First-Time Freshmen

You are considered a first-time freshman if you are a current high school senior, have a TASC/GED or haven't attended college since graduating from high school.

How to Apply as a First-Time Freshman

To apply to West Virginia University as a first-time freshman, please complete the following steps. WVU offers rolling admission and has adopted a test optional application for the 2022-2023 terms.

Review the admissions requirements. Some majors have specific requirements.
To apply for an on-campus program, complete either the WVU Application or the Common App. The fee is $50 for in-state and out-of-state applicants and $65 for international applicants. When submitting the application, you will be prompted to indicate if you are applying test optional.

WVU Application The Common App
Students applying to an online program should visit the WVU Online Campus application instructions. Have you applied and want to change your major? Use our Change of Major process to do so.
Self-report your courses and grades. Both are accepted on the WVU Application and the Common Application. If not self-reporting, learn about options for submitting high school transcripts.
If not applying test optional, submit your test scores. Learn how to submit your ACT or SAT scores. WVU superscores, so be sure to submit all test dates. We do not accept self-reported test scores via the Common Application.
Wait for your decision. Essays and recommendations are not required. We will process a decision within 3-4 weeks after receiving a completed application and supporting documents. Students will receive an email once admitted and a letter by mail within two weeks.

Application Deadlines for First-Time Freshmen

WVU has a rolling admissions policy. Students are encouraged to apply early due to the selectivity and capacity restrictions for some majors. For you to be considered for first-time freshman admission, all application materials and supporting documents must be received by the following dates:

by December 1 for spring semester admission
by August 1 for fall semester admission

Dual Enrollment/College-In-High School Courses

Students who have completed college courses at a 2- or 4-year accredited institution while in high school may be eligible to have credit transferred to WVU.

The Office of Admissions will require an official transcript from the institution(s) once courses are completed and grades posted.
The official transcript must be sent by the institution; unofficial college transcripts will not be accepted from the student.
If WVU ACCESS credit, an official transcript is not required.
College credits earned while in high school are considered the same as transfer credits.
Grades earned are calculated as a part of the first semester GPA at WVU. This includes GPA calculation for aid renewal, including institutional scholarships and the West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship.
Students may use our Transfer Equivalency Self-Service (TESS) system to review transferable credit, or request review of a course not available in the system.
Academic advisors will determine credit for transfer for first-time students during New Student Orientation prior to the term start.

Completion of an Associate Degree

Students enrolling at WVU with an associate degree may qualify to have their General Education Foundations (GEF) requirements considered fulfilled.

The information above (under Dual Enrollment/College-In-High School Courses) pertaining to college credit for transfer applies.
Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degrees apply; Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis due to the technical nature of the degree.
First-time freshmen are required to fulfill the on-campus residency requirement and live in a WVU residence hall their first year regardless of college credit earned while in high school. Exemptions to the first-year residency requirement can be found on the On-Campus Residency Requirements page.

Financial Aid Implications for Students with Incoming Transfer Credit

First-time freshman students who have earned an associate’s degree while in high school are strongly encouraged to work with the Office of Financial Aid once admitted to WVU and aid has been offered.

Credit earned may impact Satisfactory Academic Progress, as well as eligibility for certain types of aid.
Submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and your WVU admissions application as early as possible during your senior year. This will ensure that you will have the time to understand your financial aid and facilitate next steps due to the special circumstances of completing an associate’s degree while in high school.

Students Who've Taken the TASC, GED or HiSET

TASC, GED or HiSET Testing for High School Graduates

Students who have taken the TASC, GED or HiSET after their anticipated high school graduation date should submit the freshman application for admission and contact the State Department of Education to request that TASC, GED or HiSET scores be mailed to the WVU Office of Admissions.

Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) - score of 500 on each of the five subtest categories
General Equivalency Degree (GED) - average standard score of 2250 (450) or above
HiSET exam - minimum score of 45

Students are required to have an official high school transcript or academic record submitted by their high school to the WVU Office of Admissions. Although not required, if submitting official ACT or SAT scores, please refer to the options for submitting test scores.

TASC as Credit Recovery for High School Students in the State of West Virginia

The Options Pathway Programs offered to students in the state of West Virginia are not guaranteed to meet WVU’s requirements for admission to the Morgantown campus.

WVU stipulates that students meet 9-12 grade core curriculum requirements to be admissible to the Morgantown campus. Applicants who do not meet the 9-12 grade core requirements will be referred to a divisional campus within the WVU system, or ineligible for admission.
Students enrolled in the Options Pathway (formerly Option 1) or the HSEA Opportunity (formerly Option 3) are strongly encouraged to work with the Office of Admissions in advance to ensure that application requirements are met. Applicants must submit a personal statement explaining their motivation for enrolling in the program. Test optional applicants will be considered. However, it is highly recommended that students submit an ACT or SAT score.
Students enrolled in HSEA Credit Recovery (formerly Option 2) are eligible to apply to the WVU Morgantown campus. However, emphasis will be placed on meeting all 9-12 grade core requirements and only one TASC exam can replace a singular core requirement. Test optional applicants will be considered. However, it is highly recommended that students submit an ACT or SAT score.

Your high school must use the same guidelines for issuing grades as with other credit recovery programs. If using TASC or GED score ranges, WVU will convert to a letter grade using the scale below. Official standardized test scores, ACT and/or SAT, are also required.

GED® Test Score	Letter Grade	TASC Test Score	Letter Grade
600-800	A	650-800	A
500-590	B	550-649	B
410-490	C	500-549	C

Home-Schooled Students

Students educated at home or in non-accredited high schools should submit the freshman application and documentation of their academic record or transcript. Home-schooled applicants may apply test optional.

Home-schooled applicants and applicants who attended non-accredited high schools must furnish documentation to validate learning in the academic areas of English, math, science and social sciences. Additional information about acceptable coursework can be found at First-Time Freshman Admission Requirements. For students who took credits at an accredited high school or college, official transcripts of the units taken must be provided to WVU.

The documentation of the academic record should take the form of a typed manuscript or description and background of classes and must include the following, at a minimum:

The student’s name.
A list and description of courses completed.
Grades earned for the courses completed.
The number of credits earned for each course.

The courses must be broken down by 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade years and bear the signature of the person who administered the curriculum.

Upon completion of an application with the required documentation, WVU will review the entire application file. All application materials must be received by the regular admission deadline.

Note for West Virginia residents who are home-schooled: The PROMISE Scholarship and the West Virginia Higher Education Grant require that home-schooled students submit a Home-Schooled Grade Report Form and transcript when submitting their Promise application with West Virginia Student Aid Management (WVSAM). Further questions regarding this should be directed to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

Early Admission

WVU will admit a limited number of rising high school seniors who have demonstrated high academic achievement and maturity to enter college before high school graduation. Students who have completed their junior year in high school with a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher, have a composite 26 ACT or 1240 SAT, and have completed all requirements for graduation from high school except senior English may apply for early admission.

In addition to submitting the freshman admission application and required documents, the principal or guidance counselors must submit a letter supporting the application. The student's parent(s) or guardian(s) must also submit a letter of support for the application.

Once the above requirements are met, an interview with the student will be conducted for the Early Enrollment Program.

Special considerations: Early admits are not eligible for the following forms of aid until they have officially graduated high school. Upon high school graduation and receipt of an official high school transcript that includes graduation date, students may revisit their aid and merit award with the Financial Aid Office. Students are strongly encouraged to meet the WVU FAFSA deadline for aid consideration their second year.

Title IV Federal Financial Aid – loans, grants and Federal Work Study
The West Virginia Promise Scholarship - for West Virginia residents only
WVU merit scholarships, including central, department specific, and specialized endowed awards

Scholarship Eligibility

You are considered for various merit scholarships by simply being admitted to WVU by June 1, 2022. To estimate your scholarship eligibility, you can use our Net Price Calculator or the scholarships site. Please contact the admissions counselor for your state or region if you have new or updated GPA or test score information for scholarship consideration after being admitted.

Freshman Class Statistics

WVU’s fall 2021 freshman class had an average cumulative GPA of 3.66 on a 4.0 scale, an average ACT superscore of 24 and an average SAT superscore of 1165.

Need Help?

Type your question below to find answers to our frequently asked questions. If you don't find an answer, or would like more information, please contact the admissions counselor for your state or region.