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Admission and Financial Information
Application for Admission
Admission to the College of St. Catherine is based on an applicant's academic record, evidence of ability to do college work and benefit from it, and indications of the applicant's desire to attend St. Catherine's. Application for admission should be made to the Office of Admission for the program of choice.
Associate Degree and Health-Care Certificate Program Admission
Under the rolling admission plan, candidates are admitted on the basis of evidence of ability to succeed in the academic program. Applicants are notified of the admission committee decision approximately one week after submitting a complete file. Application is made and students are accepted to specific majors. Because space is limited, admission is confirmed only when the candidate accepts the offer of admission and submits the required $100 tuition deposit.
Health-Related Certificate Programs and Associate Degree candidates must send the following to the Minneapolis Campus Office of Admission:
- Official transcripts from high school (or official GED scores) and any other post secondary institution attended.
- A completed application form accompanied by the $20 application fee.
- If the past record indicates academic difficulty, the candidate may be asked to provide additional information, letters of recommendation or to participate in a personal interview and/or assessment testing.
- Applicants currently enrolled in high school are encouraged to submit ACT testing results.
Some majors have additional special application requirements. For details, please refer to the individual major sections of this catalog.
Admission of First-Year Students - Baccalaureate Day Program
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
Candidates for admission must present a transcript of courses from an accredited secondary school and test scores that indicate the applicant is likely to succeed in college. Courses and grades must indicate intellectual ability and progress. The College of St. Catherine strongly recommends students enroll in a solid college preparatory program while in high school. Academic success in a liberal arts college suggests the following preparation: English (4 years), foreign languages (4 years), natural science (2 years), social science (2 years) and mathematics (3 years). Students who are interested in science and scientifically related pre-professional programs should take biology, chemistry and physics.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The College of St. Catherine operates on a rolling admission basis, which means that applications are processed as they are received. Students are considered for admission upon completion of the junior year and on the basis of a high school transcript and test scores. Students will be notified of the admission decision within three weeks after the application file is complete and has been evaluated by the Admission Committee. The college begins notifying applicants of offers of admission no later than November 1. In order to complete their application file, students must send the following to the Office of Admission:
- A completed application form accompanied by the $20 application fee (or fee waiver card).
- An official high school transcript or General Education Development Test (GED) results. All available aptitude and achievement scores as well as class rank should be entered on this transcript.
- Results of one of the following exams: American College Testing Program (ACT), Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). (Tests are not required for applicants over 23 years of age.) Scores may be reported on the high school transcript or sent directly to the college from the appropriate testing agency.
- For students whose native language is not English: the results of either the Michigan Test, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the College of St. Catherine English Language Test.
- Recommendation Form (for high school students only).
The Admission Committee may defer an applicant's admission decision until further information has been received, such as more recent test scores, results of the current semester's course work or letters of recommendation. If additional credentials are needed or an interview is deemed necessary, applicants will be informed by the Office of Admission.
Upon acceptance to the college, students should send the signed enrollment form and a $100 tuition deposit to the Office of Admission.
EARLY ENTRANCE
On occasion, certain high school students who show exceptional promise may be granted admission to the college at the end of the junior year (with or without a high school diploma). Students wishing to pursue early admission must follow the application procedures outlined above and must receive the recommendation of their high school principal or guidance counselor.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM
The college grants credit for Advanced Placement (AP) Tests administered by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). The minimum grade required for credit varies across subject areas. For some AP tests, credit is awarded for a grade of 3 or higher, whereas other tests require a minimum grade of 4 or 5. Specific requirements are on file in the Registrar's Office.
Admission of International Students - Baccalaureate Day Program
International students should request International Student Application forms from the Office of Admission one year before they plan to enroll at the college. The College of St. Catherine will process an application for admission only when the following items have been received:
- The College of St. Catherine International Student Application form completed in full. Failure to do so will result in the application being returned for proper completion and will delay the processing of the application.
- Application fee of $20. Payment must be made by check drawn on a U.S. bank or by international money order drawn in U.S. dollars and marked clearly with the applicant's name. Currency, a postal order or a bank check cannot be accepted.
- Documentation of secondary education. The following documents are required:
- Official certified records from secondary schools attended, listing all subjects completed and grades received for each term.
- Proof of graduation from secondary school or a certified photocopy of the diploma or other certificate.
- If secondary education culminates in a maturity certificate examination (baccalaureate, etc.), submit an official copy of grades received on each subject of examination.
- If the secondary education was under the British or a similar system, submit records for each year of secondary study as well as an official copy of the final secondary school examination certificate.
- Any post-secondary records with results of examinations taken.
Any documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English language translation.
- Standardized tests:
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The college code for TOEFL is 6105; a score of 500 is usually required for the paper-based test and a score of 173 is usually required for the computer-based test.
- The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is highly recommended, but only required of first-year applicants who have attended a U.S. high school (in the U.S. or overseas).
- Financial certification. The U.S. government and the College of St. Catherine require all applicants to provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses before the college can issue forms necessary to obtain a visa. Applicants should complete the Certification of Finances form sent by the college. This document must be certified and in English.
- Two letters of recommendation. Letters should be from people under whom the applicant has studied most recently. If the applicant has been out of school, one letter may be from an employer or supervisor or another source. If an applicant wishes to attend the college for only one year or has completed some university course work in advance, she should follow the same procedures.
- Personal statement of 300-500 words. See application form for specific topics.
APPLICATION DEADLINES (INCLUDING RECEIPT OF ALL DOCUMENTS)
For students outside the United States/in the United States:
Fall semester (September-December)
Winter semester (February-May)
Students applying for scholarship must apply by:
Fall semester March 15
Winter semester October 15
Most scholarships are awarded to students entering in the fall semester.
TRANSFER OF CREDITS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Students with course work completed at the advanced level (e.g., STPM, A-levels, IB-higher level) or at accredited institutions of higher education may be considered for advanced standing. Credit will be considered on a course-by-course basis. Applicants must submit secondary and post-secondary school records. Only official transcripts or certified copies of the originals will be accepted, and transfer of credits will take place only upon submission of an official catalog or syllabus, indicating course descriptions and degree requirements, and an evaluation from a credential evaluation service approved by the College of St. Catherine.
Admission of Transfer Students - Baccalaureate Day Program
Under the rolling admission plan, transfer candidates may be considered on the basis of previous course work completed at an accredited college or university. Applicants will be informed of the Admission Committee's decision within three weeks after completion of their file of supporting credentials.
Transfer applicants must send the following to the Office of Admission:
- Completed application form accompanied by the $20 application fee (or fee waiver card).
- Official transcripts mailed directly from every high school, college or university attended (whether or not credits were earned). The General Education Development Test (GED), including scores, is required for students who did not graduate from high school.
- For students whose native language is not English, the results of either the Michigan Test, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the College of St. Catherine English Language Test.
- If the previous academic record indicates past difficulty, the student may be asked to provide additional information or to participate in a personal interview.
Weekend College Admission
Under the rolling admission plan, Weekend College candidates may be considered on the basis of previous course work completed at an accredited college or university. Candidates will be informed of the Admission Committee's decision within three weeks after completion of the file of supporting credentials.
Weekend College applicants must send the following to the Weekend College Office of Admission:
- Completed application form accompanied by the $20 application fee.
- Official transcripts mailed directly from high school and all post-high school educational institutions including college, university, technical, business, medical and professional schools attended (whether or not credits were earned). The General Education Development Test (GED), including scores, is required for students who did not graduate from high school.
- For students whose native language is not English, the results of either the Michigan Test, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the College of St. Catherine English Language Test.
- If the previous academic record indicates past difficulty, the candidate may be asked to provide additional information or to participate in a personal interview.
Special Admission
(Admission of degreed students, nondegree-seeking students, men and auditors)
Applicants who have a bachelor's degree and are seeking a second degree or second major certificate must submit an application, $20 application fee (waived for St. Catherine alumnae) and official transcripts from each post-secondary educational institution attended. Graduates of the College of St. Catherine may not obtain a second bachelor's degree from the college. However, College of St. Catherine graduates may take classes for personal enrichment or to pursue a second major certificate. Applicants who have a bachelor's degree from another institution may obtain a second degree from the College of St. Catherine. To do so, it will be necessary to fulfill all the requirements for graduation, not simply those for the major. Second major certificate students need to fulfill only the requirements for the major.
Nondegree-seeking students include students who have or have not completed a degree, but wish to take courses for personal enrichment or career enhancement. Nondegree-seeking students must submit an application, $20 application fee and an unofficial transcript from the last institution attended. Nondegree-seeking students who wish to change their status to degree-seeking must submit official transcripts from all institutions attended to the Office of Admission. Admission as a nondegree-seeking student is not a guarantee of admission as a degree-seeking student. Individuals enrolled in the associate program may take no more than nine credits as a nondegree-seeking student.
As a primarily undergraduate institution dedicated to educating women, the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul campus, grants bachelor's degrees to women only. Men who have completed a B.A. or B.S. degree may apply to graduate programs or may earn a second major certificate as described above. Men without degrees may take courses at the college but may not earn a bachelor's degree. Students wishing to audit course work should contact the Registrar's Office. For further information on audit policies, see the Academic Information section of this catalog.
Senior Citizens Go To College
The College of St. Catherine offers senior citizens (people age 55 or older) the opportunity to continue learning by taking academic courses along with college students. Senior citizens in the Twin Cities enroll in a wide variety of weekday courses on a space-available basis. Senior citizens participate in class discussions without writing papers or taking exams. No college credit is earned. Seniors take the classes free of tuition charge but pay a one-time-only registration fee plus special laboratory, physical education, music or art fees.
Basic Expenses
TUITION DEPOSIT
Upon acceptance to the college, all new students are required to remit a $100 tuition deposit. The deposit is credited to the student's account. This is a one-time-only fee and current students are not required to make this advance deposit. The deposit is fully refundable through May 1 for the fall semester and January 1 for the winter semester. For Weekend College students, a refund will be made in full up to 30 days prior to the orientation date for that term.
HOUSING DEPOSIT
Students applying for campus housing for the first time will be required to pay a $100 contract deposit when submitting a contract for residence hall or apartment space. This deposit is held pending the satisfactory completion of contract provisions, including any physical damage to the space or outstanding balance on the student's account. A current resident's deposit carries over from one year to the next. Housing contract deposits are fully refundable until June 15. Additional charges may be incurred for withdrawals after June 15.
Payment Arrangements
The college year is divided into two semesters (three terms for Weekend College). Accounts must be paid in full or payment arrangements completed prior to the beginning of each term. Payment of all charges for each term must be made in accordance with the Payment Agreement and Initial Disclosure included in the initial billing packet.
The College offers the following payment options:
- Standard Payment Plan. Under this plan, the student pays all fees on or before the first day of each term. A finance charge of 1 percent per month is assessed on any amount not paid when due.
- Pay Your Way, Your Way Payment Plan. Fees are paid in flexible installments. A 1 percent finance charge is assessed on the unpaid balance each month. Semester students must complete a Special Payment Agreement if they owe more than $2,000 before registering for Winter Term and must pay all fees owied for Fall and Winter terms by April 15. Weekend College students must pay all fees for a given term no later than 30 days after grades have been posted for the applicable term.
International students must make all payments in U.S. dollars.
Transcripts and diplomas are held until accounts are paid in full.
Early Withdrawals
TUITION AND FEES
Students who choose to withdraw from classes may be eligible for partial refund of tuition based on the date official notice is given to the Registrar's Office. Complete information on refunds, along with a refund schedule, is printed in the Summary of Financial Procedures. Fees are nonrefundable on or after the first day of the term.
ROOM AND BOARD
Students who withdraw from college housing during the term forfeit their contract deposit and have their room and board charges pro-rated according to their date of withdrawal and the tuition refund policy. Prior notification and approval from the Student Life Office is required. Please refer to the Residence Hall and Dining Services Contract for details.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
The College of St. Catherine provides qualified undergraduate, graduate and certificate students with scholarship, grant, low-interest loan and/or employment opportunities. Funding is available from federal, state and college resources. Applications must be submitted annually. Materials are available for the following school year by late fall and should be submitted by April 15 for priority consideration. To complete an application each student must submit a St. Catherine's Financial Aid Application and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the year in which funding is requested.
The college offers several merit scholarship programs to qualified students in the baccalaureate Day Program. Most scholarships are offered to entering first-year students shortly after acceptance to the college and require full-time enrollment in the Day Program. These include: the Presidential Scholarship, St. Catherine of Alexandria Scholarship, Valedictorian Scholarship, National Merit Scholarship, National Achievement Scholarship, National Hispanic Scholarship, National Commended Scholarship, Girl Scout Gold and Silver Awards Scholarships, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Scholarship, CSC Scholarship for 4-H Members, Alumnae Referral Scholarship, Global Experience Scholarship, and music scholarships. Academic Achievement, Dean's and Phi Theta Kappa scholarships are offered to transfer students. For a complete list of scholarships, please contact the Office of Admission.
A DupliKate Scholarship is offered to the daughter or granddaughter of a St. Catherine's alumna providing she is a full-time undergraduate student working on her first degree.
A TripliKate Scholarship is offered to students who have both a mother and grandmother who graduated from St. Catherine's providing she is a full-time undergraduate student working on her first degree.
Most financial aid programs require a student to enroll at least half time to be eligible. Some funds require full-time enrollment. A few funds are available to less than half-time students. Please refer to the following chart for the definition of enrollment status.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
 | PER SEMESTER | PER WEEKEND TERM | SUMMER |
| Full time | 12 or more credits | 8 or more credits | 6 or more credits |
| 3/4 time | 9-11 credits | 6-7 credits | 5 credits |
| Half time | 6-8 credits | 4-5 credits | 3-4 credits |
| Below half time | 5 or fewer credits | 3 or fewer credits | 2 or fewer credits |
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
PER TERM
Full time 6 or more credits
3/4 time 4-5 credits
Half time 3 credits
Below half time 2 or fewer credits
Tuition and Fees 2003-2004
| Day Program | Weekend College | Associate |
| Tuition, per credit | $610 | $350 | $425 |
| Student activity fee | $125 per semester | $35 per term | $15 per semester |
Special course fees are listed in the Summary of Financial Procedures brochure. Students electing to take a course at any ACTC college must pay any special fees required for that course.
The figures indicated above are in effect during the 2003-04 academic year and are subject to change in 2004-05.
AUDIT
Twenty-five percent of the course tuition rate for classroom audit only. For clinical course audit, the charge is 25 percent of the course rate plus the clinical laboratory fee for clinical hours. Once paid, the audit fee cannot be applied to course tuition if the student wants to take the course for credit.
PROFICIENCY EXAM
Twenty-five percent of the course tuition rate.
Residence Hall Room and Board Rates 2003-04
Eligibility: Only students enrolled with six or more credits at St. Catherine's are eligible for residency in college housing. The college reserves the right to refuse any application.
Residence halls $1,530 - $2,295 per semester
Apartments*
One bedroom (average per student) $1,682 - $3,363 per semester
Two bedroom (average per student) $1,177 - $4,708 per semester
Board (average) $1,200 per semester
Minneapolis campus room rate $1,025 per semester
The figures indicated above are in effect during the 2003-04 academic year and are subject to change in 2004-05. Housing is available during the month of January at no additional cost if the student is contracted for the entire academic year. For additional information, contact the Residence Life office.
*Limited availability
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