Undergraduate Admissions

Elementary Education program applicants are required to take one of these tests no later than the early part of their senior year in high school so that the results can be sent to the Admissions Office by the application deadline. Consult with your high school guidance counselor for testing information.

The Moody code number for reporting ACT is 1088 and for SAT is 1486. Exemption is granted only to those who have completed one year (30 semester hours) of college-level work at an acceptable academic level (2.0 GPA minimum) or to those who completed secondary education for a period of two years at the time of application. International applicants are not required to submit ACT or SAT scores.

It is our aim to know you as much as possible, and we provide an opportunity for self-expression in responding to our essay questions. Since all students at Moody are expected to maintain the highest standards of integrity we require that your autobiographical essays be your own work. Essays should be clear, concise, and complete.The essays are located inside the application.

To be admitted and to graduate, students must personally adhere to and support the Doctrinal Qualifications for Students.

The Institute recognizes homeschooling as a viable educational alternative and welcomes applications from qualified homeschooled students. Please submit an official transcript or a GED plus student’s ACT or SAT score for evaluation. Verification that the homeschool has met the applicant's home state requirements for graduation will be required.

Homeschool Verification Form

To download the form, click here.

For more information about attending school in the United States, we suggest that international students contact the nearest American consul or embassy. Moody enrolls undergraduate students from other countries to the Chicago campus during the fall semester only.

Therefore, Moody requires that all applicants take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Duolingo. It’s important that applicants can read, write, speak, and understand the English language with a high degree of proficiency. Therefore, Moody requires that all applicants take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For undergraduate students, the guidelines for required minimum test scores are as follows:

• Minimum TOEFL score of 550 on paper-based tests
• Minimum TOEFL score of 213 on computer-based tests
• Minimum TOEFL score of 79 on internet-based tests
• Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 on the academic test
• Minimum Duolingo score of 105.

Applicants should have the scores submitted directly to the Moody Office of Admissions. Applicants who do not meet the minimum English proficiency requirement will not be admitted to Moody.

Applicants should be aware that they may need to take one or more tests multiple times before achieving the required minimum score. Also, the tests are offered only at certain times during the year. For testing times and other important information, you can visit TOEFL at toefl.org (school code: 1486) or IELTS at ielts.org. International applications will not be considered for admission until the exam results are received and evaluated by Moody. Moody Bible Institute offers no English training programs.

International students are required to have all academic documents and records evaluated by SpanTran or Education Credential Evaluators ece.org or any current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (visit naces.org/members for a list of members). The evaluation must include a grade point average. For testing times and other important information, you can visit TOEFL at toefl.org (school code: 1486) or IELTS at ielts.org or Duolingo at englishtest.duolingo.com. 

Additional requirements are needed by applicants of the Music Department. Read more about these requirements.

Note: Our Music programs are only offered at our Chicago campus.

Candidates for admission to Moody are required to provide evidence of proven Christian character, acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior at least one year prior to applying, and a sincere willingness to pursue full-time Christian ministry. Applicants must maintain a lifestyle consistent with the biblical standards of walking daily with Christ, a consistent prayer life, and godly character traits. A life of discipline, evidence of emotional maturity, Christian identity, and positive influence with peers are also strongly weighed in the evaluation process.

Once a candidate is admitted to Moody, abstinence from tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs and sexual promiscuity as outlined in the Student Life Guide is required. In addition, candidates must attend a Protestant church and regularly participate in worship services and church ministry opportunities.

Persons who are currently separated, previously divorced or divorced but remarried will be considered for admission on an individual basis but only if all other entrance requirements are fulfilled. Please carefully follow the instructions on the application regarding disclosing this additional information.

Download the reference forms below and complete the top part of each form. Please make sure to write your name on the forms before distributing them. After completing the forms, referents should e-mail the form to apply@moody.edu or the referents should mail it to the Admissions Office. Reference forms are considered valid for 6 months from their submission date. 

Pastoral Reference Form

Pastoral: A leader at a Christian organization with direct access/oversight into the applicant’s spiritual life, and can be any of the following: Pastor, Elder, Deacon, Small Group Leader, Camp Director, and/or Sunday School Teacher. It must be someone who has known the applicant for at least one year and cannot be a relative of the applicant.

To download the form, click here.

Christian Character Reference Form

Christian Character: This reference should be filled out by a mature Christian adult who has known you at least one year and is not a relative of the applicant.

To download the form, click here.

Request official transcripts from every school attended to be sent directly to the Admissions Office at Moody. All transcripts are required and must be postmarked by the application deadline. Transfer candidates must submit both high school and college transcripts if a bachelor’s degree has not been obtained. International applicants must provide an official transcript evaluation.

Candidates who took the GED test must submit an official copy of their passing score with all other required application materials. A photocopy of a high school diploma certificate is not sufficient for our evaluation. Please note that admission to Moody Bible Institute is not guaranteed by meeting the minimum requirements, but also depends on the strength of other qualifications in comparison with other applicants.

Moody requires a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all academic courses. However, meeting this requirement does not guarantee admission to Moody. Preference will be given to candidates with the highest high school academic standings.