Holy Family University shield with teneor votis motto on Holy Family Hall

Admissions Requirements

Admission to Holy Family University is selective, but we're more interested in the quality of your work and your seriousness of purpose than in a checklist of requirements. Our Admissions Committee evaluates each applicant's credentials by examining many different factors, with an emphasis on your academic record, personal integrity, and desire to pursue higher education at Holy Family. Neither religious affiliation nor ethnic background influences our admissions decisions.

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Important Information

  • Merit Scholarships: New, full-time undergraduate students may be awarded merit scholarships based on their academic record. For more information, contact the Admissions Office at 215-637-3050 or admissions@holyfamily.edu.
  • Submitting Documents: All supporting documents can be sent either electronically or by mail. If using an online transcript service, please use the email: admissions@holyfamily.edu.

Mailing Address

Holy Family University
Undergraduate Admissions
9801 Frankford Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19114

First-Year Students

To apply, you'll need to submit the following:

  • High school transcript (or equivalent)
  • Acceptable scores on the SAT or ACT (Note: Submission of test scores is optional for all applicants.)
  • Completion of 16 high school units with satisfactory grades:
    • English: 4 units
    • History: 2 units
    • Mathematics: 3 units
    • Modern Second Language: 2 units*
    • Science: 2 units
    • Electives: 3 units
    • All majors must have completed a full year of Algebra I and II and Geometry

*Students without the second language requirement may be admitted but will be placed in an introductory language course.

Note: Exceptions can be made at the discretion of the University. Adult students (21 years of age or older) do not need to submit SAT/ACT scores.

Specific Major Requirements

Students planning to major in Mathematics, Nursing, Radiologic Science, or Science are expected to have completed the following high school courses:

  • Mathematics: Trigonometry
  • Nursing: Biology, Chemistry, a science elective, and three units of Social Studies (History)
  • Radiologic Science: Biology and Chemistry; Physics is recommended but not required
  • Science: Biology, Chemistry, and Trigonometry

Students who have not completed these courses will be advised to take the appropriate University courses.

Transfer Students

If you're a transfer student, you'll need to submit:

  • Proof of graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent
  • Completion of the required courses listed above (for first-year students)
  • An acceptable GPA from previous institution(s) (a minimum 2.5 GPA is required for most programs, but some may require a 3.0 GPA or higher)

Students are admitted to advanced standing upon completion of all required documentation.

  • Only credits applicable to your program of study with a minimum grade of "C" will be considered for transfer
  • We accept a maximum of 75 credits from a 2-year institution or 90 credits from a 4-year institution
  • You must complete a minimum of 30 credits at Holy Family with a minimum 2.0 GPA

Additional Nursing Transfer Student Requirements

  • Overall cumulative GPA of 3.0
  • Math and Science GPA of 2.75 (including core Science, core Math, Anatomy & Physiology I & II, and Microbiology)
  • No individual science or math course grade may be lower than a “C”. You may only repeat one of these courses one time to meet the GPA or minimum grade requirement
  • If you're currently or were previously in a nursing program, you must provide written documentation of good academic standing. Admission will not be granted to anyone who has failed out of a prior nursing program

International Students

International students seeking to study full-time at Holy Family University must meet the same requirements as all other applicants, along with some additional documents:

  • Official transcript evaluation by a NACES-member agency like World Education Services (WES).
  • Proof of English proficiency through scores from the TOEFL, SAT, or ACT.
  • Proof of financial capability to cover all academic and living expenses.

The I-20 form will be issued after the Admissions Office receives all necessary documents. To account for processing complexities, you should apply at least four months prior to your desired start term.