Admissions

Edison State College Admissions Policy

Edison State College (ESC) affirms its policy of open admissions. All applicants for admissions are considered solely on the basis of their academic qualifications, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, marital status, and national origin. Edison State College reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant whose behavior is not in keeping with the best interests of the College.

Edison State assesses a non-refundable admissions application fee for all new students. The admissions application is not processed until the admissions application fee is received. The Office Admissions is responsible for administering Edison State’s admissions policies and for providing information regarding the admissions process, including admissions requirements, residency requirements, student privacy rights, and classification of students. Students may submit application for admission via our online system at www.edison.edu/admissions with the application fee.

After the admissions application has been processed, the Admission’s Office notifies each applicant of his/her acceptance to Edison State  College and provides the applicant with assessment, advisement, and registration information. Accepted applicants may begin their studies any term. For important dates, please see the College Calendar .

NOTE: Florida law (F.S. 1003.43) provides that students graduating from a Florida public high school after August 1, 1987 and applying for admission to an Associate in Arts degree program must meet specific general requirements for high school graduation. Graduates from private high schools and out-of-state public schools must have completed a curriculum that includes four years of English and three years each of mathematics, science, and social studies. However, in lieu of the English requirement, foreign students may use four years of instruction in their native language or language of instruction in the secondary school attended.

A high school transcript bearing the high school graduation date or GED test scores is required before a student is allowed to register for classes. Home-schooled students will need to submit a complete transcript of all high school work through the twelfth grade.  An umbrella home-school organization, transcript service or the teaching parents may submit a signed and notarized transcript.  Transcripts should include years of study, course titles, letter grades, credits or Carnegie units completed, grading scale, cumulative GPA and graduation date.  If an official high school transcript is not received by the College by the midpoint of the first term of enrollment, a hold will be placed on the student’s record and he/she will not be allowed to register for a subsequent term.  Students who have earned a CPT-Eligible Certificate of Completion in Florida may enroll at ESC, but are not eligible for Financial Aid or some programs requiring special training (i.e., nurses, classroom teachers, police officers, correctional officers) until they earn a standard high school diploma or GED.

Please note that admission to Edison State College does not guarantee admission into a limited access or baccalaureate program. For program admissions information, please consult the appropriate program page in the College Catalog.

Admissions Requirements

Baccalaureate Degree (BS) (BAS) Admissions Requirements

Priority application deadlines for all baccalaureate programs are as follows:                   

Fall term: August 1

Spring term:  December 1

Summer term: April 1

For program admissions information, please consult the appropriate program page in the College Catalog.

Cardiopulmonary Sciences, BAS 
Public Safety Administration, BAS 
Supervision and Management, BAS 
Elementary Education, BS 
Middle Grades Language Arts Education, BS 
Middle Grades Mathematics Education, BS 
Middle Grades Science Education, BS 
Nursing, BSN 
Secondary Biology Education, BS 
Secondary Mathematics Education, BS 

Please note that admission to Edison State College does not guarantee admission into a limited access or baccalaureate program.

Associate in Arts (AA) Admissions Requirements

The AA degree provides students with the foundation needed to be successful at any one of Florida’s eleven state universities. To be admitted as an AA degree seeking student, an applicant must meet one of the following requirements:

1. Have earned a standard diploma from a high school accredited by the Florida Department of Education or a standard diploma from a regionally accredited high school. Applicants who did not graduate from high school in the United States must have the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma and must meet language standards established through College policy and/or procedure; or
2. Have earned a high school equivalency diploma based on performance on the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) test administered in English through any state department of education; or
3. Have completed a home education program meeting the requirements of F.S. 1002.41; or
4. Have earned a standard certificate of completion from a Florida public high school due to FCAT performance (must have completed high school after May 2003); or
5. Have been approved by Edison State for entry into the Accelerated Programs for High School Students.

Applicants who have completed an AA or a baccalaureate degree at another regionally accredited college or university cannot enroll in an AA degree program at Edison State College.

Associate in Science (AS) Admissions Requirements

The Associate in Science Degree programs are primarily designed to prepare students for employment in select fields. To be admitted as an AS degree seeking student, an applicant must meet one of the following requirements:

1. Have earned a standard diploma from a high school accredited by the Florida Department of Education or a standard diploma from a regionally accredited high school. Applicants who did not graduate from high school in the United States must have the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma and must meet language standards established through College policy and/or procedure; or
2. Have earned a high school equivalency diploma based on performance on the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) test administered in English through any state department of education; or
3. Have completed a home education program meeting the requirements of F.S. 1002.41; or
4. Have earned a standard certificate of completion from a Florida public high school due to FCAT performance (must have completed high school after May 2003); or
5. Have been approved by Edison State for entry into the Accelerated Programs for High School Students.

Additional Health Professions Admissions Requirements

The Associate in Science degree programs in Cardiovascular Technology,  Dental Hygiene, EMT-Basic, EMT-Paramedic, Emergency Medical Services, Health Information Management, Nursing, Radiologic Technology, and Respiratory Care are selective admissions programs. Admission to Edison State College does not automatically qualify an applicant for acceptance to these Health Professions programs. Students must complete a separate application for admission to each limited-access program of study. Records submitted for application become the property of Edison State College and will not be available for use to meet the requirements of third parties.

Criminal History Background Check

Applicants to Health Professions programs with associated clinical activities will be required to complete a College-approved criminal history background check at the individual’s expense. Results of the background check must be satisfactory in order for the applicant to be eligible for final acceptance/enrollment in a limited-access program. A student who does not maintain continuous clinical enrollment in the limited-access program will be required to submit a new criminal history background check.

Health Record/Ability to Meet Technical Standards

A completed medical health form and self assessment of program technical standards must be submitted to and approved by the individual Health Professions Program Director prior to admission to clinical rotations. The health record will include results from a physical examination and laboratory tests, including immunization records, which must be verified by a licensed physician or his/her designee. Applicants who do not meet the standards of physical and mental health, as required by clinical facilities for safe patient care, may reapply and be considered for application to a Health Professions program after resolution of the health problem. A student who does not maintain progressive clinical enrollment in the limited-access program may be required to submit a new student health record.

College Certificate Admissions Requirements

College certificate programs are usually one year or less in length and prepare students for employment in specialized areas. To be admitted as a certificate seeking student, an applicant must meet one of the following requirements:

1. Have earned a standard diploma from a high school accredited by the Florida Department of Education or a standard diploma from a regionally accredited high school. Applicants who did not graduate from high school in the United States must have the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma and must meet language standards established through College policy and/or procedure; or
2. Have earned a high school equivalency diploma based on performance on the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) test administered in English through any state department of education; or
3. Have completed a home education program meeting the requirements of F.S. 1002.41; or
4. Have earned a standard certificate of completion from a Florida public high school due to FCAT performance (must have completed high school after May 2003); or
5. Have been approved by Edison State for entry into the Accelerated Programs for High School Students.

Post Secondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) Admissions Requirements

PSAV programs are usually one year or less in length and prepare students for employment in specialized areas. To be admitted as a PSAV certificate seeking student, an applicant must meet one of the following requirements:

1. Have earned a standard diploma from a high school accredited by the Florida Department of Education or a standard diploma from a regionally-accredited high school. Applicants who did not graduate from high school in the United States must have the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma and must meet language standards established through College policy and/or procedure; or
2. Have earned a high school equivalency diploma based on performance on the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) test administered in English through any state department of education; or
3. Have completed a home education program meeting the requirements of F.S. 1002.41; or
4. Have earned a standard certificate of completion from a Florida public high school due to FCAT performance (must have completed high school after May 2003); or
5. Have been approved by Edison State for entry into the Accelerated Programs for High School Students. 

International Students (F1 Visa) Admissions Requirements

Applicants with or seeking an international student visa (F-1) must meet the following additional admissions requirements. Edison State issues an I-20 form after all admissions requirements are met. Applicants may be issued the F-1 visa when they present the I-20 form to the appropriate personnel in a U.S. Embassy.

1. The applicant must apply for admission and submit all required admission credentials (as outlined below) to the Office of Admissions no later than sixty (60) days prior to the published first class day of the term for which he/she is seeking admission.
2. Since instruction is in English, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. To demonstrate this proficiency, if English is not the applicant’s native language, the applicant must either submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if applying from outside the United States or, if currently applying from within the United States, must submit results of the TOEFL or complete a personal interview with the Director of Admission’s. The minimum acceptable score is 550 or higher on the paper version of the TOEFL or 79 or higher on the Internet-based test (TOEFL IBT).  Applicants scoring below established cut-off scores are referred to the college preparatory programs for additional testing and placement into the English Training Program. An application to take the TOEFL test may be obtained at www.toefl.org. 
3. TOEFL scores are not required if the student has graduated from an American high school, earned the GED taken in English, or successfully completed secondary education from a school outside the United States that teaches the entire secondary education curriculum in English.
4. The applicant or sponsor must provide a notarized financial statement verifying the availability (in U.S. dollars) of the funds necessary for the applicant to attend Edison State. The applicant or sponsor must complete the Sponsorship Affidavit form. Edison State does not provide sponsors, financial assistance, or transportation services. Students attending Edison on an F-1 student visa may work only on campus if employment is available.  Because of this uncertainty, students are not able to use these monies as part of their financial resources.
5. The applicant must provide an official high school transcript as well as official transcripts from any colleges or universities that the applicant attended. High school transcripts in languages other than English must be translated, at the student’s expense, by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).  The applicant must have at least the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma to be eligible for admission. An admission decision is made after all documents are received. All International College/University transcripts, including English speaking countries, must have a course-by-course evaluation performed, at the student’s expense, by an agency approved by NACES.
6. International students transferring from another college or university in the U.S. that is approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must provide the following items before a final admission decision is reached:
   1. All of the information included in requirements Numbers 1- 4 above;
   2. An official transcript from all U.S. colleges or universities attended;
   3. Copies of all previously issued I-20 forms;
   4. A visa clearance form from the International Student Advisor at the current U.S. college or university, verifying the student’s current status; and
   5. A valid passport and an I-94 form.
7. The applicant and sponsor must have an orientation with the Director of Admission or designee prior to the first class day of the term for which the applicant is seeking admission.
8. All international students must meet the Standards of Academic Progress for International Students (full-time status/12 credits per semester and a cumulative 2.00 grade point average).
9. All applicants must provide proof of health and accident insurance to include a body repatriation and body evacuation rider prior to registering for classes.

Please Note:  An international student who is in the United States on the F-1 student visa may not claim Florida residency for tuition purposes and must pay nonresident fees.

Requirements for Readmission

Students who have not attended Edison State within the past year must submit an admissions application (the admissions application fee is not required for former students) and such other information as may be required by the Office Admission’s, including proof of residency documents for in-state tuition classification. Degree seeking students readmitting after two years of non-attendance, who did not complete English and mathematics requirements, must retake the PERT. (Please see Assessment Services, in the Student Services  section, for more information.) Students attempting to return after suspension or dismissal must petition for readmission. A favorable decision is dependent upon clear written evidence that indicates promise of successful performance. (please see Petitions, in the Student Records  section, for more information.)

Student Classifications

Degree Seeking Classification

Applicants who indicate on the admissions application their intent to pursue a bachelor’s degree, an AA, an AS, or a college certificate program are subject to specific Edison State policies and procedures, which are in place to help students achieve their educational goals. Degree seeking students are required to complete the Post-secondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) or submit a full set of ACT-E, SAT-R scores or be test exempt. (Please see Assessment Services, in the Student Services  section, for more information.) Degree seeking students must satisfy any reading, English, and mathematics college preparatory requirements, starting the first semester of registration and continuing each semester until all requirements are satisfied. (Please see Academic Support Programs, in the Academic Policies and Procedures Relating to Students  section, for more information.) Degree seeking students who previously attended another college or university must request that an official transcript be sent from that college or university directly to Edison State.

Non-Degree Seeking Classification

Applicants who indicate on the Admissions Application that they do not intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree, an AA, an AS, or a college certificate program, but who wish to enroll in college credit courses for transfer credit purposes or for personal interest and enjoyment, must apply for admission and submit the appropriate residency documentation and an official high school transcript stating proof of graduation or a GED transcript.  Please note: students holding a “special diploma” are not eligible for admission as a non-degree seeking or degree-seeking student. Non-degree seeking students wishing to enroll in college credit courses must meet all course prerequisites. Non-degree seeking students wishing to enroll in a college-level mathematics or an English course or who have earned more than 15 credits as a non-degree student are required to complete the Post-secondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) or submit a full set of ACT-E, SAT-R scores or be test exempt (please see Assessment Services, in the Student Services section, for more information).

Non-degree seeking students wishing to change to degree seeking status must do so prior to the last day for new degree-seeking students to apply for admission.

NOTE: Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for financial aid, veterans’ benefits, and certain academic programs/services that require degree seeking status.  Students who intend to matriculate into a degree seeking program will be limited to 15 hours of coursework as a non-degree seeking student.

Non-Degree Enrollment Policy for Baccalaureate Level Courses

Baccalaureate level courses (numbered 3000 and 4000) are intended for enrollment by degree seeking students in an Edison State College baccalaureate program.

Students may be permitted, on a case-by-case basis, to enroll in baccalaureate level courses on a non-degree student basis. Requests must be made in writing and submitted to the affiliated program director/dean for approval. Students who intend to matriculate into the baccalaureate program will be limited to nine credit hours of upper division coursework. For continued enrollment, students must adhere to the stated admission requirements for the intended baccalaureate program.

Students with a previous bachelor’s degree, with proper documentation, may enroll in additional coursework beyond nine credit hours with permission from the appropriate Academic Dean.

Students interested in taking courses for teacher certification or re-certification must provide the following documentation:

1. Florida Department of Education or School District documentation of certification needs (Statement of Status of Eligibility or approved school district form), or
2. A copy of a valid teaching certificate issued by the State of Florida Department of Education and unofficial transcripts from a regionally accredited institution showing proof of an earned Bachelor’s Degree.

Guest Students may enroll, following the stated policy at their home institution, in accordance with Edison State College’s guest enrollment policy. Prior approval from the home institution is required for enrollment in upper division Edison State College courses.

Guest Students (Incoming Transient Students)

Applicants seeking a degree from another college or university who wish to enroll at Edison State to transfer coursework back to their “home” college or university are admitted as Guest Students.

Guest Students are advised by their “home” college or university regarding courses to take at Edison State. Guest Students must have written permission (Transient Student/Cross enrolled Form) from the “home” college or university. A Transient Student Form is required for each semester of enrollment. The Transient Student Form is available for all Florida public colleges and universities on www.flvc.org.

Guest Students not attending a Florida public college or university are responsible for requesting their Edison State College transcript to be sent back to their home institution.  This is not an automatic action; it must be requested and the transcript fee must be paid.

Transient Students

Edison students planning to take coursework away from ESC during any term must have the course work approved and a Transient Student Form completed.  Transient Forms are available for all Florida public colleges and universities on www.flvc.org. Students who do not have at least a 2.0 GPA at Edison are not eligible to take transient student coursework.

Students are responsible for making arrangements to have their transcript for courses taken at another institution sent back to the Office of the Registrar at Edison State College. Students must complete a minimum of 25% of the required degree or certificate course work at Edison State College to graduate from Edison with a degree or certificate.  English for Non-Native Speakers (ESL, ENS), physical education, and college preparatory courses do not apply; however, six credits of college-level EAP (English for Academic Purposes) coursework taken at Edison State College would apply.

College Rights - Admissions Denial

Edison State College reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant, to suspend or dismiss any student whose behavior is not in keeping with the best interests of Edison State College, and to add, delete, or change any of the regulations, rules, policies, procedures, fees, courses, or teaching assignments without notice.

Edison State College has determined that the presence on campus of students officially designated as Sexual Offenders/Sexual Predators would be disruptive to the orderly process of the college’s programs and/or would interfere with the rights and privileges of other students. In accordance with §1001.64(8)(a), F.S., the college may consider the past actions of any person applying for admission or enrollment and may deny admission or enrollment to an applicant because of misconduct if determined to be in the best interest of the college. The college denies admission/enrollment to students who are officially designated as Sexual Offenders/Sexual Predators.

Florida Residency for Tuition Purposes: Rules/Guidelines

The burden of proof rests with the student to establish and prove Florida residency.  A student is classified as a Florida resident and eligible to pay resident tuition and fees when the student has submitted the Residency Application and Affidavit, and provided the required supporting documentation.

A Florida resident for tuition purposes is a person who (or a dependent person whose parent or legal guardian) has established and maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the residency deadline published in the Official College Calendar for the term that the student plans to enroll.

To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or hold a visa status approved for Florida residency.  Complete documentation of residency requirements is available through the Florida Virtual Campus at www.flvc.org.

To verify residency, the student (parent or legal guardian for dependent students) is required to submit two documents form Tier one listed on the Residency Application and Affidavit and in the definitions of this catalog section.  If only one document is available from Tier One, a document may be submitted from Tier Two with a first tier document.

Definitions:

A. DEPENDENT STUDENT: A student who is under age 24 and receives 50% or more of his/her support from another person as defined by the Internal Revenue Service will be classified as a dependent student. A student, living with his/her parent or not, who is eligible to be claimed by his/her parent under the federal income tax code will be classified as a dependent student.

B. INDEPENDENT STUDENT: A student who meets following criteria will be classified as an independent student.

1. The student who is 24 years of age or older prior to the last day to apply for residency for tuition purposes.
2. The student who is married (copy of marriage certificate required).
3. The student has a child or other dependents who live with the student and receive more than half of their support from the student (copy of most recent federal tax return listing the child as the student’s dependent is required).
4. The student is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces (copies of DD214 or military orders required).
5. Both of the student’s parents are deceased and the student is or was (until age 18), a ward of the court or in foster care (copies of court documents required).
6. The student can provide documentation that the student is not claimed by his/her parent/legal guardian as a dependent under the federal tax code and can document that the student provide at least 51% of his/her own support for the cost of attendance as defined by the Edison State College Financial Aid Office (copy of the most recent federal income tax return and W2 form(s) required).

C. NON IMMIGRANTS:

1. Visa categories: A, E, G, H-1, H-4, I, K, L, N, O-1, O-3, R, NATO 1-7, T, V (visa and passport papers required).
2. Dependent children of the above visa categories must be under age 21. Students must change status prior to their 21st birthday.  Those who change to F-1 status will be charged out-of-state fees the very next semester. Dependent children over 21 years of age are out-of-status and thus are not eligible for in-state fees.

Documentary Evidence Supporting Claims of Florida Residency

The claimant must provide two forms of evidence from the following lists: at least one document MUST be from Tier One; ONE document from Tier Two may be used in conjunction with one document from Tier One. ALL documents supporting the establishment of legal residence (whether from Tier One and/or Tier Two) must be dated, issued, or filed 12 consecutive months before the last day to apply for change of residency for tuition purposes for the term for which Florida Resident classification is sought.

TIER ONE (at least ONE document MUST be from the following list):

1. Florida Driver’s License or Florida Identification Card.
2. Florida Voter Registration.
3. Florida Vehicle Registration.
4. Proof of purchase of a permanent home that is occupied as a primary residence of the claimant (Homestead Exemption; contracts/agreements must be dated 12 consecutive months prior to the last day to apply for change of residency for tuition purposes).
5. Transcript from a Florida high school for multiple years (2 or more) if the Florida high school diploma or GED was earned within the last 12 months.
6. Proof of permanent full-time employment (letters from current and past employers must be on company letterhead stating the date of hire and that claimant has been employed as a permanent full-time employee (at least 30 hours per week) for the last 12 consecutive months). 

TIER TWO (ONE document from the following list may be used if claimant has only one document from Tier One):

1. A Florida professional or occupational license (must be current and show at least 12 consecutive months).
2. A declaration of domicile in Florida (must be certified by a Clerk of the Court at least 12 consecutive months prior to the last day to apply for change of residency for tuition purposes).
3. Utility bill and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments (electric, gas water, cable/satellite TV; service must be current and only one utility may be used). Cell/mobile phones cannot be used.
4. Documents evidencing family ties (for example, adoption or legal guardianship papers or other official court documents).
5. Lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments (lease must be current; copies of prior leases may be used to establish 12 consecutive months).
6. Proof of membership in Florida-based charitable or professional organizations (NOTE: membership in a church does not constitute membership in a Florida-based charitable organization).

OTHER APPROVED PROCESSES FOR DOCUMENTATION:

Students who have tuition and fees waived or exempted according to the following sections of Florida Statutes shall be classified as Florida residents and shall not be required to submit additional residency documentation for tuition purposes for the duration of the exemption or waiver eligibility period. 

• 1009.25(2)(c) and (d): Custody of Department of Children and Families, in the care of a relative or adopted from the Department of Children and Families,
• 1009.25(2)(f): Homeless,
• 961.06(1)(b): Wrongful incarceration,
• 112.191(3): Dependents or spouses of firefighters killed in the line of duty, and
• 112.19(3): Dependents or spouses of law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officers killed in the line of duty.

After eligibility for the waiver or exemption has expired, the student must prove Florida residency for tuition purposes to continue receiving the in-state tuition benefits.

Reclassification to Florida Resident

A student who is initially classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes (you were previously enrolled in a Florida institution of higher education as a non-Florida Resident and paid non-Florida Resident tuition and fees; or, upon admission to Edison State, you signed the Residency Application and Affidavit stating you were a non-Florida resident) may become eligible for reclassification to a Florida Resident for Tuition Purposes only if that student (or, if that student is a dependent child, his/her parent) presents clear and convincing documentation that supports permanent legal residency in Florida for at least 12 consecutive months rather than temporary residency for the purpose of pursuing an education. An individual who is classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes and who marries a legal resident of the state and later becomes a legal resident may become eligible for reclassification by submitting proof of his/her legal residency, evidence of his/her marriage to a legal resident, and evidence of his/her spouse’s legal residence in Florida for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the application for reclassification.  The individual does not have to satisfy the requisite 12 month qualifying period (Fla. Stat. §1009.21(6)(d)).

Documentary Evidence Supporting Claims of Reclassification

The student, spouse, or his or her parent (if that student is a dependent) must provide a minimum of three documents dated at least 12 consecutive months prior to the last day to apply for change of residency for tuition purposes; one of the three documents must come from Tier 1.