Relay GPA Policy

Carol Kumm

Mar 18, 2024

1619

Undergraduate GPA Policy (Admissions 2024)

Relay recognizes that a prospective student's candidacy for admissions is determined by a number of factors. One factor that Relay considers during admissions is an applicant’s undergraduate GPA. As an institution of higher education, Relay is required to maintain an undergraduate GPA policy that meets state and regulatory standards. Below is Relay’s undergraduate GPA policy.

Prospective students seeking admission to Relay must meet the eligibility requirements of the program to which they are applying. This could include Institutional Admission for programs with a Master of Arts in Teaching component and/or Educator Preparation Program Admission for those seeking certification.

Relay’s minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA requirement for Institutional Admission is 2.50 on a 4.00 scale. All applicants to Relay must meet the institutional GPA requirements for admission. Certification-seeking applicants to one of Relay's state-approved educator preparation programs or out-of-state educator preparation programs must also meet the state-specific requirements for admissions. (See Institutional Admission Table below.)
Admission requirements for Relay’s state-approved educator preparation program (for applicants seeking certification) are aligned with state requirements and may be different from Relay’s institutional GPA requirements or impose certain conditions on exceptions. (Please see the table below for State-specific admissions requirements for Relay’s educator preparation programs.)
Applicants who plan to seek certification in a state other than those listed in the State-Specific admissions requirements for admission into Relay’s Educator Preparation Programs should reference the State-Specific Licensure Requirements for Applicants Enrolling in an Out-of-State Educator Preparation Program table. Please note that these tables include only GPA requirements, not all requirements for admission and completion and that these are subject to change.
Note: Applicants who seek to teach in Louisiana and Ohio who are enrolled in Relay Colorado’s Distance learning program should refer to the Applicants enrolling in Colorado’s distance learning program table.

In addition to the tables below, you may also check out our Locations Guide on the Prospective Students Website.

Institutional Admission
Undergraduate GPA	Eligibility
2.50 or higher	Applicant is eligible for admissions to Relay
Below 2.50	Relay may admit a small portion of applicants with an undergraduate GPA below a 2.50 who have: Earned a 2.50 GPA in their last 60 credit hours of their undergraduate program, or Earned a master’s degree or higher with a GPA of 2.50 or higher. Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be prompted to have a secondary recommendation submitted that will be used to evaluate their eligibility for admissions to Relay. Relay can admit only a small number of students via the second recommendation exception. Please submit your transcript and application as soon as possible in order to be considered.

State-Specific Admissions Requirements for Admission to Relay’s Educator Preparation Programs
State of EPP Approval	State Minimum Cumulative Undergraduate GPA Requirement for EPP Admission	Exceptions to Minimum Cumulative Undergraduate GPA Requirement
Colorado	No Minimum Out-of-State Applicants: See GPA Requirements for Licensure Table below Note: Applicants not applying for admission to an educator preparation program in the state must meet Relay’s institutional admission GPA requirement of 2.50.	Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale on all coursework previously attempted at an accredited institution of higher education from which the bachelor’s degree was conferred. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below the Relay minimum of 2.50 may apply to be admitted to Relay’s Colorado educator preparation programs via exception to Relay’s GPA policy who have: Earned a 2.50 GPA in their last 60 credit hours of their undergraduate program, or Earned a master’s degree or higher with a GPA of 2.50 or higher. Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be prompted to have a secondary recommendation submitted that will be used to evaluate their eligibility for admissions to Relay. Relay can admit only a small number of students via the second recommendation exception. Please submit your transcript and application as soon as possible in order to be considered.
Connecticut	2.70	Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale on all coursework previously attempted at an accredited institution of higher education from which the bachelor’s degree was conferred. Relay may admit up to 10% of applicants to Relay’s Connecticut educator preparation programs via exception who have an undergraduateGPA below the state minimum of 2.70 Applicants with a GPA below the state minimum of 2.70 will be prompted to provide a personal statement explaining any extenuating circumstances during their undergraduate program that impacted their GPA and how they will ensure their academic success in the graduate program and contact information for a second recommendation that will be used to evaluate their eligibility for admissions to Relay. This includes applicants below the state minimum of a 2.70 GPA in addition to applicants whose GPA also falls below Relay’s minimum GPA of a 2.50.
Delaware	3.00	Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on all coursework previously attempted at an accredited institution of higher education from which the bachelor’s degree or higher was conferred. Applicants with a GPA below the state minimum of 3.00 may apply to be admitted to Relay’s Delaware educator preparation program if they meet one of the following conditions: Demonstrated mastery of general knowledge through passing scores on the Praxis I/Core, ACT, SAT, or GRE exams (Basic Skills exam(s)), or Earned a 3.00 in the last 2 years of their most recent higher education program. Applicants entering the program as a Resident with a cumulative GPA below the required minimum of 3.0 may receive enrollment to the Delaware Educator Preparation Program at the end of their first year in the EPP by meeting one of the following requirements: Achieve a GPA of a 3.00 on combined coursework from their first year of Relay and their most recent year of coursework prior to enrolling at Relay, or Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge, including the ability to read, write, and compute, by achieving passing scores on the Praxis I/Praxis Core, ACT, SAT, or GRE exams (Basic Skills exam(s)) by the end of the first year at Relay Relay may admit up to 10% of non-resident applicants to Relay’s Delaware educator preparation program via exception if the applicant has a GPA below the state minimum of 3.0 and does not meet the above conditions. Applicants who are a part of the 10% who fall under this exception and also fall below Relay’s minimum GPA requirement of a 2.50 may be prompted to have a secondary recommendation submitted that will be used to evaluate their eligibility for admissions to Relay. Relay can admit only a small number of students via the second recommendation exception. Please submit your transcript and application as soon as possible in order to be considered.
Illinois	No Minimum Note: Applicants not applying for admission to an educator preparation program in the state must meet Relay’s institutional admission GPA requirement of 2.50.	Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale on all coursework previously attempted at an accredited institution of higher education from which the bachelor’s degree was conferred. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below the Relay minimum of 2.50 may apply to be admitted to Relay’s Illinois educator preparation programs via exception to Relay’s GPA policy who have: Earned a 2.50 GPA in the last 60 credit hours of their undergraduate program, or Earned a master’s degree or higher with a GPA of 2.50 or higher. Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be prompted to have a secondary recommendation submitted that will be used to evaluate their eligibility for admissions to Relay. Relay can admit only a small number of students via the second recommendation exception. Please submit your transcript and application as soon as possible in order to be considered.
Louisiana	2.20	See GPA Requirements for Licensure Table below.
New Jersey	3.00 Note: Applicants not applying for admission to an educator preparation program in the state must meet Relay’s institutional admission GPA requirement of 2.50.	Educator Preparation Program GPA Requirements Applicants graduating from their baccalaureate or higher degree program on or after September 1, 2016: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on all coursework previously attempted at an accredited institution of higher education from a completed baccalaureate or higher program. Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA below 3.0 but higher than or equal to 2.75 may receive admission to the New Jersey educator preparation program if they meet on the following: Graduated from their undergraduate or higher degree program before 9/1/2016, or Exceeded the passing score on the approved content area exam that aligns with their certification area by at least 10% . Applicants who do not meet the GPA criteria for Relay’s New Jersey educator preparation program may be eligible for admission via one of the following exceptions to Relay’s policy: Program Sponsorship: Applicants who graduated on or after September 1, 2016, with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 (baccalaureate or higher) who do not meet the criteria above may be considered for program sponsorship. Sponsored candidates can make up no more than 10% of the CE preparation program’s annual accepted candidates. Applicants may receive program sponsorship if they are employed at the time of their application to the EPP. Employer Sponsorship: Applicants who do not meet the Educator Preparation Program GPA Requirements may be eligible for employer sponsorship through a Limited Certificate of Eligibility (Limited CE). The employer must be approved by the NJDOE to sponsor applicants for a Limited CE. Applicants applying to Relay through employer sponsorship must have an active Limited CE application with employer documentation submitted to NJEdCert to be considered for admission to Relay. Candidates applying for a Limited CE are ineligible to receive program sponsorship for GPA.
New York	3.00 Note: Applicants not applying for admission to an educator preparation program in the state must meet Relay’s institutional admission GPA requirement of 2.50.	Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on all coursework previously attempted at an accredited institution of higher education from which the bachelor’s or graduate degree was conferred. Applicants may apply to be admitted to Relay’s New York educator preparation programs via exception to Relay New York’s 3.00 GPA policy who have: Earned a 3.0 GPA in their last 60 credit hours of their undergraduate program, or Provide a personal statement via the application essay describing how they will contribute positively to the teaching profession. Relay may admit up to 50% of applicants who meet the Relay institutional minimum GPA of 2.50 with an undergraduate or graduate GPA below the state minimum of 3.00. In addition to their GPA, Relay will evaluate the applicant’s admissions essay to determine eligibility for admissions to Relay. Applicants who do not meet the above criteria and whose undergraduate GPA falls below Relay’s minimum GPA for admission of 2.50 may be prompted to have a secondary recommendation submitted that will be used to evaluate their eligibility for admissions to Relay. Relay can admit only a small number of students via the second recommendation exception. Please submit your transcript and application as soon as possible in order to be considered.
Pennsylvania	3.00	Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on all coursework previously attempted at an accredited institution of higher education from which the bachelor’s degree or higher was conferred. Applicants with a GPA from a completed bachelor’s degree or higher below the state minimum of 3.00 may be considered for admission to Relay’s Pennsylvania educator preparation programs who have: Earned a minimum undergraduate or graduate GPA of 2.80 and meet one the Basic Skills requirements below: Submitted qualifying scores on the Praxis Core, or A combined score of 1050 on the SAT with no score lower than 500 on either the verbal or mathematics subtests, or A score of no less than 23 on the English subtest and 20 on the Mathematics subtest of the ACT. Residency Program Only: Relay may admit up to 10% of residency applicants with a GPA from a completed bachelor’s degree or higher below the state minimum of 3.00 and who do not meet the criteria above. These applicants may apply via exception to the GPA policy who have: Earned a 2.50 GPA in the last 60 credit hours of their undergraduate program, or Earned a master’s degree or higher with a GPA of 2.50 or higher *Residency applicants must achieve a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in Relay coursework by the end of the first 12 credit hours to remain enrolled at Relay.
Tennessee	2.75	Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 from a completed baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate degree program or a GPA of 3.00 in the most recent sixty (60) credit hours earned at a regionally accredited IHE. Relay may admit up to 10% of applicants to Relay’s Tennessee educator preparation programs via exception who have a GPA below the state minimum of 2.75 including those who fall under Relay’s minimum GPA requirement of a 2.50. These applicants may be prompted to have a secondary recommendation submitted that will be used to evaluate their eligibility for admissions to Relay. Relay can admit only a small number of students via the second recommendation exception. Please submit your transcript and application as soon as possible in order to be considered.
Texas	2.50	Applicants must have at least a 2.50 GPA from an official transcript on all coursework previously attempted at an accredited institution of higher education from which the most recent bachelor’s degree or higher was conferred (or is in progress). Applicants with a GPA from their most recent degree conferred below the state minimum of 2.50 may be considered for admission to Relay’s Texas educator preparation programs who have earned a 2.50 GPA in their last 60 semester credit hours. Relay follows state regulations in TAC §227.10(a)(3)(A)(ii) for the last 60 semester credit hours.

Applicants who seek to teach in a state other than the one in which the program of their enrollment was approved should verify that their undergraduate GPA meets requirements for licensure in that state. See the table above for admissions requirements to Relay’s state-approved educator preparation programs.

State-Specific Licensure Requirements for Applicants Enrolling in an Out-of-State Educator Preparation Program
Licensure State	Undergraduate GPA Requirement for Licensure	GPA Requirement for Licensure
Georgia	N/A	Relay operates as an out-of-state educator preparation program in Georgia and enrolls prospective teachers in its Colorado-approved educator preparation program. Please see Colorado above for undergraduate GPA admissions requirements for Relay’s Colorado EPP. There is not a minimum undergraduate GPA requirement for the Georgia Induction Certificate.
Rhode Island	N/A	Relay enrolls prospective Rhode Island teachers in its Colorado-approved online educator preparation program. Please see Colorado above for undergraduate GPA admissions requirements for Relay’s Colorado EPP. There is not a minimum undergraduate GPA requirement for out-of-state prepared educators seeking certification in Rhode Island.
Washington, D.C.	N/A	Relay enrolls prospective Washington, DC teachers in its Colorado-approved online educator preparation program. Please see Colorado above for undergraduate GPA admissions requirements for Relay’s Colorado EPP. There is not a minimum undergraduate GPA requirement for out-of-state prepared educators seeking certification in Washington, DC.

Applicants who seek to teach in Louisiana who are enrolled in Relay Colorado’s Distance Learning program should verify that their undergraduate GPA meets requirements for admissions to Relay. See the table below for admissions requirements to Relay’s Colorado Distance Learning Program for applicants in Louisiana.

Applicants Enrolling in Colorado’s Distance Learning Program - For applicants applying to the MAT program without the option to pursue licensure in any state (through Relay)

State

Undergraduate GPA

Requirement for Admissions

GPA Requirement for Admissions

Louisiana

2.50

Relay may admit a small portion of applicants with an undergraduate GPA below a 2.50 who have:

Earned a 2.50 GPA in their last 60 credit hours of their undergraduate program, or
Earned a master’s degree or higher with a GPA of 2.50 or higher.

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be prompted to have a secondary recommendation submitted that will be used to evaluate their eligibility for admissions to Relay.