Admission

Loyola University Maryland seeks to enroll students who subscribe to the ideals and objectives of the institution and who show preparation qualifying them to benefit from the liberal arts education it offers. In addition, the University seeks students who will become participating members in the Loyola community of faculty and students; contribute to the intellectual growth of this community while achieving their own personal intellectual growth and development; develop a social awareness through participating in the cocurricular activities of the University; develop their understanding and appreciation of spiritual values; and benefit from participation in the University's recreational and athletic programs. The University welcomes applications from students of character, intelligence, and motivation.

First-Year Applicants

Applicants for admission are evaluated in a holistic manner. The most important criterion is the secondary school record, including GPA and curriculum. Applicants are also evaluated on factors that include essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular involvement, and leadership. Submission of SAT and/or ACT scores is optional for all first-year applicants, excluding home-school students. Division I student athletes will be required to provide official SAT and/or ACT scores to determine athletic eligibility. SAT and ACT scores will be reviewed if submitted.

All applicants are admitted on the condition that they satisfactorily complete their secondary school coursework and graduate. A final transcript should be provided to the Office of Undergraduate Admission. If an accepted student encounters any disciplinary issues, in or out of school, the Office of Undergraduate Admission should be contacted immediately.

Application Form

All applicants should submit the Common Application. A fee of $60 must accompany the admission application. This fee is not applied to tuition and is not refundable.

Early Decision

Early Decision is a binding admission program designed for students who consider Loyola their top choice and possess a strong academic record at the start of their senior year. This program offers two options: Early Decision I and Early Decision II. Students applying to Loyola through Early Decision may not apply to another binding early decision program, but they may apply to nonbinding Early Action and Regular Decision programs at other institutions. Accepted students must withdraw applications to other institutions and commit to enrolling at Loyola by the stated deadline.

The application deadlines are November 15 for Early Decision I, with notification by late December and deposit due by January 15, and January 15 for Early Decision II, with notification in early March and deposit due by March 15. Candidates for Early Decision will be evaluated primarily on their high school record through the junior year. SAT and/or ACT scores from the October administration will be considered if students choose to submit their scores. Possible outcomes include admission, deferral to the Regular Decision pool, or denial. A denied applicant cannot reapply in the same year but may do so for the following term​.

Early Action

Early Action is a selective, nonbinding program that allows academically exceptional candidates who view Loyola as a top choice for their undergraduate education to learn of their admission decision by mid-January of their senior year. Students admitted through Early Action have until May 1, the Candidate's National Reply date, to make their enrollment decision.

All credentials should be submitted by November 15. Candidates for Early Action will be evaluated primarily on their high school record through the junior year. If students choose to submit standardized test scores, SAT and/or ACT scores from the October administration will be considered.

Students applying to Loyola through Early Action are free to apply to a binding early decision program and/or to non-binding Early Action and Regular Decision programs at other institutions. It is the student's responsibility to abide by the Early Decision guidelines outlined by the institution the student is applying to for admission. The Admission Committee reserves the right to admit, defer, or deny any candidate for admission. Deferred Early Action applicants will be reconsidered for admission under the provision of Regular Decision. A student who has not applied for Early Action, but has submitted a completed application by the deadline, may be admitted under the provision of Early Action.

Regular Decision

Students who complete their application by the January 15 deadline will learn of their admission decision no later than mid-March.

Secondary School Course Recommendations

Preparation in secondary school for admission to Loyola University Maryland should normally total 16 units including the following:

Academic subjects are preferred to commercial, industrial, or technical subjects.

First-Year Student Advising

Registration for first-year students occurs in the summer. At this time, students meet with an academic advisor to discuss their educational objectives and to plan a program of courses for the fall semester. During the fall orientation, first-year students meet with their assigned Messina core advisors who will guide and advise them until they declare a major. The relationship between the Messina advisor and the student is meant to be a professional, yet comfortable, relationship that allows new students to achieve the maximum benefit from Loyola's liberal arts curriculum. It is also meant to ease students' transition from high school to college and to help students in the assessment of their potential, the evaluation of academic progress, and the clarification of future goals by putting them in immediate contact with understanding and knowledgeable members of the faculty.

First-Year International Applicants

Loyola University Maryland welcomes applications from international students. Any student who will need a visa to study in the United States, or who already holds a valid U.S. visa, will be considered as an international student. Both merit-based scholarships and need-based financial aid are available for international students.

Earlier submission of applications and all supporting documents is strongly encouraged.

In addition to possessing the academic qualifications for admission, international students must provide the following materials:

Applicants for whom English is not a native language are required to demonstrate evidence of English proficiency. Test results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test are accepted. Additional information can be obtained from www.toefl.org, www.ielts.org, and englishtest.duolingo.com.

1. Minimum score requirements:

   TOEFL iBT or Special Home Edition: 80 or higher
   TOEFL Essentials Test: 9.0 or higher
   
   IELTS or IELTS Indicator: 6.5 overall band score
   
   Duolingo English Test: 115 or higher

2. Submission of SAT or ACT scores is optional. 
3. Submit official high school transcripts/academic credentials.  Academic materials that are not issued in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. 
4. Teacher recommendation
5. Counselor recommendation - for students attending schools that do not have a high school counselor, a second teacher recommendation will be accepted.
6. Certification of Finances Form
7. Bank Letter or Statement corresponding to the information provide in the Certification of Finances form. Document should be issued in English, dated within three months of submission, and should show a current balance.
8. CSS Profile. Applicants who wish to be considered for need-based aid must also submit the CSS Profile at the time they apply for admission.

​When completing the CSS Profile, Loyola University Maryland's CSS School Code Number is 5370

Materials Required After Admission

International applicants who have received a letter of admission to Loyola and are seeking F-1 student status to engage in full-time studies at Loyola must obtain a Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility) from Loyola's Office of International Student Services (OISS). The Form I-20 is needed to apply for an F-1 student visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate as well as to enter the United States and be granted F-1 status. To be eligible to receive a Loyola-issued Form I-20, admitted applicants who have committed to the University must provide the following:

1. Request For a Loyola Form I-20: OISS will email information on how to login and create a profile in the OISS electronic portal, which is required to request a Loyola Form I-20.
2. Passport Copy: International applicants must supply a photocopy of the biographical/photo page of their current, valid passport. 
3. Official Affidavit of Financial Support.
4. Official Bank Letter: Provide a current original, official bank letter written, in English, issued within the last three months showing available funds (in U.S. dollars) to cover the full estimated cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing, board, books, health insurance, and all other expenses) for one year at Loyola. The original bank letter must be on bank stationery, signed by a bank official, and include the bank's contact information. Further information can be found at www.loyola.edu/oiss.
5. Enrollment Deposit: First-year students must submit the enrollment deposit by the deadline in order to secure their place in the entering class, as well as a space in our residence halls.
6. SEVIS Transfer-In Form: International applicants currently in F-1 status with a Form I-20 from another U.S. institution must submit a SEVIS Transfer-In Form to Loyola along with a copy of the student's current Form I-20 and F-1 visa.

Loyola University Maryland requires all full-time undergraduate and exchange students to be enrolled in U.S.-based health insurance while studying at Loyola. Admitted students, therefore, are required to enroll online in the Loyola-sponsored Student Health Insurance plan or submit an online request to waive coverage. More information on the Loyola-sponsored health insurance plan as well criteria requirements to request a waiver can be found at: https://www.loyola.edu/department/student-health/health-insurance/undergraduate-info.

Once an international student is accepted to the University and all international student requirements have been completed and received, the Form I-20 (along with immigration and visa information) will be sent to the student. Upon receiving the Form I-20 from Loyola, the student must pay a SEVIS processing fee directly to the Department of Homeland Security. Information on the SEVIS fee will be sent with the Form I-20.

All international students are required to attend the New International Student Orientation, which occurs the week prior to the first day of classes. For more information, contact the Office of International Student Services, oiss@loyola.edu or 1-410-617-5245.

Transfer Applicants

Applications for transfer from students attending accredited two- and four-year institutions are welcomed. Due to the University's undergraduate residency requirement (see Residency Requirement  under Curriculum and Policies), students may not apply for transfer beyond the beginning of junior year. Credit awarded on the basis of any placement tests does not count toward fulfillment of the residency requirement. A maximum of 60 credits will be awarded for transfer, including credits earned through examination scores.

All transfer applicants should submit the Common Application for Transfer Students, their secondary school (high school) transcript or official GED certificate, official transcripts of all work completed at other colleges, and the Transfer Student Conduct Report Form from all previously attended institutions. Transfer applicants must state their intended major. A minimum cumulative QPA of 2.700 in previous college work is required for consideration. College instructor evaluations, teacher evaluations, and SAT and ACT scores are not required.

At the time of admission to Loyola University Maryland, transfer students from accredited two- or four-year institutions will be awarded credit for courses with content and learning aims comparable to those offered at the University, regardless of mode of course delivery. Department chairs and the Academic Advising and Support Center will determine course comparability. Remedial, personal development, physical education, health, and preparatory courses that are not equivalent to or discipline-compatible with Loyola's courses are unacceptable for transfer. Only courses equivalent to three, four, or five credits in which a grade of C (2.000) or higher has been earned can be accepted for transfer credit. Some departments may require a higher grade. A course with a grade of C- or below will not be accepted in transfer, regardless of the point value assigned by the transferring institution (see Grades  under Curriculum and Policies). Courses that are 10 years or older cannot be transferred to fulfill major requirements for graduation.

Grades for transferred courses will not be factored into the Loyola grade point average. Credits will be transferred only for those courses that are similar to the requirements for degree programs at Loyola University Maryland. The Loyola cumulative QPA is used for determining Latin honors at graduation or any other University honors. Latin honors are calculated with grades that appear on the Loyola transcript for courses completed at Loyola, through Loyola-sponsored programs, or for courses taken through the Baltimore Student Exchange Program (see Courses at Other Colleges  under Curriculum and Policies). Full- and part-time students are eligible to receive honors at graduation.

Earlier applications, especially for the fall semester, are encouraged.

Transfer Students from Maryland Community Colleges - Seamless Transfer Pathway

Students who transfer to Loyola University of Maryland with a completed Associates of Science (AS) or Associates of Arts (AA) degree* from a Maryland Community College will have completed the Loyola University Maryland Core curriculum with the exception of two courses that will fulfill Loyola's Theology and Philosophy Core requirements: one 200-level course in either Theology or Philosophy and one Ethics Core course in whichever of these departments the 200-level course is not completed. For these requirements, the prerequisite courses are waived. Additionally, if a student has not completed at least two semesters of a world language, they must complete two semesters in a world language upon matriculation to Loyola, as well as the diversity-justice requirement.

*Other forms of Associates degrees, such as Associates of Applied Science (AAS) or Associates of Applied Technology (AAT) or other occupational Associates degrees earned from a Maryland community college, may be considered for seamless transfer on a case-by-case basis.

Transfer International Applicants

Any student who will need a visa to study in the United States, or who already holds a valid U.S. visa, will be considered as an international student. Both merit-based scholarships and need-based financial aid are available to international students. 

Earlier submission of applications and all supporting documents is strongly encouraged.

In addition to possessing the academic qualifications for admission, international transfer applicants must provide the following materials:

Applicants for whom English is not a native language are required to demonstrate evidence of English proficiency. Test results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test are accepted. Additional information can be obtained from www.toefl.org, www.ielts.org, and englishtest.duolingo.com.

1. Minimum score requirements:

   TOEFL iBT or Special Home Edition: 80 or higher
   TOEFL Essentials Test: 9.0 or higher
   
   IELTS or IELTS Indicator: 6.5 overall band score
   
   Duolingo English Test: 115 or higher

2. Submit official high school transcripts/academic credentials.  Academic materials that are not issued in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
3. Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
4. Submit a Transfer Student Conduct Report form from each college attended.
5. An official course-by-course international credential evaluation of all postsecondary transcripts from institutions outside the U.S. must be submitted. The evaluation must be completed by a NACES member organization (www.naces.org) and must include a cumulative GPA.
6. Certification of Finances form.
7. Bank Letter or Statement corresponding to the information provided in the Certification of Finances form. Document should be issued in English, dated within three months of submission, and should show a current balance.
8. CSS Profile. Applicants who wish to be considered for need-based aid must also submit the CSS Profile at the time they apply for admission.

Applicants who wish to be considered for need-based aid must also submit the CSS Profile at the time they apply for admission. When completing the CSS Profile, Loyola University Maryland's CSS School Code Number is 5370. In many cases, course descriptions, in English will also be required to determine course equivalencies.

Materials Required After Admission

International transfer applicants who have received a letter of admission to Loyola and are seeking F-1 student status to engage in full-time studies at Loyola must obtain a Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility) from Loyola's Office of International Student Services (OISS). The Form I-20 is needed to apply for an F-1 student visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate as well as to enter the United States and be granted F-1 status. To be eligible to receive a Loyola-issued Form I-20, admitted transfer applicants who have committed to the University must provide the following:

1. Request For a Loyola Form I-20: OISS will email information on how to login and create a profile in the OISS electronic portal, which is required to request a Loyola Form I-20.
2. Passport Copy: International transfer applicants must supply a photocopy of the biographical/photo page of their current, valid passport. 
3. Official Affidavit of Financial Support.
4. Official Bank Letter: Provide a current original, official bank letter written, in English, issued within the last three months showing available funds (in U.S. dollars) to cover the full estimated cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing, board, books, health insurance, and all other expenses) for one year at Loyola. The original bank letter must be on bank stationery, signed by a bank official, and include the bank's contact information. Further information can be found at www.loyola.edu/oiss.
5. Enrollment Deposit: Payment for the first semester's tuition, after formal admission to the University. Payment options can be found at: https://www.loyola.edu/department/financial-services/student-accounts/tuition/payment-options.
6. SEVIS Transfer-In Form: International applicants currently in F-1 status with a Form I-20 from another U.S. institution must submit a SEVIS Transfer-In Form to Loyola along with a copy of the student's current Form I-20 and F-1 visa.

Loyola University Maryland requires all full-time undergraduate and exchange students to be enrolled in U.S.-based health insurance while studying at Loyola. Admitted students, therefore, are required to enroll online in the Loyola-sponsored Student Health Insurance plan or submit an online request to waive coverage. More information on the Loyola-sponsored health insurance plan as well criteria requirements to request a waiver can be found at: https://www.loyola.edu/department/student-health/health-insurance/undergraduate-info.

Once an international transfer student is accepted to the University and all international student requirements have been completed, the Form I-20 (along with immigration and visa information) will be sent to the student. Upon receiving the Form I-20 from Loyola, the student must pay a SEVIS processing fee directly to the Department of Homeland Security. Information on the SEVIS fee will be sent with the Form I-20.

Part-Time Students

Students may take courses at Loyola on a part-time basis. Under twelve credits per semester is considered part-time. Part-time applicants follow the same admission procedures and must meet the same admission standards as full-time students. Ordinarily, students must complete all degree requirements within a 10-year period.

Part-time students will be charged tuition at the published per credit rate. They also will be charged any special fees (lab, testing, etc.) that may apply to individual students. All University regulations are applicable to part-time students.

Earlier applications, especially for the fall semester, are encouraged.

Nondegree Students

Special Students

Students who have earned four-year college degrees and who wish to take courses without pursuing an additional degree at Loyola are special students. Special students must submit an application accompanied by the college transcript that verifies receipt of a bachelor's degree. Students with a Loyola bachelor's degree are not required to submit a transcript. Special students are ineligible for financial aid from Loyola University Maryland. Campus housing is not available for nondegree students.

Earlier applications, especially for the fall semester, are encouraged.

Visiting Students

Students who take courses at Loyola that count toward a degree at another institution (either a high school or another college) are classified as visiting students. Visiting students must submit an application and copies of all college transcripts. Visiting students are ineligible for a degree or financial aid from Loyola University Maryland. Campus housing is not available for visiting students.

In order to ensure that courses taken at Loyola will transfer to home institution, students are strongly encouraged to seek approval from their home institution prior to registering.

Earlier applications, especially for the fall semester, are encouraged.

Readmission of Former Students

Students who miss three semesters (including summer) without filing a request for a leave of absence are automatically withdrawn from the University and must reapply. This policy also applies to students who study abroad through an external Loyola program and do not take an official leave of absence from the University.

Students who desire to return following withdrawal from the University must apply to the Office of Undergraduate Admission. They will be asked to send a detailed statement of their activities since withdrawal. Students who have been dismissed for academic reasons may reapply for admission after one calendar year. Readmission to the University is not automatic. Students who are academically dismissed a third time will be permanently dismissed from all undergraduate programs at Loyola University Maryland.

Readmitted students must satisfy the degree requirements in effect for their programs at the time of readmission. Department Chairs may require that courses whose content has changed since originally taken, may need to be repeated to satisfy degree requirements. Campus housing is awarded to readmitted students on a space-available basis.

Housing

On-campus housing is awarded to transfer and readmitted students based on availability. Off-campus housing is also an option for transfer students, as well as for readmitted and nondegree students. Additional information about on- and off-campus housing may be obtained by visiting the Office of Resident Life and Housing webpage, www.loyola.edu/studentlife.

Health Insurance

All full-time undergraduate students must provide proof of health insurance coverage each academic year. Students are required to go online to www.wellfleetstudent.com and either enroll in the CIGNA Healthcare Insurance Plan designed for Loyola students or waive the coverage by providing proof of other insurance. If no action is taken, students will be automatically enrolled in Loyola's plan at the end of the enrollment deadline and billed for the coverage. A postcard will be mailed to the home address on file which will provide important information on how to complete this process. Email reminders will also be sent to students (Loyola email address only). For additional information, please contact Loyola's insurance broker at 1-800-346-4075, ext.1607 or email Loyola@rcmd.com.

Immunizations

Once the deposit has been made, students will be sent access to the "New Student Checklist" which contains information on how to access the Health and Immunization form. This form must be completed by the noted deadline and submitted to Student Health and Education Services. Completion of the form includes documentation by a healthcare provider of required immunizations and tuberculin testing. Required immunizations are listed at www.loyola.edu/department/student-health/new-students/health-requirements. Students will not be admitted to campus housing if their completed form has not been received prior to their arrival to campus.

Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement Examinations are given in May by the College Entrance Examination Board. These tests are scored and sent to Loyola during the summer. Complete details on the Advanced Placement Examinations are available on request from the College Entrance Examination Board, Box 6671, Princeton, NJ 08541‑6671.

Students who have taken an advanced placement course in secondary school may obtain college credit at Loyola if their performance on the examination is satisfactory. Credit, but no grade, is awarded and recorded on the student's transcript for a score of three, four, or five, depending upon departmental policy.

The Academic Advising and Support Center will work with students receiving advanced placement credits to make any changes necessary in their programs of study. Loyola University Maryland awards credit for Advanced Placement (AP), British A-Level Exams, International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test achievement, and for dual enrollment courses at the college level. The total maximum amount of credit awarded from these sources is limited to 30 credits. Such credit does not count toward fulfillment of the residency requirement. No credit is awarded for work experience alone.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Tests

This is a national testing program administered by the College Entrance Examination Board. The purpose of the program is to provide an opportunity for students who have acquired college-level knowledge in a particular subject area to validate their knowledge and receive college credit. This knowledge may have been acquired by taking advanced secondary school courses, through independent study, or through employment experience.

Test scores required for the awarding of credit vary with each test. Credit, but no grade, is awarded and recorded on the transcripts of matriculated students of Loyola University Maryland. Entering first-year students may take the tests at one of the national testing centers prior to their first semester at Loyola. Loyola University Maryland should be listed as an institution to receive the scores. There is a fee for each test taken. Matriculated students are not allowed to seek CLEP credit.

Complete details on the CLEP Testing Program are available on request from the College Level Examination Program, Box 6600, Princeton, NJ 08541.

International Baccalaureate Program

Some high schools offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, an internationally recognized, comprehensive two-year curriculum for high school students culminating in an IB Diploma. The program offers study in language and literature, history and the social sciences, mathematical and natural sciences, fine arts, and the classics.

Each subject examined is graded on a scale of one (minimum) to seven (maximum). In consultation with the academic departments, the University offers college credit but no grade for these subjects for scores of six or seven. Upon receipt of official notification of these scores, the Academic Advising and Support Center will work with each student to determine if credit should be awarded. Credit is awarded only for higher level IB courses. 

British A-Level Exams

Ordinarily, A-Level examinations will be reviewed for 3-6 transfer credits, each, upon receipt of the following documents: 

• An official results certificate, indicating that the exam was A-Level and that the grade earned is a D or above (which is equivalent to a US grade of C)
• If needed to determine transferability, an official course description and/or syllabus detailing course outcomes. 

Supporting documents are to be sent to the Academic Advising and Support Center.  

Advanced Credit

College-level work done prior to high school graduation will be reviewed for transfer credit eligibility upon receipt of the following documents:

• an official, seal-bearing transcript from an accredited college/university, indicating the credits received for the course and that the grade earned is a C or above; and

• if needed to determine transferability, an official course description and/or syllabus detailing course outcomes.

Each supporting document is to be sent to the Academic Advising and Support Center. 

Departmental Examinations

A departmental examination may be taken for some courses offered by the University. Some departments charge a fee for such examinations. The appropriate department chair must be consulted to determine if a specific course can be taken by examination. Credit, but no grade, is awarded and recorded on the student's transcript. Credit awarded on the basis of these examinations does not count toward fulfillment of residency requirements.

World Language Test

Students are assigned to their initial world language course by the Academic Advising and Support Center on the basis of a placement test which is usually taken in conjunction with the summer orientation process. Students may choose to learn a new language rather than continue with the one studied in high school. However, all students must take the placement test for the high school language. Students placing into a 200- level or higher modern or classical language course are eligible for retroactive core credit upon successful completion of coursework at Loyola. Credit awarded on the basis of placement tests does not count toward fulfillment of residency requirements. All students must fulfill the language core requirement.

Mathematics Test

All entering first-year and transfer students who have not completed their mathematics/science requirement must take a placement test in mathematics administered by the Academic Advising and Support Center.