What is the Biddle Institute?

The Biddle Institute supports two specific groups of students:

• Students who have not declared a major
• Students who did not meet either the GPA or ACT/SAT requirement for admission, but have demonstrated that they are capable of achievement on the university level  

If you don’t have the required GPA or ACT/SAT scores but have shown us you have the ability to succeed at JCSU, you’ll become part of the Biddle Cohort.

The Biddle Cohort gets the highest level of personalized attention at JCSU. Your first-semester classes will be smaller and more personalized. You’ll also take classes with Biddle Institute professors who are aware of your learning needs and are committed to your success.

As part of the Biddle Cohort, you’ll be assigned a tutor and an advisor. Your advisor will teach you helpful study skills and time-management techniques. You’ll move into the spring semester prepared with the tools every student needs to succeed.

Are you good at tests but had a life or home situation that dropped your high school GPA?

Are you known as a classroom stand-out with your grades but always score low on standardized tests?

At JCSU, we’re looking for students like you who will be able to succeed with us, NOT just those who did well in high school.  Our admissions counselors look beyond the numbers and consider each applicant as an individual. Some students just need the right tools to succeed. 

You’ll get them at JCSU.

Biddle Institute provides the one-on-one advising and academic support structure to ensure your success. If you’re ready for the challenge, we can help you do more than you thought you could. And if you’re ready for a jump-start on that challenge, the Freshman Summer Scholars program might be right for you.

The Freshman Summer Scholars (FSS) program is an opportunity to show JCSU you’re ready for university-level work. There’s no better way to know if you’re prepared for college coursework than to do it.

To break it down by the numbers:

• Two types of students make up the program participants:
  • Students who did not meet both the GPA and ACT/SAT admission requirements.
  • Students who want a head start on their education. That’s right – the overachievers.
  • Four weeks of skill-based instruction and off-campus field experiences
  • Six credit hours earned
  • $2,500 tuition – Our bargain price for university credits. 

If you weren’t admitted to JCSU because of your GPA and test scores but take part in the FSS program, you can re-apply for admission as a transfer student during the program. You need to maintain a "B" average every week of the FSS program to be admitted.

If you make the grades and are admitted, the credit hours from the FSS program will go on your JCSU transcript. That means you’re six credits closer to graduation and ready for the next phase of your education at JCSU, the Freshman Experience.