Lamoni, IA, campus prior to enrollment at the university.
Graceland University is a member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, a consortium of over 1500 colleges and universities that provide college-level educational opportunities for servicemembers and their families. As a SOC member, this institution
- Recognizes the GED high school equivalency certificate/diploma;
- Recognizes learning gained from specialized training and experience in the military services;
- Establishes competency by nationally recognized means, such as standardized tests;
- Maintains a flexible transfer of credits policy for the mobile, active-duty servicemembers;
- Publicizes alternative admissions procedures available to servicemembers and waives formal admission procedures for those seeking enrollment in course work for transfer to another institution;
- Conducts a timely evaluation of the educational records and relevant experiences of servicemembers; and
- Completes a student agreement or degree completion plan for all degree-seeking servicemembers.
College credit for active military service may be requested by any veteran by making application to the Registrar.
