General admission to an undergraduate program at Walden University requires a high school diploma or general equivalence degree. In addition to an application, applicants must submit official school transcripts, an employment history or resume and as of February 2011, a $50 non-refundable application fee. If applying for graduate school admission, students must provide undergraduate or master's level school transcripts and a goal statement highlighting goals, influential academic experience, prior research experience, prior work experience, interest in Walden and personal attributes contributory to success. Doctoral degree applicants also need to provide evidence of three years of program-related academic or career experience.
Students from foreign countries may apply to Walden University under most of the same circumstances as American students. The only difference is that international students from non-English speaking countries have to submit test scores received within two years of the application from the Test of English as a Foreign Language, Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery.
Walden University will evaluate official transcripts from an accredited United States or foreign educational institution for grade point averages of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale earned up to 10 years before applying for admission. Transcripts must show that at least 12 credit hours were completed and the applicant must be at least 24 years old at the time of the application. Credits obtained under these circumstances may be applied to any one their programs. Walden accepts up to 135 transfer credits. Accepted students are notified of the acceptance of transfer credits upon admission or enrollment.
Walden University is on the 2011 list of Military Friendly Schools. Active service members and veterans are entitled to tuition reductions of 10 percent. Also, as a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Consortium, Walden University allows military members who earned college credits at a military-operated college to transfer and apply those credits toward degree completion at Walden. Walden honors military tuition assistance in all of its forms along with the Veterans' Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program.
Previous graduates of Walden University are encouraged to return to pursue further educational goals. Incentives include a waiver of some courses, expedited admission, scholarship availability and a 15 percent tuition reduction.