Admission to the College

Admission to the Freshman Class

Marist College is committed to enrolling a diverse group of students whose backgrounds and talents will enhance each other’s educational experience. Moreover, the College seeks students who are eager to participate in the campus community and who wish to make a positive contribution to the student body. A student interested in applying to Marist College should rank in the top half of their graduating class and hold a recalculated average between 3.2-3.7 or better. The quality and difficulty level of each class is taken into account as well. Leadership qualities and high school activities are also important. Candidates should meet the following minimum requirements. Test scores, if submitted, will be considered, but are not the primary factor in the selection process. The secondary school record and the quality of courses completed are our principal concern.

All those applying to Marist must have graduated from an accredited high school or possess the appropriate high school equivalency and have completed 17 units, of which 15 must be in academic subjects. The following is the distribution of units:

These high school units should be viewed as guidelines for admission to the College.

Accompanying the official Admission application form, obtainable from the Office of Undergraduate Admission, must be the following:

1. Official transcript of high school record including senior year courses and available grades.
2. Results of SAT or ACT Test Scores, unless the student applies test optional.
3. Recommendation of the high school counselor or college advisor.
4. An optional second letter of recommendation.
5. Essay
6. A nonrefundable $50.00 application fee.

All students interested in Marist are encouraged to visit the campus. Reservations for our information sessions and other visit opportunities can be made online at www.marist.edu/visit or by calling (800) 436-5483.

International Students

In addition to meeting the academic standards for admission, international students applying for undergraduate admission to Marist College should supply the Office of Undergraduate Admission with the following:

1. Official translated transcripts of secondary school records.
2. An official translated transcript from any college or university attended.
3. Score reports of any national examinations administered by the applicant’s home country. Advanced credit for international diplomas is possible if all other academic prerequisites have been met.
4. Official results of the SAT or the ACT, if available.
5. Official results of either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test for non-native English-speaking students. The English Proficiency Exam result requirement can be waived for student who have met any of the following criteria:
   • Completed or are pursuing an International Baccalaureate Diploma
   • Attained a minimum score of 500 on the SAT Evidence-Based

Reading and Writing section

• Attended a U.S. or international school taught in English for a minimum of four years without any English as a Second Language courses.

NOTE: International students should take into account that tuition and fees (see page 313) are based on one year of study. Additional costs will also be incurred due to cost of living increases and travel expenses.

Non-US citizens* are required to have an F-1 student visa to attend Marist College. Accepted students receive a letter of admission and an enrollment form.

Once a student submits an enrollment deposit, they are required to submit the following information to obtain their I-20:

1. Declaration of Finances and Sponsorship
2. Current bank statement or bank letter
3. Copy of Passport ID page
4. Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test)
5. Transfer recommendation Form (only for students currently holding an F-1 Visa)

The I-20 form, issued by Marist College, enables international students to apply for an F-1 Student Visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

International students and U.S. citizens living abroad should plan to arrive before classes begin in order to participate in the required Marist International Student Orientation Program. This program is designed to introduce students to the academic policies and procedures at Marist College and to familiarize them with the campus, the surrounding community, and with the United States. 

* Undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students graduating from U.S. high schools or earning a high school equivalency diploma in the U.S. are not required to obtain an F-1 Visa.

Early Decision

Candidates applying for Early Decision are restricted to Marist as their single choice college. Students who are admitted to Marist under an Early Decision program are required to withdraw all applications to other colleges. The application deadline for Early Decision is November 15, and notification will be made by early January. Accepted Early Decision candidates will be asked to make a deposit by March 1. The deadline for Early Decision II is February 15, and notification will be made by mid-February. Accepted Early Decision II candidates will be asked to make a deposit by March 1.

Early Decision applicants seeking financial aid must submit the FAFSA or CSS profile.

Early Action

Candidates applying for Early Action are not restricted to Marist as their single choice college. The application deadline for Early Action is November 15, and notification will be made by mid-January. Accepted Early Action candidates will be asked to make a deposit by May 1.

Early Action applicants seeking financial aid must submit the FAFSAor CSS profile.

Regular Decision

The application deadline for Regular Decision is February 15, and notification will be made by the end of March. Accepted Regular Decision candidates will be asked to make a deposit by May 1.

Regular Decision applicants seeking financial aid must submit the FAFSAor CSS profile.

Matriculation Policy

To be matriculated means that a student has officially been recognized and accepted as a degree or certificate candidate at Marist. A student must be matriculated in order to be eligible for various types of financial aid.

Occasionally, a student wishing to study for a degree at Marist College, but who has not yet met ordinary admission requirements, is permitted to take courses as a non-matriculated student. Upon completion of 12 credit hours with a 2.5 cumulative G.P.A., the student may request to matriculate. Under special circumstances, the Dean of the School of Professional Programs can approve nonmatriculated coursework beyond the initial 12 credit hours. Students interested in matriculating into a program should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission at (845) 575-3226.

The College is also prepared to admit a limited number of qualified applicants who wish to take selected courses for credit but who do not wish to study for degree at Marist College. Such applicants are subject to the usual admission requirements.

Visiting Students from other Colleges:

A student in regular attendance at another college may register for courses at Marist to make up deficiencies or accelerate his or her program. Such a student should have permission from his or her Dean and should ascertain that the home college will accept the transfer credits. Students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission for more information.

Transfer Students and Transfer of Credit Policy

Marist College welcomes and encourages applications from transfer students. Each year, approximately 250 students from two-year and four-year colleges throughout the United States choose to transfer to Marist. Transfer admission operates on a rolling basis, beginning in February for the fall semester, and in September for the spring semester. Students interested in housing or financial aid are urged to submit applications as early as possible to ensure full consideration for these resources.

Transfers from two-year colleges must complete at least 50 credit hours at Marist. Transfers from four-year colleges must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at Marist. Up to 70 credits may be accepted from a community college or accredited two-year institution, although fulfilling requirements toward a student’s degree is dependent on meeting all specific program requirements for that degree. All transfer students must complete a minimum of 12 hours of upper-level credits in the major field. A maximum of 6 transfer credits can be accepted toward a minor, stand-alone concentration, or certificate. (In cases of math or science minors, transfer credit of up to 8 credits may be applied if the courses transferred in are approved 4-credit courses.) Other students will have their courses evaluated as stipulated below:

1. The course(s) must be similar in scope and content to courses offered at Marist.
2. Only courses in which a C or better has been obtained may be transferred to meet major, related field, and Core requirements. Credit for C- grades may be awarded on the elective credit category only.
3. Transfer courses applicable to a student’s academic program will be accepted from accredited colleges and universities that meet Marist College’s transferability standards. (Check with the Office of the Registrar for a complete list of acceptable accrediting agencies.)
4. Students who have taken College Writing I and II at another institution (or in high school as part of an articulation agreement) are exempt from ENG 120L - Writing for College  . Students who have only taken the equivalent of College Writing I still need to take ENG 120L - Writing for College .
5. Transfer students who bring in 24 or more earned credits from their previous institution are exempt from the First Year Seminar. Transfer students with fewer than 24 credits who have taken a similar FYS course at another institution may be able to substitute that course for the Marist FYS.
6. Transfer students who bring in 36 or more earned credits from their previous institution are exempt from the Pathway requirement. They must earn a total of 36 distribution credits in the following areas: Fine Arts; History; Literature; Mathematics; Natural Science; Philosophy; Social Science; and Ethics and Justice (course in Ethics and Religious Studies). Students must take at least one three-credit course in each of these 8 subject areas. Foreign language courses are not required but may also count toward the 36-credit total. Transfer students with fewer than 36 credits may count courses taken at their previous institution toward the Pathway, provided they are applicable to the Pathway’s topic.

All students will receive an official transcript evaluation for the program to which they apply. The evaluation will specify how many credits are transferable toward the baccalaureate degree at Marist, how many credits may be accepted but not applied toward the baccalaureate degree, and the remaining courses necessary to fulfill Marist degree requirements. The awarding of a baccalaureate degree is dependent on meeting the specific requirements for that degree. Consequently, it may be possible, under exceptional circumstances, for a student to have completed 120 or more credits and not be eligible to be awarded a degree. Grades for courses taken at other institutions are not included in the computation of the student’s grade-point average at Marist.

The evaluation will be emailed to each candidate after all records are received. Any questions pertaining to the evaluation should be directed to the appropriate admitting office. Students are advised not to register for any course to which transfer credit may be applied. In addition, students should be sure that the necessary prerequisites for the course have been met. After the first date of attendance, the student must use the degree audit to track degree completion requirements. Degree Audits can be found on the Marist website: http://www.marist.edu.

Applications for transfer admission and further information are available through the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Students who are 22 or older should contact the Office of Adult Undergraduate Admission.

Proficiency Examinations

The College grants credit to students, at the time of matriculation, for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Proficiency Examinations (CPE), NYS Regents College Exams, ACT-PEP, and the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) on an individual basis for examinations completed prior to matriculation. The acceptable score and credit assignment shall be determined by the department concerned with the subject area in which credit is sought. Please see the Marist website: http://www.marist.edu/admission/ transfer/credits.html for more specific information.

Permission for matriculated students to use examination credits to meet degree requirements must be requested from the appropriate School Dean and will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances.

Credit for Demonstrable Knowledge Gained from Life/Work Experiences

A matriculated adult undergraduate student may apply for credits for knowledge acquired from life/work experiences which occurred prior to matriculation. The student must be able to demonstrate and verify learning and/or skills comparable to the learning outcomes of courses at postsecondary levels of instruction. Additional information should be obtained from the School of Professional Programs and can be found on the Marist website under Life Work Credit.

Credit for Coursework at Other Institutions

Successfully completed studies at another institution prior to senior year will be accepted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation if: (1) the student, while in residence at Marist College, qualified for and was accepted into an established program such as the Marist Abroad Program or the Visiting Student Program or (2) the student, while an undergraduate at Marist, offered sufficient reason to the Dean of School to gain prior approval for summer or intersession courses at another institution or (3) the student began his undergraduate education at another college or university and transferred to Marist College (see the section on Transfer Students).

Students who have 70 or more credits on record at Marist will be permitted to do work only at other four-year accredited institutions. The final 30 credits for all students, which are equivalent to the senior year, may not be taken at another institution. No full-time, matriculated student at Marist is permitted to do coursework concurrently at another institution.

Only those courses with a C grade or better may be transferred. Courses with C- grades will only be awarded credit for elective courses.

Pursuing a Second Degree

Marist College may confer a second baccalaureate degree only as a means of recognizing that a candidate has competencies in two essentially different areas (e.g., B.A. in English/B.S. in Biology). A candidate for a second baccalaureate degree must complete at least 30 unique credit hours within the major and/or related field requirements beyond the requirements of his or her first baccalaureate degree. Candidates for a second baccalaureate degree should apply through Adult Admissions as a transfer student. Final transcripts from the institution awarding the first baccalaureate degree must be submitted at the time of application.

Students admitted to pursue a second bachelor’s degree may not change their majors without approval from the Dean of the proposed destination school. Individuals wishing to complete the Professional Studies major to earn a second bachelor’s degree must keep in mind the following guidelines.

1. Students must earn a minimum of 30 additional credits in the Professional Studies major to be awarded the second degree.
2. Students may not use their major specific courses from their previously granted degree as an Area of Study/Concentration in the Professional Studies major. (e.g. First degree in Psychology and an Area of Study in Psychology in Professional Studies).
3. No more than 18 credits (non-major) from the student’s first degree may be used to meet the Area/Concentration portion of the Professional Studies degree.
4. Students must take INTD 477L  in order to earn the second degree in Professional Studies.