Admission to the College

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Guiding Principle: The College of Western Idaho (CWI) is an open-enrollment, equal opportunity institution. Students will be accepted regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, and/or disability.

Degree-Seeking Students

A degree-seeking student at CWI is eligible to enroll in college credit courses leading toward a degree or certificate. Students must complete requirements by the admission deadline. Students who do not complete requirements by the admission deadline will not be able to enroll as degree/certificate-seeking students. Degree-seeking students are also eligible to apply for federal financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), though being a degree-seeking student is not a guarantee of financial aid being awarded. For more information regarding FAFSA, please view the Financial Aid catalog page.

Minimum requirements:

  • Be 17 or older by the first day of class for your first semester.
  • Complete the Application for Admission.
  • Submit one of the following:
    • An official high school or home school transcript showing graduation.1
      or
    • An official GED or HiSET transcript showing passing scores. (If you took the GED in Idaho, please order your official transcript from GED.com.)
      or
    • DD Form 214 showing high school graduation or equivalency.
      or
    • Official regionally accredited college transcript showing an associate degree or higher conferred.

The following items are strongly recommended for placement in Math and English courses, prerequisite requirements, and potential scholarship and financial aid eligibility:

  • Submit recent (within three [3] years of the first day of class) ACT test scores, SAT test scores, CWI Math Diagnostic, and Write Class Placement.2   
  • Submit official college or university transcripts from accredited institutions.
  • Submit official final high school transcript.

CWI welcomes students currently participating in high school and home school programs, however, there are additional requirements for graduates who will be younger than 17 on the first day of the semester that they will be starting at CWI. For degree-seeking admissions, students must:

  • Be at least 16.
  • Submit one of the following:
    • An official final high school transcript or home school transcript.1
    • An official GED or HiSET transcript showing passing scores. (If you took the GED in Idaho, please order your official transcript from GED.com.)
  • Complete the Petition for Underage Admission and Parent Consent Form.
  • Students under 16 will be considered for admission on a case by case basis. In addition to the requirements above, students must submit a letter from a parent or guardian describing the request for an exception to admission requirements.

Conditional Status:

Students have been admitted, but have been granted conditional status because the transcript submitted was in-progress. Once One Stop Student Services receives an official transcript with final grades and a graduation date, the student will be assigned a final admission status. Admission under conditional status may remain in effect for no longer than one semester. Students will not be able to register for subsequent semesters until they submit an official transcript showing graduation.

Additional requirements for students submitting foreign high school transcripts in languages other than English or Spanish3:

  • Submit a literal English translation with official final high school transcripts.
1

High school or home school transcripts showing completion through junior level coursework and currently enrolled as a senior. Students admitted with an in-progress high school transcript are granted conditional status.

2

For placement purposes, the minimum Math score is 18 for the ACT or 430 for the SAT. Students not meeting the ACT or SAT minimum will need to submit Math Diagnostic scores for appropriate placement. All students are required to take the Write Class Placement, except for those who scored a six (6) or higher on the SAT Essay. 

3

There are additional requirements if you are attending CWI as an international student. Please see the International Students section below for a complete list of requirements.

Returning Students

A returning student is a degree-seeking student who has previously been admitted to CWI but has not enrolled or attended academic classes in the previous six terms and/or two years. If you have not enrolled in academic courses in the previous six terms and/or two years, then you will need to apply for readmission and determine your current residency. Returning students must complete requirements by the admission deadline. Students who do not complete requirements by the admission deadline will not able to enroll as degree-seeking students.

Minimum requirements:

  • Be 17 or older by the first day of class.
  • Complete the Returning Student Application for Admission.    
  • Submit one of the following:
    • An official high school or home school transcript showing graduation.1
      or
    • An official GED or HiSET transcript showing passing scores. (If you took the GED in Idaho, please order your official transcript from GED.com.)
      or
    • DD Form 214 showing high school graduation or equivalency.
      or
    • Official accredited college transcript showing an associate degree or higher conferred.
1

High school or home school transcripts showing completion through junior level coursework and currently enrolled as a senior. Students admitted with an in-progress high school transcript are granted conditional status.

International Students

CWI participates in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). International applicants are students who are not U.S. citizens, are not resident aliens, and are not refugees. International students must complete all requirements by the international student deadline and are admitted for the fall or spring semester. Please refer to the academic calendar for deadlines.

Minimum requirements:

  • Be 18 or older.
  • Complete the Application for Admission.
  • Submit the following:
    • Final high school transcript submitted from the high school. All documents must be issued in English or Spanish, or accompanied by an official, literal English or Spanish translation. If you are sending us an official translation, you must also include the official transcript in its original language.
    • Official transcript(s) from all colleges attended submitted through an evaluation service approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) at the student’s expense with CWI listed as the recipient of the evaluation. The evaluation must demonstrate an equivalency to a transferable college degree.
    • Demonstrate English proficiency through submission of one of the following:
      • Exam results from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum overall score of 5.0. 
      • Exam results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 500 for the paper-based test (PBT) or a minimum score of 61 for the internet-based test (IBT).
      • Exam results from the Duolingo English test with a minimum score of 90.
    • Copy of valid passport submitted in color.
  • Submit the additional international student forms, available here:
    • Student Questionnaire.
    • Student Financial form, including a bank statement that is less than 6 months old from the date of your semester start in U.S. dollars.
    • If transferring from another U.S. post-secondary institution, the International Student Transfer Form must also be completed by the student and signed by that institution’s representative.
  • Complete the Write Class Placement exam. CWI's principal designated school official (PDSO) will contact you with the placement information after you have met all of the other admission requirements.  

Once all admissions requirements are met and the international applicant is accepted to CWI, an I-20 will be issued. The student must then submit the I-20 to the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country, or the country in which you are living. You should contact the specific consulate office where you intend to apply to inquire about specific local procedures.

Please note that international students are not eligible for federal financial aid and must meet the following requirements:

  1. Participate in a mandatory New Student Orientation.
  2. Enroll as a full-time student (12 credits or more). Only one course can be completed online.
  3. Maintain satisfactory academic progress (see Academic Suspension policy) while attending CWI.
  4. Comply with CWI regulations and all other laws governing United States citizens.
  5. Check-in with the PDSO before classes begin.

Failure to comply with any of the above requirements and regulations may result in termination of enrollment at CWI and of the I-20 certification.

Admission to Special Programs

Even after students are admitted to the College, CWI offers some programs that require additional information from applicants before admission to the program can be offered. Information will be communicated to applicants regarding their acceptance status into their selected majors and any additional steps they must take. Limited-enrollment programs may include those with special admission criteria or space limitations.

Non-Matriculated/Non-Degree Seeking Students

A non-degree seeking student is enrolled in college credit courses but is not working towards a degree or certificate at CWI. Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for federal financial aid. Students must complete requirements by the admission deadline. Students who have not completed admission requirements and have not been admitted by the admission deadline may register as non-matriculated/non-degree seeking students through the registration deadline.

Minimum requirements:

While the following items are not required for non-degree admission, some CWI courses have prerequisites that must be met prior to enrollment. Therefore, it is recommended that students also provide the following items for course placement and prerequisite requirements:

  • Provide recent (within three [3] years of the first day of class) ACT test scores, SAT test scores, CWI Math Diagnostic, and Write Class Placement.
  • Provide a transcript from a high school, or a GED or HiSET transcript. (If you took the GED in Idaho, please order your official transcript from GED.com.)
  • Provide college or university transcripts from accredited institutions.

Dual Credit Students

Dual Credit students are high school students who are registered for courses that may simultaneously earn college and high school credit. Dual Credit courses may be offered on the high school campus and taught by a high school instructor or may be taken at a CWI campus location or online. Dual Credit enables students to experience college-level course rigor and earn credit toward college degrees before they finish high school. Dual Credit students pay a reduced tuition fee for these college courses.

Minimum requirements:

  • Be an Idaho high school student.
  • Be 16 or older or have successfully completed at least one-half of the high school graduation requirements as certified by the local school district. Students not meeting this requirement may still apply by completing the Sophomore by Exception Form included in the Dual Credit Registration Packet.
  • Have a minimum 2.0 high school cumulative GPA. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement should meet with a Dual Credit Advisor to discuss a potential override.  
  • Have permission of high school official.
  • Have permission of parent/guardian.
  • For students taking Dual Credit directly through their high school, submit all required registration documents through the DualEnroll registration system. For dual credit students taking courses through a CWI campus location, submit the CWI Dual Credit Registration Form signed by parent and high school official for each semester of enrollment.

Technical Dual Credit Students

Technical Dual Credit students are current high school students earning college and high school credit in certain career and technical fields. Courses are offered in approved Idaho high school career technical programs and may enable students to make progress toward technical college degrees before they finish high school.

Minimum requirements:

  • Be enrolled in an accredited Idaho high school.
  • Be 16 or older or have successfully completed at least one-half of the high school graduation requirements as certified by the local school district. Students not meeting this requirement may still apply by completing the Sophomore by Exception Form included in the Dual Credit Registration Packet.
  • Have a minimum 2.0 high school cumulative GPA. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement should meet with a Dual Credit Advisor to discuss a potential override.
  • Be enrolled in an eligible Technical Dual Credit course.
  • Have permission of high school official.
  • Have permission of parent/guardian.
  • For students taking Dual Credit directly through their high school, submit all required registration documents through the DualEnroll registration system. For dual credit students taking courses through a CWI campus location, submit the CWI Dual Credit Registration Form signed by parent and high school official for each semester of enrollment.

Workforce Development Enrollment

CWI provides high-quality, short-term training to boost job skills, acquire new career skills, and earn certificates. Classes are held at a variety of locations throughout southwest Idaho.

Minimum requirements:

Adult Education/English As a Second Language (ESL) Enrollment

CWI provides free classes and services to help students prepare for the GED, improve skills for college, identify and get started on a career pathway, or learn to speak, read, and write English.

Minimum requirements:

  • 16 years or older
  • No longer enrolled in high school

Please visit Adult Education/ESL to get started today!