Admissions

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The admissions staff considers each applicant for admission on three main criteria: ability, character and motivation. Lyndon is authorized to accept applications from all qualified Vermont and non-resident high school graduates, or persons holding a GED. The College employs rolling admissions, so that you may apply at any time. All applications are given prompt attention; candidates may expect a decision within two weeks after the date the application process is complete.

Candidates for graduate study may secure application forms from the Admissions Office. For programs and requirements, see the online Lyndon State College graduate catalog at www.lyndonstate.edu and follow the quick link to Online Catalog.

If you do not wish to enter a degree program, you are welcome to enroll in appropriate undergraduate or graduate courses on a space-available basis without formal admission to the college. The College has the right to refuse non-matriculated registration on the basis of any previous record at the college.

One condition of admission is that unmarried students who are accepted to Lyndon as first-year students are required to live on campus for two academic years to the extent that campus housing is available. Those accepted as sophomores are required to live on campus for one academic year. Students whose permanent legal domiciles are within reasonable daily commuting distance, or who are at least 23 years of age, are exempted from living on campus. Exceptions due to extraordinary circumstances may be authorized by the Director of Residential Life.

Any local student or a student of junior or senior standing who decides to live in a College residence must reside on campus for the full term of the housing contract, which is issued for a full academic year.

The admission process for new students is based on a completed application form, an official secondary school transcript, including senior-year grades, recommendation from your guidance counselor, and your performance on the American College Testing (ACT) Program or the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) or Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).

Recommended secondary school preparation includes four years of college preparatory English and at least two years each of college preparatory history, science, mathematics (algebra) and a foreign language. Students who intend to enter a program requiring mathematics should have completed two years of algebra in addition to study in advanced-level mathematics. Some programs also assume that students will have a background in specific science disciplines. Specific courses suggested for some areas of study are noted under the descriptions of Lyndon’s degree programs.

A non-refundable fee of $36 must accompany each application. Students who are accepted for admission are required to send a $200 deposit by the preferred date of May 1, which is applied toward tuition and fees. After May 1, this deposit is non-refundable.

The admission requirements for transfer applicants are similar to those for new students, with the addition of an official transcript from each college-level institution you attended. A transcript is required even if you are not requesting credit from a particular institution. At the discretion of the Admissions Office, the ACT or SAT scores and the high school recommendation may not be required.

Transfer credit may be given for appropriate courses completed with a grade of C- or above at accredited institutions. United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI) courses and study completed at service schools will be credited as recommended by the American Council on Education in disciplines taught at Lyndon. A non-refundable fee of $36 must accompany each application.

Students who enter Lyndon with a two-year degree will be placed in junior-level courses when possible.

Transfer students must meet Lyndon’s general and major requirements to earn a degree. Students transferring into LSC to earn an LSC Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree who have earned a previous Associate in Arts Degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of higher education are waived from the full LSC general education requirement.

Students transferring into LSC to earn an LSC Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree who have earned a previous Associate in Science Degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of higher education are waived from the College Skills and Core sections of the GEU (they still need to complete the Choice section of the GEU).

This status is given to students whose preparation for college work is not as strong as we would like to see but who, with a concentrated effort, may be successful at Lyndon State College.  Conditionally admitted students may be required to take basic skills level courses in Math and English (determined by results of placements exams).  In addition, conditionally admitted students are not allowed to take more that 12-13 credits their first semester and will be asked to receive additional academic counseling.

A student who has withdrawn from Lyndon may apply for readmission by filling out a form available at The Admissions Office.

A student who has been dismissed may apply for re-admission on a form available at the Admissions Office. Re-admission may be based on proof of academic success at another institution, employment in an appropriate area of work, community service, or character references. In some cases, a dismissed student may be required to secure a statement of admissibility to a major program from an academic department. The guiding principle is that the decision to re-admit a student shall be based on the reasons for dismissal.

The Admissions Office will consider the recommendations of the Academic Dean, and when applicable, the academic department, as well as records of social, financial and judicial actions in considering requests for re-admission.

Applicants for degree programs may enroll as part-time students in the regular session for fewer than 12 credit hours per semester. While Lyndon has no special rules regarding part-time degree candidates, financial aid may be affected.

Applicants who have completed examinations through the CEEB Advanced Placement Program with minimum grades of 3 are granted both advanced-placement and course credit, following evaluation by the Recorder and appropriate department chairs. Further information is available from the Admissions Office.

The early admission program allows qualified students who display exceptional ability and maturity and have exhausted the educational opportunities at their high schools to enroll at Lyndon as high school seniors. Under this initiative, students will complete the equivalent of their senior year in high school as new students at Lyndon. Students must schedule an interview with admissions for review of qualifications.  Early admissions applicants must have the consent and cooperation of secondary school officials.

Under the early acceptance plan, Lyndon allows high school students to apply early to the college. A candidate who wishes to be considered for this program can apply after the completion of the junior year and before November 1 of their senior year. The student must have a combined SAT score of 1000 and a high school GPA of 3.0.

Lyndon is proud of a long tradition of serving the adult and non-traditional student. Students who are starting or returning to college after years of career and/or family life might be able to receive credit for prior learning and life experience through one or more of the several programs offered at Lyndon for the non-traditional student. Lyndon has set admission criteria for adult students 23 years or older to allow the experiences of these adult students to play a bigger part in the admissions process.

The CEEB College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers credit by examination to those who believe they have achieved college-level learning through on-the-job training, independent study, correspondence courses, or televised lectures. Candidates may select any of the five general examinations, or choose from a variety of specific subject examinations. Each test awards from three to six credits if passed above the minimum scores established by the CEEB, and may be used to waive required or prerequisite courses in Lyndon’s degree programs. Details concerning test dates and fees are available from: CLEP, College Entrance Examination Board, Box 592, Princeton, NJ 08540. For further information, contact the Registrar’s Office.

Employment experience, volunteer work, vocational or professional training can provide a substantial body of knowledge that may complement or substitute for formal college study. In cooperation with the Office of External Programs of the Vermont State Colleges, Lyndon awards credit for demonstrated competency from prior learning and life experience. Students enroll at the Community College of Vermont for the course Educational Assessment and Portfolio Preparation (EDU 1240) where they begin to document all activities related to college-level work. In the fall this course is taught on Lyndon’s campus. Please talk with an admissions counselor about any of these programs for nontraditional students.

Special tuition rates are offered to students from other New England states who are degree candidates in academic areas not offered by educational institutions in their home state. Under the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) Regional Student Program, Lyndon provides qualified students with a significant tuition reduction over that usually paid by non-residents. The reduced tuition rate is considered to be part of a student’s financial aid award and is dependent on formal admission to an appropriate degree program and satisfactory progress toward that degree.

The Regional Student Program is open to new and transfer students from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Program eligibility is subject to change without notice. For further information, contact the Admissions Office, or visit our web site at www.lyndonstate.edu.

The Good Neighbor Policy provides a tuition scholarship for students whose legal residence is one of several designated towns in northern New Hampshire. Students are billed at full out-of-state tuition rates, but receive waivers that have the effect of reducing tuition to 50 percent above Vermont resident tuition, a significant savings over that usually paid by non-residents. A list of towns is available from the Admissions Office and on the LSC admissions web site at www.lyndonstate.edu.

In order to be considered for admissions to LSC all international students must: complete and submit the application for admissions with the required $36 application fee; submit academic records in the original language as well as a certified English translation. Applicants need to provide official secondary school transcripts and an official leaving certificate or diploma. Official transcripts of any university level studies already completed must also be furnished. In order for Lyndon State College to consider the acceptance of transfer credits from foreign institutions, students must have their post secondary academic transcripts evaluated by an official foreign credential evaluation service. Students are responsible for paying for the credential evaluation and translation fees. A list of credential evaluation services can be found at www.edupass.org; demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting an official TOEFL score report; submit financial documentation equal to at least one year’s expenses; submit one letter of recommendation; and submit one writing sample.

Students’ applications will not be evaluated until all of the above documentation is received by the Admission Office. All admission decisions are released on a rolling basis.

Once you are accepted as an international student and have responded by sending a deposit and required declaration of finances signed by a bank official, or a certified bank statement, Lyndon State College will issue you an INS (United States Immigration and Naturalization Service) form I20. This form allows you to apply to the U.S. Embassy or consulate in your home country for an F1 Visa. This visa allows you to enter and remain in the U.S. as long as you maintain full-time student status. For more information about immigration regulations for international students see Lyndon’s web page, www.lyndonstate.edu, under admissions.

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to document English-language proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Lyndon State will accept a minimum score of 500 for the paper-based test or 173 for the computer-based test. For applicants who have graduated from a U.S. high school, other English proficiency measurements may be considered in place of the TOEFL. Students with English-language deficits can receive academic support through Lyndon’s Academic Support Center.

Through a dual-enrollment agreement with Lyndon State College and Air Force ROTC, we are able to provide commissioning opportunities to students who wish to become United States Air Force Officers.  Additionally, the Air Force has scholarship funds available to assist qualified candidates to continue their studies, while earning commissions as Second Lieutenants in the Air Force.  For more information, contact the Unit Admissions Officer at Air Force ROTC Detachment 867, Norwich University, 158 Harmon Drive, Northfield, Vermont.  Call 1-800-468-6679 (press “1” for admissions, then ask for the Air Force ROTC Department) or visit us on the web at http://www.norwich.edu/cadets/airforcerotc.html.