First Year Application

It’s time to decide where to spend your next four years — a time that will shape your future, career and who you will become. It’s one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. For many students, it’s a Capital decision. And the more you know about all that Capital has to offer, yours could be a Capital decision, too.

With 60 majors and more than 50 minors as well as independent study, undergraduate research opportunities, internships, and study-abroad programs, you can craft a college degree designed to jump-start your career, prepare you for a lifetime of learning and connect you to a network of alumni and working professionals throughout Ohio and the world.

What are the admission requirements?

Will you fit in at Capital? If you’ve worked hard to earn your high school diploma, chances are you will. Here’s an academic snapshot of our typical first-year student class:

Test scores and GPAs are important, but here, you’re more than a number. In making our admission decision, we carefully evaluate your high school record, including cumulative high school GPA and your course curriculum. Ideally, you will have taken the following college preparatory courses:

• 4 English classes
• 3 Math classes (including Algebra II)
• 3 Science classes (including two lab sciences)
• 3 Social Studies classes
• 2 Foreign Language classes
• 1 Fine Arts class

Capital University requires official high school transcripts for all applicants; however, Capital is test optional, which means that traditional test scores may be submitted, but are not required. Our test-optional policy can be considered a hybrid holistic review process, meaning we still evaluate academic indicators but will also consider supplementary materials such as essays, co/extra-curricular activities, and work experience, among other factors, when reviewing applicants. This approach allows us to make the Capital experience more accessible and inclusive for our campus community.

We look at more than numbers

These are only guidelines. We know your high school years are a competing mix of academic work, student activities, home life and perhaps community service or part-time jobs. That’s why we take a larger view of what shaped your success and why our admission counselors are prepared to discuss your readiness for continued success at Capital. As a prospective student, you will be assigned an admission counselor who can guide you through the admission process. Your counselor can answer questions about majors, applying, scholarships, FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), student life, Columbus, Bexley and more! To reach a counselor call 614-236-6101 or email admission@capital.edu for more information.

Unique Requirements for Select Majors and Home-Schooled students.

If you plan to major in music or nursing or are entering college as a home-schooled student, you will need to meet additional requirements as part of your application process:

• Conservatory of Music Audition Requirements
• Nursing Major Requirements
• Home-Schooled Student Requirements

What's the application process?

To apply to Capital, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Complete and submit our online application or complete the common application. If you have any questions and need help completing your application, call our Admission Office at 614-236-6101 or email us at admission@capital.edu.

We make admission decisions on a rolling basis and admission letters are sent weekly. Most students hear back within 2 to 4 weeks of submitting application materials.

2. Submit your transcripts. Be sure to get in touch with your Guidance Counselor for any help you need in submitting your transcripts. You can have your transcripts sent to us through Parchment (a popular transcription service provider we partner with) or send them directly to our office:

Capital University
Admission Office
1 College and Main
Columbus, OH 43209-2394

3. Submit your official ACT or SAT scores. You can submit your scores together with an official copy of your high school transcript mailed by your guidance counselor or have it sent directly from ACT or SAT. Our ACT code number is 3242, and our SAT code number is 1099 when you are filling out your registration forms.

Important dates to remember

See for yourself!

The best way for you to see if Capital has what you’re looking for is to visit campus and experience it for yourself. When you do, you’ll meet one-on-one with an admission counselor, talk to a professor, meet other students, sit in a class, see the campus and talk about where you are today and where you want to go. During your visit, you can learn about life on campus, programs and majors, what classes you’ll need to take, how much it will cost, what financial aid you may qualify for and how to apply. Schedule your visit today.