


Marshall University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation or approval of an individual degree program.
Marshall also identifies specialized accreditation for programs in fields such as business, engineering, education, nursing, medicine, and pharmacy. The relevant accreditor depends on the specific program and degree. Applicants entering a licensed profession should verify the current status of their exact program and the rules of the state where they intend to practice.
Institutional accreditation is important for eligibility to participate in federal student-aid programs. It can also matter when students seek to transfer credits or apply to graduate school, but it does not require another institution to accept every course. Programmatic accreditation likewise does not, by itself, confer a professional license.
First-year applicants generally apply to Marshall with a completed application and evidence of high school graduation or an accepted equivalent, such as a GED. Marshall is not an open-admission institution, but its reported first-year admission rate is high: approximately 96% of applicants were admitted in the reported cycle.
Academic performance matters. Reported admissions criteria identify secondary-school GPA as required, while SAT and ACT scores are considered but not required for general admission. A student who applies without scores may still need them for a particular scholarship, placement decision, or specialized program if that program's rules call for them. Class rank, recommendations, and a college-preparatory-program credential are not listed as general requirements.
Students educated outside the United States should review Marshall's international admission instructions for credential evaluation and English-language proficiency; TOEFL is among the recognized ways to demonstrate proficiency. Requirements also differ for transfer, graduate, and professional applicants. An admission offer to the university should not be mistaken for admission to every major with a separate selection process.
Marshall's reported undergraduate application fee is $40. Applicants should confirm the charge displayed for their application type before submitting, because graduate, professional, international, or special applications may follow different procedures.
Students for whom the fee is a barrier should ask the undergraduate admissions office about available fee waivers and how to request one before paying. A waiver, when approved, addresses the application charge - not tuition, an enrollment deposit, or other costs of attending.
Army ROTC is an established option for Marshall students and provides a route to explore officer training alongside a degree. ROTC participation can involve military-science coursework, physical training, and leadership activities; scholarship eligibility and any later service obligation depend on a student's particular arrangement.
ROTC listings sometimes group units located on campus with opportunities offered through another institution. Students interested in Navy or Air Force ROTC should verify whether a current cross-enrollment arrangement is available to Marshall students rather than assuming that a branch operates its own campus unit. They should also ask the relevant ROTC staff how training schedules, scholarships, and commissioning requirements fit their intended major.
Marshall accepts transfer applicants and generally considers college credit earned at other accredited institutions. Transfers can enter in fall, spring, or summer, subject to the dates and capacity of their intended program.
Applicants should be prepared to submit official transcripts from every college attended. Whether high school records are needed can depend on the amount of college work completed and the applicant's circumstances. Admission to Marshall and acceptance of individual courses toward a degree are separate decisions: a course might transfer as elective credit without satisfying a major requirement.
Marshall also reports accepting some credit through AP, CLEP, DSST, and recommendations of the American Council on Education, subject to its credit policies. Students considering a transfer should request an official evaluation and compare it with their intended degree plan, including any minimum Marshall-credit or program-specific requirements. This is particularly important for sequential majors, where an accepted course may not replace the next required course in the sequence.
Marshall students can explore education abroad through university advising and approved international programs. Options may include a semester abroad, shorter faculty-led travel, or study arranged through a partner or outside provider; availability depends on the destination, term, and academic program.
The practical question is how an overseas course will count toward a Marshall degree. Students should seek academic approval before committing to a program, especially if they need a course for a major or graduation requirement. They should also ask the study-abroad and financial-aid offices how program charges, scholarships, and existing aid would apply. An approved outside program is not necessarily operated by Marshall or priced like a semester in Huntington.
28% of admitted students enrolled (1,831 of 6,525)
Application fee
$40Early Decision
NoEarly Action
NoMedian composite SAT score
1040Median composite ACT score
22Percent of students submitting ACT scores
42.4%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
70.7%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
YesComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
YesSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Neither required nor recommendedSecondary school record
Neither required nor recommendedCompletion of college-preparatory program
Neither required nor recommendedRecommendations
Neither required nor recommendedFormal 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
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
NoROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit on campusROTC-Navy
ROTC branch unit on campusStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
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
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 5, 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.