Academic Requirements for Admission

Candidates for admission must submit a transcript of courses from an accredited secondary school that indicates the applicant is likely to succeed in college. Courses and grades must indicate intellectual ability and progress. St. Catherine University strongly recommends students enroll in a solid college preparatory program while in high school. Academic success in a liberal arts college suggests the following preparation: English (4 years),  natural science (2 years), social science (2 years), and mathematics (3 years). Students who are interested in science and scientifically related pre-professional programs should take biology, chemistry, and physics.

Application Procedure

St. Catherine University operates on a rolling admission basis, which means that applications are processed as they are received. Students are considered for admission upon completion of the junior year and on the basis of a high school transcript, letter(s) of recommendation, an essay or personal statement, and test scores. (NOTE: Reporting ACT or SAT test scores for admission is optional for first-year applicants applying for admission in Fall 2025 or later, except in specified circumstances.*) Students will be notified of the admission decision within three weeks after the application file is complete and has been evaluated by the Admission Committee. The University begins notifying applicants of offers of admission no later than October 15. In order to complete their application file, students must send the following to the Office of Admission:

• A completed application
• An official high school transcript or General Education Development (GED) test results. All available aptitude and achievement scores should be indicated on the transcript.  Applicants who have completed any portion of their education outside the United States should consult with their admission counselor for additional instructions.
• St. Catherine University is test-optional.  Students may submit test results of one of the following exams: American College Testing Program (ACT) and/or Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) to include in application materials.  Scores may be reported on the high school transcript or sent directly to the University from the appropriate testing agency.  (NOTE: Exam scores are not required for Fall 2025 or later applicants, except in specified circumstances.*)
• Letter(s) of recommendation
• An essay or personal statement
• If the applicant's first language is not English, the applicant will be required to submit the results of either the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery Test (MELAB), Duolingo, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or take St. Catherine University's English Proficiency Test.

The Admission Committee may defer an applicant's admission decision until further information has been received, such as results of the current semester's course work, or additional letters of recommendation. If additional credentials are needed or an interview is deemed necessary, applicants will be informed by the Office of Admission.

Upon acceptance to the University, students should submit a $200 tuition deposit to the Office of Admission.

*Test optional exceptions for Fall 2025 applicants:

Early Entrance

On rare occasions, certain high school students who show exceptional promise may be granted admission to the University at the end of the junior year. Students wishing to pursue early admission must follow the application procedures outlined above and must receive the recommendation of their high school principal or guidance counselor.

College Credit Earned During High School

The University accepts higher education credits students complete during high school. See the Credit for Prior and Alternative Learning Website for details.