New College Franklin seeks students who wish to grow in knowledge and wisdom for God’s glory. We welcome applications from students who enjoy reading broadly and deeply, engaging in the timeless questions of truth, beauty and goodness from a biblical foundation, and participating in rigorous academic disciplines. The average CLT of our student body is an 87, which is in the 90th percentile nationally. We welcome students from any orthodox Christian tradition; what is most important is that students practice biblical faithfulness and are committed to seeking the Lord in all endeavors – spiritually, intellectually and physically. We seek students that are humble, recognizing that education is a life-long process in repentance and re-formation into the image and maturity of Christ. This process calls for discipline to work hard, charity to work with fellow students and fellows, intellectual curiosity, perseverance to complete a task, joy in the gift of life, as well the inclination to enjoy the rigorous life of the mind at New College Franklin. What is most important to the admissions committee is that applicants understand and are willing to join the unique program of studies at New College Franklin.

New College Franklin admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at New College Franklin. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies or any other school-administered programs.

New College Franklin usually will not admit degree-seeking students wishing to enroll past the start of fall semester.

For priority consideration, applications should be submitted during one of our ordinary review periods (see below). Applications will not be reviewed until all components—including CLT score—have been submitted.

Scholarships are awarded as funds are available. To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must apply by the second review deadline.

Our application deadlines currently are:

First Review Deadline: November 1

Second Review Deadline: February 1

We are still receiving applications for fall 2024. Submit your application today!

Students applying to New College Franklin must have completed high school or its equivalent, and successful applicants usually have earned a “B” or higher average in their secondary-level studies. New College Franklin does not require students to have studied any particular language or classical discipline, but most successful applicants have studied at least two years of classical or foreign language in high school as well as logic and rhetoric. Additionally, most successful applicants have followed a college preparatory course that includes three years of English and/or humanities, two years of algebra, one year of geometry, and three years of science.

All applicants under the age of twenty-five are required to submit an official Classic Learning Test (CLT) score report. CLT is an alternative to the SAT/ACT that more closely aligns with our Christian ideals and educational philosophy. The Classic Learning Test is available at CLTExam.com.

Applicants who have been accepted must pay a non-refundable matriculation deposit of $500 (applied toward the first tuition payment) and sign a tuition agreement to secure their place at New College Franklin for the coming academic year. The deposit is required to secure a position in the incoming class. Admitted applicants are therefore encouraged to submit the deposit as soon as possible, as the limited number of spots are allocated to accepted applicants on a first come, first served basis. In the event that open slots remain after June 1st, deposits received after June 1st may be subject to an additional non-refundable fee.

Students who do not meet the set standards for admission may be accepted to New College Franklin under provisions set by the Admissions Committee. The provisions are set on an individual basis, but it is customary that students are provisionally admitted full-time for one term on the basis that they maintain a 2.0 GPA in all courses. If the students have successfully met the conditions of provisional admission, they may be upgraded to regular status, and only then may the credits earned under provisional admission be counted towards graduation. Students who do not meet the conditions of provisional admission will be dismissed from New College Franklin.

New College Franklin expects degree-seeking students to be full-time in the program. Part-time students may be permitted at the discretion of the Dean. Since all students take the core curriculum as a cohort, it is difficult to accommodate part-time students.

Auditors are permissible provided they meet relevant admission standards, space is available (degree-seeking, full-time students are given preference), the Dean (with the counsel of the tutor teaching the course) grants permission, and the students pay the requisite fees.