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Minerva University

#1410 in US ranking San Francisco, CA
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Tuition & fees
$26,800
Avg. aid
$19,277
Receiving aid
81%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
3%

What is the accreditation of Minerva University?

Minerva University holds institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission, commonly called WSCUC. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from any accreditation that a particular profession might require of an individual degree program.

Accreditation is relevant to the recognition of a degree, but it does not automatically make every course transferable or qualify every program for professional licensure. Receiving federal student aid also depends on program and institutional eligibility rules beyond accreditation alone. Students considering a regulated career should check the applicable licensing requirements before choosing a major, while students planning to transfer credits elsewhere should obtain the receiving institution's decision in writing.

What are the admission requirements at Minerva University?

Minerva uses a selective undergraduate admissions process built around its own application and assessments rather than a required SAT or ACT score. Applicants should expect to document their secondary-school education and complete the application activities specified for their admission round.

The university's admissions approach has emphasized assessments intended to show how applicants reason and work through problems. Its published admissions materials, rather than a generic college checklist, should determine which written responses and assessments an applicant must complete. Secondary-school records and GPA are part of the admissions information reported for the institution; class rank and college-preparatory coursework may be considered but are not universal requirements. Recommendations and standardized admission tests are not listed as required.

Applicants with a GED or another secondary-school equivalency credential should check how to document it in the application. International applicants should also verify the current instructions for demonstrating readiness to study in English rather than assuming that a TOEFL score is compulsory. Deadlines can differ by admission round, so the relevant date is the one attached to the applicant's intended entering class.

Admissions figures illustrate the level of competition, not an individual's odds. In the reported entering-class figures, Minerva received 10,864 first-year applications and admitted 330 applicants - about 3%. The number admitted is not the number who ultimately enrolled, and admission rates can change substantially from year to year.

What are the application fees and waivers at Minerva University?

Minerva has described its undergraduate application as free. Applicants should nevertheless check the fee shown in the current application before submitting, particularly if they are applying through a different program or applicant category.

An application fee is separate from any enrollment deposit or later cost of attendance. If a current application displays a charge, the admissions office should clarify whether it applies and whether a waiver must be approved before submission. Applicants should not assume that a waiver request can reverse a payment after the fact.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Minerva University?

Minerva does not identify an ROTC unit as part of its undergraduate campus experience. Applicants interested in Army, Air Force, or Navy ROTC should not assume that attendance at Minerva permits participation through another San Francisco-area institution.

Cross-enrollment requires an actual arrangement with a host ROTC unit and a schedule that meets that unit's requirements. Minerva's live class schedule and changes of residential city could also complicate participation. Before making an enrollment decision based on ROTC, a prospective student should obtain confirmation from both Minerva and the relevant host unit about eligibility, training location, credit, scholarships, and service obligations.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Minerva University?

Minerva's undergraduate pathway is designed around a shared curriculum that students begin together. Applicants who have already attended college should not assume that prior coursework will let them enter with sophomore or junior standing.

Reported enrollment figures show no transfer-in students for the relevant first-time and transfer-entry count. That figure does not, by itself, establish every current admissions rule. A prospective transfer applicant needs a specific answer from admissions on whether they may apply, whether college and secondary-school transcripts are required, and whether any completed courses could count toward the degree.

Admission and credit acceptance are separate decisions. Even if an applicant with prior college study can enter, Minerva may evaluate previous coursework differently from the way another institution would. Anyone relying on transferred credits to shorten their degree should request a written, course-by-course evaluation before committing to enroll.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Minerva University?

International experience is built into Minerva's residential undergraduate model rather than offered solely as an optional semester abroad. Students attend live online classes while living with their cohort in different cities and engaging with local settings.

That arrangement differs from a conventional exchange program in which a student enrolls in courses at a host university. Applicants should check the itinerary for their cohort, what local activities are academically required, and who arranges housing. They should also ask how the university handles visa guidance, travel disruptions, disability accommodations, and any inability to enter a scheduled country.

The financial implications matter as much as the academic ones. A published tuition figure does not necessarily capture flights, visa costs, local transportation, or changes in everyday expenses between cities.

Minerva University Admissions Factors

Acceptance rate
3%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
3%
California
75%
US
78%

44% of admitted students enrolled (144 of 330)

Minerva University Admissions

Applicants
Total: 10,864
Admission
Total: 330
Enrolled
Total: 144
Women
Men

How to Apply to Minerva University

Early Decision

Yes

Early Action

Yes

Minerva University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 9
Out-of-state: 4
International: 127

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 140

Minerva University Admission Requirements

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

Yes

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Considered but not required

Recommendations

Neither required nor recommended

Formal demonstration of competencies

Considered but not required

Admission test scores

Neither required nor recommended

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Neither required nor recommended

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

Yes

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

No

Special learning opportunities

Study abroad

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

No

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

No

Data 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.