Northcentral University accepts students on a continual basis. The Application for Admission can be submitted online any time during the year through the Northcentral University website. The Registrar’s office reviews each applicant file to ensure that the prospective student meets the program-specific basis for admission.
Northcentral University offers provisional admission to applicants who meet the basis of admission verified through unofficial documentation and student attestation. A student who is admitted on a provisional basis is only granted full admission status once all official documentation has been received by Northcentral University.
Provisional Admission for Students with U.S. Transcripts
Students who have provided unofficial transcripts from U.S. institutions are offered Provisional Admission status. Students are required to submit all official transcripts within 90 days of the start date of the first course. If all required official transcripts are not received on or before the 90th day following the start date of the first course, students who do not have a course in progress will be dismissed on the 91st day. Students who are in a course that has begun but has not yet been completed may finish that course, but will be dismissed upon completion of that course if all required official transcripts have not been provided before or on the course completion date. Students will not be permitted to vest in more than two courses total until all official transcripts have been provided.
Students who have been administratively dismissed for failure to provide official transcripts within the allotted time frame will not be allowed to reenter the University under any program until all official transcripts have been provided. Students that are administratively dismissed under provisional admissions status will not be issued any university transcripts or official documentation of courses completed while at NCU until all official transcripts have been provided.
Provisional Admission for Students with International Transcripts
Students who have provided unofficial transcripts from International institutions are offered Provisional Admission status. Students are required to submit all official transcripts within 180 days of the start date of the first course. If all required official transcripts are not received on or before the 180th day following the start date of the first course, students who do not have a course in progress will be dismissed on the 181st day. Students who are in a course that has begun but has not yet been completed may finish that course, but will be dismissed upon completion of that course if all required official transcripts have not been provided before or on the course completion date. Students will not be permitted to vest in more than four courses total until all official transcripts have been provided.
Students who have been administratively dismissed for failure to provide official transcripts within the allotted time frame will not be allowed to reenter the University under any program until all official transcripts have been provided. Students that are administratively dismissed under provisional admissions status will not be issued any university transcripts or official documentation of courses completed while at NCU until all official transcripts have been provided..
Admission to a Northcentral University Bachelor’s degree program requires:
An official high school transcript, or the equivalent of a high school diploma*
AND
An official academic transcript from a regionally or nationally accredited institution, which indicates the applicant has successfully completed at least 60 semester transfer credits as defined in the NCU Transfer of Credit policy, with a cumulative 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, and has met all general education requirements needed for a Northcentral University bachelor’s degree before entering Northcentral University;
OR
A conferred Associate’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution with a cumulative 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
*Acceptable equivalents of a high school diploma:
Official proof of a General Education Development Certificate (GED) OR
An official State certificate received by a student after the student has passed a State-authorized examination that the State recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma
Homeschooled students must abide by the state statutes or regulations governing homeschools and, if applicable, must provide documentation of the applicant’s participation in the homeschooling process
Note: Acceptance of an official academic transcript showing a conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution as the basis of admission for a Northcentral University Bachelor’s degree program is subject to Dean approval.
Admission to a Northcentral University Master’s program requires a conferred bachelor’s and/or a conferred master's or doctoral degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution.
In addition to evidence of the conferred degree, applications for admission to the School of Marriage and Family Studies Master's programs require prior to the first date of attendance:
Current resume or CV
Statement of intent
Licensure plan (not required for applicants with an existing MFT license)
Statement of professional ethics and conduct
List of clinical site possibilities in the area of residence
Course transfer/waive request (if applicable)
Interview with an MFT faculty member
Background Check (completed Background Check through NCU’s designated provider required prior to acceptance; not required for applicants who submit verification of an active MFT license)
A completed bachelor’s level or higher degree from an accredited institution or university is required. Credit hours from another university or institution cannot be transferred towards a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program.
Admission to a Northcentral University Post-Master's Certificate program requires a conferred master's degree and/or a doctoral degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution. Examples of acceptable doctoral degrees include doctor of philosophy (PhD), doctor of education (EdD), doctor of business administration (DBA), juris doctorate (JD), doctor of medicine (MD), doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO), doctor of chiropractic (DC), doctor of dental surgery (DDS), and doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM).
Admission to a Northcentral University Doctoral program (including the Education Specialist – EdS – program) in the School of Education or the School of Business and Technology Management requires a conferred post-baccalaureate master's degree and/or doctoral degree from a nationally or regionally accredited academic institution. Examples of acceptable doctoral degrees include doctor of philosophy (PhD), doctor of education (EdD), doctor of business administration (DBA), juris doctorate (JD), doctor of medicine (MD), doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO), doctor of chiropractic (DC), doctor of dental surgery (DDS), and doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM).
Admission to the Doctoral programs in the School of Psychology and the School of Marriage and Family Sciences will be determined by the degree used to meet basis of admission and/or clinical experience.
Doctoral Program in Psychology - In order to enter the doctoral (PhD) program in psychology, applicants must have earned a master's degree from a nationally or regionally accredited university. There are three options for entering the doctoral program in psychology:
Direct Entry – Individuals with a previously completed master's degree in any area of Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Social Work may immediately begin the 60 credit PhD program.
Evaluation Track – Individuals who have previously completed a master's degree in an area other than one listed above must have their transcripts evaluated to determine if previous coursework meets some or all of the Standard Curriculum requirements (see below). Students in the Evaluation Track would begin their degree plan with PSY7101 and PSY7102 and then take all required Standard Curriculum courses prior to taking the remaining courses in their degree plan.
Doctoral Program in Marriage and Family Therapy - In order to enter the doctoral (PhD) program in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), applicants must have earned a master's degree from a nationally or regionally accredited university. The qualifying master's degree must have been completed in a clinical training program (e.g., MFT, psychology, social work, counseling). There are two options for entering the doctoral program in psychology:
Applicants with a previously completed master’s degree in marriage and family therapy (not marriage and family counseling or any other mental health discipline) will enter the 72 credit Ph.D. program.
Applicants with a completed master’s degree in a clinical discipline (counseling, clinical psychology, or social work) and who are licensed or license eligible (i.e., in the process of pursuing licensure) in a clinical discipline must have their previous transcripts evaluated for potential transfer credit to meet some or all of the standard curriculum requirements (taken from the MAMFT program).
In addition to evidence of the conferred degree, applications for admission to the School of Marriage and Family Therapy Sciences Doctoral programs require prior to the first date of attendance:
Current resume or CV
Statement of intent
Licensure plan (not required for applicants with an existing MFT license)
Statement of professional ethics and conduct
List of clinical site possibilities in the area of residence
Course transfer/waive request (if applicable)
Interview with an MFT faculty member
Background Check (completed Background Check through NCU’s designated provider required prior to acceptance; not required for applicants who submit verification of an active MFT license)
If English is the second language of a student, an official score demonstrating English proficiency is required for admission. A minimum official examination score is required for basis of admission to all Northcentral University programs as outlined under English Proficiency.
Degrees Awarded by Non-U.S. Institutions
Northcentral University will accept internationally awarded degrees as the basis of admission provided an official degree equivalency evaluation from a Northcentral University approved credential evaluation agency is supplied. During the enrollment process, Northcentral will work with an applicant to determine which approved credential evaluation may be recommended for their personal situation. A list of Northcentral University approved credential evaluation agencies can be found on Northcentral University's public website. All official transcript evaluations completed by approved credential evaluation agencies are due 180 days after the start of the student's first course. An official credential evaluation is defined as being received:
in a sealed envelope from the agency or by e-script to transcripts@ncu.edu,
with a conferred date,
with information that matches that of the Applicant.