Original Date: 4/18/1973 | Last Revision Effective: 2/25/2026
Policy Contact: Vice President, Student Affairs
Policy
General Admission
The chief admissions officer or designee admits applicants to the college based on meeting the following conditions:
- Applicants are competent to benefit from the course offerings of the college, and
- they would not, by their presence or conduct, create a disruptive atmosphere within the college inconsistent with the purposes of the institution, and
- they are at least eighteen (18) years of age or older, or
- they have applied for admission under the provisions of the student enrollment options program, such as Running Start, Basic and Transitional Studies (BATS) International High School Completion, other local student enrollment options, or a successor program, or
- they are a high school graduate, hold a GED, or other equivalent high school credential, and
- they follow the established admission procedures.
Admission to specific degree programs
Upon receipt of a student’s application to attend the college, the admissions office requests that the applicant file a data information request form stating their program pathway. However, all applicants who are qualified for admission to the college cannot always be accommodated in the educational program of their choice because of space limitations or because some prerequisites for program acceptance have not been fulfilled. In order to be considered for admission in the educational major program of their choice, at a later date, such students will be required to submit a supplemental application and present additional information to the admission office. Examples of information which might be considered may include but are not necessarily limited to the following:
- Grade point average.
- Successful completion of high school courses or elementary courses in the field.
- Recommendation and test scores.
Although criteria for program acceptance may vary from program to program, they are binding if all of the following conditions have been met:
- They have been accepted by the office of admission and the instructional program chair(s).
- The criteria apply to all students seeking admission to the educational program major.
- The criteria have been made available through the office of admissions and in the advising offices of the educational programs prior to the first day of the preceding quarter.
International applicants: The International Education program requires its applicants to meet federal, division, and specific program entrance requirements.
Underage Admission
Underage applicants include those who are under the age of 18 and have not graduated from high school. All underage applicants must complete the general college admission application.
Programs targeted to underage populations, also referred to as high school student enrollment options programs, may allow admission to applicants under the age of 18. Each program establishes requirements and processes that all applicants must follow.
The college admits other applicants enrolled in a district or private high school or home-schooled high school students under the age of 18 who are at least 16 years of age, or can demonstrate exceptional or extenuating circumstances that warrants early admission to the college. A decision is made by the chief admissions officer or designee on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants must follow all other requirements and processes as established by the college and pay any established fees.
Revoking Admission
The college may revoke an admission application under the following circumstances:
- Prior to enrollment in classes, an admitted student by their presence or conduct creates a disruptive atmosphere within the college inconsistent with the purposes of the institution.
- An admitted student fails to enroll in classes for four or more consecutive quarters.
Admitted students are subject to Policy 2050 Student Conduct Code. The college may impose disciplinary sanctions against a student who commits, or aids, abets, incites, encourages, or assists another person to commit, an act(s) of misconduct as indicated in the policy.
Relevant Laws and Other Resources
RCW 28B.50.090(3)(b)
WAC 132H-160-270, 132H-160
Bellevue College Policy 2050 Student Conduct Code
Revision History
Original 4/18/1973
Revisions 3/18/2003; 3/22/2005; 5/21/2009; 4/6/2015; 6/6/2018; 02/16/2022; 2/25/2026
Approved By
Board of Trustees
Last Updated April 7, 2026