Admission Policy
Black Hawk College maintains an “open door” admission policy that provides access to higher education for those individuals who can benefit from its programs and courses.
This policy includes the following:
- High school graduates or those with a GED Certificate or those who can demonstrate college readiness.
- Anyone 18 years of age and older.
- Transfer students from other colleges and universities.
In addition, the following categories of students may be admitted with the approval of the Registrar.
- High school students 16 or 17 years of age who obtain prior approval from the high school in which they are currently enrolled. In addition, prior approval of parent/ guardian is required.
- Young adults 17 years of age who have severed all connections with the high school district in which they are a legal resident. Prior approval of parent/guardian is required.
- Students below 16 years of age in a gifted or accelerated program who obtain prior approval from their high school district. In addition, prior approval of parent/guardian is required. Additional information regarding Early Entry enrollment may be obtained from Enrollment Services.
Enrollment of High School Students
High school students who meet the necessary placement requirements and course prerequisites may enroll in Black Hawk College courses. These opportunities are ordinarily limited to high school students in their junior or senior year. There are two options available: dual credit and dual enrollment. Dual credit courses are for qualified high school students enrolling in a college-level course and, upon successful course completion, earn both college credit and high school credit. Dual enrollment courses are for qualified high school students earning only college credit. The determination of whether a college course is accepted for high school credit is made at the secondary level according to the policies and practices of each school district.
Application for Admission
Every person who is enrolling for the first time must submit an application for admission and pay the required application fee. BHC students who complete the GED program, high school program, or Bridge Program, at one of the BHC outreach centers are eligible for a waiver of the $20 application fee, when filling out a paper application form.
Students who previously attended Black Hawk College and would like to return after an absence of two years must complete another application for admission and pay the fee. When possible, applications should be submitted at least one week prior to registration or an assessment test.
The online application is available at www.bhc.edu/apply.
High School or GED Transcripts
High School graduates and GED recipients are required to submit final transcripts. Transcripts must be sent directly to the Enrollment Services Office (registrar@bhc.edu) from the high school (high school transcript) or regional superintendent’s office (GED transcript).
Note: Students should check specific program requirements and athletic eligibility requirements to determine if a partial transcript may be required before a final transcript is available.
Subject-Specific Admissions Requirements for Students Entering Baccalaureate Programs
Individuals considering enrollment at Black Hawk College are advised that the Illinois Board of Higher Education has established the following high school course distribution requirements for all students admitted to baccalaureate programs beginning in the fall term of 1993:
4 years of English
3 years of mathematics
3 years of social sciences
3 years of science (with laboratories)
2 years of foreign language, music, or art
As an open admissions community college, students will be admitted to Black Hawk College without these courses. However, students in certain programs may be required to take additional courses as prerequisites.
Acceptance of Transfer Credit
Academic credit is generally accepted only from institutions that are accredited by one of the regional accrediting associations. Credit from sources other than regionally accredited associations must be approved by the appropriate department chair and/or dean. Proficiency examinations may be required to determine the transferability of academic credits from non-accredited sources. Only those credits that are applicable to the student’s curriculum at Black Hawk College will be accepted from non-accredited sources. All transfer credit will be equated to the credit hour system. All transcripts become the official property of Black Hawk College and will not be returned or issued to another institution. An evaluation of transfer credit will be conducted upon admission to the college, and will be based on the current declared program of study. Students who submit a Change of Program form to registrar@bhc.edu may request an updated evaluation for transfer credit. www.bhc.edu/enrollmentforms.
Per the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), Black Hawk College will accept credits from Midwest Technical Institute (MTI) if a student has completed one of the following MTI programs: Dental Assisting Certificate (26.5 credit hours); Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Major Appliance Repair Certificate (28 credit hours); Journeyman Welder Certificate (27 credit hours); Journeyman Welder II Certificate (36 credit hours); Medical Assisting Certificate (26.5 credit hours); Medical Coding Certificate (28 credit hours); Pharmacy Technician Certificate (26.5 credit hours). These credits will be accepted as electives.
Department Review of Transfer Credit. Certain transfer courses may require subject matter review by the appropriate academic department. This is due to the intensive nature of certain subject matter. Courses that require department review for course equivalency include BIOL 145 , BIOL 146 , and BIOL 261 . In order to request a department review of these courses completed at another institution, an individual must have already applied and been accepted to Black Hawk College. Students must submit a Transfer Credit Department Review Request form at https://www.bhc.edu/wp-content/uploads/dlm/2024/06/Transfer-Credit-Department-Review-Request-form.pdf and follow the instructions to also include syllabi from the course at the other institution.
A grade of C or better must be achieved and recorded on an official transcript from the prior institution, before course credit will be recorded at Black Hawk College. Approval of course equivalency is at the discretion of the academic department.
College Transcripts. An official transcript must be sent directly from all colleges to Black Hawk College if the student wants to use previous college course work for course placement, financial aid, or credit transfer. Please Note: Faxed or unofficial transcripts are only accepted for advising purposes.
BHC/WIU Dual Admission
The dual admission agreement between Black Hawk College (BHC) and Western Illinois University (WIU) enables a student to gain admission to both colleges at the same time. Students with the dual admission program will have transcripts automatically sent by BHC to WIU each semester. WIU will provide a report each semester to the dual-admitted student indicating how each class taken at BHC has transferred to WIU. The student will always know where he/she stands in the transitional process to WIU. At BHC, contact the Enrollment Services Office. At WIU, contact the Regional Center Admissions Office or the Admissions Office on the Macomb Campus.
BHC/Augustana Next
Students applying for admission to the Associate in Arts program at BHC may simultaneously apply to Augustana College (dual application). Dual applicants shall receive an Augustana student identification card, which will give them an Augustana email address and will grant them access to the College’s library, library databases, campus facilities, sporting and cultural events, and program evaluation software, which will allow them to run “what if?” simulations for every Augustana major at each step in their college career. Students will also receive an Augustana academic advisor and a faculty major advisor with whom they can meet with each semester. Admitted students are eligible to enroll in two, four-credit Augustana courses; one will be designed to satisfy Augustana’s Reasoned Examination of Faith (REF) and the other will address the Global (suffix G) Diversity graduation requirement. Students will pay their regular tuition to BHC for enrollment as non-degree students in these Augustana courses. Students who earn an Associate in Arts degree from BHC will have completed Augustana’s first-year inquiry and learning perspective (LP) general education requirements.
Transfer of International Credit
Black Hawk College requires students to use an approved evaluation service. Accepted are Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) and World Education Services (WES). Accepted applicable courses are based on their recommendation.
Admission of International Students and Non-Native Speakers of English
International Students (F-1 Student Visa)
General admission procedure: International students who would like to enter Black Hawk College must be at least 18 years old by the time classes begin.
For admission to Black Hawk College and to be issued the Form I-20, an international student must submit:
- An application for Form I-20 found in the International Application for Admission packet at: www.bhc.edu/internationalstudents
- Financial support documents showing the availability of sufficient funds.
- TOEFL or Duolingo scores from the last two years (Minimum TOEFL scores for intensive ESL academic program are IBT Score 50, CBT 143, PBT 550; minimum Duolingo score is 85) - for information contact studentvisa@bhc.edu.
Non-Native Speakers of English (US Residents)
Non-native speakers of English must prove English proficiency to ensure appropriate placement. Therefore, these prospective students need to schedule an appointment with the Academic ESL Program Coordinator at franciscoj@bhc.edu.
Students who demonstrate they have met English language proficiency will be waived from ESL and will begin their academic level coursework towards their major.
Admission Denial
The College may deny admission or re-enrollment to individuals who cannot benefit from the curricula offered or are considered detrimental to the best interest of the college community.
Readmission of Service Members
Black Hawk College complies with the regulations released by the Department of Education for readmission of returning service members to a program that was interrupted due to service obligation, 34 CFR 668.18 (a).
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