Undergraduate Admissions

Longwood University is a selective university and does not guarantee admission of all applicants. Longwood is pledged to a non-discriminatory admission policy that is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit and takes actions to prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in accordance with protected rights. Longwood Admissions makes all University admissions and merit aid decisions for non-professional undergraduate programs and represents the programs and policies of the University to prospective undergraduate students.

Longwood requires all prospective freshmen, transfer, visiting, and readmission students to submit an application for admission. It is recommended students apply well in advance of stated application deadlines. Applications are considered for admission to the university from an accredited high school, community college or university, or equivalent including home-school programs and General Education Development Diploma (GED). Admission to the university does not imply admission to a specific degree program. Please review the Academic Programs section of this catalog for specific requirements. For the most up-to-date information, please visit http://go.longwood.edu/apply, call (434) 395-2060, text (434) 607-7728, or email admissions@longwood.edu.  

Application Types and Deadlines

Early Decision Admission (Nursing only): Longwood offers Early Decision Admission to freshman applicants interested in Nursing entering the fall semester. To be considered for Nursing, application and admission documents must be received and/or postmarked by November 1. Candidates will be notified by mid-December of admission decision. If admitted, a financial aid package estimate will be provided along with acceptance notification. The offer of admission is binding. Students not selected for Early Decision Nursing opportunity will have the opportunity to be considered for Early Action Nursing opportunity and/or regular admissions to the university with another academic major selection. RN to BSN applicants are not eligible to apply as Early Decision.

Early Action Admission: Longwood offers Early Action Admission to freshman applicants entering the fall semester.  To be considered for Honors, Nursing, and remaining academic majors, application and admission documents must be received and/or postmarked by December 1. Candidates will be notified by mid-January of admission decision. The offer of admission is non-binding. Students not selected for Nursing will have the opportunity to be considered for regular admission to the university with another academic major selection.  

Regular Admission: Longwood offers Priority Admissions to freshmen and transfer applicants who apply by March 1 (fall) and December 1 (spring) for special admission and scholarship consideration. To be considered, applications must be received and/or postmarked by March 1 (fall) or December 1 (spring). Candidates will be notified on a rolling admission basis once application and supporting documents are received. Nursing applicants are not eligible to apply as Regular Admission.

Admission Types

Common Requirements

All applicants are:

Strongly encouraged but not required to submit the following to strengthen admission consideration:

• Essay or personal statement, which can be used to provide additional information that may aid in evaluating a student’s potential for being successful at Longwood.
• Letters of recommendation

Freshmen Applicants

“Freshmen” refers to an applicant who will graduate or has graduated high school but has not attended or earned credit from a college or university after graduation from high school, home school program, or receiving a GED.

Applicants must complete and submit the following:

• Freshmen application for admission via http://go.longwood.edu/apply.
• Non-refundable $50 application fee or fee waiver. Applications will be considered incomplete and no admission decision rendered until fee or fee waiver is received. Acceptable fee waivers:
  • ACT waiver
  • SAT (College Board) waiver

       Note: If satisfying the application fee will cause undue hardship to the student and/or family, a hardship fee waiver may be granted. Contact the Office of Admissions for additional information.

• High school transcript indicating grade point average (GPA) and class rank (if applicable) through end of junior year. An unofficial transcript will be considered to determine basis of admission. Final official transcript, denoting graduation date, will be required prior to attending first class of intended entry semester. Home school students must submit a notarized transcript. Student who have earned a GED must submit official score results.
  Note: Applicants who are earning, have earned, or will earn college credit prior to high school graduation through a dual credit or dual enrollment program will be required to submit an official transcript from awarding institution, though college-level transcript submission is not a requirement to obtain an admission decision.

SAT (Longwood institutional code 5368) or ACT (Longwood institutional code 4366) scores are optional for admission to Longwood University. If scores are included on the high school transcript or received directly from the high school counselor or approved school representative (i.e., email or official school letterhead), scores will be accepted as official. Unofficial scores will be considered, as available, to determine basis of admission.

Upon receipt of the student’s application and supporting documents, the Admissions Office will carefully examine the student’s qualifications and notify the student via email, postal notification, and/or phone (voice and text). A denial decision can be appealed (see “Appeal of Admission Decision” below).

All freshmen applicants are holistically reviewed based on high school curriculum (level and types of courses), academic achievement in core areas and number of units (English - 4; Math (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II) - 3; Science (at least 2 laboratory courses) - 3; Social Sciences - 3; Foreign Language or American Sign Language - 2; Fine or Practical Art - 1; and Health and PE - 2), cumulative GPA, GED scores, consistency and trends of academic achievement, college entrance exams (SAT, ACT) (if available), class rank, extracurricular activities, leadership experiences, community service, special talents and awards, employment history, essay or personal statement, and letters of recommendation. An interview with an admissions staff member may be required. Note: Additional units of math, science, and foreign language are strongly recommended.

Nursing Applicants: Admission to the Nursing Program is more selective and competitive admission process. In addition to the criteria listed above, the Nursing Admissions Committee places emphasis on grades in and level of math and science courses, college entrance exam scores if submitted, and experiences related to nursing.

Students who are still enrolled in high school may register as non-degree students if they are endorsed by their guidance counselor or principal and receive approval from the Assistant VP of Admissions and Retention and appropriate college dean.

If the offer of admission is accepted, an enrollment deposit of $400 must be submitted by May 1 (fall) or December 1 (spring) to secure enrollment in the specific entry term. Enrollment deposits submitted after stated deadlines are accepted as space is available. After May 1 (fall) and December 1 (spring) the deposit is not refundable. To request a refund of a deposit submitted prior to May 1 (fall) or December 1 (spring), student must submit the request in writing (email or postal notification) including name, date of birth, and LNumber. Refund will be provided by check to the address on file or payment type of initial submission, if available.

Transfer Applicants

A “transfer” refers to an applicant who graduated high school and then attended or earned credit from a college or university after high school graduation, home school program completion, or receiving a GED. Transfer applicants should indicate on the application if an Associates of Arts and/or Science Degree will be received before transferring to Longwood. To be eligible for the benefits of an Articulation Agreement, the student must have earned the appropriate associate degree prior to enrolling at Longwood. Virginia Community College and Richard Bland College students planning to transfer to Longwood should consult with their college counselor and review the Longwood Transfer Guide. All students must declare a major upon completion of 45 credit hours (including both Longwood hours and transferred hours).

Applicants must complete and submit the following:

• Transfer application for admission via http://go.longwood.edu/apply.
• Non-refundable $50 application fee or fee waiver. Applications will be considered incomplete and no admission decision rendered until fee or fee waiver is received. Acceptable fee waiver:

Note: If satisfying the application fee will cause undue hardship to the student and/or family, a hardship fee waiver may be granted. Contact the Office of Admissions for additional information.

• Official transcript from each college or university attended and/or earned credit. If currently enrolled in courses, an admission decision can be rendered on an “in-progress” transcript. Final official transcript, denoting degree earned (if applicable), will be required prior to attending first class of intended entry semester. 

Note: Applicants who earned college credit prior to high school graduation through a dual credit or dual enrollment program may be required to submit an official transcript denoting credit received.

Upon receipt of the student’s application and supporting documents, the Admissions Committee will carefully examine the student’s qualifications and notify the student via email, postal notification, and/or phone (voice and text). A denial decision can be appealed (see “Appeal of Admission Decision” below).

All transfer applicants are holistically reviewed based on cumulative GPA (with completed course work in the core curriculum areas including English, mathematics, science, and history/social science), extracurricular activities, leadership experiences, community service, special talents and awards, employment history, essay or personal statement, and letters of recommendation. An interview with an admissions staff member may be required.

Transfer applicants who will have earned fewer than 24 transferable semester hours in college-level subjects prior to applying at Longwood and/or graduated high school, completed a home school program, or earned a GED 6 or fewer years from the intended entry semester may be evaluated on their high school academic performance and SAT/ACT scores.

Readmission Applicants

A readmission applicant is a student who has not enrolled at Longwood for one (even if withdrawal occurred at the end of the semester) or more semesters (fall or spring only). Each readmission decision is made on an individual basis. The Admissions Committee reviews the academic record and citizenship at Longwood, as well as courses taken elsewhere.  An interview with an admissions staff member may be required.  The Admissions Committee is not obligated to readmit any student.  Students eligible to be readmitted may not, in some cases, be eligible to enroll in a particular major because their academic standing may be below the required minimum for the program.

Applicants must complete and submit the following:

• Readmission application for admission via http://go.longwood.edu/readmission.
• Official transcript from each college or university attended and/or earned credit since last semester of enrollment at Longwood. If currently enrolled in courses, an admission decision can be rendered on an “in-progress” transcript. Final official transcript, denoting degree earned (if applicable), will be required prior to attending first class of returning entry semester.

Upon receipt of the student’s application and supporting documents, the Admissions Committee will carefully examine the student’s qualifications and notify the student via email, postal notification, and/or phone. A denial decision can be appealed (see “Appeal of Admission Decision” below).

Adult/Non-Degree Applicants

An “Adult/Non-Degree Admit” refers to a student who wishes to take courses for personal, educational, or professional development, and is not seeking a Longwood degree.

Applicants must complete and submit the following:

• Non-degree Enrollment Request via http://go.longwood.edu/apply.
• Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Rates, (if student wishes to be considered for in-state tuition).  Note: Non-degree students need to complete the Virginia In-State Tuition Rates application on a yearly basis to be considered for in-state rates.

Adult/Non-degree students must meet any course prerequisites and admission standards.  They are required to provide unofficial transcripts of the highest education level achieved.

Should an Adult/Non-degree student wish to apply for a Longwood degree program, any credits the non-degree student has earned will be evaluated as to the applicability to the specific degree program in which the student wishes to enroll.  Permission is required from the Registrar in order to take more than 24 hours as an Adult/Non-degree student.

Students who have been denied regular admission to an undergraduate program at Longwood may not register as non-degree students without permission from the Dean of Admissions and the dean of the college of the student’s intended major.  Non-degree students must maintain at least a “C” average in order to continue. 

Second Baccalaureate Degree

A student who has earned a baccalaureate degree from Longwood or any other accredited institution may earn a second baccalaureate degree.

Applicants must complete and submit the following:

• Second Baccalaureate degree application via http://go.longwood.edu/apply.
• Non-refundable $50 application fee. Applications will be considered incomplete and no admission decision rendered until fee is paid. Longwood graduates are exempt from submitting the application fee.
  Note: If satisfying the application fee will cause undue hardship to the student and/or family, a hardship fee waiver may be granted. Contact the Office of Admissions for additional information.
• Official transcript from each college or university attended and/or earned credit. If currently enrolled in courses, an admission decision can be rendered on an “in-progress” transcript. Final official transcript, denoting degree earned will be required prior to attending first class of initial entry semester. If a graduate a Longwood alum, official transcript does not have to be requested.
• Approval form signed by appropriate department chair.

Upon receipt of the student’s application and supporting documents, the Admissions Committee will carefully examine the student’s qualifications and notify the student via email, postal notification, and/or phone. A denial decision can be appealed (see “Appeal of Admission Decision” below).

A student must complete all coursework required by the second program to earn the degree specified for that program. At least 30 hours for the second degree must be completed at Longwood. All Civitae Core Curriculum  curriculum requirements are met by the first baccalaureate degree. Additional degree requirements are met by the first degree where applicable. Student must maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average cumulatively and in the major unless a higher minimum grade point average is specified for a particular major.

Additional Admission Information

Credit for AP, IB, CLEP, and DANTES Tests

Longwood offers academic credit through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations. Information concerning acceptable scores and course equivalences are available online go.longwood.edu/apcredit. Longwood does not offer credit for the General Area CLEP Exams. To be awarded credit, students must submit official score reports to the Office of the Registrar.

Teacher Licensure

A student who has earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution may complete the course requirements for teacher licensure in Virginia. These students may register as non-degree students.

Immunization Requirements

In accordance with the Code of Virginia, a full-time on-campus student, enrolling for the first time in any public institution of higher education in this Commonwealth must have a health record and history on file in the University Health Center. Prior to pre-registration for the second semester, students must furnish documented evidence, provided by a licensed health professional or health facility, of diseases for which the student has been immunized, the numbers of doses given, the dates when administered, and any further immunizations indicated. These immunizations include diphtheria, tetanus, polio-myelitis, measles (rubeola), German measles (rubella), mumps, and meningitis according to the guidelines of the American College Health Association. Tuberculosis screening within the past year is also required. Any student who fails to furnish this information will not be eligible for registration for the second semester. Meningitis and Hepatitis B immunizations are also required; however, waivers can be signed for Meningitis and Hepatitis B if the student chooses not to receive these immunizations.

Admissions for Students with Disabilities

Admission to Longwood is based on the requirements outlined in this catalog. Admission decisions are made without regard to disabilities. All applicants are reviewed through the same admissions procedures. Scores from admissions tests (SAT or ACT) taken with accommodations are accepted. Individuals who wish to request Longwood publications or applications in an alternate format (e.g., digital or large print) should contact the Office of Admissions at (800) 281-4677; TRS: 711, Ext. #2.

Disability Disclosure Policy

Disclosure of a disability is voluntary and is considered confidential information. However, if you wish to request academic, housing, or other accommodations at Longwood, you must have disability documentation on file with Accessibility Resources Office that meets Longwood documentation requirements. Visit the Accessibility Resources Office for information on documentation requirements, possible accommodations and services, and procedures for making accommodation requests.

Cancellation of an Admissions Offer

Longwood’s Honor Code prohibits lying, cheating, and stealing. Students who complete the application for admission pledge to abide by The Honor Code. Should a student falsify the information provided on the application, alter academic documents, plagiarize the personal statements, or otherwise issue an untrue statement as part of the application process, the offer of admission will be revoked. Longwood also reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission based on a change in a student’s academic performance or a failure on the student’s part to meet written conditions stated in the admission letter prior to matriculation.

Appeal of Admission Decision

An applicant has the right to appeal a denial decision at least five days prior to the first day of classes for the intended entry semester. Appeal should be written and addressed to the Assistant VP of Admissions and Retention via email admissions@longwood.edu or postal mail to Longwood University Assistant VP of Admissions and Retention 201 High Street Farmville, Virginia 23909. Once received, it will be reviewed by the Admissions Appeal Committee, comprised of representatives from across the university.  The committee may request additional documentation, information, or an interview. An appeal decision will be rendered within four business days of receipt of appeal. The committee’s decision is final.

Exception to above mentioned policies can be waived, changed, or updated at the discretion of the Assistant VP of Admissions and Retention and Associate Vice-President of Enrollment Management and Student Services.

Recruitment Practices

Longwood University has adopted a set of recruitment practices that assure a fair, ethical, and consistent approach to undergraduate admissions.

1. Longwood Admissions makes all University admissions and merit aid decisions for non-professional undergraduate programs.
2. Longwood Admissions represents the programs and policies of the University to prospective undergraduate students.
3. Longwood Admissions communicates accurately and transparently with prospective students about the University’s programs and policies, cost of attendance and time to completion, and future job prospects. Information about the University, its programs, associated costs, and other outcomes is freely available.
4. Longwood Admissions allows prospective students ample time, free from high-pressure recruitment tactics, to perform all steps of the admission and matriculation process.
5. Longwood Admissions will not continue to recruit students who have asked to be removed from communication flows, who are known to have deposited elsewhere, or who formed part of the previous cycle’s admissions pool.
6. Longwood Admissions Counselors, Processors, and other staff are appropriately credentialed, trained, and supervised.
7. Longwood Admissions adheres to the University’s Non-Discrimination Statement.  Consistent with Federal and State Law, the University promotes equal opportunity for all prospective and current students and employees.  The University will not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, political affiliation, veteran status, or disability status.