Admissions Policy

Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico admissions policy provides an opportunity to: (a) high school graduates; (b) individuals who have passed a state high school equivalency examination, as well as (c) transfer students, (d) USA veterans and beneficiaries and (e) International students, to enroll in PUPR credit courses and programs.  Students should avail themselves of the Students Regulations, copies of which are distributed by the Office of the Vice-President of Enrollment Management and Students. The institution reserves the right to admit, on a temporary status, or reject, any applicant who fails to meet a single criterion fully. An admission application and the corresponding fee are valid for two trimesters. A summary of said policies is presented herein.

FRESHMAN APPLICANTS

Students applying for admission to a higher education institution for the first time are classified as First-Time Freshman Applicants.

All students applying for admission to the freshman class of Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico must meet the following requirements:

1. File an application for admission. The application for admission form asks for important information which the applicant is responsible for submitting. Any false information given in the application form will be enough reason to reject said application unless the applicant is able to prove to the Registrar or the Director of Admissions that such information was given without malice aforethought.
2. Submit an official academic transcript from high school certifying graduation or the results of the high school equivalency examination. (GED)
3. Pay a thirty dollar ($30.00) non-refundable application fee.

The application fee will not be applicable towards the student’s registration charges. The fee is valid for two consecutive quarters.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants to Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico will be admitted based on the eligibility criteria presented in tables A and B.

Admissions Committee. Students submitting GED test results must have a minimum score of 560 in mathematics section to apply for any Engineering Program, and 520 in science. Students interested in the Business Administration Program must receive a minimum overall score of 2,250 or higher.

All secondary school graduates interested in applying to PUPR’s Orlando campus must:

• Submit an official transcript of all secondary education validated by the Florida Department of Education.

Course Placement and Exemptions

Students that present Advanced Placement tests scores can request course placement and exemptions.  Results from Advanced Placement tests are used to grant course placement and exemptions to students based on the following tables.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

An applicant who has studied at a recognized institution of higher education may apply for admission as a transfer student. Transfer applicants must have passed no fewer than nine transferable college credit-hours. They will be favorably considered for all academic work completed with a C or higher grade at each prior institution given that every course under consideration is required by the chosen program.  Transfer credit-hours are limited to work satisfactorily completed at an accredited institution of higher education within a five-year period immediately preceding the application for admission.

A transfer applicant will not be considered for admission if he or she is on disciplinary suspension during or following the last term at the previous institution; or within one year after dismissal.

All students who have passed nine transferable credit-hours at an accredited institution of higher education prior to applying for admission to Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico must submit:

1. An official transcript from each institution of higher education previously attended. The transcript should be mailed directly from the institution(s), must furnish a statement of good standing. Student copies of official transcripts are not acceptable. The applicant who is actively enrolled in another institution at the time of application should request a current official transcript to be forwarded immediately. An official transcript, including the final grades of the last quarter or semester of attendance, must be requested, and sent to the Admissions Office.
2. Payment of $30.00 application fee with the completed application form. The application fee is not refundable and will not be applicable toward the student’s registration charges.

Candidates from institutions of higher education, who would have met the admission requirements for high school applicants prior to their university experience, will be taken into consideration for transfer admission. PUPR reserves the right to refuse applications for admission once enrollment limits are reached.

Any undergraduate student applying for admission to Polytechnic University – Orlando Campus should know that only two thirds of the total number of credits required for the degree can be awarded as transfer credits, including no more than half of the specialization’s credit requirements. The courses and credits that will be transferred to a student for the program they are enrolling in will be based on the academic program requirement. Transferred grades will not be used for the evaluation of her/his Grade Point Average. All transfer students must complete at Polytechnic University no less than 65% of the credits required for graduation in order to be eligible for academic honors.

INTERNAL TRANSFER STUDENTS

Any student requesting transfer from one campus to another should:

• Complete an Authorization for Internal Transfer form and present it to the transferring Transcript is not required since student’s file will be transferred.
• If the student has an inactive status (two consecutive trimester) he or she should apply for readmission and internal
• The student must complete a minimum of 36 credits of the bachelor’s degree at Orlando Campus to be considered for
• Internal transfer applicants under academic probation will be transferred under the same status.
• Internal transfer applicants will have to appeal to the Admissions Committee in order to be considered if he/she is on disciplinary probation, suspension or dismissal from the previous institution.

All the courses and credits from the previous campus will be evaluated for program he/she is enrolling. The additional course analysis for the completion of the program will be based on the academic program requirements. However, all the attended credits under the same institution will be used to determine the student Grade Point Average.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

All instruction and written work at Polytechnic University – Orlando and Miami campuses is in English. Students whose primary language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency. The standard measure of this ability is the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). The applicant should provide a minimum score of 79 (internet-based test), 213 (computer-based test), or 550 (paper test) to enter the regular program courses. If TOEFL or an equivalent test is not provided or does not comply with the minimum score, an English proficiency test will be given by the Admission Office to assess his/her abilities and prepare a development plan.

Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (San Juan, Miami, and Orlando campuses) is authorized by the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) to issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status (Form I-20) for qualified international students who are not citizens of the United States of America or permanent residents.

Following admission acceptance, the applicant must submit all documentation required by the INS and established in the Applicant’s Checklist. Afterward, the Designated Student Officer (DSO) will issue and deliver the Form I-20 to admitted students. The admitted students then deliver the completed Form I-20 to the Bureau of Immigration and Citizenship Services (BICS) of their country of origin in the petition of a Student Visa Number.  Subsequent to the BICS authorization of a Student Visa Number, admitted students return this Form I-20 to the DSO. Applicants are classified as international students only after receipt of all required documentation and paid registration fees for the first academic term of full-time enrollment.

International Undergraduate Applicants

An applicant desiring to enroll as an international student must fulfill the following documentation:

• Complete the application for admission.
• Pay a $60.00 non-refundable admission fee.

Non-Resident Applicants/Students Visa

To process the I-20, all applicants must demonstrate financial capacity to complete the required educational program.

• Submit a sworn statement by the person that will cover the applicant’s educational costs and living expenses, indicating the annual amount assigned for this purpose.

Transfer Applicants

• Submit an official transcript of the applicant’s home country and certified by one of the following agencies: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., World Education Services, Academic Credentials Evaluation, Josef Silny, Inc.

Transfer Student with Form I-20

1. An application for admission.
2. Payment of sixty dollars ($60.00) non-refundable application fee.
3. An official transcript from each institution of higher education previously attended. The transcript should be sent directly from the institution of origin to the Admissions Office. Translations should be made and validated by a representative of the Department of State of the country of origin or its consulate in Florida.
4. Evidence of the ability to defray all expenses while studying in Florida. A completed Affidavit of Financial Support form for each sponsor and notarized supporting bank statements showing financial support for the first year of study and complete the form I-134.

SPECIAL STUDENTS

Applicants who have studied at an institution of higher education and have been authorized to take courses at Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico to complete requirements from their institution are classified as non-degree seeking students.  Also, applicants who are not interested in obtaining an academic degree from PUPR or a grade, except for professional development coursework, are classified as special students. An applicant desiring to enroll as a special student must submit:

1. A completed application for admission form.
2. Payment of $30.00 non-refundable application fee with the application form.
3. Submit an authorization as Special Student.

If the person wants to change this classification to a Regular Student, he or she will have to fulfill all the requirements of the Admissions Office, take the prerequisites courses, and obtain a grade of C or higher in each one. A Special Student does not qualify for financial aid until the classification to Regular Student has been made.

AUDIT STUDENTS

Audit Students are required to submit an admission application and pay a $30.00 non-refundable admission fee. These students are not interested in earning credit-hours toward a degree, diploma, or certificate. They may attend classes as auditors after paying the tuition fees, with the authorization of the Faculty Dean and Registrar, but will not receive grades or credit for work done on any subject.

Home Schooling

Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico established a system of academic credential evaluation for each homeschooler applying for admission into an academic program. The purpose is to determine whether the applicant complies with all the criteria for eligibility.

These criteria are the following:

• File an application for admission with the following attached documents:

1. Florida Scholl Board or District Certification
2. Affidavit of Home School Completion
3. School curriculum
4. All courses grades
5. College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB), SAT, ACT or any other equivalent test results
6. Pay the non-refundable application fee

ADDITIONAL CRITERIA

Upon acceptance at the university, all students are required to provide a copy of a current driver’s license or photo identification for placement in the files for official records.

Admissions Procedure

Candidate students (i.e., First-time freshman, transfer, special audit and foreign) may apply for admission to any of the three academic terms and summer session available each academic year. Applications for full-time and part-time studies are processed throughout the year. Although applications may be made at any time, candidates for admission to the First Time Freshman class should submit their applications during the final year of high school.

Initial Orientation for Newly Admitted Students

Upon acceptance at the university, all students are required to provide a copy of a current driver’s license or photo identification for placement in the files for official records. After the student is admitted, the next step is to coordinate the initial orientation with the admission officer. During this orientation, the student is guided on the processes of getting acquainted with Polytechnic University rules and regulations and is given a package with the Student Guide, Description of Placement Tests, Informative Bulletin, information regarding tuition, fees and costs per credit-hour, and Online Manuals Sheet that includes links to access the following:

• Student Information Manual
• Student Regulation
• Security Policy
• Qualification Review Procedures
• Credit Transfer Validation Policy
• Policy on the Use and Abuse of Controlled Substances
• Sexual Assault Policy
• Agreements between PUPR and other educational institutions

Upon proper completion of all admission requirements as stated in the previous section of the catalog, the applicant will then be admitted, and eligible to register. When registration is complete, and all fees are paid, the student will be officially enrolled at the university. The dates for registration are stated in the Academic Calendar. Counselors are available to help admitted students with academic advising and class scheduling during the registration period.

APPLICATION FORMS

Application forms for admission at Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

Online Application for Admission

Admission Requirements

Net Price Calculator

• These are only estimated expenses. Total cost can vary by program, degree and could change from one year to another.
• Financial Aid is also estimated and does not represent actual amounts.
• This calculator is not an official application for financial aid. All students have to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• This calculator does not include loan amounts. Students who complete the FAFSA, could be eligible to apply for loans from the Federal Direct Loan Program.