Admission Frequently Asked Questions

Admission counselors are assigned based on region – you can find yours on our Meet the Counselors page, or email admission@udayton.edu and we can help.

Admission decisions begin going out in November. We won’t be able to review an application until it’s complete, though, so make sure you’ve submitted all required pieces.

You can track your progress on those from the home page of your Admission Account.

The admission committee considers a number of factors when making their decision. Learn more about those factors on our admission process page.

A letter of recommendation is not required. However, if letters are provided, the admission committee will consider letters from high school counselors along with other factors in making an admission decision.

Yes. Your counselor should send your final transcript to:

Office of Admission and Financial Aid
University of Dayton
Albert Emanuel Hall
300 College Park
Dayton, OH 45469-1602

You can sign up for an info session and tour at udayton.edu/visit.

If you’ve received the textbook scholarship, it will appear in your comprehensive financial aid award packet, which most admitted students will receive in January. Remember that to receive the textbook scholarship, you will need to visit campus and file the FAFSA by Feb. 1.

Tuition and scholarship information is available on our website. Admitted students will receive merit scholarship information approximately one month after admission. Comprehensive financial aid award packages, which include information about additional scholarships, grants and loans, as well as a four-year outline of tuition costs, will begin mailing in January.

Academic merit scholarships are renewable for four years (and transfer student scholarships are renewable for three years), provided you maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA, you are registered full-time, and you are a responsible member of the University community.

All UD students may apply for University-funded employment opportunities on campus. These opportunities are posted online through Career Services. Federal Work Study Is awarded based on financial need – to see if you’re eligible for this type of employment, you’ll need to file the FAFSA.

Yes. We’ve listed a number of opportunities on our External Scholarships page. Your UD aid will not be affected by any outside scholarships you earn, unless you earn more than the cost of attendance.

Grants do not need to be repaid, while loans do. Students could be eligible for up to $21,000 per year in grants. Learn more about grants — University, federal, state and external — that may be available to you.

The Federal Direct PLUS Loan is a program from which a parent or guardian can borrow annually as much as their student’s cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received. Learn more about loans.

Subsidized loans are for students who have filed the FAFSA and demonstrated financial need. With subsidized loans you are not charged interest while you’re enrolled at least half-time and during periods of deferment. Unsubsidized loans are not based on demonstrated financial need and begin to accrue interest from the time the loan is disbursed to the student’s account. Learn more about loans.

To assist you in the search for additional financial resources, we can provide you with the names of some of the programs/lenders our students are currently using. Please contact us for assistance: admission@udayton.edu.

No. You only need to file the FAFSA if you would like to be considered for financial aid.

You should complete and file your FAFSA as early as possible, but you must submit it by March 1. The University of Dayton's Title IV school code is 003127. Learn more about FAFSA.

Yes. Your four-year outline of costs, scholarships and aid will be included in your comprehensive financial aid award package. These begin mailing in January.

Music scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis, following an audition with the music faculty, usually held in January/February. For more information on music scholarships, call 937-229-3936.

Visual arts scholarships are also awarded annually on a competitive basis, following a review of a student’s portfolio. For more information on visual arts scholarships, call 937-229-3237.

Other departmental scholarships are typically reserved for upper-class students; departments who have funds available notify students directly about those opportunities.

RaiseMe scholarships are awarded based on a list of your accomplishments throughout high school, including academic performance and extracurricular involvement. RaiseMe awards are built into our merit scholarships; they are not additional awards.

We direct admit into every major.

Entrepreneurship does rely on first-year performance to allow students to continue with the Entrepreneurship major.

If you have earned college credits while in high school and would like these transferred to UD, you’ll need to have an official transcript of grades mailed from the college to:

Office of the Registrar
University of Dayton
300 College Park
Dayton, Ohio 45469-1668

In most cases, these credits will be accepted toward your degree requirements. In order for credit to transfer, you must have earned a C or better in a course, and only credit hours transfer.

We do not currently have CCP classes on campus that can be taken for credit, but we will generally accept CCP credits taken at another institution as transfer credits. Please contact us with any questions.

Yes. The AP program recognizes college-level work completed in high school. To receive credit and advanced placement for this program, have your test scores sent to the University of Dayton (College Board code: 1834).

Learn more about credits by exam and view the AP and IB credit charts.

We can definitely help! Please contact us at admission@udayton.edu.

Through the Discover programs, you can explore different majors while staying on track to graduate in four years. The programs are flexible, allowing you to explore areas of interest while taking Common Academic Program courses that are required for all degrees.

• Discover Arts
• Discover Business
• Discover Engineering
• Discover Engineering Technology
• Discover Sciences
• Discover Teacher Education

Students transition from the Discover programs into majors in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, School of Engineering, or School of Education and Health Sciences.

In addition to graduating with a specially notated Honors diploma and key, students receive a number of benefits on campus, like:

• Assured academic scholarships (provided application materials are submitted on time)
• Opportunities to participate in Honors signature programs that can provide research funding and take you around the world, like the Global Scholar Experience at Oxford University
• Priority registration for courses
• Honors Study Room in the library and book loaning privileges
• Honors Student Center
• Support from the Associate Director for Prestigious Fellowships and Graduate School Advising
• Subsidized tickets to Dayton-area cultural events
• Options for Honors housing all four years, both on campus and in the student neighborhood
• Opportunities for fellowships to assist with international study, research or service projects, as well as fellowships and travel funds to assist with Honors Thesis projects or to present research at scholarly/professional conferences

Yes – we offer options to double major, pursue minors, and get a head start on graduate school through our bachelor’s plus master’s programs. Students cannot declare a double major until they have arrived on campus and met with their academic adviser. Until then, contact admission@udayton.edu if you have questions.

Yes – through our Office of Learning Resources, you can find information about learning and studying resources, like academic coaching and tutoring, as well as resources for students with disabilities. Learn more at the Office of Learning Resources website.

Undergraduate students outside of a 40-mile commuter radius are required to live on campus the first two years, but many students choose to stay either on campus or in our unique student neighborhood of porch-clad houses all four years. In fact, more than 80% of all UD students live on campus or in the student neighborhood.

First-year students live in one of our residence halls, which feature a resident assistant on every floor, study rooms, laundry facilities and a chapel. Every room comes with a fridge, microwave, cable TV/phone/wireless Internet connections and air conditioning. Learn more about first-year housing.

Second-year students live in one of our apartment buildings or in the Virginia W. Kettering Suite Complex. Learn more about second-year housing.

Juniors and seniors also have University housing options, like houses in the student neighborhood, two- and three-bedroom apartments, two- and four-person townhouses, and townhouses and lofts in our ArtStreet complex. Learn more about upperclass housing.

Through a number of fine eateries around campus, we offer daily specials, vegan and vegetarian-friendly foods, sushi, specialty soups and salads, build-your-own options, bakery items, flavors from around the globe and more.

You’ll also find treats like frozen yogurt and soft pretzels at The Galley, convenience-store items at Stuart’s Landing and protein shakes at The Chill in the campus Rec Plex. Plus, there are plenty of restaurants lining Brown Street just off campus.

Yes. First-year housing is generally co-ed by floor.

Yes.

All first year facilities come with a mini-fridge, a bed per person, an Ethernet port per student, closet space, desk and desk chair.

There is no cost difference between the standard and flex meal plans, but there are differences in the ways you can purchase meals. Please visit Dining Services for more information.

RA positions are open to rising sophomores, juniors and seniors, as well as graduate students. Application information is typically available in October.

All of the dining halls on campus have options for students who are gluten free. The University also has an Administrative Dietitian, and any UD student may consult with her about general nutrition, food allergens, or special dietary concerns/restrictions.

Visiting campus is a great idea! And there are lots of ways you can visit – you can schedule individual sessions and tours, academic department appointments or career adviser appointments, or you can attend one of our admitted-student events. Most info sessions and tours are during the weekday, but we do offer some Saturday sessions, as well. You can find a list of dates and register online. Admitted student events are typically held on Sundays, and there are also options for overnights. Learn more about our admitted student events.

You do not have to be Catholic to attend UD – in fact, only a little over half of our students are Catholic. Our goal is to provide all students with a place to plug in their faith life (no matter its shape).

We offer weekly interdenominational worship services and Bible studies, as well as retreats and fellowship opportunities. We also provide interfaith prayer spaces through our UD Interfaith Alliance, which aims to create a community of students, faculty and staff with diverse voices, where all voices are included and respected.

The Marianists are a worldwide family of Catholic brothers, priests, sisters and committed lay people. Their spirit of faith, community, service and hospitality defines this campus.

For more than 160 years, the Marianists have enriched our community, creating a welcoming and inclusive campus where faith is best communicated through personal relationships. Every person, no matter their faith or background, is treated with respect and openness.

We strongly believe that education can transform society if people work together in a common mission. We encourage students to use their education and faith to work for justice, serve others, and, yes, even change the world.

Sunday Mass is celebrated in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at 10:00 a.m., Noon, 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Mass is also celebrated in the Church of Holy Angels at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 9:30 a.m. and Noon on Sundays.

We offer weekday Mass in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at 12:30 p.m. (unless the University is closed), and weekly in the residence halls at 9:00 p.m.

In addition to daily and weekly Masses in residence halls, the Chapel and the heart of the student neighborhood, we also hold special prayer services and Masses. Taize Reconciliation, Advent and Lenten Morning Prayer, Bilingual Mass and the Black Catholic Mass are just a few.

As a Catholic and Marianist institution, the University regards religious studies and philosophy as having special roles in the undergraduate curriculum. We want to help students develop the ability to engage in intellectually informed, appreciative and critical inquiry regarding major faith traditions. A course on Faith Traditions, for example, is part of the University’s Common Academic Program, and is designed to encourage students to place religious traditions within historical context, or examine their philosophical foundations, or compare different religious traditions.

Guided by our Catholic and Marianist values, the University of Dayton calls all of our members to intentionally honor the dignity of all persons. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex/gender, gender identity or gender expression. Residence Life can provide support and assistance for transgender students in securing housing, and our office of LGBTQ+ Support Services connects students with resources and support.

A mid-sized city in southwestern Ohio, Dayton teems with imagination, innovation and world-class arts and culture. Learn more about the city and all you can do here.

The Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center provides staff, facilities, services and special programs to support the academic experience of students. MEC serves as a resource for the entire campus community, while providing multicultural students and their families with an additional connection to the University. Programs include a mentor program, cultural programming, retreats, faculty partnerships and more. Learn more about MEC.

The Career Services staff is happy to help with your career-related needs from admission to retirement, providing many opportunities for you to connect with employers such as career fairs, on-campus interviews, social media and company information sessions. 

Career Services can help you learn the vital skills necessary for success in the job search process through workshops, class presentations and individual appointments with a career advisor. The office can also connect you with internships and co-ops, assist you with choosing a major, review your résumé and pair you with an alumni mentor.

To help provide safety to our campus community members, the University of Dayton Police Officers are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They conduct 24 hour patrol through the use of marked patrol vehicles, bicycles and foot patrol.

Officers within the Department are State Certified with police powers and authority as set forth under section 1713.50 of the Ohio Revised Code. All officers have obtained at least 560 hours of specialized training through the Ohio Peace Officer's Training Academy as mandated by the Ohio Revised Code.

Safety and security systems are installed throughout the campus, including fire and security alarms, electronic access control, video cameras, and emergency phones. These systems aid Public Safety in its mission of providing a safe and secure campus. All campus safety and security systems are monitored in the Department of Public Safety Communication Center, enabling immediate response to an emergency on campus or within a university facility.

Campus crime statistics and all of the safety services provided can be viewed on the Public Safety website.

Internships and co-ops are not required, but Career Services can help you find one when you’re ready.

In order to enhance higher learning and cultivate cross-cultural skills, the University of Dayton offers several education abroad programs. Whether for a summer, semester or year, students may study, intern or volunteer in places such as Ireland, China, Spain, Nicaragua, Cameroon and more.

You can also spend a semester studying at the University of Dayton China Institute. In Suzhou, China, you’ll learn from UD professors, international professionals and prominent leaders in innovation.

Yes – UD has values-based sorority and fraternity chapters. Many organizations have study hours, mentors, scholarships and recognition awards for academic excellence, as well as leadership and service opportunities.

We have more than 250 student organizations on campus, including 45 dedicated to service and social action. You can find a list of student organizations on our Student Life site.

First-year students are not permitted to bring vehicles to campus; however, our campus is very walkable, and there are lots of options for getting around:

• Our Link bike-sharing program allows you to rent a bike from one of multiple stations on campus for as long as you need it.
• Two Zipcars — part of a vehicle-sharing initiative — are available on campus to rent for longer trips.
• A Saturday shopping shuttle and weekday campus shuttle are available to all students.
• Flyer Ride provides free rides anywhere within the university area during the evening and early morning hours.

Parking passes for upperclass and commuter students are available. Please visit Parking Services for current cost.

Personal bicycles are allowed on campus, but must be registered. Bicycle registration is free.

98% of University of Dayton students are employed, in a full-time volunteer program or in graduate school within six months of graduation.

Learn more about student outcomes.