Freshman Admissions

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Welcome Future Golden Bull!

Unlock a world of possibilities by joining our Golden Bull Family today! Apply as a First-Time Freshman by completing the steps below. Your Future Shines Here!

  • JCSU Application
  • Application fee ($25)
  • Official high school transcript
  • ACT or SAT Test Scores (optional)

Qualifications
 Photo of three students taking a selfie

Traditional Freshman Admission Qualifications

A traditional freshman is a student seeking admission as a first-year college student after graduating from a regionally accredited high school (or a comparable international institution). Evaluation of the applicant’s qualifications for admission is based on the following:

     •   Successful completion of high school coursework.
     •   Graduation from a regionally accredited or comparable international institution.
     •   Minimum cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
     •   Cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 or higher 

Students at the Founders' Day Convocation

Biddle Freshman Criteria

Biddle Freshman Admission
A Biddle freshman is a student applying as a first-year college student after graduating from a regionally accredited high school (or a comparable international institution) who has never enrolled in a post-secondary institution. Admission through the Biddle Program is based on the following:

     •   Successful completion of high school coursework.
     •   Cumulative high school grade point average between 2.3 and 2.49.
     •   Completion of high school coursework from a regionally accredited or comparable institution.

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Sit Lux Admission Criteria

The Sit Lux admissions tier provides an opportunity to explore differences in enrollment patterns, academic performance, and educational persistence between students admitted using traditional cognitive measures and those admitted through nontraditional, non-cognitive variables.

A Sit Lux freshman is a student who has graduated from, or will graduate from, high school and has never enrolled in a post-secondary institution. Admission decisions are based on both academic records and holistic measures of motivation and readiness for success.

Requirements for Sit Lux Admission

     •   Successful completion of high school coursework.
     •   Cumulative high school grade point average between 2.0 and 2.29.
     •   Completion of noncognitive and meta-cognitive assessments.

Submit Your High School Transcript

You must send an official copy of your high school transcript or GED test scores to the Office of Admissions for the decision process.

An official copy (PDF file) of high school transcript can be emailed to transcripts@jcsu.edu. GED test scores must be mailed to Johnson C. Smith University. 

 

Office of Admissions
Johnson C. Smith University
100 Beatties Ford Road
Charlotte, NC 28216

Test Optional Admission

Johnson C. Smith University is test-optional, except for those competing for a Presidential Scholarship, where ACT/SAT scores are required.

Freshman Scholarships

Merit Scholarships are awarded by the Office of Admissions, and Presidential Scholarships are by invitation only. Presidential and Merit Scholarships cannot be stacked, and does not affect scholarships awarded outside of the Office of Admissions.

All accepted, first-time, full-time freshman students are automatically reviewed for merit scholarships.

Presidential Scholarships

 

James B. Duke

Covers tuition, fees and on-campus room and board for 8 consecutive undergraduate semesters.

Eligibility

  • 3.5 – 4.0 HS GPA
  • Must be ranked in the top 5% of HS Graduating Class OR
  • 1200 SAT or 27 ACT*

*Test scores are optional but will be considered if submitted.

Application is available by invitation only.

Review Date #1

  • Application Opens: September 15, 2025
  • Application Closes: November 20, 2025
  • Award Date: December 12, 2025

Review Date #2

  • Application Opens: December 15, 2025
  • Application Closes: February 15, 2025
  • Award Date: March 6, 2026

Merit Scholarships

 

Golden Elite

$3,250 - $5,000 per semester (up to 8 consecutive semesters)

Eligibility

  • 3.5 – 4.0 HS GPA
    • 3.5 - 3.699 ($3,250)
    • 3.7 - 4.0 ($5,000)

Legacy

$3,000 per semester (up to 8 consecutive semesters)

Eligibility

  • 3.0 – 3.4999 HS GPA
  • Parent or grandparent must be a JCSU alum

Blue Chip 

$3,000 per semester (up to 8 consecutive semesters) 

Eligibility 

  • 3.0 - 3.499 HS GPA 

JCSU Discover Scholars

$2,000 per semester (up to 8 consecutive semesters)

Eligibility 

  • 2.49-2.99 HS GPA
  • Excludes NC residents

Admissions information for

Transfer students
International students
Readmittance
Evening and online program
Non-degree seeking/transient students
Graduate students

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