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Matriculation

Most students entering The College of New Jersey at the graduate level are candidates for a degree or certification program. Program options are outlined throughout this website and in the Graduate Bulletin. Student who are applying for admission into a specific degree or certificate program are applying for matriculation.

Individuals applying for matriculation are expected to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the United States or proof of equivalent preparation from a foreign college or university. Applicants should have a 2.75 cumulative average or a 3.0 in the major at the undergraduate level, although some programs may have a higher requirement; must submit letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate their academic performance, relevant work experience, and/or ability to pursue graduate studies; must submit an essay calling for a personal evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses as prospective graduate students; and must provide scores from the general standardized test appropriate to the discipline. Some programs require scores from specialized sections of standardized tests. Other programs require interviews or auditions (see program requirements). Graduate program candidates are approved for admission by the program admissions committee and endorsed by the dean. Notification of a decision will occur in writing.

Non-Matriculation

Qualified applicants who wish to pursue graduate studies for professional renewal or personal growth may apply for non-matriculation.* Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and a 2.75 cumulative average or 3.0 in the major from an accredited institution in the United States , or proof of equivalent preparation from a foreign university or college. Admissions are competitive and decisions are made by program admissions committees.  Notification of a decision will occur in writing. A non-matriculant wishing to matriculate into a program must submit an application and all documentation necessary for matriculation according to the appropriate deadlines. Subsequent admission as a matriculant is not guaranteed.

Once accepted, a non-matriculant may enroll in graduate classes that are open to them if they meet the prerequisites and if space is available. Permission of the graduate coordinator and/or the instructor teaching the course may be required for registration for a particular course. Occasionally, a graduate student wishes to enroll in an undergraduate course. On such occasions, the graduate tuition rate would still apply.

A non-matriculant may choose to apply for admission as a matriculant in a graduate degree or certificate program, however, matriculation is not guaranteed. A non-matriculant has one year from the time of initial enrollment to matriculate into a degree program in order to utilize up to six credits taken prior to matriculation toward that degree or program. Failure to matriculate in this timeframe will negate the use of these credits toward a degree or program at TCNJ.

A non-matriculant is not eligible for need-based or federal financial aid.

*Non-matriculation is not available to students intending to apply for matriculation into the RTCM program. Students intending to study at one of TCNJ’s global sites, who are not ready to apply for matriculation into a specific program, may contact the Global Office at maldonad@tcnj.edu regarding attendance as a visiting student.

For the most current information, please visit the Office of Graduate Studies website.

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