At Heritage, you CAN succeed! In spring 2005, we reported a 50% graduation rate for baccalaureate degrees earned within six years, and that rate is going up as more students complete their programs each term. About 88% of our master’s students complete their degrees within four years. Average retention of undergraduates from one year to the next is 68%. The Heritage Student Life team provides the support you need to succeed.

Click on the links below for information about specific admission policies and answers to common admissions questions:

• Veterans Admissions
• International Undergraduate and Graduate Student Admissions
• Non-Matriculated Undergraduate and Graduate Students
• Auditing
• Admission Status and Student Responsibility
• Readmission
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Admission to Heritage University

Veterans Admissions

Veterans of the United States military service apply for admission to the university and for V.A. benefits simultaneously.

For specific admissions requirements, see Undergraduate & Transfer Students or Graduate Students on the main Admissions page.

Heritage University is fully approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Board of Washington State to offer college work to returning service persons who qualify for college training under veterans’ benefits. The university may allow credit for military service activities which have educational content to students who present acceptable military records. Such records are submitted as part of admission credentials along with a request for evaluation.

Heritage University’s academic programs of study are approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Board's State Approving Agency (HECB/SAA) for enrollment of persons eligible to receive educational benefits under Title 38 and Title 10, U.S. Code.

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International Undergraduate and Graduate Student Admissions

Students who are U.S. citizens or have Resident Alien (green card) status are classified as domestic students; others are classified as international students. An international student may not register for courses until full acceptance to Heritage University has been granted. For admission, submit to the Director of Admissions the following documents:

1. A completed application for admission including an essay or writing sample. Graduate students submit a statement of purpose/expectation instead of the writing sample.
2. A certified transcript from high school or equivalent studies and from each college/university attended. These documents require a translated version in English.
3. A non-refundable application processing fee of $100.00 (U.S. funds).
4. A completed Heritage University "Confirmation of Financial Resources" reflecting a balance of $15,000.00 U.S. dollars available to the students.
5. Satisfactory proof of English proficiency by one of the following:
   1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 500 (173 computer based) for undergraduate and 550 (213 computer based) for graduate application.
   2. Transcript from a U.S. school verifying completion of an English as a Second Language (ESL) Program reflecting satisfactory progress.
   3. High school instruction taught in English and verified by a transcript.

These requirements may change if required by U.S. federal authorities. Consult with the Admissions Office for the latest information.

Personal provision must be made for housing and transportation since Heritage University does not provide student housing and public transportation is not available in the area.

An I-20 form is issued only when all of the above materials have been submitted, evaluated, and the student is admitted. This document authorizes student to request proper visa study at Heritage University.

It is recommended students meet with the Director of Admissions and their academic advisor upon arrival.

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Non-Matriculated Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Students who do not wish to pursue a program leading toward a degree or certificate may register for courses if space permits and if prerequisites are satisfied and if students hold a high school diploma or a G.E.D. The following policies apply:

• Non-matriculants are not eligible for financial aid, veteran's benefits, academic advising and other services provided to matriculated (admitted) students.
• Non-matriculated undergraduate students may earn 12 credits at Heritage as non-matriculated students. Non-matriculated graduate students may take only 8 credits.
• Credits earned as a non-matriculant may not be applied to any degree or certificate unless the non-matriculant applies and is officially admitted to Heritage University.
• After admission, a maximum of 12 credits earned at Heritage University before admission may be applied to an undergraduate degree. Graduate (M.Ed.) students may apply a maximum of 8 credits earned at Heritage University before admission to a graduate degree.

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Auditing

Students who wish to take a course but without tests, credits or grade, may register to audit. Permission to audit is granted for lecture courses only, not for laboratory and studio courses, and on condition that space is available. The special fees for audit are detailed under Tuition and Fees in the Financial Aid section of this website.

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Admission Status and Student Responsibility

After all credentials have been reviewed, applicants are notified of their admission status and provided with the name of an advisor. The admission letter may require that applicants, such as those who are returning to school after a long absence or traditional students with academic deficiencies, take a preparatory course to upgrade their skills for success in college. Recommendations for such courses will be determined by the Heritage University assessment.

It is understood that admitted students accept all conditions and regulations of the college as provided in the catalog and the student handbook. It is the student's responsibility to obtain copies of the catalog and the handbook from the Student Services Center.

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Readmission

Former Heritage University students who have been inactive for two years (or four semesters) are classified as inactive and must apply for readmittance by completing the regular admissions process.

Returning students who have been inactive for two or more years graduate under the requirements listed in the catalog current at the time of re-entry.

Suspended students may apply for reinstatement after one semester (excluding summer term) from the suspended date by completing the regular admissions process.

Reinstated students re-enter on academic probation and follow the academic probation regulations.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Admission to Heritage University

1. What if I want to apply for admission to Heritage University, but I don't have a final high school transcript yet? If you are enrolled in high school and completing your senior year, submit a high school transcript with a record of the classes you have already completed. With this information, you will be provisionally admitted to the college. This allows your FAFSA and scholarships applications to be processed. However, please remember that we will need a final transcript once you have graduated. With this transcript, you will be officially admitted in our system and your file will be complete.
   
   
2. Does Heritage University run on a quarter or semester system? Heritage University operates on a semester system. The academic calendar operates as follows:
   Fall semester: August - December
   Spring semester: January - May
   Summer session: June - July
   Note: Summer session offers a limited number of classes in a shortened time period. For first-time students, we would recommend starting classes during the fall or spring semesters.
   
   
3. If I am a full-time student, how many classes will I be taking? How many classes does a half-time student take? A full-time undergraduate student takes 12 credits per semester. The majority of our course offerings are 3-credit classes, so full-time students often take 4 courses each semester. These classes meet one to three times weekly, depending on the course. Part-time students are registered for 6 credits and usually take 2 courses per semester. A full-time graduate student takes 6 credits per semester.
   
   
4. Is there an application fee to apply to Heritage University? For prospective students applying for undergraduate admissions, there is no application fee. Students seeking admission to a master's degree program are asked to pay a non-refundable application fee. Please refer to the graduate admissions application for the current fee.
   
   
5. I notice that students applying for undergraduate admissions are required to take an assessment test. Do I have to be admitted first in order to take the assessment test? What does the test consist of, when and where is it offered, and how long does it take? You do not have to be admitted to the college in order to take the Heritage University assessment test. The test evaluates your reading, writing and math skills. This allows the college to assess your academic ability and determine which classes will be the best fit for you. The assessment test usually takes 2 to 3 hours and is offered in the Academic Skills Center (ASC). Please call the ASC at (509) 865-8517 for testing dates and times.
   
   
6. If I am a transfer student, do I still need to submit my high school transcript or GED certificate? Will I still need to take the assessment test? If you are a transfer student, an official high school transcript or GED certificate will be required if you have earned fewer than 60 semester credit hours. Our evaluator will determine the number of transferable semester credit hours once you have submitted official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended. Then our admissions staff will contact you if additional documents are needed. Transfer students who do not have an associate of arts degree, or who have 60 or fewer semester credit hours, may be asked to take the assessment test.
   
   
7. Does Heritage University have any institutional scholarships that I can apply for? Heritage University has a variety of institutional scholarship programs. The majority of these scholarships are awarded to new and returning students in the early spring for the following academic year. Please call our Admissions Office regarding scholarship programs and application deadlines or click on Scholarships on the Student Life page. Applications can be obtained from the Student Services Center and local high school counselors.
   
   
8. Is there an application deadline at Heritage University? Our Admissions Office accepts applications on a rolling basis. There is not an application deadline, but we do have a priority admissions program. This program provides grants to incoming freshman students, who complete the admissions process and submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 15, based upon their cumulative GPA or GED scores. Please call the Admissions Office for more details regarding this program.
   
   

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