
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Institutional accreditation is an external review of the university as a whole, not a separate endorsement of every degree program.
Accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and may matter when a student seeks to transfer credits or pursue further study. Neither transfer acceptance nor admission to a graduate program is automatic: the receiving institution makes those decisions. Students considering a licensed profession, especially teaching, should also check the current program's approval and the licensing rules in the state where they intend to work. Those requirements are distinct from university-wide accreditation.
First-time applicants should be prepared to submit an undergraduate application and evidence of high school completion or an accepted equivalent, such as a GED. Applicants should also arrange for their academic records to be sent as directed by admissions.
Cheyney is identified as having an open-admission policy, but applicants should not interpret that label as automatic entry to every major or as a waiver of documentation requirements. Students should check the current application instructions for term deadlines and for any additional steps tied to their applicant category or intended program.
Reported enrollment data show that many entering students submitted SAT scores and some submitted ACT scores. Score submission by enrolled students does not establish that either test is required. Applicants deciding whether to test should use the university's current admissions instructions, particularly if they are seeking placement or scholarships.
Applicants should check the current Cheyney application before paying an undergraduate application fee. An application charge, if assessed, is separate from tuition, a housing payment, or any enrollment deposit.
Someone who needs a fee waiver should ask admissions which waiver requests it accepts and when the request must be approved. That timing matters: paying first may not be reversible, and fee procedures can differ by application route or applicant category.
Army ROTC participation is reported through a cooperating host institution rather than an Army ROTC unit operated directly on Cheyney's campus. Students interested in that route should confirm the present cross-enrollment arrangement, travel requirements, and which courses would count toward a Cheyney degree before planning a schedule.
ROTC enrollment, scholarship selection, and commissioning are separate processes. Scholarships may have academic, medical, citizenship, or other eligibility rules, and accepting a commissioning pathway can carry a military service obligation. Interested students should obtain the applicable host program's current terms before applying.
Cheyney generally accepts eligible credits from other accredited institutions and reports transfer entry in both fall and spring. A transfer applicant should apply for the intended term and arrange for official transcripts from each college attended.
Admission as a transfer student is not the same as acceptance of every previous course toward a degree. Course content, grades, program requirements, and the number of credits that must be completed at Cheyney can all affect the evaluation. Applicants with an associate degree or substantial prior coursework should request an official, program-specific credit review before relying on an estimated time to graduation.
The university also reports accepting certain examination credits, including CLEP and DSST. Students should ask how a particular exam score would apply to their chosen degree rather than assume that accepted credit will satisfy a major requirement. Any published transfer agreement should be checked against the student's exact program and catalog year.
Students interested in international study should seek academic approval before committing to an outside study-abroad program. The key question is whether the proposed courses will count toward Cheyney degree requirements, not simply whether another provider will award credit.
Before paying a deposit, students should obtain a written course evaluation and ask financial aid how their particular grants, loans, or scholarships would apply. Program charges, travel, insurance, and visa costs can differ substantially from an ordinary semester on campus. An outside program should not be assumed to be a Cheyney-operated exchange.
Early Decision
NoEarly Action
NoPercent of students submitting ACT scores
19%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
90%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
YesPreferential admissions consideration text
state residentsOpen admission policy
YesDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy 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, SpringData 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.