Undergraduate and Transfer Student Admission Requirements

In addition to the materials listed above, all transfer students applying to Creighton should:

• Complete the Transfer Student Application. Your personal statement should answer the question: Why are you looking to transfer to another institution?
• Line up your transcripts. We’ll need official transcripts from high school and college. Both should be sent to the Admissions Office directly from the institution, either electronically or by mail.
  • International Transcripts: If you attended a university outside of the United States, we require an official credit evaluation of your transcripts. Credit evaluations must be completed by a NACES-approved service. SpanTran is our recommended international transcript evaluation service. They have created a custom application for Creighton University that will ensure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application here: SpanTran Application - Creighton University.
  • Complete a College Official’s Report. Your registrar, dean or another official can fill out this form, which verifies you’re in good standing with your institution.
• Submit letters of recommendation or test scores — if you like. These are optional.

Keep the following deadlines in mind:

• We encourage students looking to transfer to complete their application by July 1 of the year they’d transfer. (For example, if you want to transfer in fall 2025, you’d need to apply by July 1, 2025.) This allows ample time to receive an admission and financial aid decision and work with your academic advisor on a class schedule that will set you up for success in the fall semester.  
• We will still accept applications, on a space-available basis, after July 1.
• The priority deadline for spring transfer students is December 1 of the previous year.
• We will still accept applications, on a space-available basis, after December 1, keeping the first day of class in mind.

Learn more about transferring college credits after you’ve been admitted.

Please note that Creighton's traditional nursing program is designed for first-time undergraduate students. The program doesn't accept transfer students.

In addition to the requirements for all applicants, please submit a letter of recommendation from a non-family member (coach, employer, community leader, etc).

International students will need to submit proof of English literacy via one of the following methods. 

• Submit English-language exam scores. See below for information on unconditional, Bridge and provisional scores.
• Entering freshmen may substitute completion of at least two years of high school at an accredited institution in the United States for an English proficiency exam.
• Transfer students may substitute completion of one year of college-level coursework at an accredited institution in the United States for an English proficiency exam.
• The proficiency is satisfied by attending high school in one of the following programs or countries: American/English International Schools, IB program, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Belgium, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Jersey, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
• Completion of IELI, or other accredited English language program, may be used for eligibility to our Bridge program. In some instances, applicants may be eligible for unconditional admission with additional documentation.
• Academic tests may be substituted for the English language requirement, including the following: SAT (minimum 560) or ACT (minimum 22).

English-language Exam Score Requirements

Admission Type: Unconditional

• TOEFL Score: 88 or above (no section below 20)
• IELTS Score: Overall 6.5 (no section below 6.0)
• PTE Academic Score: 58 or above
• Duolingo Score: 110 or above

Admission Type: Bridge

• TOEFL Score: 68-87
• IELTS Score: Overall 6.5 (with one or more sections below 6.0) or overall 6.0
• PTE Academic Score: 50-57
• Duolingo Score: 95-105

Admission Type: Provisional

• TOEFL Score: 67 or below
• IELTS Score: Overall 5.5 or below
• PTE Academic Score: 49 or below
• Duolingo Score: 90 or below

Please visit the International Student Admissions Requirements page for full details about admission and application requirements for international students.

For adult learners who are interested in on-campus or online programs, we require:

• High school and all previous undergraduate transcripts
• Personal statement
• At least 1 letter of recommendation
• Resume

Creighton classifies students as adult learners if they are either 23+ OR have previously earned a bachelor’s degree.

Is applying test-optional right for me?

We welcome applications submitted without scores. Key details to help you decide if this is the right option for you:

• No student will be penalized in the admission or merit scholarship process by applying test-optional.
• If you choose to submit scores post-admission, we will review to see if you are eligible for a merit scholarship increase (scores must be received by February 1 of the year you’ll enter as a freshman). No merit scholarship would be taken away because of test scores submitted post-admission.
• Enrolling students will be required to submit official ACT or SAT scores for advising purposes.

What does it mean to apply test-optional?

Students who choose to submit their application and select the test-optional path will not have their test scores considered as a part of the admission review process. Test scores will only be considered as part of the scholarship review process if it benefits the student.

What should I do if I haven’t been able to take a test yet?

We encourage students who haven’t gotten the chance to take a test yet to apply to Creighton as a test-optional applicant. We don’t want to pause your college search while you wait for an upcoming test date. If you can take the test in the coming months and want your application to be re-reviewed for merit scholarships with your test score, you will be able to do so provided we receive the test scores by February 1 of the year you’ll enter as a freshman.

There is no risk to sending in a test score; we have your best interest at heart. Your admissions decision will not change, and your scholarship amount would either stay the same or increase. In fact, we will review and award scholarships based on the highest possible scholarship outcome. If a student sends scores after admission that would improve their scholarship award, we will re-evaluate. If scores are sent after admission that would negatively affect their scholarship decision, no change will be made.

How does Creighton evaluate students who don’t submit standardized test scores?

As with every applicant, the review process for students who don’t submit SAT or ACT scores is very personalized. We review and consider your official high school transcript (including the scale on which you were graded, sent directly from your high school), your high school counselor evaluation and your essay or personal statement. The essay is your chance to demonstrate your writing potential while allowing the Admissions Committee to get to know you better. 

If you are completing the Common Application, you do not need an additional personal statement or essay; simply use the one included in the Common Application. We will also review and consider an optional resume, and/or letters of recommendation written by one of your teachers, coaches, counselors or mentors, attesting to your academic and social preparedness to study at Creighton.

Why would a student submit standardized test scores if they don’t have to?

Some students decide that his or her scores give a more complete picture of academic achievements and potential.

Will I be eligible for scholarships if I submit a test-optional application?

If you apply test-optional, you will be considered for merit awards. As with any applicant, you will automatically be considered for merit-based scholarships with your application for admission.

I chose to apply test-optional, but now I’d like my scores considered. Can I change my mind after I apply?

You can change your mind up until your admissions decision has been made. You can contact your admissions counselor to find out where your application is at in the review process.

Students who don’t apply test-optional, but then decide they would like to apply test-optional can also change their application, if the application hasn’t been reviewed yet. If you have questions about whether or not test-optional is right for you, contact your admissions counselor.

If I apply test-optional, will I still need to send my scores in at some point?

Submitting your test scores at the time of admission does not mean they will be reviewed when making admissions or scholarship decisions. If you select on your application that you are applying test-optional, scores will not be used (even if submitted) for admission or scholarship review.

Students will be encouraged to submit official ACT or SAT score results upon enrollment for the purposes of determining the validity of our test-optional policy. Please contact your admissions counselor with questions.

This validity examination will include the review of our advising process and will ensure that students admitted will be successful in the programs of their choice. For students entering pre-health tracks, these will be particularly informative and may reveal that students will need additional support to best position them for success in General Chemistry.

Because of NCAA eligibility rules, Division I student-athletes are required to submit official scores in order to be declared eligible for competition.* These scores are submitted to the NCAA Clearinghouse and not necessarily directly to Creighton University. *This requirement is currently being evaluated.

Some special programs and additional scholarships have minimum ACT/SAT requirements. These scores determine eligibility for the programs and scholarships but are not reviewed by the Admissions Committee. These scores can be either official or self-reported via the form in the student’s admissions portal.

If I choose to send in my scores, do they have to be official scores?

Students who choose to submit SAT or ACT scores may share either official or self-reported scores. Students sharing self-reported scores will not be required to submit official score reports unless they are admitted and choose to enroll. We permit students to self-report test scores through a form in their student portal. Students should not super score their own results or recalculate scores in any way; scores should be sent exactly as they are received.

Why did Creighton make standardized test scores optional in the admissions process?

We wanted to make a Creighton education accessible to high-achieving students who may believe that test scores are not reflective of their academic record and ability to be successful in college. To us, your overall portfolio of academic experience, as demonstrated through your transcript, is more powerful than a single test or combination of tests. Four years in the classroom says more to us than four hours taking a test. Our experience shows that the rigor of your program and overall academic performance shows us how you will fit into the Creighton community.

Our goal was to ensure that the admissions process is student-centered. This is not new for us. We have always focused on a personalized and holistic review of every application. Offering a test-optional opportunity reinforces our belief that four years of hard work, motivation and effort by successful high school students is the key to making successful college students.

I am homeschooled. Can I apply test-optional?

Yes. We do find it helpful to have additional materials submitted, if possible. We recommend submitting either ACT/SAT results, transcripts from college courses, AP/IB exam results or other accredited online schooling transcripts. We may sometimes require a virtual interview as a part of our review of home-schooled applicants.