
Abraham Lincoln University is institutionally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). Institutional accreditation applies to the university as an institution; it does not automatically establish a separate professional accreditation for every program.
DEAC accreditation is relevant to institutional oversight and eligibility to participate in federal student-aid programs, subject to other federal requirements. It does not require another college to accept transfer credits. For aspiring attorneys, it is also distinct from American Bar Association approval and from state rules governing eligibility for a bar examination. Law applicants should verify ALU's current law-school status and the rules of each jurisdiction in which they might seek admission to practice.
ALU reports an open-admission policy for entering undergraduates. Degree-seeking applicants should be prepared to document high school completion or an accepted equivalent, such as a GED, and to submit the application materials required for their program.
Open admission describes the institution's general undergraduate admissions approach; it should not be read as automatic entry into every graduate or professional program. Applicants to law or graduate study should check the applicable credential, transcript, and program-specific requirements. Prospective undergraduates should likewise confirm whether prior college work changes how they must apply.
ALU's reported application fee is $50. That is an application charge, not an enrollment deposit or a payment toward tuition.
Applicants should check the fee shown in their current application before submitting payment, particularly if applying to a graduate or professional program. Anyone seeking a fee waiver should ask admissions whether one applies to their applicant category and obtain approval before paying; a waiver should not be assumed.
Prospective students should not assume that enrolling at ALU provides access to an on-campus Army, Air Force, or Navy ROTC unit. ROTC participation through a separate host university would require that program's approval, and an online course schedule alone would not satisfy ROTC training obligations.
Students interested in a commission should ask a prospective ROTC host program whether it permits cross-enrollment from ALU and how its courses, physical training, scholarship rules, and service commitment would fit their degree plan.
ALU generally accepts transfer credit from other accredited institutions and reports transfer entry in fall, winter, spring, and summer. Admission as a transfer student and the award of credit toward a particular ALU degree are separate decisions.
Transfer applicants should arrange for official transcripts and request a program-specific credit evaluation before relying on an estimated completion date or cost. ALU also reports accepting Advanced Placement credit, CLEP subject examinations, and credit guided by American Council on Education recommendations. Applicants should confirm the applicable score thresholds, course equivalencies, and minimum credits that must be completed through ALU.
ALU's distance-learning model is different from a conventional semester-abroad program. Students who want an overseas academic experience should not assume that taking an online ALU course from another country is equivalent to participating in an exchange or earning approved study-abroad credit.
Before making travel plans, students should ask their program whether coursework may be completed from their intended location and whether any outside courses would receive advance transfer-credit approval. Financial-aid eligibility and access to required course technology also warrant confirmation before departure.
Application fee
$50Early Decision
NoEarly Action
NoHigh school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
YesComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
NoOpen admission policy
YesDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesStudy abroad
NoWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
NoPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
NoGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Winter, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.