Application FAQs

The secondary school counselor’s recommendation is regarded as an important factor in the admission process. The recommendation should be an academic and personal evaluation of the applicant. It may, however, be a compilation of observations by the student’s high school teachers attesting to the applicant’s abilities and character.

Under our test-optional policy, first-year students may submit test scores if they feel the results accurately reflect their personal academic ability but are not required to do so if their scores do not align with their demonstrated academic strength in the classroom. First-year students have the opportunity to select a test-optional admissions review within the Flagler application or through the Common Application member screen. If a student applies for the test-optional review, and we already have scores on file for that student, we will be sure to delete the scores from our system to honor their request. Please note that homeschooled students are not permitted to select the test-optional path. 

As a guide, we recommend students fitting the following profile to apply for test-optional review: 

• Core, weighted GPA at or near a 3.5 on a standard grading scale 
• Lower than 1100 on the SAT 
• Lower than 23 on the ACT 

If you are unsure whether or not you should submit your tests or not, please email admissions@flagler.edu  

If a student applies for the test-optional review but later decides they would like to have their scores considered as part of their application, they may let their admissions counselor know so long as the application deadline has not yet passed. 

Homeschooled students are not permitted to select the test-optional path 

All international applicants are required to submit official test scores in order to prove sufficient English proficiency. International applicants have the option to submit official test scores from the TOEFL, the IELTS, the Duolingo English Test, the SAT, or the ACT for admission consideration. In addition to using the results to evaluate applicants for admission, the scores are used in course selection and placement. 

Flagler College evaluates students individually and holistically and gives students the ability to opt out of submitting test scores if they do not feel the results accurately reflect their ability or potential. Please note that homeschooled students are not permitted to select the test-optional path. The following academic profile represents the mean of admitted students from last year. Although these numbers provide an excellent range to aim for, they do not represent minimum requirements or cut-off points for admission.

First-year applicants must complete a minimum of 16 units in grades 9 through 12. While a prescribed course of study is not required, prospective students are advised to take: 

• four years of English 
• four years of mathematics (to include Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry) 
• three years of science (one laboratory science) 
• four years of social studies and academic electives.  

The College will calculate a core GPA, taking into consideration a college-preparatory schedule. Applicants should realize that the aforementioned courses represent the minimum preparation and are not necessarily considered satisfactory or recommended for college-level work in every undergraduate study area. 

Students who have participated in the Advanced Placement Program may be eligible for transfer credit or advanced placement at Flagler College. Course credit is generally granted for each AP examination passed with a score of 3, 4, or 5 in courses comparable to Flagler courses and appropriate to the degree program. A score of 3 will not satisfy general education, major, and/or minor course requirements.

For students earning a 4 or 5 on the “Literature and Composition” AP examination, Flagler College will award 3 credits of HUM 199 toward their General Education Creative Expression requirements. Students must submit official score reports of the AP examinations. Credit is awarded at the discretion of the College, and students should not assume that credit will be awarded automatically. Students should consult with the Office of the Registrar to determine the level of placement or the amount of credit to be granted for AP once the official score report is received.

Flagler College considers IB credentials for possible transfer credit. The College reviews and evaluates IB courses on an individual basis in the context of a student's proposed area of study. The amount of credit and placement are subject to approval by the appropriate academic department. Course credit is generally granted for each Standard Level and Higher Level examination passed with a score of 4, 5, 6, or 7. 

Students are required to forward IB transcripts to the Office of Admissions. The Registrar awards transferable credit at their discretion; students should not assume that credit is awarded automatically. 

Students should consult with the Office of Admissions or the Office of the Registrar to determine the level of placement or the amount of credit typically granted for IB examinations. 

Flagler College will award AICE transfer credit for examination scores of A, B, C, D, and E. Scores of D and E will not satisfy general education, major, and/or minor course requirements. Students are required to forward official AICE examination results to the Office of the Registrar for evaluation. Students should consult with the Office of the Registrar to determine the amount of credit to be granted for AICE examinations once the official score report is received.

Applicants still in high school but taking dual-enrollment courses should still apply as first-year students when considering the college application.

Applicants from four-year institutions may receive a maximum of 75 semester hours of credit awarded. Applicants from junior or community colleges will be allowed no more than 64 semester hours of credit toward the completion of degree requirements at Flagler. Applicants are required to submit official score reports from either the SAT or the ACT.

Recipients of the Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree are generally admitted at the junior level. Applicants who transfer from senior institutions must complete the last 45 semester hours at Flagler, not including departmentally-required internships.

Transfer credits will generally be granted for courses with a grade of “C” (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better from regionally accredited institutions. Quality points earned for transfer credits are not used in computing a student’s grade point average at Flagler. Students who have successfully completed the requirements for an A.A. degree may transfer up to three courses in which a “D” grade was earned, provided the total number of transfer credits does not exceed 64 semester hours. The amount of transfer credit and advanced standing allowed by the College will be determined by the Registrar. Sometimes, the department chair is consulted before awarding transfer credits. In accordance with the ICUF (Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida) Articulation Agreement, Flagler College, as a member of ICUF, provides some basic guarantees to transfer students who have earned an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree from any member institution of the State of Florida public university system. This guarantee includes the transfer of 60 credits to be applied toward awarding the baccalaureate degree and completing the general education requirements at Flagler College. Applicants are responsible for submitting all official transcripts, CLEP, IB, AICE, or AP score reports and confirming their level of advanced standing before registering for Flagler classes.

Applicants that are still in high school should apply to Flagler as a First Year Student regardless of the type of advanced credit completed or the number of transferable credit hours completed. 

Applicants who are applying to Flagler for the Spring term of the academic year/cycle they graduate from high school should still apply to Flagler as a First Year Student.

• Example: If you graduate from high school in 2023 and apply to attend Flagler in the Spring of the 2023-2024 academic year (January 2024), you should apply to Flagler as a First Year Student regardless of the type of advanced credit completed or the number of transferable credit hours completed while you were in high school or in the Fall 2023 term.

The College may accept a limited number of students who have completed three years of secondary school and wish to enter college prior to graduation. A candidate for early admission must have at least 13 units and superior grades in college preparatory subjects. In addition, the candidate must submit superior scores from either the SAT or the ACT. The letters of recommendation should attest to the candidate’s character, emotional and social maturity, and readiness for college-level work. Students applying for early admission should understand that the aforementioned factors represent minimum requirements. Admission to Flagler after only three years of secondary school is generally discouraged and highly competitive. Arrangements for awarding a high school diploma are the student’s responsibility.

Flagler College welcomes applications from homeschoolers who have completed a rigorous college preparatory program. Homeschoolers have been a part of our community for many years, and we recognize the particular assets they bring to college life: initiative, independent learning, and creative thinking. Flagler is looking for students who can think, speak, and write well—students who enjoy learning, who tend to be involved in activities, and who are good citizens. In addition to these characteristics, we seek students who are not only passionate about learning but are also passionate about contributing outside of the classroom.

What should be included in my transcript?

• A comprehensive transcript detailing your completed coursework from ninth through 11th grades and coursework in progress is required. The transcript should indicate grades that have been received for each course. Detailed performance evaluations can be helpful, but they are not required. A brief summary of course content is required, as well. Finally, the transcript must include the signature of the individual who prepared it.

Who should write my academic recommendation if my parent is my primary teacher?

• We require that you submit a recommendation from an individual outside your household who knows you well as a student and as a person: an employer, tutor, pastor, or coach, for example.

If I’ve taken a class at a community college, will the credits transfer?

• Most credits earned at another accredited college will transfer to Flagler if the courses are applicable to the College’s program. Courses of a vocational or technical nature, pre-college or remedial courses, or courses in which a grade below C was earned are not transferable. Courses taken at an unaccredited college will not receive credit. The College reserves the right to decide the acceptability and applicability of credits earned at other institutions. Your admissions counselor is happy to speak with you about the courses generally accepted for credit at Flagler College.

Can I submit my application for test optional consideration?

• Homeschooled students are not permitted to select the test-optional path.

Former students whose enrollment at Flagler has been voluntarily or involuntarily interrupted, including academic suspension or dismissal, must petition The Office of Admissions through the readmission application. Contact rbranch@flagler.edu with any additional questions.

Former students who have attended another college or university for at least one semester must be eligible to re-enroll at that institution. Students who have attended another institution for more than one semester must have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be eligible for readmission. Official transcripts from the institution(s) attended must be submitted to the Office of Admissions. The deadlines for readmission are 

• Fall Semester - August 1st of the same year
• Spring Semester - December 1st of the preceding year
• Summer Term - open enrollment (students must submit requests for readmission for Fall Semester). In some instances, an on-campus interview may be required.

Any student who withdraws from the College for illness must have medical approval from the attending physician before readmission.

Any student who applies for readmission must be cleared by the Office of Business Services and the Office of Student Services.

Presidential Merit Scholarships

All students (domestic and international) are automatically considered for merit scholarships. Factors considered include the student’s weighted core GPA as well as their highest overall test scores. Some students may not be eligible for a Presidential Scholarship, but those who are will be notified of the amount in their acceptance letter.

First-year students, if eligible, can receive between $1,000 and $6,000 per academic year. Transfer students, if eligible, can receive between $2,000 and $6,000 per academic year.

First year and transfer student-athletes who are offered an athletic scholarship at Flagler by the coach can receive a maximum merit scholarship of $2,000 per academic year if eligible.

Flagler Castillo Scholarship

Flagler College awards incoming first-year students who are graduates of St. Johns County, FL, high schools a Flagler Castillo Scholarship of $2,000 per academic year.

Flagler HOPE Scholarship

Flagler College awards Georgia residents who qualify for the aforementioned Presidential Scholarship an amount of $2,000 per academic year.

Flagler Palmetto Scholarship

Flagler College awards South Carolina residents who qualify for the aforementioned Presidential Scholarship an amount of $2,000 per academic year.

Flagler Ponce De Leon Scholarship

Flagler College recognizes the academic achievement and potential of students of color who, through sharing their varied cultural perspectives, will enhance the education of all Flagler students and the excellence of the College. Flagler College offers these tuition-remission scholarships as part of our diversity mission.

Total Applicants 

Flagler College's policy is to comply with the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, as these Acts apply to independent colleges.

Flagler College does not make inquiries concerning a disability prior to the student’s admission to the College. After the student has been admitted to the College, however, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities regarding his or her disability requiring special accommodations, to provide adequate documentation that validates the disability, and to request appropriate accommodations to college programs and services, so reasonable accommodations can be made in a timely manner.

All information regarding the disabilities of specific students and requests for academic accommodations will be considered confidential. As such, this information will be conveyed only to those faculty members and administrative personnel directly involved in accommodating the student with the disability.

Disability Resource Center

Flagler understands that your education may have been impacted due to COVID-19, and you have coursework that does not provide a grade other than Pass/Fail. Our office will take the time to review those courses in relation to your overall academic history and reach out if additional context is required.

Is Flagler College your first choice? The Admissions Team gives preference to students who have selected Flagler as their top college. To identify these students, the College has developed a voluntary Early Decision Plan for first-year and transfers who are applying for the fall semester, with an application deadline of November 1. 

• This agreement is binding, which means students admitted under the Early Decision Plan must withdraw applications submitted to other colleges and confirm their decision to attend Flagler by submitting the enrollment deposit and completing enrollment forms by January 15. 

For first-year students who are unsure of their first-choice college or university, Flagler offers a Regular Decision Plan with a deadline of March 1. 

• Students accepted during the Regular Decision phase must confirm their decision to attend Flagler by submitting the enrollment deposit and completing enrollment forms by May 1. 

For transfer students who are unsure of their first-choice college or university, Flagler offers a Regular Decision Plan with a deadline of June 1.