Who is a first-year student?
High school seniors applying for admission should apply as a first year applicant. Students who have completed high school and attempted any college coursework after the summer following their senior year, should apply as a transfer student.
Application deadline: Nov. 1
Apply earlier to get an admissions decision earlier. If you apply by Nov. 1, you’ll receive an admissions decision by Jan. 10, though using Early Action is not binding.
Why apply early?
Apply by February 1 and you’ll receive an admissions decision shortly after fully completing your application.
There is no separate application required to be considered for the Honors Program. All students will automatically be considered with their regular application. Learn more about Temple Honors.
Temple exclusively uses the Common App. When completing your application for Temple, be sure to indicate whether you’re applying Early Action or Regular Decision.
There’s an application fee of $55, which you will submit at the same time as the Common App unless you qualify for a waiver through a federal or state program.
Soon after you submit your Common App, you will receive an email about setting up your Undergraduate Applicant Portal, where you can track the status of your application and submit any requirements to complete your application. The undergraduate applicant portal is also where you can make any necessary changes to your account and connect directly with us.
We require all first-year students attending a US high school to self-report their high school grades to complete their application for admission. To submit grades, students need to use the Self-Reported Academic Record System (STARS). Sending us your high school transcript does not complete your application.
Log into STARS.
Upload your current high school transcript.
If STARS is able to accurately review your coursework and grades, you will be asked to verify that the information is correct.
If STARS is unable to accurately review your coursework and grades, you will need to enter all courses and corresponding grades. Review and verify.
We take a holistic approach when reviewing applications, which takes into consideration several factors to fully capture each student’s experiences, interests and academic coursework. Get an idea of what we are looking for by reviewing the following items.
We look for a well-rounded academic background, with the following academic subject distribution.
Temple awards college credits for students who in high school participated in the Advanced Placement program or took college courses through a dual enrollment program. Check out our equivalencies.
Temple is a test-optional school. First-year students can apply without submitting standardized test scores by selecting test-optional on the Common Application. Last year, more than 75% of applicants applied as test optional.
For students who want to send us their test scores, we accept both the SAT and the ACT. Of the students who submitted test scores and enrolled for the fall 2025 incoming class their average SAT score was a 1210 and the average ACT score was a 27.
Learn more about test-optional.
As part of the Common Application, we have an optional essay where you can tell us more about yourself beyond your grades and/or test scores. We recommend that all students complete this section of the application.
Tell us about what you do outside the classroom. Your outside interests help paint the full picture of who you are and can factor into the review process.
Letters of recommendation are optional but will be reviewed if you choose to send them. Please do not send more than two letters. Your letters should be submitted by individuals who can speak to your academic abilities and personal accomplishments, such as a high school advisor or teacher.
Some majors in the Boyer College of Music and Dance, the Tyler School of Art and Architecture and the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts may require additional supporting information such as an audition, interview or portfolio. Please check your intended major’s specific requirements with the school or college below.
For schools and colleges with such requirements, you may schedule your audition and submit your portfolio for review prior to completing the submission of your application.
