The admission process reflects Franklin University’s efforts to clearly identify the performance standards that can help predict student success in graduate level study. The selection criterion for Franklin’s graduate programs, as determined by faculty, emphasizes academic ability, contributory work experience, and personal qualities and characteristics.

Requirements for admission include having earned a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from an institution accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC), Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), or a Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)-recognized accrediting organization with a GPA of at least a 2.50 on a 4.0 scale.* 

Submission of an official transcript from the educational institution where the bachelor’s, master's, or doctoral degree was earned is required. A student will not be permitted to register for courses in their initial term of registration until unofficial domestic transcripts or official transcripts are received. Official transcripts must be received before registering for the second term.

Master's Conditional Admission - GPA

• Domestic applicants seeking enrollment into a Franklin University Master’s Program who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements may be considered for conditional admission into a program. An applicant must meet Franklin University’s other admission requirements to be eligible for conditional admission.
• Applicants who earned a GPA between 2.250-2.499 on a 4.0 scale in their earned degree will automatically be granted conditional enrollment status. Applicants who earned lower than a 2.250 GPA on a 4.0 scale in their earned degree can petition for conditional enrollment status to the program chair by submitting a professional resume and an essay detailing other criteria that the applicant believes should be considered to demonstrate their ability to be successful in a graduate program. This petition could include details on the applicant’s work experience, work ethic, level of professionalism, personality characteristics, level of difficulty of program of study previously completed, etc.
• Conditionally admitted students are required to achieve a final grade of “B” (3.0 GPA) or better in the first graduate-level course of their program, and are restricted to taking one graduate course at a time until this requirement is met. Students admitted to the programs listed below may take two 12-week classes concurrently, and would be required to earn a final grade of “B” in each course. If the terms of the conditional enrollment are not met, the student will not be allowed to advance in their program and will be unable to earn this graduate degree from Franklin University. Programs that allow for concurrent enrollment include: Business Analytics, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Health Informatics, Data Analytics, Information Technology, and Information Systems.

Master’s Conditional Admission – Degree Conferral

• Domestic applicants seeking enrollment into a Franklin University Master’s Program who have not yet completed their qualifying degree program may be considered for conditional admission into a program. Conditional admission may be offered up to two semesters prior to an applicant’s anticipated graduation.
• Conditionally admitted applicants may register for classes prior to completing their qualifying degree, but may not begin master’s program coursework until the semester after their degree is conferred.
• It is the responsibility of the student to provide an official transcript confirming successful completion of their qualifying degree program prior to the end of their first semester. If the terms of the conditional enrollment are not met, the student will not be allowed to advance in their current program.

Master’s applicants may be offered conditional admission for both low GPA and pending degree conferral.

For the following programs, transcripts are evaluated for co-requisite requirements during the admission process:
M.S. in Accounting
M.S. in Accounting-STEM
M.S. in Computer Science
M.S. in Cybersecurity
M.S. in Information Technology

English Language Testing & TOEFL IELTS

Prospective graduate students must demonstrate English language proficiency. A student who meets at least one of the following criteria is eligible for admission as a degree-seeking student:

• The applicant is a citizen of a country where English is the primary language for education. A list of these countries can be found below.*
• The applicant has provided official documentation that meets Franklin graduate admission requirements from an institution in which English is the medium of instruction.
• Has submitted an official score report meeting the minimum requirements for admission (see Minimum Scores below) from one of the following exams approved by Franklin University: Accuplacer ESL, Cambridge English Qualifications, Duolingo English Test (DET), International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS), Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Other officially recognized exams may also be considered. English proficiency scores must be less than two years old.
   

*For more information about English proficiency, including a list of English-speaking nations, please visit our International Students section.

MSN Program Prerequisites

Applicants must hold a bachelor's or associate's degree in nursing from an institutionally accredited institution. 

Evidence of Active Nursing License

Applicants must have a valid, active and clear/unencumbered RN license in the U.S. or in a jurisdiction that is an associate member of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCBSN).

• Applicants holding the equivalent of an RN licensure or certification outside the U.S. must submit a Credential Evaluation Services (CES) Academic Report from the Council of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).
• All students must maintain licensure throughout the program of study.
• License information should be submitted here.