Application Overview & Process

To apply to a graduate or certificate program at John Carroll University, please follow the steps below. If you have any questions throughout the application process, do not hesitate to contact us at 216.397.4284.

Summer 2025 and Fall 2025, Spring 2026: APPLY NOW »

Academic Years 2026 and 2027, Academic Program Application  is not yet available. Complete this brief form and we will email you when the application is available.

A completed application file consists of the online application and any necessary supporting materials. The materials required vary by department and can be found in the supporting materials section below.

** International Students - Please Note: Per government guidance, individuals seeking student visas are not eligible to complete 100% fully online degree programs and depending on the visa type may only be eligible for one online or distance learning course each term. Further we are not authorized to offer online programs outside of the United States. Please check with the Graduate School if you have questions about international student enrollment.

Readmission Application Form: https://gradadmission.jcu.edu/register/readmit

Following a break in enrollment of one semester or more, graduate students at John Carroll University must apply for readmission, if they did not request an official Leave of Absence prior to their break in attendance. Applicants for readmission to their graduate program should complete this online form. If the student is continuing in the same program, in many cases this form will reactivate their  student status to “current”, if an Official Leave of Absence Form was not submitted or expired. If the student is applying to a new program at John Carroll University, a new program application must be submitted, not the readmission application. If the student has gone to another institution since attending John Carroll or has not attended the University  for an extended period of time, the student may be asked to submit additional documentation such as transcripts, recommendations or participate in an admission interview. The Graduate School will notify students if additional information is needed. If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate School at gradadmit@jcu.edu or 216.397.4284.

The 2025-2026 Graduate/Athletic Assistantship Application is closed.

Click here to learn more about JCU Graduate/Athletic Assistantships & the application process. The 2026-27 application process will open early December 2025.

You can upload supporting materials when completing the online application or by logging back in and uploading to your status page. Documents can also be mailed or emailed.

Official Transcripts from each school attended are required to be sent directly to John Carroll University from the issuing institution:

Graduate School
John Carroll University
1 John Carroll Blvd.
University Heights, OH 44118
     -or-
Electronic transcripts sent via secure delivery systems can be sent to: gsapp@jcu.edu   

John Carroll welcomes applications from students across the globe*.

In addition to the online academic program application linked above, international students are required to send the supporting materials for the program of study and the materials listed below.

Required Materials:

• All international students applying directly to a John Carroll University graduate program must have each foreign transcript evaluated through an AACRAO approved, third-party evaluator. This must include the required course-by-course evaluation of all university degrees earned outside of the United States.
  • The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran) is our recommended agency for obtaining this evaluation. The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran) has created a custom application for JCU applicants that will make sure you select the correct evaluation at a discounted rate ($170 for the evaluation). You can access The Evaluation Company's application by clicking here.
  • We also accept evaluations from:
    • World Education Services (WES)
    • Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).
• Evaluation of English proficiency. Students whose native language is not English must demonstrate the necessary level proficiency in the English language by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A student from abroad whose native language is English, who has completed his or her work at a foreign university where English is the language of instruction, or who has graduated from an American institution is exempt from this testing requirement, please contact us to have the requirement waived.
• Financial Guarantee Statement
• Current passport photo page, or copy of your current visa sticker.

*Please note: Per government guidance, individuals seeking student visas are not eligible to complete 100% fully online degree programs and depending on the visa type may only be eligible for one online or distance learning course each term. Further we are not authorized to offer online programs outside of the United States. Please check with the Graduate School if you have questions about international student enrollment.

What are Accelerated Dual Degree Programs?

Accelerated Dual Degree programs enable current JCU undergraduate students to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree at JCU on an accelerated timeline. These programs allow students to complete both degrees in as little as five years*. Students apply to the master's program in their junior year, begin graduate coursework in their senior year completing up to 9 credit hours that count toward both degrees, and, depending on the program's length, can earn their master's degree by their fifth year at JCU.

*Students pursuing either of the Counseling Accelerated Dual Degree programs can complete their graduate degree in 6 years or at their own pace.

Accelerated Dual Degree Next Steps

• Enroll in or switch to an undergraduate major with an Accelerated Dual Degree pathway.
• Discuss your options with your academic advisor and start a degree plan to stay on track.
• Apply to the graduate program in the semester you will complete:
  • 90 undergraduate credit-hours.
  • 75% of your undergraduate degree requirements.

Application available by request. Reach out directly to Colleen Sommerfeld at csommerfeld@jcu.edu.