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Be a Bison. Apply Today

Gallaudet University seeks applicants who exhibit a genuine commitment to our core values — applicants who:

Honor and ensure belonging across the diverse spectrum of identities

Believe diversity makes our community stronger

Understand learning is a lifelong quest

Seek to contribute to a better world.

Sound like you? Then let’s get started. Apply for admission today.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Create your portal account

Every potential Gallaudet student receives access to a private portal once they start their application. This portal allows you to track your application’s progress, see what materials you still need to submit, engage with personalized content tailored to your interests, and eventually, receive your admission decision and financial aid information. 

Start here.

Choose Your Path

Deaf and Hard of Hearing First Time Freshman Applicants

If you are a deaf or hard of hearing high school senior or a student who has completed high school and has not yet enrolled at another college or university after graduation, apply for freshman admission.

Important Deadlines

Applications Deadline
Honors Priority Deadline February 15
National Decision Day * Rolling Admissions for First Time Student Applicants May 1

Required application materials

The application materials below are required for ALL deaf and hard of hearing freshman applicants.
 

Complete and submit an online application

 

A short essay, 250-500 words long

The essay prompt can be found in the online application.

 

A letter of recommendation from a current or former teacher

 

Unofficial high school and if applicable, college transcripts

  • Official transcript(s) will be required following acceptance to the University, sent from your school. We accept both paper and electronic transcripts.
  • Paper transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope, to the following address:

    Undergraduate Admissions EMG Building Gallaudet University 800 Florida Ave. NE Washington, DC, 20002

  • Electronic transcripts must be sent from your school to our office. Contact your Admissions Counselor for more information.
  • If you earned college credits during high school, please send in your college transcript(s) for transfer credit evaluation. Please send these transcripts to the same address(es) as above.
 

ACT or SAT scores

Gallaudet utilizes superscores for both the ACT and SAT test to award merit scholarships in addition to utilizing them for admissions consideration. To learn more about superscores, visit the ACT website.

 

Audiogram

Hearing Undergraduate Applicants

If you are a hearing student who knows American Sign Language (ASL) that wants to study alongside deaf and hard of hearing individuals and will pursue a career that furthers the education of deaf and hard of hearing people, Gallaudet University has an immersive hearing undergraduate experience designed for you.

Important Deadlines

Applications Deadline
Honors Priority Deadline February 15
Bachelor of Interpretation (BAI) Priority Deadline March 1
National Decision Day * Rolling Admissions for First Time Student Applicants May 1

Required application materials

The application materials below are required for ALL hearing undergraduate applicants. Note that there are two Phases to every hearing undergraduate application.

Phase 1

 

Complete and submit an online application

 

Two short essays (1 written, 1 video)

  • The essay prompts can be found in the online application.
  • 250-500 word long written essay
  • Video essay signed in ASL.
 

Unofficial high school and if applicable, college transcripts

  • Official transcript(s) will be required following acceptance to the University, sent from your school. We accept both paper and electronic transcripts.
  • Paper transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope, to the following address:

    Undergraduate Admissions EMG Building Gallaudet University 800 Florida Ave. NE Washington, DC, 20002

  • Electronic transcripts must be sent from your school to our office. Contact your Admissions Counselor for more information.
  • If you earned college credits during high school, please send in your college transcript(s) for transfer credit evaluation. Please send these transcripts to the same address(es) as above.
 

ACT or SAT scores

Gallaudet utilizes superscores for both the ACT and SAT test to award merit scholarships in addition to utilizing them for admissions consideration. To learn more about superscores, visit the ACT website.

Phase 2

 

The HUG/BAI admissions counselor will contact you to arrange an admissions interview and initial language screening.

 

At the time of your interview, you will be given information about the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI). The ASLPI is a video-recorded evaluation that will determine your overall ASL proficiency. To be eligible for the Hearing Undergraduate Program, an ASLPI score of 2 or higher is required. The fee to take the ASLPI is $165.

 

You will be notified of your admissions decision following completion of the ASLPI.

Bachelor of Arts in Interpretation Applicants

If you are a hearing student specifically interested in majoring in Interpretation, the B.A. in Interpretation program is for you. There are some extra application requirements and expectations to consider in addition to standard hearing undergraduate admission requirements.

Phase 1 will be the same as above. Please note that the BAI program requires that you have a 2.75 or higher cumulative grade point average in your high school or previous college coursework.  

Phase 2

 

The HUG/BAI admissions counselor will contact you with information about the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI). The ASLPI is a video-recorded evaluation that will determine your overall ASL proficiency. The BAI program requires an ASLPI score of 3 or higher. The fee to take the ASLPI is $165.

 

If your ASLPI results qualify you for the next step, you will be sent a link for the BAI Language Performance evaluation (BAI LP) from the Department of Interpretation and Translation. Your admissions counselor will provide information regarding this evaluation at the time of eligibility.

 

You will be notified of your admissions decision following completion of the ASLPI and BAI LP assessments.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Transfer Applicants

If you are a deaf or hard of hearing student who has enrolled and earned credits at another college, we invite you to apply for transfer admission. If you happen to have already earned a degree from another university, you may pursue a second degree at Gallaudet- be sure to choose that as you fill out your application.

Important Deadlines

Applications Deadline
Honors Priority Deadline February 15
National Decision Day * Rolling Admissions for First Time Student Applicants May 1

Required application materials

The application materials below are required for ALL deaf and hard of hearing transfer applicants.
 

Complete and submit an online application

 

A short essay, 250-500 words long

The essay prompt can be found in the online application.

 

A letter of recommendation from a current or former teacher

 

Unofficial high school and college transcripts

  • Official transcript(s) will be required following acceptance to the University, sent from your school. We accept both paper and electronic transcripts.
  • Paper transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope, to the following address:

    Undergraduate Admissions EMG Building Gallaudet University 800 Florida Ave. NE Washington, DC, 20002

  • Electronic transcripts must be sent from your school to our office. Contact your Admissions Counselor for more information.
  • If you earned college credits during high school, please send in your college transcript(s) for transfer credit evaluation. Please send these transcripts to the same address(es) as above.
 

ACT or SAT scores

  • Gallaudet utilizes superscores for both the ACT and SAT test to award merit scholarships in addition to utilizing them for admissions consideration. To learn more about superscores, visit the ACT website.
  • If you show evidence of having completed 12 hours of college-level English and Mathematics, or a total of 30 hours of college credit, the testing requirement may be waived.
 

Audiogram

International Applicants

If you are a deaf or hard of hearing student who does not possess U.S. citizenship or Permanent Residency status, you will need to apply as an international student.

Important: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations require that all international applicants or admitted/readmitted international students provide evidence of adequate financial support before they may obtain immigration paperwork for student visas. We highly recommend that funds be secured before starting the application process. Student Financial Services maintains an updated chart of tuition and fees.

International Admissions FAQs
Applications Deadline
Honors Priority Deadline February 15
National Decision Day May 1
Certification of Finances form for Fall admission due May 30
Fall admission deadline June 30
Certification of Finances form for Spring admission due October 30
Spring admission deadline November 30

Required application materials

The application materials below are required for ALL deaf and hard of hearing international applicants.
 

Complete and submit an online application

 

A short essay, 250-500 words long

The essay prompt can be found in the online application.

 

A letter of recommendation from a current or former teacher

 

Unofficial high school and/or college transcripts

  • Transcripts need to be submitted in English. If your transcript is in a language other than English, go to www.wes.org to translate your transcript into English.
  • Official transcript(s) will be required following acceptance to the University, sent from your school. We accept both paper and electronic transcripts.
  • Paper transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope, to the following address:

    Undergraduate Admissions EMG Building Gallaudet University 800 Florida Ave. NE Washington, DC, 20002

  • Electronic transcripts must be sent from your school to our office. Contact your Admissions Counselor for more information.
  • If you earned college credits during high school, please send in your college transcript(s) for transfer credit evaluation. Please send these transcripts to the same address(es) as above.
 

ACT, SAT, or TOEFL scores

 

Audiogram

 

Copy of a valid passport

 

Certification of Finances form

  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations require that all international applicants or admitted students provide evidence of adequate financial support before they may obtain the immigration form I-20 or DS-2019. You are required to submit both the complete Certification of Finances Form and original, official financial documents that show you have sufficient funds to pay for university expenses, including tuition, books, fees, supplies, insurance, and living expenses. If your Certificate of Finances Form is not completed or received and approved, you will not receive the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 Form for F-1 or DS-2019 for J-1).
  • For information on how to show financial proof and how to get the form I-20 or DS-2019, please visit this link: International Student and Scholar Services.
 

Sponsor’s Affidavit of Support form (only needed if you note on your Certification of Finances form that an external sponsor is paying for your schooling)

 

F-1 Transfer Request form (if transferring from a college in the U.S.)

Visiting, Non-Degree, and Exchange Students

Students who wish to study at Gallaudet University without seeking a degree may do so through our visiting, non-degree, or exchange programs. If non-degree students later wish to apply for admission or transfer to the undergraduate program, they must satisfy the requirements for undergraduate admission.

Non-degree students are not eligible for financial assistance from Gallaudet University. If you are a visiting or exchange student earning your degree from another college or university and receive financial aid from your institution, that aid may be applied to tuition here at Gallaudet. You should discuss your plans with the financial aid office at your home school before attending Gallaudet.

Required application materials

The application materials below are required for ALL visiting, non-degree, and exchange applicants.
 

Complete and submit an online application

 

ASL video essay (for hearing applicants). The essay topic can be found in the online application.

Visiting or Exchange Student Applicants

Visiting students are students who are enrolled in a degree program at another institution and wish to take courses at Gallaudet. Visiting students must have a current GPA of at least 2.5 at their home institutions, and will be limited to study for up to two semesters.

Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing students currently attending Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, or McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, may attend Gallaudet for one semester through the Exchange Student Program. Exchange students must be a junior or senior with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

In addition to required application materials above, visiting or exchange applicants must submit the following:

 

A short essay, 250-500 words long

  • The essay prompt can be found in the online application.
  • If you are a hearing applicant, your essay must be in video format, using American Sign Language.
 

A letter of recommendation from a current or former teacher

 

Unofficial high school and/or college transcripts

  • An official transcript will be required following acceptance to the University, sent from your school. We accept both paper and electronic transcripts.
  • Paper transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope, to the following address:

    Undergraduate Admissions EMG Building Gallaudet University 800 Florida Ave. NE Washington, DC, 20002

  • Electronic transcripts must be sent from your school to our office. Contact your Admissions Counselor for more information.
 

A verification letter from the college or university you are currently enrolled at

Online Undergraduate Degree Program Applicants

Gallaudet University has made it possible for aspiring adult learners to finish their college degree online while continuing with their daily lives. If you have earned 45 college credits toward a B.A. or B.S. degree here at Gallaudet or at other institutions, you may apply to the Online Degree Program. We currently offer three areas of study for this program: Deaf Studies, Communication Studies, and Psychology. Note that the online Deaf Studies program is cohort-based, and starts only in the Fall term.

Important Deadlines

Applications Deadline
Deaf Studies Online Degree Program deadline *Online Degree Program Psychology applications are accepted on a rolling basis. June 30

Required application materials

The application materials below are required for ALL online degree program applicants.
 

Complete and submit an online application

 

A short essay, 250-500 words long

The essay prompt can be found in the online application.

 

A letter of recommendation from a current or former teacher

Alternatively, a recommendation from a current employer or supervisor is acceptable.

 

Unofficial high school and/or college transcripts

  • Official transcript(s) will be required following acceptance to the University, sent from your school. We accept both paper and electronic transcripts.
  • Paper transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope, to the following address:

    Undergraduate Admissions EMG Building Gallaudet University 800 Florida Ave. NE Washington, DC, 20002

  • Electronic transcripts must be sent from your school to our office. Contact your Admissions Counselor for more information.
 

Audiogram (for deaf or hard of hearing applicants)

Online Degree Program – Deaf Studies

All online degree program Deaf Studies applicants must additionally submit an ASL video essay and take the ASL Placement Test. The essay prompt and information about the ASLPT requirement can be found in the application.

Readmission

Any student who withdraws from or is discontinued from the University for any reason must reapply for readmission.

When all required documents have been received, your academic, student life, and student account records will be reviewed. You will be informed in writing of the readmission decision within four weeks.

Financial aid forms, registration information (class schedule and course selection forms), housing contract form, and related materials will be sent only to those students who are officially readmitted to the University.

We look forward to your return and are available to assist you with your readmission or second-degree procedures. Welcome back!

Applying for Readmission

Readmission packets must be received in the Registrar’s Office by the application deadlines to be considered for readmission. Priority will be given to applications completed before the deadline.

You are more than one Saturday morning's ACT score.

Gallaudet University does not put students in boxes. Here, we understand that every applicant is unique – and that there may be strengths beneath the surface that do not show up in a standard college application or test score. 

That’s why we carefully review the entire candidate profile and do not make admission decisions on single factors like test scores or GPAs alone.

Applying for Honors

The Honors Program at Gallaudet looks for students who can demonstrate intrinsic intellectual motivation, dedication and commitment to a program of study, and an ability to engage ideas and text beyond, or in addition to, the personal.

If you meet the criteria for Honors Program admission, you will be invited to apply at the time of your acceptance to the University. Program perks include the following:

Honors Lounge for private study, group collaboration, and socialization

Supportive mentorship from Honors staff and Honors Capstone commitee members

Fun, engaging social events

Honors retreat every fall for new students

Merit scholarship opportunities to boost your financial aid package

Improved internship and job opportunities on and off campus