Frequently Asked Questions

•  Who attends HNU? Students who want to make a positive difference in the world, their communities and in the lives of others.  Our essence statement: Liberating Minds - Transforming Lives, provides guidance for those students who want to learn, and to do so through service and dedication to social justice issues.

•  What is the total enrollment at HNU? Annually, approximately 1,100 students attend the HNU, which allows us to maintain personal connections with all of our students. In fact, HNU students take great pride in knowing the faculty, staff, and administrators who live and teach in our community of learners.

•  How do I apply for admission to HNU? The best way to apply for admission to HNU is by completing the online application, which you will find links to here and throughout our web site. You may also contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission (see below) to have an application sent to you.

•  What are the deadlines for applying for admission? It is best to apply early because scholarships are limited.

•  What are the deadlines for applying for financial aid and scholarships? There are three parts to the answer to this question.
  
  
  • First, March 2nd is the priority deadline for completing your FAFSA, even though you are still able to apply for financial aid after March 2nd.  The FAFSA is required to determine your eligibility for Federal and Sate financial aid programs. 
  •  Second, March 2nd is the deadline for applying for Cal Grants.  These grants are for students in California, and information is available about Cal Grants through the California Department of Education and from the HNU Office of Financial Aid.
  • Third, March 2nd is the priority deadline for merit scholarships.  These are scholarships awarded by Holy Names University.  Please know priority deadlines means that full consideration is provided to students who apply before the deadline.   Students who apply after the deadline are eligible for awards; however, awards will depend on their availability.

•  When will I be notified of my admission status? The faculty and staff members at HNU who review applications for undergraduate admission take great care to make certain prospective students will succeed here.  Generally, they take about two weeks to review applications and supporting documents.  Prospective students are subsequently notified in writing by the director of undergraduate admission. If you have any questions or concerns along the way, please do not hesitate to ask your admission counselor. 

•  What do I do if I am admitted? You will want to keep in touch with your admission counselor to make certain you have access to financial aid, scholarships, and general information about the university.  We will make certain you have information about academic programs, housing, insurance, and other matters pertaining to your enrollment.

•  What are the admission requirements for HNU? We seek students who have demonstrated educational success in core courses in high school. We also seek students who show academic promise, present leadership potential, and actively display commitments to service and social justice issues (e.g., social, environmental, and political concerns).

•  How do I best prepare to succeed at HNU? A quality high school education is essential to success in college. Hence, you will want to study hard, write well, express your thoughts clearly, and dedicate yourself to learning new ideas about the world. Good grades and test scores help because they indicate that you are committed to learning.  The recommended high school curriculum for preparing to study at HNU may be viewed on the Important Information page.

•  What happens if I am Home Schooled or have not obtained a high school diploma? If you do not have a high school diploma, but you have completed your GED, you are eligible to apply for admission to HNU.

•  Do I need to interview to attend HNU and how does this work? Interviews for admission are requested by the admission committee if needed.

•  What is your policy on AP courses?  Scores of 3 or higher on an AP exam will qualify you for college credit at Holy Names University.