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Undergraduate Admissions

  • Military Affairs and Veterans Services

    As a veteran, military member, or dependent, you can take advantage of Worcester State University’s Veteran/Military Admission Program to enroll in one of our undergraduate programs. This program will help you through a specific admission process, which may have requirements that vary from our traditional first-year and transfer admission procedures. It also allows you to maximize benefits awarded for your or your relative’s years of military service.

  • Military Record Review Process
    If you are a veteran or military member, we will review your records to determine whether we can award academic credit for your previous military occupation, training, coursework, and experiences toward WSU’s degrees and certificates. This credit will be determined based on WSU’s admissions standards.

    The military has simplified the process to access your transcript, regardless of what branch you served in. If you served in the Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy, you can obtain your transcript via the online Joint Service Transcript System.  If you served in the Air Force, you can obtain your transcript by visiting the Air University Registrar’s website.

    The Admissions Office may use multiple methods for evaluating your military occupation, training, experience, and coursework for academic credit—including the ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, CLEP, and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests—to determine what is eligible for academic credit at WSU in accordance with the state’s MassTransfer agreement.

    Veterans and Military Members Admissions Process
    Once you receive official notification about the credits WSU will accept, we invite you to begin the application process. If you are accepted, you’ll then need to confirm your enrollment by submitting a non-refundable admission deposit by May 1. (Enclosed with your acceptance letter is an Admissions Response Form with instructions on submitting this deposit. The deposit is $300 for on-campus resident students and $150 for commuter students.) The deposit should be sent to the Admissions Office.

    Once you have paid your deposit, you will receive your WSU login credentials from the Admissions Office. You’ll need to set up your WSU email account to receive important information about joining the WSU student community. The most important emails you will receive initially will be from the Academic Success Center.

    If you have questions about the admissions process, contact Christopher Dooley at christopher.dooley@worcester.edu or 508-929-8040.
    Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act

    The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146) changed the amount of tuition and fee charges that can be reported to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Effective July 1, 2015, public institutions of higher education must charge qualifying veterans, dependents, and eligible individuals tuition and fees at the rate for in-state residents. Any institution not meeting this requirement will be disapproved by VA for the Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bill.

    Individuals qualifying for in-state tuition under Public Law 113-146 are:

    • A veteran receiving benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) or the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of his/her legal state of residence) and enrolls in the institution within 3 years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more
    • A spouse, child, or individual using transferred benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of his/her legal state of residence) and enrolls in the institution within 3 years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more
    • A spouse, child, or individual using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of his/her legal state of residence) and enrolls in the institution within 3 years of the service member’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more

    If the veteran, dependent, or eligible individual enrolls within 3 years after the veteran’s discharge, the requirement to charge no more than the in-state tuition rate would apply for the duration the individual remains continuously enrolled at the institution.

    Federal law permits public institutions of higher education to require eligible veterans, dependents, or individuals to demonstrate intent to establish residency in the state by means other than satisfying a physical presence requirement. For example, institutions can request documentation such as a driver’s license, car registration or voter registration, or a signed lease or rent receipt to help establish an applicant’s intent to establish residency in Massachusetts. Please note that the federal law does not include a durational residency requirement, nor does it include a requirement that the eligible veterans, dependent, or individual demonstrate intent to remain in Massachusetts indefinitely.

    Finally, please note that the federal law does not bar institutions from requiring the eligible veteran, dependent, or individual to meet other requirements, unrelated to residency, in order to be eligible for the in-state tuition rate. 

    Prepare for Academics
    In accordance with the state’s VALOR Act, you’ll receive accurate and complete academic counseling to begin your academic journey here at Worcester State. Our Academic Success Center will work with you to review your credits and WSU’s programs of study to determine the allocation of military credits in appropriate curriculum areas. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss your academic and career interests and assess how many military credits count toward achieving your goals. All inquiries regarding the specific allocation of military credit should be directed to the Academic Success Center.

    Academic Success Center contacts:

    Tammy Tebo
    Assistant Dean of Academic Services
    ttebo1@worcester.edu
    508-929-8933

    Colleen Wheaton
    Director of First-Year and Transfer Services
    cwheaton1@worcester.edu
    508-929-8043

    Shaughnessy Administration Building, Suite 130
    Veterans Benefits Certification
    Before the start of each semester—including your first—you’ll need to verify your attendance to receive education and training benefits from the Veterans Administration. WSU’s Veteran Affairs Certifying Official Cherie Milosh will assist you with all aspects of veteran benefits. Her office is located within the Registrar’s Office (Office 107 in the Shaughnessy Administration Building). Contact her at 508-929-8773 or cmilosh@worcester.edu. In addition, anyone in the Registrar’s Office can assist you with general questions.
    Military Medical Records
    You must provide medical history documentation to attend WSU. The Veterans Administration’s My HealtheVet portal will assist you in this process.
    Dependents of Veterans and Military Members
    Whether you are a dependent of a veteran or military member, you’re invited to review our admissions process for first-year or transfer students. Once you are enrolled, the Registrar’s Office can provide general information about military education benefits.

    Spouses and dependents of 100% disabled or deceased veterans wishing to inquire about possible veterans’ benefits should contact the Registrar’s Office.
    Catalog Addenda

    Rolling Addendum for Undergraduate Studies Catalog 2019-2020

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