Admission Policies, Requirements, Procedures | 2024-2025 Academic Catalog | SIU

Policies and procedures for admission are presented in the admissions sections. Definitions of each category of admissions are included along with procedures needed to follow to complete your undergraduate admission application.

Applying for Admissions

You may obtain an application one of several ways. Apply on-line at: admissions.siu.edu. Request an Application for Undergraduate Admission from Undergraduate Admissions, Mail Code 4710, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, 62901, phone 618/536-4405 or email admissions@siu.edu or download a printable application at: admissions.siu.edu. The application requires a $40 non-refundable fee. The admission application cannot be processed until the application fee is received. The fee must be paid using a credit card if applying online and by check or money order if using the paper application.

The application term may be changed one time per application, provided the request is made prior to the start of the original application term.

The University closes admission to some programs whenever the availability of faculty or facilities necessitates such closures. The University also stops accepting admission applications from freshmen whenever the availability of the University resources dictates this action.

If you are a transfer student you can be considered for any future term. Transfer students who intend to transfer to Southern Illinois University Carbondale before completing one year of study may be admitted prior to completing their transfer work if they qualified for admission as beginning freshmen.

As part of its admission process, the University requires applicants to answer a series of “Public Safety Questions” eliciting information about prior criminal convictions, pending criminal charges, and disciplinary suspensions from other colleges or universities. If a positive response is given to one or more of these Public Safety Questions, the applicant is asked to provide supplemental information and to authorize the University to conduct a criminal background check if deemed necessary. The University requires this information to help ensure a safe environment for all members of our community and their property and to evaluate the character, maturity, and responsibility of its applicants. Information obtained from the applicant and through the criminal background check will be evaluated and may serve as a basis to deny admission or to impose specific conditions on admission. Providing false or inaccurate information relative to the applicant’s criminal or disciplinary history may result in denial of admission. The existence of a conviction, pending criminal charges or previous disciplinary suspension does not necessarily mean that a student will be denied admission to the University. Each case will be evaluated on its facts.

Applications are reviewed by representatives of the University’s various academic units and a University Admissions Review Committee, which make recommendations to the office of Undergraduate Admissions. All appeals are initiated through Undergraduate Admissions. Further appeals should be directed to the Director of Admissions. Appeals beyond the Director of Admissions should be directed to the Provost. Decisions by the Provost are final.

Documents required to process an application for admission

All students need a completed Application for Undergraduate Admission accompanied by the $40 non-refundable application fee.

New first time freshmen and transfers with less than 12 credit hours

Official High School Transcripts, GED test scores, High School Equivalency Test scores, or Test Assessing Secondary Completion scores.

Transfer Students (including those with less than 12 credit hours)

1. Official transcripts from each institution of post-secondary education attended, even if no credit was earned. Transcripts must be issued within last 30 days, in a sealed envelope, or sent electronically from the institution through an approved third party transcript provider.

Programs Requiring Additional Materials or Screening

In addition to the undergraduate admission application and the required educational records, some programs require applicants to submit other materials. If other materials are needed, the student will receive information and instructions from their intended major.

The following majors require that students be screened beyond the regular SIU Carbondale admission requirements before entering directly into the programs: automotive technology, aviation flight, aviation management, business and administration, biomedical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, dental hygiene, public safety management, music, nursing, physical therapist assistant, radiologic sciences, and teacher education programs.

In most cases, students may apply for any major in any term. However, a few majors at SIU permit new students to enter in the fall semester only. They are: architectural studies, dental hygiene, fashion studies, interior design, physical therapist assistant and radiologic sciences. For transfer students, admission to architectural studies and interior design in spring or summer will be considered individually.

Mortuary Science and Funeral Service offers major courses beginning in the fall only, but will permit students to begin in the spring and summer terms to take non-major courses.