First Year Applicants

We review everything that we ask you to submit: your high school transcript, standardized test scores (optional), personal essay, letters of recommendation and extracurricular activities. Evaluating all of these factors helps us select students that best fit Salve academically and personally.

The average GPA was a 3.5 for our most recent first-year class. Like most college admissions staffs, we recalculate your GPA on a 4.0 scale, taking only college preparatory core academic subjects into consideration. We don't include classes like physical education, general music and art (with the exception of AP courses), and other electives. We do give added weight to honors, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses.

Admission to Salve is competitive. Our applicant pool totaled 6,500 for the most recent first-year class. In the past three years, our acceptance rate has averaged 69%.

Admission to the nursing program is highly selective. Just over 50% of nursing applicants are typically admitted. You must apply by either the early action I or early decision deadline of Nov. 1 to be considered for this program.

The average SAT score (combined critical reading and math) of students recently offered admission was 1220. Students who chose to take the ACT had an average composite score of 26. The average high school GPA (recalculated on a 4.0 scale at the completion of junior year) was a 3.80. Students accepted to the nursing program had four or more years of science with no grade lower than a B- in those courses.

Since the purpose of the personal essay is for us to get to know you better, it's very important. The Common Application offers seven options for your essay. Since you know that your personal essay is, in fact, read, take pride in what you submit - edit it yourself, and then have it proofread and critiqued by a teacher, parent or friend.

We conduct optional, informational interviews at Salve. Our admissions counselors are available to meet one-on-one with you on campus, at your high school or while they're traveling in your area. You are also encouraged to sign up for a video call with your counselor.

The early action I (non-binding) and early decision (binding) admissions deadlines are Nov. 1. All nursing applicants are required to apply using one of these deadline options. Early decision applicants are notified by Dec. 15, followed by early action I applicants by Jan. 1.

In addition, Salve offers an early action II application plan. The deadline is Jan. 5 and students will be notified of their decision by Feb. 15.

The regular decision priority deadline is Feb. 1. Those who submit an application for Feb. 1 will receive a decision by April 1. Any application submitted after Feb. 1 will be reviewed on a space available basis.

Early decision applicants are notified by Dec. 15. Early action I decisions are posted by Jan. 1. Students taking advantage of the early action II plan will receive decisions by Feb. 15. For those that apply by our regular decision deadline of Feb. 1, decisions will be released on a rolling basis, but no later than April 1.

If you're confident that Salve is your first choice, you're encouraged to apply under our early decision plan, which offers the chance to be the first to hear from us and make your commitment if admitted, removing the pressure of the college decision process from the remainder of your senior year. Early decision is different than early action - if you apply early decision, you agree to commit to Salve if you are admitted and must withdraw your applications from other colleges and universities.

Because early decision is a binding program, students who have concerns about their ability to afford higher education should not apply under this option.

• Application deadline: Nov. 1
• Supplemental materials deadline: Nov. 15
• Notification date: Dec. 15*
• Enrollment deposit deadline: Jan. 30

*Students who are not admitted under early decision may have their application deferred to the regular admission pool. Students who are deferred are released from the terms of the early decision agreement. Applicants to the nursing program who are denied admission but offered admission to another University program are also released from the terms of the early decision agreement.

Benefits of Early Decision

• Be the first to hear, and be the first to know where you're attending college in the fall.
• By making a clear declaration of your intention to attend Salve if admitted, your chance for admission to the University increases.
• Because you'll be among the first to commit, you'll be the first to receive access to registration for campus housing and orientation.

If you're considering early decision, we encourage you to have a conversation with your admissions counselor to determine if this option makes sense for you.

To apply for financial aid, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The priority deadline for this form is March 1. For more financial aid information or to access the required forms online, visit the Office of Financial Aid.

We understand that it's sometimes necessary for students to defer their admission to Salve and attend at a later date. If you're considering this option, we encourage you to contact our office at (401) 341-2908 or admissions@salve.edu to discuss the process.

• All students deferring their acceptance are required to complete the deferral form and send a final high school transcript, if not already on file, in order to be eligible.
• Although any student is eligible to defer for up to one year, nursing students will be re-evaluated and do not maintain a guaranteed spot in the class. Additionally, nursing students who have attempted college coursework elsewhere are not eligible to reapply for the major.
• You aren't required to submit a deposit to be considered for deferral. However, if you've already submitted your deposit, we will honor this payment for the term you enroll at Salve within your one year deferral timeframe.
• Deferred students need to complete the reactivation of application form by Dec. 1 for the spring semester or April 1 for the following fall semester.
• Deferrals are offered for up to one year from date of admission. If your plans are to return to Salve after a longer period of time, please complete the reactivation of application form the semester prior to when you hope to enroll.
• If you attempt a post-graduate year or college coursework, at the time of reactivation you'll need to supply this additional academic work for consideration. Your application will be re-evaluated and it may also affect your academic merit scholarship and/or financial aid offer.
• If you don't engage in any additional academic work, your merit scholarship and financial aid offer will remain the same during your one-year deferral.
• If you're deferring to the following fall semester, you'll need to complete the new year's FAFSA to receive an updated financial aid offer.

The admissions committee reviews every homeschooled applicant carefully with the understanding that each will have followed a plan of study that is unique. For students who are attending an accredited program (virtual or in-person), please submit your transcript and school profile. This can also be done when following a prescribed curriculum within a program that does not hold a formal accreditation.

For students where this is not available, please send course descriptions for all high school level coursework and a portfolio of work that includes one writing or work sample from each core subject area. We are also happy to accept supplemental materials that speak to your strength of study or other academic programs that you’ve had an opportunity to take part in.

We continue to require two letters of recommendation but can be flexible on who submits them on your behalf. Please select people who are not directly related to you whenever possible. We encourage you to send letters from people who might be able to speak to your academic strength, personality and interests.

If you have questions, please email the Office of Admissions at admissions@salve.edu and we can discuss your specific academic history to determine appropriate materials that showcase your candidacy.

There is no negative impact on your application if you decide not to submit test scores.

All applicants are eligible for merit scholarship consideration whether or not they submit SAT or ACT scores.

When completing your Common Application, you must complete the required member's page, which includes a question about whether you want us to consider your test scores. If you don't complete this question, your scores will be used. If you don't complete the question and you don't submit scores, your application will be considered incomplete until the scores have been received or until you notify us in writing of your preference.

If you have already submitted test scores or they appear on the high school transcript and you prefer not to have the scores considered, the scores will not be used as part of the application review process if you indicated that preference on the Common Application supplement.

If you've already submitted your application, you must notify us in writing of any changes by emailing admissions@salve.edu. No changes can be made to your test-optional preference after the committee has reached an admission decision.

The most important part of our application review process has always been and will continue to be your day-to-day performance in a strong curriculum. Our best applicants have always been those who challenge themselves beyond the minimum requirements. We also consider your personal statement, letters of recommendation and interests and extracurricular activities.

If you feel that your test scores provide further evidence of your ability to succeed at Salve, you may wish to submit them. However, if you don't feel your scores are indicative of your academic ability, you may not wish to submit them. You won't be penalized if you decide not to submit scores.