Admissions

Covenant College seeks to attract students who give evidence of those qualities of mind and purpose which are essential in a Christian liberal arts education and whose personal qualifications give assurance that they will be responsible and contributing members of the College community. Applicants for on-campus programs are required to submit a written, credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Students unable to express faith in Christ, who are children of the covenant, will be considered for admission after submitting a letter explaining their desire to attend a Christ-centered college.

Covenant College is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students. Covenant is also approved for the training of ex-service personnel under public laws, and the College meets the criteria established by the United States Office of Education for listing in its higher education directory. The teacher education programs of Covenant College are approved by the State of Georgia Department of Education.

Application for Admission

Covenant College offers students an academically rigorous liberal arts education, equipping them to explore and express the preeminence of Jesus Christ in all things. Consistent with this mission, the average freshman has the following academic record from high school:

• Unweighted GPA: 3.44 - 3.89
• SAT (math + evidence-based reading & writing): 1130 - 1350; or
• ACT composite: 24 - 30; or
• CLT composite: 76 - 94

While this is the average academic profile that characterizes our student body, potential applicants should keep in mind that we consider every application on an individual basis. Transfer applicants are considered in light of this academic profile, as well as academic performance in any college-level coursework. Anyone interested in a Covenant College education should apply.

To begin the application process, the candidate should apply online (www.covenant.edu/apply) and submit the following:

• Completed and signed Application for Admission along with $35 nonrefundable application fee
• Christian testimony
• Official high school transcript
• Official college transcript from each institution attended if previous college work has been completed
• SAT or ACT scores (Covenant’s code numbers are 6124 for the SAT and 3951 for the ACT) or CLT (Classical Learning Test)
• Academic Reference Form
• Church Reference Form
• Admission Interview (optional)

Covenant looks at each file for overall consistency (e.g. college prep classes and grades received in high school are consistent with writing skills on essays/testimony and SAT/ACT/CLT standardized test scores). As application materials are received, the Admissions Committee may decide that the following additional information will be required before the final evaluation:

• Graded academic paper from within the last year
• Admission Interview

Decisions regarding prospective student applicants are made at two different dates in a year. Students who apply early action (which is a non-binding status), must complete their application by November 15, and can expect a decision by December 15. Students applying regular decision should complete their application by February 1, and can expect a decision by March 1. Students are still eligible to apply to Covenant after March 1, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling admissions basis. Once the entering class is full, accepted applicants will be placed on a waiting list. All students admitted for the fall semester have until May 1 to confirm their enrollment.

All inquiries or application materials should be submitted electronically at online.covenant.edu/status or should be mailed to: Covenant College Admissions, 14049 Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750.

Admission from a Secondary School

A candidate for admission should be a graduate of an approved secondary school or homeschool by the time he or she enters Covenant. The candidate should have at least sixteen units, each representing one year of satisfactory work in a subject. It is recommended that the units be distributed as follows:

* Although not required, two or three (2-3) units of one foreign language are recommended.

Homeschooled candidates must present a transcript of work completed including the following for each course: high school year of study, course title, length of course (i.e., semester or year), and grade. Admission will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with special consideration given to SAT/ACT/CLT scores and the distribution of courses. There are guidelines for homeschooled students available on our website at www.covenant.edu/homeschool.

Since the College’s primary objective is to obtain evidence that a student is prepared to satisfactorily complete college work, the Admissions Committee is willing to consider the applications of students whose preparations may vary from the usual pattern. For instance, students may be admitted if they have equivalent education representing a normal four-year course of study, provided they present above-average marks and SAT/ACT/CLT scores. Candidates who attain a satisfactory score on the General Education Development (GED) Test may also be admitted.

Admission of Transfer Students

A transfer student has previously attended a college or another postsecondary institution since high school graduation, other than a summer term immediately after high school graduation and just prior to a fall enrollment at Covenant. Transfer applicants are considered in light of their high school academic profile, as well as academic performance in any college-level coursework. An official transcript must be submitted for each institution attended by the student. All coursework will be entered on Covenant’s transcript with transfer credit being awarded only for college-level courses completed with a letter grade of “C-” or better from regionally accredited or other approved programs. The transfer of credit whether into or out of Covenant College, is at the discretion of the receiving institution and an institution’s accreditation does not guarantee transferability. Transfer coursework will be evaluated in terms of level, content, quality, comparability, and degree program relevance by the appropriate academic department at Covenant. Normally, a maximum of 70 semester hours may be transferred from a regionally accredited two-year program or other approved programs.

Courses with a grade of Pass, Credit, or any code other than a standard letter grade will not be accepted unless the sending institution’s policy to issue that grade would require the equivalent of a “C-” or better. Courses may not be accepted for transfer with a similar title or content if the content will be duplicated in a Covenant course. Covenant does not offer noncredit courses and noncredit course work is not accepted to fulfill degree requirements. A transfer candidate may be excused from certain required courses for which he or she has had equivalent general subject matter. This may require the consent of a professor in the parallel academic area at Covenant. The Dean of Records is the initial contact regarding transfer courses. The Dean may request a college catalog, college URL, course syllabus, or transfer articulation agreement with other regionally accredited bachelor degree programs to determine if a course is transferable and/or equivalent to a Covenant course or requirement.

To become eligible for graduation from Covenant, a transfer student must complete a minimum of 32 semester hours at Covenant. A student’s institutional GPA is computed only from courses completed at Covenant. To be eligible for academic honors upon graduation, a student must complete a minimum of 60 semester hours at Covenant College.

Admission of International Students

Covenant defines international students as anyone who is not a citizen of the United States of America. International students should complete the Traditional Undergraduate Student application. We encourage international students to complete the SAT or ACT when possible. Students whose first language is not English may submit the TOEFL or IELTS in place of the SAT or ACT. Please have an official score report sent to Covenant (college number 6124). We require a minimum total score of 577 (paper-based), 233 (computer-based) or 90 (Internet-based) for the TOEFL and a minimum or 7 for the IELTS. 

Once an applicant has been admitted to Covenant, the International Student Certification of Finances and a copy of the student’s passport biographical page must be submitted before an I-20 can be issued to the student, or the student would be considered for any institutional financial aid. The certification form must be supported with a copy of a bank statement or letter from a bank confirming the availability of financial resources to pay for educational expenses. If a third party individual or organization will also be providing resources for the student, a similar confirmation of resources from an individual or a letter from an organization must be included.

Readmission

When a matriculated student withdraws from the College for one semester and desires to return, the student should contact the Office of Records. These students must submit an Application for Re-entering students and provide a transcript for any college coursework taken in their absence from Covenant. Upon acceptance, the $300 room and schedule deposit is required.

When a matriculated student withdraws from the College for two or more semesters and desires to return, the student should contact the Office of Admissions. These students must submit an Application for Re-entering Students Form, a Re-entering Student Reference Form, and a brief testimony about their walk with Christ since leaving Covenant. If the student has attended another college since leaving Covenant, a transcript of all courses taken must be submitted. Upon acceptance, the $300 room and schedule deposit is required.

Admission Status

Once all necessary information has been received, the candidate will be evaluated for acceptance. Covenant College does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, national origin, or disability.

The evaluation of a completed application will result in one of four decisions: acceptance, acceptance with conditions, acceptance as a special student, or denial. Supplemental information may also be requested when necessary before action is taken.

Acceptance: The candidate is accepted as a degree-seeking student and may enroll for a maximum of 17 hours for the first semester unless approved otherwise by their advisor.

Sample of conditions for admission: limit of 15 hours in a student’s first semester, enrollment in the one hour course GE 131  College Life, restricted extra-curricular activities, and regular appointments with members of the Center for Student Success.

Special Student: The applicant has not been admitted to the degree program of the College but may be permitted to enroll in a maximum of 15 hours per semester based on available seats. Other restrictions are outlined in the Special Student section under Admissions. Please contact the Office of Records for an application.

Denial: The candidate has been denied admission to the College. Further study at another institution is recommended to demonstrate the student’s preparation for the academic rigor of college-level work.

The conditions under which a candidate is accepted will apply only to their first semester at Covenant. A student’s institutional GPA will determine the enrollment status for subsequent semesters. The institutional GPA is computed only for courses taken at Covenant College and programs affiliated with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

Confirmation of Acceptance

To confirm acceptance to the College, the candidate must send a $300 Room and Schedule Deposit that will reserve a space on campus and be applied toward first semester expenses. This deposit is refundable up through May 1. The deposit date will also be used in determining priority for class registration and housing assignment for the fall and spring semesters.

Three Year Degree Planning

Over half of Covenant students have earned advanced standing credits while in high school through either dual enrollment (DE), Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations. Depending on the number of hours earned, the types of courses completed and the academic program that the student pursues at Covenant, it may be feasible to make a plan to complete the bachelor degree in three years!

Covenant often works with prospective students during their sophomore or junior years in order to identify the best DE and/or AP courses to take during their junior and/or senior years. The BA degree requires 126 semester hours that could be completed in eight semesters requiring an average of 15-16 hours per semester. By strategically planning DE and AP classes, it will not only create a more challenging high school curriculum, but also allow more flexibility to create a college schedule plan to accelerate a bachelor’s degree. This can preserve financial resources as well as allow a student to pursue graduate or professional programs, or employment earlier than a traditional four year program.

The most common program requirements that we see fulfilled through DE or AP are:

• English Composition - one semester
• Fine Arts - Art, Film, Music or Theatre
• Foreign Language - equivalent to two semesters of the same language at the college level
• Humanities - History, Literature or Philosophy
• Mathematics - depends on the academic program
• Natural Science Lab - a laboratory experience course
• Social Science - Economics, Political Science, Psychology or Sociology
• General Electives - courses not fulfilling a specific degree requirement will apply to program general electives that range from 0-36 semester hours depending on the academic program.

Students should work with Covenant so we can approve classes, before enrolling if possible. We have students who begin by formulating a three year plan and find their interests expanded with exposure to new disciplines along the way. Having created the flexibility in their schedule, some students refine their academic goals and decide to stay beyond the three years in order to participate in a semester study abroad or complete a second major.

If advanced standing credits are available, they may create future options, but are best pursued with a plan. Covenant can provide assistance in the selection of the most strategic courses that are available through your high school. Contact the Admissions Office to investigate this option and begin to formulate a plan!

Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and CLEP Examinations

A maximum of 30 hours of advanced standing credit may be earned by Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and/or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations. Each academic department will determine how examination credit can be applied toward a program of study. See the next few tables below or the Covenant Website to find the minimum passing score and course equivalence for a specific examination. Contact the Office of Records regarding new exams that are not on the current lists. Academic departments that have experience with certain examinations may submit a proposal to the Academic Standards Committee for a deviation from the posted minimum passing score. Credit by examination will not be given for an examination in which candidates have already attempted or earned equivalent or higher level college credit. Duplicate credit will not be given for examinations with overlapping or equivalent content as a completed course.

Candidates enrolled in the Educational Testing Service’s College-Level AP Program courses in secondary schools will ordinarily receive credit for courses in which they earn a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Examinations.

Candidates enrolled in the IB Program courses in secondary schools will ordinarily receive credit for courses in which they earn a score of 5, 6, or 7 on the Higher Level Examinations only.

Credit may be earned in the CLEP Program sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board. Credit will be given for subject examinations only on the basis of minimum passing scores, and the demonstration of writing proficiency when an essay is required.

 Advanced Placement Examinations

Score range: 1-5. Credit awarded for subject examinations only. See Advanced Placement International Baccalaureate and CLEP Examinations for additional policies.

International Baccalaureate Tests

Score range: 1-7. Credit awarded for Higher Level Examinations only. See Advanced Placement International Baccalaureate and CLEP Examinations for additional policies.

CLEP Computer Based Examinations After July 1, 2007

Score range: 20 - 80. Credit awarded for Subject Examinations only. Covenant Code: 6124 See Advanced Placement International Baccalaureate and CLEP Examinations for additional policies.

Covenant Placement Testing Program

All entering freshmen who wish to bypass the foreign language or mathematics core requirement must take the respective placement test to demonstrate proficiency. Demonstrating proficiency will exempt a student from that requirement, however, it does not award academic credit for that subject. Students who have taken two or more years of French, German, Latin, or Spanish in high school may take a foreign language placement test in order to be placed in the correct level of language study. Mathematics placement  levels are initially assigned based on SAT, ACT, or CLT math scores, but students may improve their placement level by completing the placement exam. Exams will only be administered during new student orientation.

Dual Enrollment of High School Students

Candidates who have not yet earned a high school diploma may be permitted to enroll in classes where there are available seats if the following requirements are met: complete an Application for Dual Enrollment; submit a written, credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and agree to abide by the Covenant College Standards of Conduct.

The candidate seeking enrollment under this program must be actively pursuing a high school diploma and submit a current high school transcript. The candidate must also be enrolled in a recognized public or private high school, or be pursuing an acceptable homeschool secondary program with a high school class standing of junior or senior level.

The candidate must show evidence of being an able student through standardized test scores, with at least one such test having been taken within twelve months of the time of enrolling in a Covenant College course. Dual enrollment would require a combined SAT score of 1100 (sum of the critical reading and math section scores), or a composite ACT score of 24. For the Test of Achievement and Proficiency (TAP) or other nationally recognized standardized tests, a national stanine of 7 or higher is required in the general area of the course to be taken at Covenant. When the TAP or other standardized high school tests other than the SAT or ACT are used to meet this requirement, there must be scores from two separate test dates, with one test being at a level 16 or higher. Other standardized tests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All prerequisites for specific courses to be taken at Covenant must be met.

Dual enrollment candidates will be required to write an essay to explain their motivation for dual enrollment at Covenant. This essay should also outline their prior course work in the areas of study desired and demonstrate writing skills to meet the demands of college level course work. The instructor (or instructors, in the case of a student enrolling in more than one course) will be involved in the evaluation of the application, and the consent of each instructor is required.

Dual enrollment students who wish to become degree-seeking candidates must complete the standard admissions application before being considered for acceptance. Normally dual enrollment students pay the appropriate tuition rate and technology fee, but are not eligible for federal, state or institutional financial assistance. Students may enroll in a maximum of 14 hours per semester, and their involvement in extracurricular activities may be restricted. Normally, dual enrollment students will not be eligible for on-campus housing. For additional information, contact the Office of Records.

Special Students and Guests

On a limited basis, the College will admit students for enrollment who have already earned a high school diploma or higher degrees. These special students will not be admitted to the degree program of the College and will be permitted to enroll in classes based on available seats in the class, would be charged the appropriate tuition rate and technology fee. Special students who wish to become degree-seeking candidates must complete the standard admissions application before being considered for acceptance. Normally, special students pay the regular tuition rate but are not eligible for federal, state or institutional financial assistance. Special students may enroll for a maximum of 15 hours per semester, and their involvement in extracurricular activities may be restricted. Normally, special students will not be eligible for on-campus housing.

Occasionally, individuals express an interest in visiting a class on a regular basis. Covenant does not have an official “audit” status, but if additional seats are available in a classroom and the structure of the class is appropriate for guests, then instructors have the discretion to permit guests to visit their class on a regular basis. No college credit or transcript would be available to document attendance for guests. Given the full-time teaching load of instructors, it is more common that instructors do not accept or grade assignments, and guests’ participation may be limited. Restricting the participation of guests is not meant to be disrespectful, but we must be good stewards of our time and our commitment to the degree program students. If the level of involvement available is not fulfilling the educational goals of the guest, then enrolling as a special student for academic credit may be considered.

For additional information, contact the Office of Records.

Transient Students

Students who are enrolled in another college or university and who do not wish to transfer to Covenant College and seek a degree may enroll as a transient student (another type of special student). Enrollment under this condition is usually for one semester and students are usually enrolled in courses that will transfer to another institution and apply toward degree requirements. A transient student enrolled under this program must still offer a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and agree to abide by the Covenant College Standards of Conduct. An Application for a Special Student and a transcript or a letter indicating that the student is in good standing (eligible to return to the present institution) must be sent to the Office of Records from either the Registrar or Academic Dean of the student’s present institution. A transient student cannot receive institutional financial assistance from Covenant and cannot be on any type of academic or disciplinary restriction, warning or action such as probation, suspension or dismissal. A transient student applying for continued enrollment must apply as a degree-seeking candidate.

Covenant Fellows Program

The Covenant Fellows Program was established to encourage a spirit of continued education. This program allows graduates with a bachelor degree from Covenant College to enroll in traditional undergraduate classroom courses that are already being offered (no independent study), if seats are available in the class following registration. Fellows are limited to two courses per semester and a maximum of 12 hours per year under the Covenant Fellows Program. Fellows will be charged the appropriate tuition rate with an offsetting Covenant Fellows Grant applied to result in the $33 per credit hour charge. These hours may apply toward an additional major or minor, and grades earned in these classes will impact the student’s overall grade point average, but will not alter any academic honors designation determined at graduation, and no refund of tuition and fees is issued from a withdrawal.

Registration for more than two courses per semester and a maximum of 12 hours per year, and registration for May term courses, master degree programs, summer or independent study courses will be charged at the respective published student tuition rate. Fellows must pay all other College and course-related fees which would include a technology fee, parking fee (for on-campus classes), purchase textbooks and other required course materials, complete daily assignments, and take examinations. Pursuing a second major is not considered a second degree program, therefore students are not eligible for financial assistance, nor eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics. 

Covenant Fellows are also encouraged to participate in the many spiritual, intellectual, social, and cultural programs which characterize Covenant College.