UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION INFORMATION

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION INFORMATION

The University of Pikeville supports a liberal admission policy emphasizing flexibility and individuality. Each applicant for the undergraduate program is evaluated by the Office of Admissions based on past academic achievement and potential for success at the University of Pikeville.

Unless otherwise stated, applications for admission will be considered through the registration period. Questions regarding admissions should be directed to the Office of Admissions at (606) 218-5251. 

Admission Requirements (General)

An applicant for admission must provide the Office of Admissions with the following by the designated document deadline:

1.      Application for admission.

2.      An official transcript indicating successful completion of high school or its equivalent as shown by the General Educational Development (GED) test.

3.      Official transcript(s) of any college or other post‑secondary courses.

4.      Official results of the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). (Note: The University of Pikeville is now test optional. If you have standardized test scores you would like to have entered as part of your application, please submit them. Test scores are not required as part of the application process.  

Transfer Applicants

Transfer students are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges previously attended by the designated document deadline. Admission to the University will be based on the overall grade point average achieved. Applicants with a cumulative 2.0 grade point average or higher (on 0-4 quality point scale) will be admitted in good standing. Transfer applicants with less than a 2.0 grade point average will be reviewed for admission to the University. Those transfer applicants who are admitted to the University with less than a 2.0 grade point average will be placed on probation under the same restrictions applied to University of Pikeville students. Applicants suspended from the last institution attended for academic or social reasons will be reviewed by the Enrollment Committee.  Applicants who are denied submission may petition the Enrollment Committee. Please note that while standardized test scores are not required for transfer admission, they can be used to satisfy some course prerequisite requirements and it is recommended that you provide standardized test scores, when possible.

Transfer Credit

The University accepts credit for courses from regionally accredited institutions per the policies outlined below:

1.    Transfer credit will be awarded for courses comparable to those taught at the University of Pikeville and/or that are compatible with a liberal arts education, including developmental studies courses; credit is not granted for English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

2.    Credit will be granted only for courses with a grade of “C” or above.

3.    Transfer students are required to complete all the stated requirements for the degree to be received. 

4.    The final grade point average (GPA) will include only those hours earned at the University of Pikeville.

5.    To be considered for honors at the time of commencement, a student must have completed a minimum of 60 hours at the University of Pikeville.

6.    Upon receipt of official transcripts, the University will make every effort to inform students of the amount of credit that will transfer prior to enrollment, but no later than the end of the first term of enrollment. A notation of “P” and the credit hours transferring are recorded on the University of Pikeville transcript; grade point averages and quality points are not recorded.

7.    The University of Pikeville accepts dual credit for courses that correspond with similar courses offered at the University, provided such courses are offered by a regionally accredited institution, ensuring instruction by qualified faculty and adherence to appropriate placement criteria.

Students may petition for the transfer of credit not covered by the aforementioned.  Requests will be considered on an individual basis per established criteria.  Further information and appropriate procedures for requesting transfer credit may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office.

Dual Credit Opportunities

The University of Pikeville partners with several high schools to offer select courses for dual credit. The program allows qualified high school juniors and seniors to earn both high school and college credit at the same time. The intention of the program is threefold: to challenge high achieving students, to allow students to earn college credit, and to provide students with college classroom experiences.

High school students interested in the program should contact the University of Pikeville Admissions Office or their high school counselor to obtain information about registration and fees.

International Students 

Welcome international applicants! A student may apply as either a new freshman or as a transfer student.  The University of Pikeville is a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified school and is authorized to accept students under an F-1 Visa.

Application deadline: June 15 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester.

 Please carefully read the requirements below. International students will be reviewed for admission once all of the following materials are received by International Admissions:

·       International Student Admission application.

·       Evidence of English proficiency determined by taking a standardized test to demonstrate fluency:

·       TOEFL Test (i.e., Test of English as a Foreign Language) a minimum score of 68.0 is acceptable

for an undergraduate student, and a minimum score of 79 is acceptable for a graduate student.

·       IELTS Test (i.e., International English Language Testing System (IELTS) a minimum score of 6.0

is acceptable for the purpose of meeting the English language requirement.

·       Other standardized English tests may be considered for the purpose of meeting the English

Language requirement. Contact the International Student Services for exceptions.

 ·       Passport – If you are a citizen of another country, please provide a copy of your passport (the passport must be valid for at least the next six months.

·       Financial Affidavit Form – Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) requires certified schools to have specific requirements for acceptable forms of evidence. Prospective F-1 students must prove their financial resources to live and study in the United States. This includes being able to cover the cost of tuition, books, living expenses, and travel. Designated school officials (DSOs) must collect evidence of the student’s financial ability before issuing a Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.

 Additionally, prospective students must bring their evidence of financial ability when applying for their student visa with the U.S. Department of State. It is also advised to have the evidence on-hand when entering the country at a U.S. port of entry in the event a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer asks for review.

Working off campus is illegal without special permission from immigration. Note that students do not qualify for U.S. financial aid or FAFSA benefits.

·       Evidence of Financial Ability – https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/financial-ability

 ·       A prospective student must have financial evidence showing that they or a sponsor has sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses during the period of intended study. To verify if a form of financial evidence is acceptable, contact the schools’ international student office. Evidence of financial ability includes, but is not limited to:

·       Family bank statements.

·       Documentation from a sponsor.

·       Financial aid letters.

·       Scholarship letters.

·       Letter from an employer showing annual salary.

 ·       Immunizations – All incoming international students must are required to provide current immunization records per the national guidelines from the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College Health Association and the World Health Organization  (http://www.who.int/ith/vaccines/en/)

 All incoming international UPIKE students must receive the following vaccinations prior to their arrival on campus:

• Meningococcal Meningitis

• Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster (within the last 10 years)

• Polio booster (completed childhood series)

• Hepatitis A (two-dose series)

• Hepatitis B (three-dose series)

• Chicken Pox (two-dose series)

• HPV (three-dose series)

• Tuberculosis: T-Spot Blood Tests

·       Transcript Evaluation – The University of Pikeville requires an assessment by a transcript evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (www.naces.org). All secondary and post-secondary education (not U.S. accredited) done outside of the United States must be evaluated by an independent international credential agency at the applicant's expense. The process of grade conversion to U.S. equivalencies requires many variables to arrive at a fair assessment of individual achievement. Therefore, to make grading scales including their definitions and distributions meaningful in a U.S. context we require academic assessment by third-party transcript evaluators. One of the following evaluators:

·       Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. see website: http://www.jsilny.com/

·       World Education Services (WES) see website: http://www.wes.org

 Transcript Evaluations should be sent to:

International Students & Scholar Services

University of Pikeville

147 Sycamore Street

Pikeville, Kentucky 41501

Application deadline: June 15 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester.

 When the student’s admission file is complete, the student will be issued an acceptance letter from the undergraduate Admissions Office at University of Pikeville.

An international student will not be issued a “Certificate of Eligibility” (I-20 form until all required documents have been received by international student services including financial support evidence.  Financial support evidence is required that meets or exceeds the cost of tuition, housing, living expenses and miscellaneous expenses, including travel.  Living expenses and other costs are only an estimate. A student’s actual expenses may vary.

Students should submit their financial documents as soon as possible, but no sooner than 6 months prior to your start date at the University of Pikeville.

8 CFR 214.2(f)(1)(i)(B) Federal regulations require all students applying for an F-1 visa to show proof of sufficient funding in the amount indicated on the SEVIS I-20 form with expected sources of funding for the remaining years of their program. 

Next, International Student & Scholar Services will issue the student a Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status – for Academic and Language Students. The last step is for the student to apply for an F-1 Visa with the U.S. Embassy in their home country. A student will not be able to schedule a visa interview or pay the SEVIS fee without submitting their financial document and receiving a signed I-20 form from the Designated School Official.

Complete the U.S Government Form DS-160, Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application. To complete form I-901, you must have a signed Form I-20 from the University of Pikeville. Next, make an appointment with the American Consulate or Embassy in your home country. Although you may apply at any U.S. Consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of your permanent residence. 

Find the nearest embassy to your location here: https://www.usembassy.gov/

Appointments are now mandatory for all visas, and some U.S. embassies and consulates require that appointments be made at least four to eight weeks in advance. All U.S. embassies and consulates have a website where you can read the latest information on visa procedures.

SEVIS FEE – Prior to applying for your visa you must pay a $350 SEVIS fee (if applying for a F-1 visa), payment should be made to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Please read all instructions fully before attempting to pay the fee. If your visa is denied, you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again if you re-apply for the same visa within 12 months of the denial.

Students and scholars from Canada and Bermuda do not have to apply for a visa. You will show SEVIS fee payment verification along with your Form I-20 to an immigration inspector at the port of entry at the border of the United States.

Any questions about the Form I-20 should be directed to the Designated School Official (DSOs) that issued the I-20 Form to the student.

Results of the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) are not required for international admission; however, to obtain athletic eligibility for example with NAIA, they will require either an ACT or SAT score report (refer to Athletics Department or coach for minimum requirements). In addition, University of Pikeville mandates placement in reading, English, and mathematics. All international students are required to take placement tests to demonstrate reading, English, and mathematics, and other proficiencies upon arrival to campus.

Categories of Admission

All undergraduate students at the University of Pikeville are admitted under one of the following categories:

1.      Degree candidates are those students seeking either a two or four-year degree and meeting all requirements for admission.

2.      Special students are those students not meeting all requirements for “regular” acceptance who may be admitted to certain classes as special, non-degree seeking students. Students must be qualified to enroll in classes with prerequisites, unless a waiver is granted by the Dean of the appropriate college.  A student may take up to 15 hours under this status. Students classified as non-degree are not eligible for financial aid.

3.      Certification candidates are those students who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and are seeking teacher certification in an appropriate teaching field.

4.      Non-Degree students are those students who are not seeking a degree at the University of Pikeville.  Students must be qualified to enroll in classes with prerequisites, unless a waiver is granted by the Dean of the appropriate college.  A student may take up to 11 hours under this status. Students classified as non-degree are not eligible for financial aid.

5.      Certificate students are those students seeking to complete requirements for a certificate only.  Students must be qualified to enroll in classes with prerequisites, unless a waiver is granted by the Dean of the appropriate college.  A student may take the hours (12 – 24) required for the certificate under this status. Most certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid.

Readmission

Any student who has been away from the University of Pikeville for at least one academic semester or withdrew from the University during the previous semester must reapply for admission. An updated admissions application and official transcripts from any institutions attended while away from the University of Pikeville are required for readmission. In certain situations, such as suspension or dismissal for academic or social reasons, other requirements, in addition to the admissions application, may have to be met by the student before readmission is granted. Please consult related sections of this catalog for additional information.

Senior Citizens

Any individual sixty-five years of age or older wishing to attend undergraduate classes may do so as a special student without being a high school graduate or having a GED.  Interested parties must complete an admission application and, if a degree seeking student, submit official transcripts of any post‑secondary course work completed.

 Demographic Information

The University of Pikeville welcomes students from all regions and cultural backgrounds. In Fall 2023, the University of Pikeville undergraduate program enrolled 1,141 students from 34 states and 28 foreign countries. Of that number, 74% came from the Appalachian Region as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Additional demographic data and student success data is shown below:

Student Body Diversity

Degree-Seeking Undergraduate Students, Fall 2023

Retention Rate

For the cohort of all first-time, full-time freshmen who entered the University of Pikeville in Fall 2022, 67 percent returned to UPIKE in Fall 2023.

Completion/Graduation Rates

For the cohort of full-time, first-time bachelor’s degree-seeking freshmen who entered the University of Pikeville in Fall 2017, 41 percent graduated from UPIKE within six years.

For the cohort of full-time, first-time bachelor’s degree-seeking freshmen who entered the University of Pikeville in Fall 2015 and received athletically related student aid, 30 percent graduated from UPIKE within six years.

Estimated Loan Indebtedness upon Graduation

72% of the baccalaureate Class of 2023 who entered UPIKE as a first-time freshman borrowed at any time through any loan programs (institutional, state, Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized, private loans that were certified by UPIKE; excluding parent loans). This includes both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans. The average per-undergraduate-borrower cumulative principal borrowed was $26,465.

72% of the baccalaureate Class of 2023 who entered UPIKE as a first-time freshman borrowed at any time through federal loan programs--Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized. Include both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans. NOTE: excludes all institutional, state, private alternative loans and parent loans. The average per-undergraduate-borrower cumulative principal borrowed was $24,263.

Placement in Employment/Job Placement Rates

2022 Graduating Class

Types of Graduate and Professional Education in Which the Institution’s Graduates Enroll

2021 Graduating Class

Intercollegiate Athletic Program Participation Rates and Financial Support Data

The full Report on Athletic Program Participation Rates and Financial Support Data (EADA) is available upon request free of charge to anyone either electronically or as a hard copy. Please direct your request to the Office of Institutional Research, (606) 218-5290, msidle@upike.edu.

Of the total number of male full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students (486) enrolled at the University of Pikeville in 2021-2022, 62 percent participated in at least one intercollegiate athletic program (not including coeducation programs).

Of the total number of female full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students (592) enrolled at the University of Pikeville in 2021-2022, 31 percent participated in at least one intercollegiate athletic program (not including coeducation programs).

(1)       Includes scholarships to graduate student athletes who were not included in the student athlete count

(2)       includes students/volunteers