Esperanza College seeks to provide a holistic and affordable education to all applicants and is committed to providing an opportunity to the whole community. Esperanza College will consider students for admission based on the following criteria: 

1. A completed Esperanza College application 
2. Official high school or college transcript, GED, or HiSET Scores
   1. The final high school transcript must be official, show the date of graduation, and be issued by a school district or private school approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education or another state’s/country’s educational authority
   2. The GED or HiSET scores will be accepted in place of a high school transcript if the official test score report and diploma are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education or another state’s educational authority
3. One academic/professional letter of recommendation

Admission via Admission Selection Committee (ASC)

If a student falls short of one or more of the minimal admission requirements, upon the discretion of the Director of Admissions and Marketing, the student’s application may be sent for further review to the Admission Selection Committee (ASC). The ASC serves as an advising committee to the Admissions Office. The applicant may be required to provide more information to his or her admissions counselor to help the ASC in making a final recommendation.

Admission via the 30 College Credit Option

A student is eligible to apply to the school without a high school diploma if they choose the 30-credit option. 

• A student may take up to 30 college credits and pass them with a grade of C or better. During this time, the student is not eligible for financial aid. (PDE policy). 
• Upon completion of the 30 credits, the student then requests the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for a diploma. When the student receives it, he/she then becomes eligible for financial aid to finish the degree. The 30 college credits already completed are applied to the college degree. 

Esperanza College parameters for entrance under the 30-credit rule: 

• The student must demonstrate and be able to articulate clear college and professional goals. 
• The student will take and pass the college placement test (Accuplacer) with a minimum of a five in English and 250 in Math.
• The student will go through the Admission Selection Committee process and interview and be strongly recommended by the ASC. The committee will assess the student’s motivation for academic and professional progress and ensure that there is a support system in place. 
• Upon satisfactory completion of the 30 college credits, the student, and not the college, is responsible for contacting the Pennsylvania Department of Education and following the process for obtaining their diploma and becoming eligible for financial aid. (This is PDE policy on the matter). 

Transfer of Credits

Esperanza College will honor course-equivalent credits from regionally accredited institutions following Eastern University guidelines. Students must provide official transcripts of completed college work and, in questions for eligibility especially from non-regional or alternative programs, should seek syllabi for courses to determine eligibility for a transferred credit. Courses with grades of C- or below will not be considered. Likewise, students with AP exam scores (3 or above), CLEP exam scores, or SAT and ACT scores should submit them to Admissions staff and make an effort to inquire for eligibility to have credits accounted according to Eastern University guidelines with the Registrar before completing the enrollment process.

Course Equivalencies for the Child Development Associate Credential

Esperanza College awards up to 9 credits in course equivalencies to students that have successfully obtained their Child Development Associate Credential awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition.   Students must provide official the original signed certificate of the credential or a notarized copy. Credits will be awarded towards the Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education.

College Credit for High School Students (Dual Enrollment Program)

Esperanza College of Eastern University encourages high school students who are at least 16 years old to take college courses in fields not available in the high school curriculum and in other fields at a more advanced level. The student earns full college credit for each course. Each applicant is individually considered for admission to this program. Acceptance into this program does not guarantee the applicant admission to the College as a degree candidate. 

College Credit for High School Students (Early College Program)

The Esperanza College Early College Program provides students the opportunity to experience college-level courses, earn an associate degree or up to two years of college credits, and save money on college tuition while in High school. Students participating in the Early College Program will complete their 11th and 12th year of high school while simultaneously completing their first two years of college. Students will spend their school day at the college and go to their high school to participate in events such as clubs, sports, homecoming, and prom. 

The benefits of an early college experience include:

• Earn an associate degree or college credits while obtaining a high school diploma
• Small class sizes (student-teacher ratio 12:1)
• Save on the cost of college 
• Become familiar with college professors and their expectations 
• Academic support
• Strengthen time management and study skills

Eligibility

• Be enrolled in high school 
• Satisfactory completion of 9th grade
• Completed Early College application

Non-Degree Seeking Applicants

To enroll as a non-degree seeking learner at Esperanza College, the prospective student will be asked to submit a Non-Degree Seeking Application. Students that have not previously attended Esperanza College will also need to submit an official high school (or GED, HiSET score) or college transcript along with one professional or academic reference. Students enrolled in non-degree programs are not eligible to receive Title IV Aid (Federal Pell Grants, Federal SEOG Grants, Federal Work-Study, Federal Direct Loans, or Federal Direct PLUS Loans). 

Auditing Applicants

Any interested person may audit a course with the permission of the Registrar and the instructor. (Note: Auditing students attend class but do not take exams. They do not receive academic credit or a grade for the course.) Auditors are required to submit a brief application and to meet with the Registrar to discuss the course to be audited. Students auditing courses are not eligible to receive Title IV Aid (Federal Pell Grants, Federal SEOG Grants, Federal Work-Study, Federal Direct Loans, or Federal Direct PLUS Loans) or Esperanza College funded scholarships or grants.

Transient Applicant

An undergraduate student enrolled at another college or university may apply to take courses for the purpose of transferring them to the home institution. S/he must submit a brief application and a letter from the academic dean indicating that he/she is in good academic standing and has the approval of the home institution to take courses at Esperanza College. 

Readmission Policies and Process

Readmission after an Absence of less than five years

Students who withdrew from Esperanza College and plan to resume their studies within the five-year period following the exit date must apply for readmission through the Registrar’s Office. The Application for Readmission form with instructions is provided by Esperanza College’s Registrar Coordinator and can be found on the Registrar’s Web page. A completed application form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office at least four weeks prior to the beginning of the readmission session. All official transcripts from other schools attended during the period of absence must be sent to the Registrar’s Office for evaluation. Academic credit for courses and grades earned at other academic institutions may be granted up to the maximum permitted by the specific Esperanza College program. To be considered for readmission, qualified applicants must be in good academic standing and have paid all past due balances to Eastern University. Notification of the readmission decision is communicated to the applicant by the Registrar Coordinator by electronic mail.

Readmission after an Absence of more than five years 

Students who have not returned to Esperanza College within the period of five years must apply through the Admissions Office. The online application is provided on Esperanza College’s web site www.esperanza.eastern.edu. The applicant must have paid all past due balances to Eastern University and other schools attended since leaving Esperanza College of Eastern University and complete all steps in the current admissions process. Official transcripts from other schools attended during the period of absence must be sent to the Admissions Office for evaluation. (Credentials received for past periods of enrollment do not need to be submitted again.) Academic credit for courses completed at other academic institutions may be granted up to the maximum permitted by Esperanza College policy. The accepted student must fulfill all graduation requirements in effect at the time of admission to the new degree or major.

Rescinding Offer of Admission

Esperanza College of Eastern University reserves the right to rescind an offer of admission to a candidate if new information comes to light after the candidate has been admitted, such as a decline in academic performance, which would have negatively impacted the original admissions decision.