Freshman Admissions

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

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.

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 Presidential Scholarship

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

Eligibility

3.5 – 4.0 HS GPA
Must meet one of the following:
- Must be ranked in the top 5% of high school Graduating Class
- 1200 SAT or 27 ACT

Review Dates

Application Opens: September 1, 2026
Application Closes: December 14, 2026
Award Date: February 15, 2027

We strongly recommend that students receive an acceptance letter from the Office of Admissions before submitting the Presidential Scholarship application.

RSVP for the Presidential Scholarship Application

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