Non-Native Speakers of English (NNSE)

The University encourages applications from a diverse population and recognized that for some prospective students English is not their first language.  Through the admission evaluation process, the University may determine that, although students are academically prepared for college course work, their skills in English are not satisfactory to enroll in university-level courses.

Applicants who may be included in this group many times are:

• US citizens who attended school abroad
• Lawful US permanent residents who were educated abroad
• US citizens who reside in non-English speaking regions; i.e. Puerto Rico
• Foreign nationals living in the US

In these situations, NNSE applicants to Rockford University will be grated provisional admission to Rockford University pending verification of the following:

• The student meets the minimum grade point average requirement for admission (undergraduate admission requires a 2.65/4.0 cumulative GPA or higher for a first-year applicant; 2.3/4.0 cumulative GPA or higher for a transfer applicant).
• Students who are U.S. citizens or U.S. residents should refer to the domestic admission section of the catalog regarding admission requirements.
• The student’s TOEFL or IELTS score is below the minimum required score:
  < 77 on the Internet-based TOEFL or equivalent on other TOEFL test versions
  < 5.5 band score on IELTS (Academic Version)
  OR
• The student obtains an insufficient score for admission on an English language assessment administered by Rockford University’s ESL department.
• Declaration of a major

As a provisionally admitted student, she or he will be required to begin ESL classes in the level that she or he tests into for Rockford University's ESL program.

The student’s provisional status will be removed when she or he matriculates into course work for academic credits towards a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree after the following stipulations have been met:

• The student has successfully completed her or his required coursework in the English as a Second Language program at Rockford University.
  OR
•  The student has provided the school with an official TOEFL or IELTS score meeting or exceeding the minimum English proficiency test requirements for admission.
  OR
• The student has met the admission requirements for her or his degree program.

Notes:

• FAFSA eligible applicants should complete the FASFA and any supporting financial documentation required by FAFSA. These applicants do not need to furnish additional financial documentation.
• F-1 visa holders will be provided with an I-20 for language training that will be updated in the SEVIS database to a degree level I-20 upon completion of Rockford University’s ESL program and/or completing all requirements listed above.
• F-1 and J-1 visa applicants must provide proof of financial support by submitting the required financial documents listed above.