Admissions Information

Prospective students of American College of Education will complete a process for admission to either a specific program or to the College at-large. Each level of entry has requirements addressed in this catalog in addition to expectations for both professional and personal conduct.

Admissions Requirements

All applicants to academic programs at American College of Education must:

• Complete the application form.
• Submit the application fee. The fee is valid for three hundred and sixty-five (365) days from the date of the initial application.
  • The non-refundable application fee is charged and collected and then applied towards tuition for the following groups of applicants, but applied as a credit to their tuition in the first course: 
    • Graduates of ACE degree programs.
    • Completers of ACE certificate and micro-credential programs.
    • U.S. Veterans, active military members, National Guard and Reserves members, and current spouses of each as verified through submission of a valid military ID or copy of DD214.
    • First responders are defined as EMT/EMS, Firefighters, or Law Enforcement Officers.
  • Once the student has started school, a tuition credit for the application fee will be applied for their first/next course term charge. If the student doesn’t start school or is administratively withdrawn, the application fee will not be refunded, unless required by state law.
• For Bachelor’s and Post-Baccalaureate Level (excluding RN to BSN/MSN) Applicants:
  • Provide official transcripts from an institution indicating successful completion of the level of education required for entry to the program and any credits to be considered for transfer to a program.
    • Institution must be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education (DOE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
    • Transcripts are considered official when mailed in a sealed envelope or through secured electronic transmission, directly from the institution attended to American College of Education. 
• For RN to BSN and RN to MSN Applicants:
  • Provide official transcripts from an institution indicating successful completion of the level of education required for entry to the program and any credits to be considered for transfer to a program.
    • The institution must be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education (DOE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a state board of Nursing approved program. 
    • Transcripts are considered official when mailed in a sealed envelope or through secured electronic transmission, directly from the institution attended to American College of Education.  
• Submit an Enrollment Agreement.

International Transcript Requirements

Transcripts that are international and/or not in English must be evaluated through an evaluation agency credentialed through the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) (www.naces.org) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE) (https://aice-eval.org/).

International applicants must request the course-by-course evaluation. The evaluation report must show that the non-U.S. education is equivalent to the education/accreditation level required for the program.

English as Second Language Applicants

All applicants whose degree was earned in a country where English is not the official language must demonstrate competence in the English language by submitting an official, qualifying score for one of the following*:

*Test must have been taken within two years of the term start date. 

Waiver of the English language test requirement may be granted if any of the below statements are true: 

• Proof of US citizenship or citizenship from an exempt country (Canada, except Quebec, Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or the Commonwealth Caribbean).
• Degree was earned in a country where English is the official language. 
• Submissions of an official transcript showing a degree from a US secondary school or one full year of post-secondary education in the US with at least 24 credits taught in English with a minimum GPA of 2.5 earned. 
• The medium of instruction at degree-granting institutions was English.
• Proof of holding a valid, initial teaching license, school personnel certificate, or active RN nursing license issued by a state-level agency in the United States.
• Documentation demonstrating at least five years of professional experience within an English-speaking work environment in the United States.

Texas applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in one of the following ways:

• Submission of a valid SBEC-issued Texas certificate. 
• Obtained the equivalent of a US bachelor’s or master’s degree from an approved exempt country per Figure: 19 TAC §230.11(b)(5)(C).  
• Official TOEFL IBT score of 24 for speaking, 22 for listening, 22 for reading, and 21 for writing.   

Additional evidence may be required to fulfill state requirements, verifying of professional experience, test scores, or an interview. 

Admission Limitations

Applicants to some programs must submit a written essay and/or recorded interview as part of the admission requirements. Candidates who are required to submit a written component or interview as part of the application process will be limited to two attempts within one calendar year and three attempts total during their application to the college.

Notification of Admission Decision

The applicant’s file is reviewed once all required admission documents are received. If the applicant meets the admission requirements, they are either fully admitted or provisionally admitted. Applicants are notified of their acceptance through an email.

Enrollment and Registration

Once admitted, students are registered for courses in their degree or certificate program. Students must meet their obligation to pay tuition by the payment deadline in order to maintain access to their courses.

Concurrent College Enrollment

ACE offers a Concurrent College Enrollment option, allowing students to be admitted as degree-seeking undergraduates to ACE while also enrolling at another post-secondary institution with a formal Concurrent College Enrollment partnership agreement with ACE (“Partner Institution”). With this option:

• Academic Requirements: Students must maintain good academic standing at ACE and the Partner Institution.
• Course Planning: ACE and the Partner Institution will establish a course plan detailing which courses to take at each institution.
• Transfer Credits: Credits earned at the Partner Institution will transfer to ACE according to the partnership agreement.
• Enrollment: Students must follow ACE’s enrollment agreement and request a Leave of Absence if they do not take ACE courses in any term.
• Financial Aid and Tuition: Any request for Federal financial aid must be managed through the Partner Institution, and students are responsible for paying ACE tuition.
• Deadlines and Policies: Students must adhere to the separate deadlines and policies of ACE and the Partner Institution.

Students interested in the Concurrent College Enrollment option should discuss it with their admission representative when applying to ACE to ensure they receive the correct tuition rates and understand enrollment expectations. As part of the program, student responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Sign a FERPA release for the Partner Institution, allowing ACE to access their academic records.
• Notify ACE of any withdrawals, leaves of absence, suspensions, or failures at the Partner Institution that may affect their coursework progress.
• Regularly provide ACE with unofficial transcripts from the Partner Institution upon request.
• Sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining notification requirements with ACE.
• Provide ACE with a final, official transcript from the Partner Institution upon completion of coursework.

Change of Start Date

New students, after enrollment at ACE, may encounter circumstances in their lives that prevent them from starting classes on their expected term start date. In these instances, new enrollees can apply to change their start date by submitting a Change of Start Date Request form. The Admissions team will review the Change of Start Date Request form and provide approval if all the following applies:

1. The student’s initial admissions documents are still current and approved; and
2. The student’s requested new start date is within a time-period of three hundred and sixty-five (365) days from the initial application date; and
3. The student’s request will not exceed the maximum of two (2) changes to the start date within a time-period of three hundred and sixty-five (365) days from the initial application date.

New ACE enrollees can submit updated admissions documents for their request to be considered. If the change of start date request exceeds the allowable time period or exceeds the maximum of two (2) changes to the start date within a time period of three hundred and sixty-five (365) days from the initial application date and cannot be approved, the new enrollees will be required to submit a new admission application with the required documents and pay a new application fee to be considered for admission in the new requested term.

Reinstatement of Canceled Enrollment

When an individual who was enrolled in courses but canceled their enrollment wishes to begin their studies at ACE, they can request for their enrollment to be reinstated by submitting a Reinstatement of Canceled Student form. The Admissions team will review the form and provide approval if all of the following applies:

1. The student’s initial admissions documents are still current and approved; and
2. The student’s requested new start date is within a time-period of three hundred and sixty-five (365) days from the initial application date; and
3. The student’s request will not exceed the maximum of two (2) reinstatement requests within a time-period of three hundred and sixty-five (365) days from the initial application date.

Individuals can submit updated admissions documents for their request to be considered. If the reinstatement request exceeds the allowable time period or exceeds the maximum of two (2) reinstatements within a time period of three hundred and sixty-five (365) days from the initial application date and cannot be approved, the individual will be required to submit a new admission application with the required documents and pay a new application fee to be considered for admission for the new requested term.

Admissions Appeal Procedure

Any applicant may appeal their admission decision for a variety of reasons: GPA, TOEFL, a teaching certificate, etc. However, consideration for the appeal may only occur if specific requirements are met. Requirements may vary from state to state.

Change of Program

After a student is admitted to a program, the student may find that another program is more appropriate. ACE provides a procedure for helping the students make the right choice and facilitating a change, if permitted and appropriate.

Applicants admitted as a provisional student-at-large are not allowed to switch programs until they have successfully completed their first three consecutive courses.

Academic Qualifications for Change of Degree Program

• Students who have been admitted with or without conditions (except for provisional student-at-large as explained above) are eligible to change their program of study under the individual requirements outlined below.
• In good financial standing with the college at time of request

*If the non-degree seeking student requesting a program change had previously been admitted to the degree program of interest, the student will be allowed to change programs and will not be required to reapply. Students who were admitted as a provisional student at-large, must submit a Program Change Request Form after successfully completing three courses to be fully admitted into their previously applied degree program.

*If approved, the program change will become effective the next term. The student will follow the program requirements for the new program of study according to the catalog in effect at the time the change is granted. The maximum time to complete the new program begins with the first term of the new program. If the student is already in the last course of their certificate, the student will have to re-apply to the degree program of interest.

Re-Entry or Re-Admission after Withdrawal or Administrative Withdrawal

Students who have withdrawn or have been administratively withdrawn from the College and wish to return must follow the College re-admission or re-entry procedures. Students who have withdrawn or have been administratively withdrawn from the college will have all prior ACE coursework re-evaluated for determination of relevancy, must meet current catalog and course grade requirements. American College of Education requires its students to complete all program requirements within a specific number of allowable returns to the College.  The College defines “returns” as approved re-entries or re-admits. The maximum number of times a student may return to the same program of enrollment is four (4) times.  

Re-Entry (within 365 Calendar Days from Last Date of Attendance)​

1. Students must request re-entry via the Re-Entry Request Form 

   • The student returns to their current program of study if the program version is active. If there has been a program change, the student will re-enter into the most current version, catalog, and tuition rates.  

   • If the program of study was revised during the student’s absence, the student will re-enter into the current version.   

2. Students who are administratively withdrawn for not meeting required Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) or reached the maximum number of course attempts will be subject to the procedures in the SAP policy.  

Re-Admission (after 365 Calendar Days from Last Date of Attendance)

1. If the student has been out of attendance more than 365 days, the student will apply and be accountable for all current charges and admissions requirements.
2. Students will return to the current program version of study, catalog and tuition at time of re-application. 
3. Students will return to the same SAP status they held when previously enrolled and will be subject to all related procedures in the SAP policy. 
4. Student-At-Large students must submit a new application after 365 days have passed since their original application date to continue to take courses.
5. A new evaluation of prior credit transfers for the student may be required to ensure compliance with current policies.

Program Disclaimer

Program requirements may change over time and these changes will be reflected in a catalog or addendum. Students may request to move to a more recent program version by sending an email to the registrar. Students may not move to program requirements in an earlier catalog version. Policies, tuition, and fees may change at any time. ACE will give proper notice of these changes via Student/Doctoral Commons in the LMS and the College’s website.  These changes will apply to all students.