First Year Students

Admission Requirements

Freshman Applicants are considered for Freshman admission based on the overall strength of their high school preparation, SAT or ACT scores, personal essay, letter of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and individual talents and achievements.

Required Application Materials

• HNU Application for Admission
• Download a Priority Application for Admission or click here to apply online.

• High School Transcript
• Request an official copy of your high school transcript showing at least six semesters of work.
• International students should provide a transcript in your native language as well as an English translation (if applicable).
• Transcripts should be mailed directly from the issuing school to Holy Names University or if hand delivered, should be in a envelope sealed by the issuing school.

• SAT I or ACT Scores
• Take the SAT I or ACT test and be sure to include Holy Names University as a recipient of the scores.
• Our SAT code is 4059 and the ACT code is 0230.
• Scores reported on your high school transcript are also acceptable.
• Essay

  Holy Names University is a community of educators and students dedicated to learning through a framework of social justice and service. HNU is also a dynamic and very diverse community where students prepare for leadership in a global world by living and studying with people from many different backgrounds. 

  One of the requirements of admission to the HNU community is for you to tell us a little bit about yourself in the context of social justice, service, and diversity. While there are several ways to consider these three issues, we are interested in knowing more about the ways you see them. 

  Please respond thoughtfully to one of the following questions in no more than two pages.  Double space your responses and submit them as an attachment to an e-mail.

  1. Please describe a difficult situation in your life where you needed to overcome adversity. What did you learn from that experience and how does it help you better understand other people?
  2. Please describe a situation in your life when a person you respected would have said you were a leader. As you think about that situation, describe whether you were serving others, leading by example, motivating, organizing, or all of the above. What do you think the relationship is between leading and serving?
  3. Please describe a situation in your life when you were involved with someone who was very different from you. As you think about that situation, describe what diversity means to you and what you believe are the benefits of living and studying in a diverse environment.
• Letter of Recommendation
• We require all students to submit a minimum of one letter of recommendation and a maximum of three. Letters may be from a counselor, teacher, coach, work supervisor, or community member with whom you have worked. It is strongly recommended that you submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher.
  
  Letters of recommendation may be sent directly to:
  Holy Names University
  Office of Admission
  3500 Mountain Blvd.
  Oakland, CA 94619

Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to have an application sent to you.

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What are the Criteria for the Three-Year Degree Program?

To be eligible for our Three-Year Degree Program, you must meet the requirements for freshman admission as well as:

• Have at least 12 units of Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate (usually strong passes in two subjects).
• Be ready to declare a major upon entrance.
• Demonstrate the ability, through strong academic performance, to carry 18 units per semester.

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What is Advanced Standing Credit?

Holy Names University grants up to 30 units of credit toward your college graduation requirements if you earn scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the Advanced Placement exams, or earn a score of 5, 6, or 7 on the higher level of the International Baccalaureate exam

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Undergraduate Admissions Counselors

You have been assigned an admission counselor based on the location of your high school.  Please contact your counselor with any questions regarding the admissions process.

Click here to meet your admissions counselor.

Undergraduate Programs

Within 17 areas of undergraduate study, you will be inspired by faculty who have gained wide recognition for their scholarship and teaching — 90 percent hold doctorates or the highest degree in their field. Exceptionally talented students can graduate in three years through a rigorous accelerated B.A. program. Every student is invited to pursue self-designed majors and interdisciplinary programs of study — progressive academic opportunities that set our graduates apart from the masses.

• Biological Science
• Business Communication
• Business Management
• Business Marketing
• Child Development
• Criminology
• International Business
• English
• History
• International Relations
• Latin American and Latino/a Studies (LALS)
• Liberal Studies
• Music

• Nursing (partnership program with Samuel Merritt University)
• Philosophy
• Psychobiology
• Psychology
• Religious Studies
• Sociology
• Sports Biology
• Teaching - Elementary K-6 (see Liberal Studies)
• Teaching - Junior High and High School (see Majors)

• Dentistry
• Law
• Medicine
• Occupational Therapy

• Pharmacy
• Physical Therapy
• Veterinary Medicine
• Other Health Professions

• Accelerated to MBA Program

Tuition and Fees

For information regarding tuition and fees, click here.

Financial Aid

It is the goal of Holy Names to assist students with the direct costs of education (tuition, books, and supplies) and support the indirect costs (living expenses, travel to/from campus, etc.). The family’s ability to contribute, as determined by Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), is considered first when awarding financial assistance. The basic premise of financial aid is that it is the family’s responsibility to finance the cost of education, to the extent possible. Financial aid programs assist with the gap between the family’s ability to pay and the total costs of education.

1. Grants and scholarships (funds that do not have to be repaid)
2. Low-interest loans
3. Federal Work Study

Click here to get more information or contact the financial aid office.

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Scholarships

Holy Names University announces an exciting new scholarship program.

• Want to know today your scholarship eligibility at Holy Names University? You can find out very easily by getting in touch with an admissions counselor. You will need to know your current high school GPA and your scores from either the SAT or ACT.
  
  
• We have simplified our merit award process so you can use that information earlier to help you make your decision about what high educational opportunity best suits your needs. We have done this because we value our students and their families and understand the pressures you face as you make your decision about what college or university to attend.
  
  
• The most important reason we chose to make this part of the college choice process easier for you is because we know Holy Names is truly an affordable value and we want you to know that too.
  
  
• You can make the Holy Names opportunity yours and the first step is calling admissions counselor today. Call 800.430.1321 or email admissions@hnu.edu. We are anxious to help you discover your future at Holy Names University.

Campus Visit Days

Come to Holy Names on one of our Campus Visit Days and have the opportunity for a campus tour as well as to hear from current HNU students, faculty, and staff about everything we have to offer you. To RSVP call 800-430-1321 or contact click here. The next campus visit day is February 20th, 2010.

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Important Dates

• Cal Grant Deadline - March 2nd
• Admission for Fall Semester: Priority March 2nd
• Admission for Spring Semester: Priority December 1st
• FAFSA: Priority March 2nd
• Merit Scholarships: Priority March 2nd
• Enrollment Deposit Deadline: Priority May 1st