Applicant Status

Find your applicant status among the choices below to understand the admissions requirements and application process you should follow. To apply, follow all steps listed under the Application Procedures. Click on the appropriate status section heading for the application form.

Freshman Applicants

Applicants who have not attended any college or university after high school are considered freshman applicants.

Baccalaureate Program Admission: Freshman applicants seeking admission to a baccalaureate degree program will be admitted if they meet the following requirements:

• Will graduate from high school with a recomputed academic grade point average of 2.25 or better in core courses.
• Attain a minimum ACT composite score of 19 (writing test not required) or a minimum combined SAT score of 900 (out of 1600) on the math and critical reading sections (NMU is not currently considering the writing section for admission).
• Successfully complete core course work as outlined by the Presidents Council of the State Universities of Michigan, as referenced above in Secondary School Preparation. Students who have earned a GED are also considered for admission.

Non-Baccalaureate Program Admissions: Freshman applicants seeking admission into associate, certificate, diploma-level or certification programs will be admitted if they meet the following requirements:

• Applicants may submit records verifying the achievement of the admission standards for baccalaureate programs; or
• Applicants must submit records verifying that they meet the specific admission requirements for the program to which they are applying. Some community college-level programs have specific minimum grade point average and/or test score requirements. This information can be found on the application for admission.

Transfer Applicants

Applicants who have attended a college or university after high school graduation or GED attainment are considered transfer applicants. Transfer applicants are admitted in good standing if they have a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average on a 4.00 scale for college-level courses taken at all post-secondary institutions attended and are eligible to return to the last institution attended. Transfer applicants who have earned fewer than 12 college-level credits will be reviewed based on high school and college performance.

Dual Enrollment Applicants

Applicants who are still enrolled in high school and wish to be enrolled in NMU courses prior to high school graduation are considered dual enrollment applicants and may be admitted, provided the student has demonstrated consistent, excellent academic achievement. Local school districts have their own requirements regarding approval of students seeking to pursue dual enrollment. Students should contact their school counselor or principal. Additionally, the following requirements must be met for admission as a dual-enrolled student at NMU:

• Applicants must have completed the 10th grade of high school and have achieved a minimum 3.00 grade point average, recalculated in academic, core courses; and
• Applicants are limited to taking eight credits per semester and must meet course prerequisites.

To apply,  the “Dual Enrollment Permission to Enroll Form” must first be completed and accepted. This form is available from the Admissions Office. You will then be provided enrollment information.

Dual enrollment students wishing to attend NMU as degree-seeking students after high school graduation do not need to reapply for admission. Write or call the Admissions Office to let us know you’d like to continue at NMU.

Re-entry Applicants

Previous Northern Michigan University undergraduate students who have not been enrolled at NMU for at least one year are considered re-entry applicants and will be re-admitted to the  university provided they are eligible to do so under the Northern Michigan University Academic Proficiency Policy. Students may complete the re-entry update form. Additionally, the following requirements must be met:

• Official transcripts must be sent from all institutions students have attended since their last NMU enrollment date.
• If suspended or dismissed from Northern Michigan University following their last enrollment, re-entry student applicants must submit appeals to the Admission and Academic Policies Committee through the Academic and Career Advisement Center.
• All debts to the university must be paid before course registration.

Post-baccalaureate Applicants

Applicants who hold a baccalaureate or higher degree and wish to pursue another undergraduate degree (in a field other than that of previous degree/s) or seek an initial secondary or elementary provisional teaching certificate are considered a post-baccalaureate applicant and will be admitted to NMU providing they have graduated from an accredited college or university. Individual academic programs may have additional requirements for admission.

Non-degree Applicants

Applicants who intend to enroll in classes for personal and/or professional development or for purposes other than obtaining a degree, certificate or diploma are considered non-degree applicants, and the following stipulations will be enforced for admission:

• Non-degree students are limited to a maximum enrollment of eight credit hours during any enrollment period.
• Non-degree students must meet all course prerequisites.
• Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.

Credit earned as a non-degree student may be applied toward degree programs. To begin this process, the non-degree student must complete a change to degree form, supply all required documentation, meet the same minimum grade point average and credit hour criteria as transfer applicants, and be formally admitted to a specific academic program.

Guest Applicants

Applicants who are regularly enrolled at and eligible to return to another college or university, but wish to earn credit from Northern Michigan University, are considered guest applicants. The following stipulations must be met for admission:

• Applicants may not register as degree candidates at NMU.
• Applicants must have the NMU courses they wish to take approved in advance by the registrar of their home institution.
• Applicants must understand that falsification of any part of a guest application may result in cancellation of admission or registration at NMU.
• Applicants must arrange to have any credit earned as guest students sent from NMU to their home institutions.
• Applicants are limited to a maximum of two regular semesters or 32 credit hours and must submit a new guest application for the second semester.

To apply, please complete a Michigan Uniform Undergraduate Guest Application and submit the $30 application fee.

International Applicants

International and Canadian student applicants must provide additional credentials to satisfy U.S. immigration regulations.

Canadian students need to complete the application for admission and submit a Declaration and Certification of Finances form, both of which are available from the Admissions Office. Other required credentials are the same as listed in the applicable applicant categories above. NMU may request an evaluation of credentials from an outside agency on an individual basis.

International students (non-Canadian) must provide the following:

• Completed International Student Application for Admission.
• Application fee through bank draft, money order or credit card made payable in U.S. funds for $30.
• Official, original transcripts of all secondary school work (non-U.S. and U.S.), official certificates showing results of any standardized examinations taken in the home country and official transcripts of any colleges, universities or trade schools attended. These documents must be sent directly from the issuing institution to Northern Michigan University. Certified translations are required for any documentation not originally in English.
• Students must submit all non-U.S., non-Canadian academic records to Education Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) or other accepted agency. A form for doing so is included in the International Student Application for Admission.
• Proof of an adequate level of English language proficiency must be provided. Generally, proof of English proficiency is a minimum TOEFL score of 61 on the TOEFL iBT, 173 on the TOEFL CBT, or 500 on the TOEFL PBT. Test results must be sent directly from the testing agency. Other proof of English proficiency will be considered on an individual basis.
• Applicants must provide documentation that they have the ability to finance their education at Northern Michigan University. This is accomplished by completing the Certification of Finances section of the International Student Application for Admission and providing either the bank official’s signature on that section or a separate letter from the bank official or a bank account statement.

Admission to Northern Michigan University requires completion of the steps above and meeting the requirements as specified under the applicable applicant status (freshman, transfer, etc). Once a student is admitted, NMU will issue an I-20AB form to the student. Application deadlines for international students are June 1 for the fall semester and October 1 for the winter semester.