Frequently Asked Questions
› What do I need in order to apply for Graduate Admission?
› What does it cost?
› Should I submit a full application for admission or a readmission application?
› I selected "pay later" when submitting my application for admission. I am now ready
to pay, how do I pay?
› What is the address if I want to express mail/courier my application materials?
› I have not yet taken the admissions test. May I still be admitted?
› I have not taken the admissions test yet but I have been admitted in provisional standing.
Are there any restrictions?
› I have taken the IELTS instead of the TOEFL exam. Will this be okay?
› I have taken my admissions test but did not make the required score. May I continue
another semester?
› How do I obtain information regarding the admissions tests?
› How many letters of recommendation are required?
› What is considered a full-time load for a graduate student?
› What is considered a maximum load for a graduate student?
› How can I be reclassified as an in-state student?
› I live outside of Tennessee. Can I be classified as an in-state student?
› What is the time limit allowed to complete a graduate degree?
› My six years have expired. What do I do?
› If I don't have a master's degree, can I apply for an Ed.S. Degree?
› Aren't there some exceptions where I can go from bachelors to Ph.D. or Ed.S.?
› If I have a fee waiver, do I have to pay the application fee?
› I was an undergraduate at Tennessee Tech; do I still have to pay the application fee?
› When I graduate, does the graduate office send something to my school or the state?
› Transfer GPA Policy as related to Graduate Students
What do I need in order to apply for Graduate Admission?
- Apply online at 'Apply to the College of Graduate Studies'
- $35 ($40 for international students) nonrefundable application fee
- Official college transcripts from ALL previously-attended institutions
- Letters of recommendation (please review your program's admission requirements for the required number, if any)
- Satisfactory Test Scores (please review your program's admission requirements for
any required exams)
What does it cost?
- Instate residents pay approximately $5,688 per semester for 9 hours
- Out-of-state students pay approximately $12,222 per semester for 9 hours
- Additional fee information may be found at the Tennessee Tech Bursar website
Should I submit a full application for admission or a readmission application?
The same application is used for both regular admission and readmission. If applying
for readmission to the same major and degree program, please select the option of
READMIT when asked for your STUDENT TYPE in the first field under the 'Program Information'
section of the application.
I selected "pay later" when submitting my application for admission. I am now ready to pay, how do I pay?
You will log back into your Application Portal Account to access the application fee invoice to pay online.
What is the address if I want to express mail/courier my application materials?
College of Graduate Studies
Tennessee Tech University
1 William L. Jones Drive, Room 306
Cookeville, TN 38505
I have not yet taken the admissions test. May I still be admitted?
You will need to submit the admissions test results prior to consideration of admission unless you qualify for a waiver. Those majors and qualifications are:
- Engineering--must have graduated with a bachelor's degree in engineering from Tennessee
Tech
I have not taken the admissions test yet but I have been admitted in provisional standing. Are there any restrictions?
If you are admitted in provisional standing pending test scores, you must take the
test during your first semester of enrollment. You will not be permitted to register
for a second semester until the scores have been received.
I have taken the IELTS instead of the TOEFL exam. Will this be okay?
The Graduate School will accept the IELTS as a replacement for the TOEFL exam, as
well as the PTE Academic, DuoLingo, and ELS (Level 112).
I have taken my admissions test but did not make the required score. May I continue another semester?
You must successfully complete the test during your first semester. You will not be
permitted to register a second term until that requirement has been satisfied.
How do I obtain information regarding the admissions tests?
Students needing to take the GRE, IELTS, or TOEFL may go to the respective test information website to register for a convenient test location.
How many letters of recommendation are required?
Most majors require 3, except M.B.A. and Chemistry, which only requires 1. The M.Acc.
program does not require any.
What is considered a full-time load for a graduate student?
9 hours = Full-time Fall and Spring Semester
6 hours = Full-time Summer Semester
NOTE: Graduate Assistants are considered full-time with 6 hours in fall and spring semesters
and 1 hour in the summer semester.
What is considered a maximum load for a graduate student?
16 hours = Any Semester
How can I be reclassified as an in-state student?
You need to provide adequate information to warrant a review of residency status.
Usually this is in the form of a letter from your employer indicating that you are
working full-time (30 hours per week or more) in Tennessee. If approved, the student
may register for up to 7 hours per term at in-state rates while establishing permanent
residency.
I live outside of Tennessee. Can I be classified as an in-state student?
No, we do not offer that option any more. Please see the Bursars Office for our out of state rates.
What is the time limit allowed to complete a graduate degree?
Master's and Ed.S. students must complete all degree requirements within a period
of six consecutive years. Doctoral programs must be completed within a period of eight
consecutive years.
My six years have expired. What do I do?
Contact your academic advisor.
If I don't have a master's degree, can I apply for an Ed.S. Degree?
No. The master's degree is a prerequisite for the Ed.S. program.
Aren't there some exceptions where I can go from bachelors to Ph.D. or Ed.S.?
You can never go to Ed.S. without a master's. The Ph.D. programs do not require a
master's as a prerequisite.
If I have a fee waiver, do I have to pay the application fee?
If you have previously attended Tennessee Tech as a graduate student, you would not have to pay it. However, if you haven't been a Tennessee Tech graduate student, then the fee is required.
I was an undergraduate at Tennessee Tech; do I still have to pay the application fee?
Yes. This fee must be paid at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
When I graduate, does the graduate office send something to my school or the state?
The student must request a transcript be sent. You do that through the Records Office.
Transfer GPA Policy as related to Graduate Students
Tennessee Tech may accept transfer credit from other accredited institutions. The program that you are applying to will determine the graduate level courses that they are willing to transfer into your program of study. It is important to note that the grades earned in those courses are not used in the calculation of a student’s overall cumulative GPA. Only courses with a B or better will be considered as acceptable potential transfer credit.
Your transcript will display 8 specific GPA calculations; however, for most purposes you will be interested in only 2 of those:(1) Overall GPA and (2) Inclusive Combined GPA. The Overall GPA will not include the grades earned in transfer courses but the Inclusive Combined GPA include the grades earned in transfer courses.
Note: Grades in transfer courses will show on your Tennessee Tech transcript with a leading T. For example a grade of A will transfer to Tennessee Tech as a TA, a grade of B as a TB, a grade of C as a TC, etc.
Questions? Contact us!
