10-05-2025
Kentucky Wesleyan to guarantee admission to eligible Daviess and Hancock students
Kentucky Wesleyan College announced a new admissions policy Friday that guarantees admission to qualifying students from Daviess and Hancock counties.
The policy came from an initiative between Kentucky Wesleyan and school districts in Daviess and Hancock counties. Admission offers have already been made to high school students who qualify for guaranteed admissions who would start college in the fall of 2026.
Matthew Ruark, Kentucky Wesleyan's vice president of enrollment management, said the idea is to get college-bound high school students from the region to consider pursuing their degree at the college.
Ruark said a misconception among regional high school students is, 'to get a great education and the full college experience, they have to go to Bowling Green' or another college away from Daviess County. 'I think oftentimes, when something is in your backyard, you don't realize what an asset it can be.'
A Kentucky Wesleyan press release says the college offers 29 majors, 13 pre-professional programs and says Wesleyan 'is nationally recognized for sending graduates on to top graduate programs and successful careers across the country.'
'They (students) can find opportunities here, and don't have to go out of the county or out of state,' Ruark said.
The participating public school districts will inform Kentucky Wesleyan of students who qualify for guaranteed admission based on their Grade Point Averages, Ruark said. Students from the districts with qualifying G.P.A.s will not have to submit standardized test scores to receive guaranteed admission.
Kentucky Wesleyan is a private, United Methodist College. According to the college's website, for the 2022-23 school year, the freshman class had an average G.P.A. of 3.54. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges.
'In a normal admission policy, you have to apply and submit transcripts and test scores,' Ruark said. High school transcripts would only be sent to the college after a student accepted guaranteed admission, Ruark said.
'Our experience is, for students coming out of our school systems, they are ready,' Ruark said.
Students who receive guaranteed admission for the 2026-27 school year will be invited to campus for a visit. Students who accept their admission will then begin the process of applying for financial aid and scholarships through the school, Ruark said.
'We are trying to make it possible for students to say, 'I want to stay local and try my hand at KWC.' ' Ruark said.
