Graduate Admission

Graduate Programs Offered

Lakeland University offers the following graduate programs, all of which require the successful completion of one course of advanced professional study and completion of a bachelor’s level degree with some enrollment exceptions: 

• Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling
• Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
• Master of Education (M.Ed.)
• Master of Music (M.M.)
• Master of Science (M.S.) in Leadership and Organizational Development. 

In addition to the general graduate studies admission requirements listed below, please refer to additional program-specific admission requirements for programs of interest.

Enrollment Prior to Graduate Admission

• A student may apply to enroll as a non-degree seeking student to complete one graduate course (3 semester hours of coursework) prior to seeking admission to a Lakeland graduate program. This does not include courses completed as part of a specific non-degree graduate certificate.
• Registration in subsequent courses is contingent upon acceptance to the respective graduate program, whether through normal admission processes or in accordance with the exceptions to this policy identified in the admission requirements outlined for each graduate program offered.
• Approval may be granted by the VPAA for non-degree-seeking students who wish to exceed this limit in order to meet external requirements for certification or are not a specialized program participant. Students should submit requests to the Registrar’s Office and specify the plan for completing the certification requirements or additional coursework outside of a degree program. A ruling will be provided if the student may proceed with enrollment. 
• An official transcript indicating a completed bachelor’s degree is required for admission under all these circumstances.

General Graduate Admission Requirements

Please see individual programs for additional admission requirements and conditional admission policies.

To Apply:

• Apply for Admission and a non-refundable $50.00 application fee.
• Submit official transcripts from undergraduate coursework including an official transcript from a regionally accredited institution of higher education indicating completion of a baccalaureate degree with a minimum cumulative grade point-average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.00-point scale.
  • Military transcripts, if applicable.
• Two letters of recommendation indicating the applicant’s potential for success in the graduate program. M.A. in Counseling applicants must use the program-specific form.

Note: By applying for admission, applicants are granting permission to Lakeland University to verify any information on the form. Inaccurate information may affect enrollment, tuition, or financial aid status.

International Applicants also require these additional items:

• Official evaluation of all official transcripts via an international evaluation program such as Educational Credential Evaluators (ece.org) or World Educational Services (wes.org). The evaluation must include cumulative GPA.
• Submit, if the student’s native or first language is not English, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.
  • The minimum TOEFL score for graduate admission is 550 (213, for the computer-based test; 80, for the internet-based test). Under certain circumstances an international student who completes the language preparation of Lakeland’s English Language Institute may be admitted with scores less than 550.
• Provide financial documentation (certification of finances) that shows the student’s ability to pay for college and living expenses while studying and residing in the United States.

Note: A qualified international student will be sent the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) form required to obtain a student F-1 visa.

Application Deadlines

Students seeking admission to Lakeland University graduate programs have a deadline date of five (5) days prior to the first day of the new semester.