Admissions Policy

York College endeavors to admit students whose records indicate that they possess the qualities needed to achieve success in the academic program they intend to pursue. York seeks students who are strongly motivated to excel in college and who are prepared to accept and fulfill collegiate responsibilities. York College of Pennsylvania grants admission to qualified applicants in accordance with the College’s non-discrimination policy. An applicant who fulfills admission requirements is given every possible consideration given the capacity limits of our housing and classroom facilities.

Applicants for admission must have graduated from an approved secondary school or have earned a state equivalency diploma prior to their enrollment at York College. Applicants must present academic records that the College believes demonstrate achievement and ability commensurate with curricular expectations.

In general, the Office of Enrollment recommends that the applicant’s secondary school program should include a minimum of the following units: four in English; three in social studies; three in academic math (including Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry); three in laboratory science; and two in foreign languages. It is highly recommended, although not required, that applicants interested in the following curriculum attempt a 4th year of Math and Science: Nursing, Forensic Chemistry, Pre-Medicine, Respiratory Therapy, Radiography, and Engineering.  Admission decisions are based on high school performance, as well as the personal character and qualities of the applicant and two letters of recommendation. York College may require an admission interview based on submitted application credentials.  

York College reserves the right to deny acceptance if it is deemed necessary in the interests of public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedom of others.  

Inclusivity Statement

York College of Pennsylvania aims to provide access to high-quality education.  To reach our mission, we value bringing different voices together to share their strengths.  In this diverse environment, when we create a sense of belonging and equity, we enrich the learning experience and better serve our local and global communities.

As such, York College of Pennsylvania:

• Welcomes and recognizes diversity in all of its forms and expressions.
• Encourages civil conversations across our campus to promote understanding.
• Stands up against prejudice and injustice in our college community.
• Advocates for the well-being and dignity of our community members.
• Enables marginalized identities to be their authentic selves.

Admissions Procedure

Students seeking admission to York College from secondary school should follow these recommended procedures:

1. Applicants must submit an application for admission online any time after July 1st of the senior year at www.ycp.edu/apply. This form must be completed in its entirety and according to the stated instructions.
2. Applicants must submit an official transcript of secondary school grades.
3. International applicants whose native language is not English may be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo English Test (DET), Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic), or the Global Test of English Communication (GTEC) (International students also have the option to submit SAT or ACT test results as evidence of English proficiency).
4. All applicants are urged to visit the campus and meet with an admissions counselor. Information Sessions and tours are available daily. To register for a campus visit, go to http://www.ycp.edu/admissions/visit.
5. A completed student health and medical record form should be submitted prior to July 1st following high school graduation. Forms are supplied by the Health Center and are available online.
6. Letters of recommendation, essay, or a personal statement are highly recommended for test-optional students.
7. Home school students seeking admission should complete the following in addition to the above procedures:
   1. Submit an official transcript prepared by the school district from which the student is affiliated, or from a state-certified home school evaluator.  
   2. Submit two letters of recommendation, excluding parents and relatives.
   3. An admission interview is recommended, but not required.
   4. The applicant’s high school diploma must be issued by the school district from which the student is affiliated or a Department of Education state-approved home school agency.  The College will also accept a General Education Diploma (GED).
   5. A request to waive the high school diploma can be made if the student has successfully completed 15 - 18 non-remedial, academic college credits prior to applying.  Courses must have been taken in the following areas: English/Communications, Mathematics, Laboratory Sciences, Foreign Language or Social Science/History.  An official college transcript must be submitted to the York College Admissions Office directly from the college attended.

Applicants are notified by e-mail as soon as all credentials have been received and evaluated. All acceptances are granted on the condition of satisfactory completion of secondary school and appropriate notice to the College of such completion. Acceptance into Music, Music Industry and Recording Technology, Fine Art, and Graphic Design are conditional pending the successful completion of a music audition or portfolio review.

Applicants for both the fall and spring semesters are encouraged to pay their non-refundable deposit as soon as possible. Spaces in some programs such as Nursing, Engineering, Respiratory Therapy, and Medical Imaging are limited, so deposits will be accepted on a space-available basis until the programs are full. York College abides by the National Association of College Admission Counseling Statements of Principle and Good Practice and as such will honor all offers of admission and financial aid up to May 1.  However, because admission to York College is on a rolling basis and both resident and commuter openings fill quickly, we recommend that fall deposits be received on or before May 1. Deposits received after May 1 will be accepted contingent upon space availability. Submission of the non-refundable enrollment deposit indicates acceptance of the offer of admission and secures a space in the selected program and term. 

An accepted applicant may defer the acceptance for one academic year. 

Transfer Student Admission

Transfer students add a wonderful dynamic to the classroom and to the York College community as a whole.  A transfer student is defined as any student who has attended a post-secondary institution after graduating from high school.  Transfer students are welcomed with the required minimum grade point average of 2.0 (some majors have additional admissions requirements).  A maximum of 75 semester hours will be accepted in transfer from two-year colleges, and students must complete the last 30 credit hours in residence at York College to be eligible to earn a degree.

Students seeking admission should follow the following procedures:

1. Submit a Transfer Application on line at www.ycp.edu/apply/.
2. Furnish all official transcript(s) of previous college work, whether a student has earned credit or not.
3. A student in academic difficulty at another institution who is denied full-time admission to York College is not eligible to apply until they have successfully completed at least 9 to 12 credits of coursework at York College (as a non-matriculated student) or any other accredited institution, and have earned at least a 2.0 (“C”) in each course taken.
4. A candidate for a second degree or a second major from York College must complete the requirements for the major plus any additional support courses the department might require. All general education courses are waived.
5. Graduation with honors will be based on the cumulative GPA earned including transfer credits.
6. Transfer students are eligible for financial aid at the time of admission.

York College currently accepts transfer students into the Nursing program on a case-by-case basis, unless the applicant is a licensed Registered Nurse.

Admission of International Students

York College welcomes applications from international students. In addition to fulfilling the requirements stated under the admissions procedures, international students must submit certified evidence that sufficient funds exist and will be released from the country to cover all educational and living expenses while attending York College. This information is required prior to issuance of an I-20 AB Form by the designated school official to facilitate the student visa application. International students must apply for admission and have all credentials with appropriate English translation forwarded by June 1 for the fall semester and by November 1 for the spring semester.

Admission of Veterans

Any veteran seeking matriculation to York College of Pennsylvania should submit a transfer application to the Admissions Office. Those veterans who are eligible for educational assistance through Department of Veterans Affairs, MUST notify the Director of Records to initiate their educational benefits and to ensure that all necessary forms and certificates have been submitted. Re-certification will be required for each subsequent enrollment period. York College of Pennsylvania accepts many credits earned through the military; therefore, veterans should submit a Transfer Application and furnish all previous college transcripts and training records to the Admissions Office for evaluation. A veteran who is eligible for educational assistance benefits may enroll as a non-matriculated student for a maximum of two enrollment periods and still utilize those benefits.  For further information relative to Veterans Educational Benefits, please go to: https://www.ycp.edu/offices-departments/registrar/veterans.

Readmission

Any full-time student who misses a second consecutive semester at York College will lose matriculation status and will need to reapply for admission. Also, students who have officially withdrawn from the institution must reapply to the college.  If the student has attended another institution after leaving York College, the student must submit official transcripts from the college along with the readmission application.  The application must be reviewed by the Admissions Office in order to be readmitted to the college.  There is no fee for the Readmission Application, and the student can apply online at: www.ycp.edu/apply/ (see Readmitted Students).  Please see matriculation policy for details on our general education requirements and readmission catalog term policy.

Early Admission during High School

In an effort to provide an opportunity for exceptionally well-qualified high school students to accelerate their studies, York College offers a program through which carefully selected students may be admitted to the College upon completion of the junior year of high school. Students enrolled in this program are admitted as freshmen and, upon successful completion of the freshman year, are granted a high school diploma by their high school, as well as the college credits earned.  Applicants must have the approval of their parents, the high school principal, and be recommended by their guidance counselor, and a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA. A personal interview is also required.

Dual Enrollment for High School Students

Capable high school juniors and seniors are encouraged to take some college credit courses during their last two years in high school. This experience exposes them to a college environment while they retain important high school social interactions. To be eligible, high school students must obtain a letter of recommendation from their guidance counselor, and have earned a 3.0 GPA. Interested students should contact the Office of Enrollment Management. 

Premedical Scholars/Hershey Medical School Early Admission Program

The Premedical Scholars Program offers a special Early Assurance of Admission to Medical School at The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine at Hershey Medical Center. This opportunity is available to accomplished second-year undergraduates who have demonstrated high scholarly achievement and show a continuing commitment to medicine. Accepted scholars will participate in a series of pre-professional development experiences, including Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds and Clinical Shadowing at York Hospital, made possible by the close coordination of York College and York Hospital teaching and research programs. Successful participants in the Premedical Scholars Program are recommended for admission to the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine at Hershey upon graduation from York College, contingent upon their academic performance at York College, satisfactory interviews, and a competitive Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score.  For more information on this program, please contact premed@ycp.edu.

Early Entrance / 4+1

Some graduate degree programs at York College of Pennsylvania admit highly motivated undergraduates to the program as Early Entrance Candidates. Accepted Early Entrance Candidates may enroll in up to twelve credits of graduate coursework following their completion of 75 credits of undergraduate coursework. These courses will contribute to the credit total required for the undergraduate degree, as well as meet requirements for the graduate degree. Graduate courses taken by undergraduate students may be applied to undergraduate program course requirements  as substitutions if approved as course substitutions by the department chair of the affected undergraduate program. Tuition for these courses is billed at the undergraduate rate or included in the full-time tuition rate, if applicable. Early Entrance Candidates shall be governed by the policies of the Undergraduate Student Handbook and Catalog in instances where the Graduate and Professional Programs Catalog differs.

• An undergraduate student may apply for admission once 75 credits have been completed, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. This is typically in the spring semester of the junior year. A recommendation must be satisfactorily completed by the applicant’s undergraduate advisor, confirming their viability as a Graduate Early Entrance Candidate.
• Interested students should complete and submit the online Early Entrance Application.
• Upon admission as an Early Entrance Candidate, a student meets with the program director affiliated with their selected graduate program, who will, in consultation with the student’s undergraduate academic advisor, determine how the graduate courses fit into the students undergraduate program and help design a program of study.
• Transfer students may apply for admission to the Graduate Early Entrance (4+1) program when they have completed 75 total credits, 15 of which were completed at York College.
• Students who have already earned one baccalaureate degree, and are pursuing a second degree, are not eligible for the Graduate Early Entrance (4+1) program.
• Students who are admitted as Graduate Early-Entrance (4+1) candidates may complete up to 12 credits of graduate coursework while enrolled in their baccalaureate program.  These credits will be included in the undergraduate credit total and could be applied to the undergraduate curriculum as free electives or as program requirements, pending approval from the student’s department chair.
• Graduate credits completed by Graduate Early-Entrance (4+1) candidates will be considered undergraduate credits for billing purposes.
• Students admitted as Graduate Early-Entrance (4+1) candidates who wish to continue their studies in the graduate program will apply to the program of their choice following their baccalaureate graduation.  Candidates must meet the entrance requirements for their desired program to receive full admission.