Admissions
Individuals seeking admission to the College must submit an application.
Individuals eligible for admission to the College include:
- High school graduates from state-recognized schools.
- Individuals with High School Equivalency (GED) certificates
- International students with valid high school completion
- Anyone 18 or older who is no longer in high school
- Students aged 16-17 who have left high school (requires written approval from your local high school district)
- Current high school or home school students (requires approval from your school)
- Students under 16 (requires approval from both your state-approved school/homeschool and Sandburg’s Dean of Enrollment Management)
Sandburg will review all documents submitted for admission and enrollment. If a document is flagged as potentially invalid or fraudulent, the Registrar’s Office will review it. If the document is determined to be invalid or fraudulent, the applicant may be asked to provide additional documentation or may be denied admission.
Admission to the College does not guarantee entrance or enrollment into a particular course or program of study. The College reserves the right to establish selective admission procedures and give preference to District 518 residents, or students in cooperative agreement programs. These programs are identified in the College catalog.
Carl Sandburg College will not discriminate in the admission of students based on their sex, color, race, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, or other protected group status.
Fraudulent applications
Sandburg has a zero-tolerance policy regarding fraudulent applications. Applicants may be selected by the Director of Recruitment and/or Advising & Records Office to participate in an identity verification process, which requires submission of a government-issued photo ID, official transcripts, and other supporting documentation as requested. If any information provided during the application or verification process is determined to be fraudulent, the applicant will be notified by email immediately, and their admissions application will be withdrawn. Students found to have submitted fraudulent materials may also be subject to additional institutional sanctions and potential legal action.
Health Career program admissions
Admission to many of Sandburg’s Health Career programs (i.e.Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Dental Hygiene, and Mortuary Science) is competitive. These programs are often referred to as limited enrollment programs (LEP). Selection for each is based on point systems outlined in the admissions steps for each program, except Mortuary Science. Students interested in limited enrollment programs must be accepted to Sandburg before they can apply to the limited enrollment programs. Limited enrollment program applications are on mySandburg with deadlines to apply. For further information, please visit the Career-Pathways/Health Sciences page on the Sandburg website. Note: Students need to meet with their academic advisor to review the program’s admission requirements, apply within the program’s deadlines, and meet all criteria for review for admission. Students seeking admission to a limited enrollment program at Sandburg may be admitted to the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in General Studies, or another eligible program or certificate while they complete preparatory courses required for admission to their program of interest.
International Admissions
Sandburg encourages applicants from around the world to apply for our various degree programs. The College is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students. Prospective international students should contact the director of international student services (international@sandburg.edu, 309.341.5312) to discuss their eligibility for admission.
International student admission steps
International students seeking an F-1 student visa must meet the following admission requirements and submit all required documentation by the published deadline.
- Completed Sandburg Application for Admission.
- Proof of high school graduation - An official transcript that provides evidence of graduation from a secondary school. Photocopies may be accepted. Transcripts must be translated into English.
- Proof of English Proficiency - Students whose native language is not English are required to submit one of the following:
- TOEFL IBT minimum score of 68. Official test results must be sent directly from ETS using school code 1982.
- Official transcripts from an accredited United States college or university showing successful completion (grade of C or higher) of a college-level writing course and 6 hours of college-level academic coursework that requires reading.
- Official SAT score with an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sub-score of 480 or higher or an official ACT score with an English sub-score of 20 or higher.
- Certification of Finances Form verifying the ability of the student or the student’s sponsor to meet all educational and living expenses for one year while attending Sandburg. International Students do not qualify for federal financial aid.
- Bank statement dated within 90 days showing a minimum of $21,000 (USD).
- Photocopy of a current passport.
- Students transferring from another U.S. institution must submit a copy of their current I-20, I-94 and visa
Sandburg will issue a Form I-20 after all admission requirements are met.
All international students must report to the College on or before the date stated on the Form I-20.
Students on an F-1 visa are required to abide by the regulations that govern international students in the United States. Failure to do so will result in a visa termination.
During the fall and spring terms, F-1 students are required to enroll full-time which is defined as a minimum of 12 credit hours.
International health insurance
All F-1 international students are required to enroll in the college-sponsored health insurance plan through LewerMark each semester. Students are automatically enrolled in the plan at the time of registration. Exceptions to this policy are rare and must be approved by the insurance provider.
International college transcripts
Students with prior international postsecondary studies are not required to submit transcripts for admission. However, in order for college-level coursework taken in other countries to be considered for transfer credit, students must submit an original course-by-course evaluation completed by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or other College-approved organization.
Readmission
If you have previously attended Sandburg and want to return after an absence of one semester or more, you must notify the Admissions and Records Office of any changes in name, address, phone number, academic program, etc. A new application for admission is not required. Some academic programs have special readmission policies and procedures. Call 309.341.5237 or email studentdevelopment@sandburg.edu for the Galesburg campus (main) or 217.357.3129 for the Carthage campus.
Steps to enroll
*Note, the steps to enroll for our Limited Enrollment Programs differs from those listed below. Please check our website, or contact Student Development at 309.341.5237 or studentdevelopment@sandburg.edu to speak with an advisor, for more information.
Step 1. Submit your application.
Step 2. Provide your course placement info
To help determine the best starting point for your coursework, you can submit one or more of the following documents. A high school or college transcript is recommended but not required for admission to Sandburg.
- Request your official high school/college transcripts from all the institutions you’ve attended or your high school equivalency exam results (GED/HiSet). Documents can be sent through Parchment or emailed to transcripts@sandburg.edu.
- High school transcript or equivalency exam results are required for financial aid.
- Send official ACT/SAT scores directly from the testing agency (ACT or College Board) if you have taken one of these tests within the past five years.
- Check the admissions application portal to see if you need to take the Accuplacer placement test. (Carl Sandburg College Admission Application) For additional information on Accuplacer testing: Testing Center
3. Apply for financial aid. (optional)
4. Register for your classes.
- Schedule an appointment with an advisor via email or by calling: 309.341.5237 (Galesburg) / 217.357.3129 (Carthage).
5. Pay your tuition.
- Several payment options are available, including payment plans.
- Email us, or call 309.341.5281 for assistance.
Online & blended courses
Online
Online courses offer the same high quality instruction as on-campus classes.
With Sandburg Online, learning can be accessible and flexible. If students have a busy schedule, they are able to “attend” class at times that best fit their schedule.
Students should be aware that online courses begin and end on specific dates, and the coursework has assigned deadlines.
Blended
Blended learning combines traditional (face-to-face) classrooms with online coursework. This type of class can be structured a various ways, but typically it meets in the classroom once a week, and then the student completes the rest of the week’s activities online. This provides a more flexible schedule, but keeps the personal touch of face-to-face meeting time.
Multiple Modalities
This is a flexible format class. Students may attend on campus, virtually, or online. A webcam, microphone, speakers and broadband internet are required for virtual attendance.
Winter Courses
Sandburg offers four-week winter courses between the fall and spring semesters. Due to their compressed nature, these classes require quite a bit of time to complete successfully. For this reason, students are only permitted to enroll in one winter class at a time.
Dual credit opportunities for high school students
Sandburg works cooperatively with the high schools within the Sandburg district who wish to provide college-level courses for their students. Dual credit allows eligible students to receive both high school and college credit for successfully completing college-level courses. These college courses may be offered at the high school, online, or at one of the Sandburg campuses. Students must have the high school’s permission and obtain sufficient scores on a placement test to enroll in college courses. For detailed information, please contact Admissions at 309.345.3500 or admissions@sandburg.edu.
Sandburg agreements
C.A.R.E.E.R. Program (Formerly CHARGE BACKS)
Sandburg participates in the Comprehensive Agreement Regarding the Expansion of Educational Resources (C.A.R.E.E.R.), an agreement signed by all of the community college districts in Illinois. This program allows students to enroll at another Illinois community college at the in-district tuition and fee rates if their selected program is not offered in their home district. For additional information and to complete the necessary paperwork, contact Student Development at 309.341.5237 or visit https://www.sandburg.edu/admissions-aid/paying-for-college/cooperative-agreements.html.
Guaranteed Admission Agreements
Guaranteed Admission is a policy that four-year undergraduate schools have to clearly define admission criteria. Illinois has laws that require all public universities to offer guaranteed admission pathways. Private universities and colleges may also publish this criteria on their website.
University of Illinois System (UIUC, UIC, UIS)
University of Illinois System has implemented its own version with additional structure.
Key features:
- Guaranteed admission for eligible transfer students who:
- Graduated from an Illinois high school, and
- Have completed a minimum number of college credits with a qualifying GPA.
- Applies whether credits were earned in state or out-of-state.
- Each campus (UIUC, UIC, UIS) sets its own:
- GPA thresholds
- Required credit hours
- Major specific prerequisites
- The guarantee covers admission to the university, not necessarily to selective majors (engineering, nursing, business, etc.).
All Other Illinois Public Universities (EIU, ISU, NIU, NEIU, SIUC, SIUE, WIU, Chicago State, Governors State
These universities are also bound by the same statewide guaranteed admission law.
Key features:
- Must provide guaranteed admission to eligible transfer students under the same statewide framework.
- Requirements typically include:
- A minimum GPA (varies by institution)
- A set number of transferable credit hours
- Completion of any major specific prerequisites
- The guarantee applies to general university admission, not necessarily to competitive or capacity limited majors.
To learn more about Guaranteed Admission Agreements, please click the following link: https://www.sandburg.edu/sandburg-experience/student-development/academic-advising/how-to-transfer-to-a-four-year-school.html#agreements
Partnership Agreements
Partnerships between community colleges and four-year universities create clear, coordinated pathways that help students transfer smoothly and complete a bachelor’s degree without losing time or credits. These collaborations often include shared advising, aligned coursework, and guaranteed admission agreements that remove uncertainty for students planning their next step. At their best, they expand access, reduce costs, and make higher education more efficient and predictable for everyone involved.
To learn more about Sandburg Partnerships, please click the following link: https://www.sandburg.edu/sandburg-experience/student-development/academic-advising/how-to-transfer-to-a-four-year-school.html#agreements
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