Admissions

Associate & Bachelor’s Degree Programs:

Applicants who seek admission into a Saint Joseph’s College Online degree program, other than the RN to BSN and BSBA Completion degree, who have not obtained college credit at a regionally or nationally accredited post-secondary institution, must submit one of the following:

• Official transcript from an accredited high school with a minimum grade point average of C
• Official GED examination record with a minimum grade point average of 2.0
• Official record of completion from a state-approved high school diploma home schooling program

Applicants who seek admission into a Saint Joseph’s College Online degree program, other than the RN to BSN and BSBA Completion degree, who have completed college coursework at regionally or nationally accredited post-secondary institutions, must submit the following documentation:

• Official transcripts from all regionally or nationally accredited institutions previously attended, demonstrating a cumulative minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale

Applicants who seek admission into the online RN to BSN undergraduate degree program at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine must submit the following:

• Official transcripts from all regionally or nationally accredited institutions previously attended
• Official transcripts and documents showing the applicant holds a Diploma or Associate degree in Nursing, accredited at the time of graduation by CCNE or ACEN, and that the applicant completed the associated program with a 2.5 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale ​
  • Additional admissions documents are required for RN to BSN applicants beyond transcripts, including a short essay and proof of an active, unrestricted RN license – please see the RN to BSN program page for more details.​

Applicants who seek admission into the online BSBA Completion degree program at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine must submit the following:

• Official transcripts from all regionally or nationally accredited institutions previously attended
• Official transcripts and documents showing the applicant holds an Associate degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of graduation, and that the applicant completed the Associate degree with a 2.5 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale

Undergraduate Certificate Programs:

• Applicants who seek admission into an undergraduate certificate are not required to submit official transcripts unless seeking transfer credit.

Transfer Credit:

In determining accreditation, Saint Joseph’s College uses the publication Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education by the American Council on Education (ACE) published in consultation with the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). 

Applicants who have attended a foreign post-secondary institution must have their transcripts evaluated by an authorized agency, and the coursework and/or degree completed must be deemed equivalent by the authorized agency to those received at a US regionally or nationally accredited institution.  For more information on foreign transcript evaluations, please see the ‘International Students’ section below.

Saint Joseph’s College Online values prior formal learning and career-based experiences and may allow up to 30 semester-hour credits to be transferred in through these methods. The College follows the American Council on Education (ACE) guidelines in granting transfer credit. Therefore, sources of transfer credit may include:

• ACE/PONSI approved credit
• ACE-approved military training and experience credit 
• CLEP, ACT/PEP and DANTES DSST programs

At the undergraduate level, transfer credit may also be awarded for appropriate coursework taken at hospital-based Schools of Radiologic Technology.

Transfer credit is not awarded for pre-collegiate level or remedial coursework. Undergraduate courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C to be eligible for transfer.

Associate Degrees

• 66 semester-hour credits are required for successful completion of an Associate of Science degree at Saint Joseph’s College.
• Students must earn a minimum of 25% of the course requirements within their degree at Saint Joseph’s College. Students may transfer up to 48 semester-hour credits from regionally or nationally accredited institutions, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of attendance, or, if a degree was earned, at the time the degree was granted.
• Students must earn a minimum of 15 semester-hour credits within their major/specialization at Saint Joseph’s College.

Bachelor’s Degrees

• 120 semester-hour credits are required for successful completion of a bachelor’s degree at Saint Joseph’s College.
• Transfer credit is awarded from regionally or nationally accredited institutions, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of attendance, or, if a degree was earned, at the time the degree was granted.
• Students must earn a minimum of 25% of the course requirements within their degree at Saint Joseph’s College. Students may transfer up to 90 semester-hour credits from regionally or nationally accredited institutions, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of attendance, or, if a degree was earned, at the time the degree was granted.
• Students must earn a minimum of 18 semester-hour credits within their major at Saint Joseph’s College.
  • If students are taking a single minor, students are allowed to transfer a maximum of 6 semester-hour credits towards that minor.  If students are completing two minors, students can transfer in up to 9 semester-hour credits towards each minor.
• Course descriptions/syllabi may be requested on an individual basis.

Undergraduate Certificate Programs:

• Transfer credit is awarded from regionally or nationally accredited institutions, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of attendance.
• 18-Credit Certificates: Students are eligible to transfer up to 6 semester-hour credits of curriculum related undergraduate-level work from a regionally or nationally accredited post-secondary institution, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• 15-Credit Certificates: Students are eligible to transfer up to 3 semester-hour credits of curriculum related undergraduate-level work from a regionally or nationally accredited post-secondary institution, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Official transcripts must be sent directly from the transmitting institution(s).  Official transcripts and any additional admissions materials must be received in order to conduct the evaluation process.  Once all official transcripts and supporting materials have been received, a decision regarding acceptance will be made, appropriate courses will be determined, and the applicant will be notified of the admissions decision.  

STATE AUTHORIZATIONS

States have long had the authority to regulate institutions offering education within each state’s boundaries, regardless of the educational modality (face-to-face, distance, other) being used. 

Maine was the 36^th state to join the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), an initiative that will make distance-education courses more accessible to students across state lines and make it easier for institutions to participate in interstate distance education.  Participation in SARA was approved in the statute by the 127th Maine Legislature, allowing the State Board of Education to enter into the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) regional compact, designating Maine DOE as the portal agency for SARA.

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

What is SARA?

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of post-secondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by post-secondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts.  For further information, please visit the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) website at http://nc-sara.org/content/basic-questions-about-sara. 

When Maine joined SARA, Maine’s Acting Education Commissioner at the time, Bill Beardsley, stated that, “SARA facilitates Maine’s interface with education opportunities across the country while bypassing the old case-by-case burdensome course approval system. Maine students benefit and state red tape is minimized with no loss of accountability. It is a state consortium approach we value.”

Professional Licensure/Responsibility of Students

It is important to note that NC-SARA does not deal with professional licensing board approval for any courses or programs leading to professional licensure.  Saint Joseph’s College of Maine cannot know nor guarantee where our coursework will meet requirements for professional licensure, endorsements, or license renewal in states outside of Maine.  If you are planning on using our coursework towards a license or credential in your state, we recommend that you consult with the appropriate licensing agency or board in the state for which you seek to obtain licensure.

Students should review the specific academic requirements for the program in which they are enrolling, including those related to practicums/internships, as well as review any pre-qualifications for licensure (such as the need for a criminal background check).  SJC highly recommends that students contact the applicable licensure board(s) in their state of residence or in the state where they intend to obtain a license before beginning an academic program that is intended to result in licensure and prior to beginning any internship/practicum.  Many licensure boards require more than successful degree completion to obtain a license.  Please be advised that state laws, regulations, and policies may change at any time.  Changes in requirements can impact the program’s ability to meet education requirements for licensure.  It is the responsibility of the student completing the licensure program to check with the licensing board(s) in their state of residence or in the state in which they intend to obtain a license for the most recent information and requirements.  SJC shall not be held liable if the student is unable to qualify for licensure or certification in any jurisdiction or cannot obtain a practicum/internship location.

Relocation

Relocating during the course of a program to another state may impact if the student can remain in the program, meet the state licensure requirements, and/or continue to receive financial aid funding.  Prior to considering relocation, please contact your academic advisor and/or program director to discuss authorization and licensure eligibility requirements.

Links to Professional Licensure Boards/Requirements

NC-SARA Professional Licensure Directory:

https://www.nc-sara.org/professional-licensure-directory

National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards

https://www.nabweb.org/state-licensure-requirements

U.S. Department of Education

https://www.ed.gov/

Nursing

https://www.ncsbn.org/index.htm

Social Work

https://www.aswb.org/

Consumer Grievance Information

The following are links to consumer information notices and disclosures provided in accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act with the reauthorized Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

Consumer Grievance Contact Information

Consumer Grievance Form and Release

Saint Joseph’s College is authorized or exempted from authorization in all 50 states.  Please read state-specific disclosure language below.

SARA States & Institutions

To view updated SARA States and Institutions:  http://www.nc-sara.org/

Applicants who seek admission into an online graduate program at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine must provide the college with the following:

• Official undergraduate transcript indicating successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution, at the time of graduation, with a minimum cumulative degree GPA of 2.5* on a 4.0 scale.
  • *Master of Science in Nursing applicants are required to have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791) or ACEN accredited institution at the time of graduation, with a minimum cumulative degree GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.  Please see program page for program specific admission criteria for the Master of Science in Nursing.
  • *Master of Divinity applicants are required to have completed their Bachelor’s with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Please see program page for program specific admission criteria for the Master of Divinity.
• Official transcripts from all regionally or nationally accredited institutions previously attended for any graduate curriculum-related coursework.   
• Any additional program-specific** required admissions documents.

Undergraduate students in their final semester may apply to a graduate program at SJC. These applicants may be conditionally accepted, pending submission of their final transcript with conferral date for their undergraduate degree, if they meet all other admissions requirements for their desired program. In such a case, full acceptance will be granted only after proof of a bachelor’s degree has been submitted by the student.

**Please see additional program specific admission requirements for the Master of Divinity, Master of Divinity Accelerated, Master of Arts in Theology - Advanced Diaconal Studies  , Master of Science in Nursing  , Master of Accountancy  , Master of Business Administration  and Master of Health Administration  programs.

Graduate Certificate Programs: Applicants who seek admission into a graduate certificate program are required to submit an official undergraduate transcript indicating successful completion of a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution at the time of graduation, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. 

Post-Graduate Non-Nursing Certificate Programs: Applicants who seek admission into one of our non-nursing post-graduate certificate programs are required to submit an official graduate transcript indicating successful completion of a graduate degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution at the time of graduation, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 

Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Programs: Applicants who seek admission into any of our post-graduate Nursing certificate programs are required to submit an official graduate transcript indicating successful completion of a Master of Science in Nursing degree from a CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791) or ACEN accredited institution, at the time of graduation, with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Students must consult the program-specific catalog page to review all additional admissions criteria and required admissions documents.

Transfer Credit

In determining accreditation, Saint Joseph’s College uses the publication Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education by the American Council on Education (ACE) published in consultation with the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). 

Applicants who have graduated with a foreign bachelor’s degree equivalent must have their transcripts evaluated by an authorized agency, and the degree must be deemed by that agency to be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree earned from a US regionally or nationally accredited institution.  For more information on foreign transcript evaluations, please see the ‘International Students’ section below.

Graduate Programs:

• Transfer credit is awarded from regionally or nationally accredited institutions as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of at the time of attendance, or, if a degree was earned, at the time the degree was granted.
• Graduate courses must be completed with a minimum grade of B to be eligible for transfer.
  • Nursing courses must be completed with a minimum grade of B from a CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791) or ACEN accredited institution at the time of attendance, or, if a degree was earned, at the time the degree was granted.
• Course descriptions are required.  Syllabi may be requested on an individual basis.
  • Students who seek graduate nursing transfer credit must provide course descriptions and syllabi for review.
• Students are eligible to transfer up to 6 semester-hour credits of curriculum related graduate-level work from a regionally or nationally accredited post-secondary institution as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of attendance, or, if a degree was earned, at the time the degree was granted.

Graduate Certificate Programs:

• Transfer credit is awarded from regionally or nationally accredited institutions as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of attendance, or, if a degree was earned, at the time the degree was granted.
• Graduate courses must be completed with a minimum grade of B to be eligible for transfer.
  • Nursing courses must be completed with a minimum grade of B from a CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791) or ACEN accredited institution at the time of attendance, or, if a degree was earned, at the time the degree was granted.
• Course descriptions are required.  Syllabi may be requested on an individual basis.
  • Students who seek graduate nursing transfer credit must provide course descriptions and syllabi for review.
• Students are eligible to transfer up to 6 semester-hour credits of curriculum related graduate-level work from a regionally or nationally accredited post-secondary institution, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of attendance, or, if a degree was earned, at the time the degree was granted.

Official transcripts must be sent directly from the transmitting institution(s).  Official transcripts and any additional admissions materials must be received in order to conduct the evaluation process.  Once all official transcripts and supporting materials have been received, a decision regarding acceptance will be made, appropriate courses will be determined, and the applicant will be notified of the admissions decision.  

Graduate transfer credit will not be awarded for undergraduate coursework or graduate courses that had been used previously to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements.

Transcripts:

International students must submit, in English, a certified, course-by-course external transcript evaluation of their post-secondary course work from an authorized agency. If no post-secondary coursework has been completed, an external transcript evaluation of their secondary school transcript is required. For more information on authorized agencies, students must contact an admissions counselor.

Applicants who seek admission into any online nursing program must submit an external evaluation from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) for their prior nursing transcripts. Visit the CGFNS website here: http://www.cgfns.org/

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Scores:

International applicants will be required to submit original Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores if English is not their primary language.  A TOEFL score at or above the 50^th percentile on the internet-based, computer-based, or paper-based exam is preferred.  An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score may be accepted in lieu of the TOEFL.

For more information on TOEFL, contact your local U.S. Consulate or Embassy or contact:

Phone: 1-609-771-7100
Fax: 1-609-771-7500
Mail: TOEFL Services, Educational Testing Services, PO Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
Website: www.toefl.org

Saint Joseph’s College’s TOEFL identification number is 3764