NORFOLK, Va. — Guaranteeing admission if you have a certain grade point average is becoming a trend in colleges and universities across Virginia.
Virginia Commonwealth University rolled out a program last week for qualifying freshmen applicants. If a student has a 3.5 GPA and is among the top 10% of their class, they are automatically accepted into the school.
The goal is not only to bolster admission numbers but also to represent underrepresented minorities.
The state has seen a steady decline in enrollment in higher education over the last decade. According to the State Council of Higher Education, enrollment across all public colleges and universities reached an all-time low in 2021 with 368,174 students. Compare that to 2012, when the number was 409,075.
Four other schools -- George Mason University, Radford University, Virginia Military Institute, and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise -- all currently offer similar guaranteed admission programs.
Old Dominion University is now working on its own program, too. The school hasn't specified what the GPA requirements will be, at this time.
The trend is a stark contrast to the status quo, which has required students to show off a list of accomplishments from high test scores to extracurriculars and class rank. And there’s evidence, when it comes to boosting enrollment numbers, guaranteed admission policies are effective.
After rolling out its guaranteed admission program, George Mason’s increase in enrollment helped the university reach an admissions record, surpassing 40,000 students. Fifty-nine percent of the school’s incoming freshmen through the program were minorities.