Roosevelt University Admissions 2026: Application Deadline, Eligibility & Fees

Roosevelt University Application Deadlines 2027

Roosevelt University publishes fixed cycle dates per the official Roosevelt international admission requirements page. Overseas applicants get earlier deadlines than US-based applicants because F-1 visa processing and I-20 issuance take extra weeks after admission. Roosevelt’s primary intake for Indian students is Fall (August start) — most programs open here.

Planning note: Roosevelt is not a rounds-based admit — it reads applications as they arrive on a rolling basis, so submitting three to four weeks before a deadline gets a faster decision and buys you room for visa steps.

Roosevelt Eligibility for Indian Students

Roosevelt’s eligibility bar is set below top-tier US privates, which is why the university flags a 90-plus percent acceptance rate. Academic thresholds and English-test floors below come from the official Roosevelt English proficiency page and the international requirements page.

Academic Minimums for Indian Applicants

• UG general entry: Class XII from a recognised Indian board at around 65 to 70 percent, plus a Foreign Credential Evaluation from WES, ECE, or a NACES member.
• UG performing arts (CCPA): Class XII plus portfolio, audition, or theatre interview per programme.
• PG general entry: Four-year bachelor’s degree from a recognised Indian institution, minimum 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale (around 60 to 65 percent).
• MBA and Heller graduate: Bachelor’s degree; applicants below 3.0 GPA (around 70 percent) may be asked to interview with the Assistant Dean.
• MS Computer Science: Bachelor’s in CS, IT, Computer Engineering, or related; students from other majors take up to three bridge courses.

English Language Test Minimums

Roosevelt IELTS Waiver for Indian Students

Roosevelt runs an Academic Experience Pathway that waives the English test in two cases. Indian applicants generally do not auto-qualify because India is not on Roosevelt’s country-exemption list (that list covers UK, Australia, Canada excluding Quebec, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and 13 others). Two waiver routes remain open to Indian candidates:

• Transferable US credits: Completing 30-plus transferable semester hours at a US-accredited institution, including English 101 and 102 equivalents, waives the test for undergraduate applicants.
• Prior degree in an English-medium country: Completing a full bachelor’s or higher degree in one of the 20 listed English-medium countries satisfies the requirement.

Indian applicants without US credits or a foreign English-medium degree must submit IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo scores. There is no MOI-based exemption for Indian secondary schooling.

Note: Program-specific entry requirements, fees, and intake availability may differ from the institution-wide minimums shown above. Always confirm on the official Roosevelt University page for your chosen program before applying.

Roosevelt University PG Programs and English Scores

Roosevelt lists 40-plus graduate degrees across the Heller College of Business, College of Science, Health and Pharmacy (CSHP), and the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (CHESS). Base tuition for standard graduate coursework runs USD 995 to USD 1,309 per credit hour (around INR 94,943 to INR 1.25 Lakhs) — see the course-wise fees breakdown for per-programme totals.

Insider note: STEM-designated master’s like MS Computer Science, MS Data Science, and MS Artificial Intelligence qualify graduates for the 24-month OPT STEM extension, giving up to 36 months of US work authorisation after the degree.

Note: Program-specific entry requirements, fees, and intake availability may differ from the institution-wide minimums shown above. Always confirm on the official Roosevelt University page for your chosen program before applying.

Roosevelt UG Programs and Entry Requirements

Roosevelt offers 70-plus undergraduate majors, delivered at the Chicago (Auditorium Building) and Schaumburg campuses. Standard UG base tuition for 2026-27 is USD 24,197 per year (around INR 23.09 Lakhs); performing arts music and theatre run higher at USD 35,086 per year (around INR 33.49 Lakhs). Roosevelt is test-optional — SAT and ACT are welcomed but not required.

Note: Indian Class XII applicants should submit a Foreign Credential Evaluation from WES, ECE, or another NACES-listed agency along with mark sheets — Roosevelt uses this to map percentages to the US 4.0 scale.

Heller MBA at Roosevelt University

The Heller College of Business MBA runs 33 credit hours across seven core courses, three concentration courses, and one elective, delivered in Chicago or fully online. Base tuition is USD 1,100 per credit (around INR 1.05 Lakhs) — total programme cost is USD 36,300 (around INR 34.64 Lakhs) plus fees. Concentrations include Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Management, Real Estate, and Business Analytics.

Heller MBA Entry Requirements

• Degree: Bachelor’s from a recognised institution; no specific major required.
• GPA floor: 3.0 preferred on a 4.0 scale (around 70 percent).
• GMAT / GRE: Not required — Roosevelt does not use standardised admission tests for the MBA.
• Work experience: Not mandatory for the standard MBA; the Executive MBA needs 5-plus years of management experience.
• Interview: Applicants under 3.0 GPA may be called for an interview with the Assistant Dean, Department Chairs, or Heller faculty.

MBA Format Options for Indian Applicants

Roosevelt offers Full-Time (2 years), Part-Time (3 years), and One-Year MBA formats. F-1 international students must enrol full-time in-person to maintain visa status — the online and part-time formats are typically for US-based candidates. The Executive MBA remains onshore-only for working professionals in the Chicago region.

Insider note: The Heller MBA’s no-GMAT policy is a major draw for Indian applicants who want to skip the standardised test — the trade-off is that admissions weigh transcripts, work history, and the personal statement more heavily.

Note: For scholarship and funding options for Indian students at Roosevelt, see the university’s Roosevelt page for the full aid list.

Roosevelt Doctoral Programs PsyD and PharmD

Roosevelt does not offer a traditional PhD but runs two flagship doctoral pathways aimed at professional practice — the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) in Schaumburg and the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology. Both are open to international applicants, though PharmD needs specific US prerequisite coursework.

PharmD Program Structure

• Intake: Summer only; overseas deadline is 1 February 2027.
• Duration: 4 years, delivered at the Schaumburg campus.
• Tuition: USD 47,138 per year (around INR 44.98 Lakhs) or USD 1,603 per credit.
• Prerequisites: Two years of pre-pharmacy coursework in biology, chemistry, calculus, and physics.

PsyD Clinical Psychology Program

• Intake: Fall only; overseas deadline is 15 April 2027.
• Duration: 5 years including internship.
• Tuition: USD 31,472 per year (around INR 30.04 Lakhs) or USD 1,781 per credit.
• Prerequisites: Bachelor’s or master’s in psychology; strong research and clinical exposure preferred.

Note: Program-specific requirements, prerequisites, and intake availability may differ from the institution-wide minimums shown above. Always confirm on the official Roosevelt University page for your chosen program before applying.

Roosevelt University Application Process

Roosevelt uses its own ApplyRU portal for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral applications — there is no Common App or third-party central platform for international applicants. The full application flow takes 30 to 45 minutes once documents are ready.

1. Create your ApplyRU account at applyru.roosevelt.edu/apply and pick your intake, campus, and degree level.
2. Pay the application fee of USD 40 (around INR 3,817) on the ApplyRU portal by card — this fee is non-refundable and cannot be waived for international students.
3. Upload official transcripts from every institution attended after Class X, plus your Foreign Credential Evaluation from WES or ECE.
4. Submit your English proficiency score (IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo) directly from the testing agency to Roosevelt.
5. Upload your passport bio page, statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation as required by your programme.
6. Submit financial documentation covering the first year’s tuition plus USD 17,000 (around INR 16.22 Lakhs) in living expenses.
7. Track decision progress on ApplyRU — most decisions land within 3 to 5 business days once every document is uploaded.

Before you apply: Roosevelt requires transcripts to arrive from the issuing institution or via a NACES-listed evaluator — self-uploaded PDFs are used for provisional review only.

Roosevelt Admission Decisions and Deposits

Roosevelt runs a fast rolling-decision cycle — the offer letter is typically issued within 3 to 5 business days after every document is on file. Indian applicants should build in extra time for the deposit, I-20, and visa steps.

• Offer letter: Emailed via ApplyRU; specifies programme, campus, start term, and any conditions.
• Admission deposit: USD 200 (around INR 19,084), refundable if F-1 visa is denied, applied to tuition on enrolment.
• I-20 issuance: Digital I-20 arrives within one week of the deposit clearing and financial docs being verified.
• Payment deadlines: Fall tuition due 31 July; Spring tuition due 15 December.
• Deferrals: Contact intladmissions@roosevelt.edu — one-term deferrals are handled case by case.

Documents Required for Roosevelt Admissions

Prepare the paperwork below before you start the ApplyRU form — several items (evaluation, financial letter) take 2 to 3 weeks to arrange from India.

• Completed ApplyRU application with the intake, campus, and degree selected.
• Passport bio page scan valid for at least 6 months beyond intended entry.
• Class X and XII mark sheets for undergraduate applicants; bachelor’s transcripts and degree certificate for postgraduates.
• Foreign Credential Evaluation from WES, ECE, or another NACES-listed agency (course-by-course).
• Official English test score report sent directly from IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo.
• Statement of purpose tailored to the programme (typically 500 to 800 words).
• Letters of recommendation — check programme page for count (usually 2 for graduate).
• Resume / CV highlighting academic, project, and any work experience.
• Financial statement — bank statement or letter covering first-year tuition plus USD 17,000 living costs.
• Affidavit of Support if funds are held by a parent or relative sponsor.
• Copy of visa / I-94 only if already in the US on another visa.

Roosevelt University Acceptance Rate

Roosevelt is an access-oriented private university — it admits most applicants who meet its stated academic and English requirements. The university does not publish an official institutional acceptance rate, but third-party admissions trackers estimate the overall admit rate at 90 to 92 percent, based on self-reported outcomes and IPEDS data.

What Drives Roosevelt’s High Admit Rate

Roosevelt is test-optional for undergraduate applicants, does not require GMAT or GRE for the Heller MBA, and reads applications on a rolling basis. Programme demand is spread across 200-plus offerings, so there is no single hyper-competitive gateway like the flagship MS at more selective US publics.

Where the Rate Tightens

PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) and PsyD (Clinical Psychology) admit far fewer students because cohort sizes are capped by clinical placement capacity. Performing arts BFAs at CCPA also apply audition or portfolio screens on top of the academic review.

Insider note: A 92 percent admit rate does not mean automatic entry — Indian applicants still get denied when transcripts are incomplete, when the credential evaluation shows a below-2.75 GPA, or when the English score misses the 6.0 IELTS floor.

USA Student Visa Process for Roosevelt

Indian students accepted to Roosevelt University need an F-1 visa (or J-1 for exchange). The visa is filed after Roosevelt issues the Form I-20 and after the SEVIS I-901 fee is paid. Book the US Embassy or Consulate slot as soon as the I-20 arrives — Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Hyderabad slots for Fall 2027 typically fill 8 to 12 weeks before intake.

The standard sequence is: accept the offer, pay the USD 200 (around INR 19,084) admission deposit, submit financial documents, receive the digital I-20 within a week, pay the SEVIS I-901 fee of USD 350 (around INR 33,397), complete the DS-160 form and pay the USD 185 (around INR 17,653) visa fee, then book the OFC biometrics and consular interview appointments. Carry proof of funds, transcripts, offer letter, and Roosevelt’s I-20 to the interview.

2026 update: The US Department of State continues to run drop-box appointment slots for F-1 renewals in India, but first-time F-1 applicants attending Roosevelt must attend an in-person consular interview at a US Embassy or Consulate.

Tips and Application Checklist for Roosevelt

The steps and timeline below are drawn from Indian-applicant patterns at Roosevelt University — high admit rates do not remove the paperwork bottleneck around WES evaluation and visa scheduling.

• Order WES 12 weeks out: Foreign Credential Evaluation processing runs 4 to 8 weeks — start before you open ApplyRU.
• Book IELTS 10 weeks before deadline: Score reports take 13 days after the test; retakes need 4-week gap.
• Apply 3 to 4 weeks early: Rolling admissions reward early files with faster decisions and time for visa slots.
• Pick STEM-designated MS programmes: MS Computer Science, MS Data Science, and MS AI unlock the 24-month OPT STEM extension.
• Skip GMAT for MBA prep: Heller does not use standardised tests — reallocate time to the statement of purpose.
• Pay deposit within 10 days of admit: The I-20 does not process until the USD 200 deposit clears.
• Confirm campus: PharmD is Schaumburg-only; MBA and MS CS are Chicago Loop; picking wrong stalls I-20 issuance.
• Schedule visa within 5 days of I-20: Consular slots for USA intakes typically vanish 8-12 weeks before start.
• Set aside first-year proof of funds: Roosevelt asks for tuition plus USD 17,000 living (around INR 16.22 Lakhs) in liquid form.

Roosevelt University’s admissions are open now for Fall 2027 and Spring 2027, with rolling decisions, a USD 40 (around INR 3,817) application fee, and English floors at IELTS 6.0. The access-oriented model, no-GMAT MBA, and STEM-designated master’s make it a workable option for Indian students who want a Chicago address without the top-tier selectivity of nearby Northwestern or the University of Chicago. Confirm your programme’s specific requirements on the Roosevelt ranking band and course pages before you build the file.