Admission to the University

Prospective Azusa Pacific University students are committed to personal, intellectual, and spiritual growth. Applicants must evidence sympathetic appreciation for the standards and spirit of the university and exhibit moral character in harmony with its purpose. The university encourages applications from students who will contribute to, as well as benefit from, the university experience. In assessing the applicant’s potential for success, academic capabilities and experience relevant to the program of application and disposition are reviewed.

While the following minimum requirements are considered for university admission, specific program acceptance requirements and application deadlines should be consulted as well by reviewing the appropriate program on the APU website and its corresponding catalog section.

Students admitted to financial-aid non-standard-term programs (PhD in Higher Education, Doctoral-Level Certificate in Strengths-Oriented Higher Education) cannot be simultaneously enrolled in any other APU program, nor can they enroll in classes outside of their program. 

To be considered for university graduate admission, the applicant must have a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Please refer to individual program requirements for specific admission policies and allowances. An earned baccalaureate or master’s degree from an ATS- or ABHE-accredited institution will be considered for admission only to Azusa Pacific Seminary. The grade-point average (GPA) from the highest earned degree is used for admission consideration. Applicants with an earned master’s degree with a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA from a regionally accredited college or university may qualify for university graduate admission consideration using that GPA in lieu of their baccalaureate GPA. Specific program admission requirements may be more stringent.

Proof of the baccalaureate degree is also required. 

A minimum cumulative 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) GPA is required on the posted baccalaureate degree for regular admission status. Candidates with a GPA of 2.99 or below will be considered for conditional admission status. The conditional admission status requires maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 with no grade lower than a B- in the first 12 units. Students who do not meet this requirement will be reviewed for dismissal. Specific program admission requirements may be more stringent.

Applications with baccalaureate grade-point averages below 2.5 are subject to university denial.

Forms and procedures are available from the Student Services Center.

Applicants with a Prior Academic Dismissal

Students seeking admission to a master’s program after being dismissed from any APU graduate program, or from a graduate program at another institution of higher education, may do so by submitting a new application. During the application process, prospective students must disclose the date of dismissal and include an explanation of the circumstances of dismissal. Also, official student transcripts from the institution where the dismissal occurred must be included with the application and be forwarded to the department or program making admission decisions. Prospective students must wait a minimum of one semester to apply to a program. For example, if a student is dismissed during the fall term, he/she may apply to a program during the spring term and may be admitted during the summer term. Students who are accepted into a program and who fall under this policy will be admitted on a conditional basis and must remain in good academic standing for the duration of the program.