
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is different from accreditation or approval of an individual degree program.
Accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid, but it does not automatically make every course transferable or every degree sufficient for a professional license. Students considering fields such as nursing, education, or other licensed professions should check the current approval and accreditation status of their specific program, along with the requirements of the state where they intend to work. Transfer-credit decisions are made by the receiving institution.
First-year applicants generally apply to Commonwealth University with a secondary-school academic record. The university is not an open-admission institution, but recent admissions figures indicate that it admits a large share of applicants: 8,277 of 8,891 first-time applicants were admitted in the reported cycle, or about 93%.
For the 2024-25 admissions reporting year, a secondary-school record and completion of a college-preparatory program were listed as required. GPA, class rank, recommendations, and SAT or ACT scores were considered but not required. That distinction means an applicant should not treat an optional recommendation or test score as a universal condition of admission. The reported TOEFL requirement is relevant to applicants asked to demonstrate English proficiency; accepted tests and exemptions should be checked under the current international admissions policy.
Admission to the university does not necessarily mean immediate entry into every major. Programs with clinical placements, auditions, portfolios, or professional standards may have additional steps. Applicants should use the current application instructions for their intended campus, program, and entry term to confirm deadlines and required materials.
Applicants should confirm Commonwealth University's current application charge in the application they intend to submit. An application fee is separate from any later enrollment deposit, tuition charge, or orientation expense, and the amount or waiver process may differ by applicant category or application route.
Students who may qualify for a fee waiver should check the admissions instructions before submitting an application: payment is typically requested during submission, and a waiver may require a particular selection or documentation at that stage. Applicants facing financial hardship can ask admissions which waiver routes apply to their application rather than paying first and assuming a refund will be available.
Army ROTC is an option associated with Commonwealth University's campus offerings and partner arrangements. Students should verify the participating campus, host unit, and travel requirements before building an academic schedule around it; an ROTC opportunity at one campus does not establish that the same training is conducted at all three.
ROTC combines college coursework with military leadership training. Scholarship eligibility, medical and fitness standards, commissioning requirements, and any service obligation depend on the student's pathway and agreement. Prospective participants should discuss those terms with the Army ROTC unit before accepting a scholarship or signing a contract.
Commonwealth University admits transfer applicants and evaluates prior college work for possible degree credit. In the 2024-25 enrollment figures, 433 incoming undergraduates were classified as transfer-in students.
Transfer applicants should expect to provide official transcripts from colleges previously attended and check whether their intended major has additional admission standards. An offer of admission and an award of transfer credit are separate decisions: a course may transfer as elective credit without satisfying a particular major requirement. Commonwealth University also reports accepting Advanced Placement credit and credit for life experience, although the rules and documentation differ from ordinary college-to-college transfer.
Students comparing campuses or planning a move from a community college should request a program-specific credit evaluation and degree plan. That is especially important for sequential majors, teacher preparation, and clinical programs, where a course's placement in the curriculum can matter as much as the number of credits accepted.
Students interested in study abroad should look for Commonwealth University's current international education opportunities and confirm which are open to their major and campus. Options may differ in length and structure; a faculty-led course, an exchange, and a program run by an outside provider are not interchangeable.
Before committing to a program, students need academic approval showing how overseas courses will count toward their degree. They should also obtain a full budget that distinguishes program charges from airfare, housing, insurance, and personal expenses. Whether federal, state, or institutional aid can be used depends on the approved program and the student's individual award.
29% of admitted students enrolled (2,414 of 8,277)
Secondary school GPA
Considered but not requiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
RequiredRecommendations
Considered but not requiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Neither required nor recommendedAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesData 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.