SIU is coming to you! Saluki Step Ahead offers a unique opportunity for transfer students to complete their baccalaureate degree completely online in select programs. Find out if SIU is the next step for you today!
SIU understands that, for many reasons, transfer students cannot always relocate to Southern Illinois. To provide the most access to our research level degree programs, Saluki Step Ahead allows students to apply to SIU early, secure a predetermined degree track, and complete a bachelor's degree all at a lower cost. Apply during your first year at community college to secure your spot in Saluki Step Ahead.
If you have any questions about Saluki Step Ahead, please email transfer@siu.edu.
How to Qualify
In order to qualify for Saluki Step Ahead, a student must:
Attend a partner institution
Apply during your first year at community college
Graduate with your AA/AS/AAS degree (2.0+)
Enter into a Saluki Step Ahead partner online program:
Accounting
Business & Administration
Criminology & Criminal Justice
Early Childhood
Elementary Education
Health Care Management
Nursing (RN to BSN)
Psychology
Radiologic Sciences
Benefits
There are many benefits available to transfer students taking part in the Saluki Step Ahead Program, including:
Early admittance into SIU
4-year outlined degree track
Personalized assistance from an Admissions Coordinator
$8,000 scholarship ($4,000/year for two years)
Must maintain good academic standing
How to Apply
Students who wish to apply will need to complete the Application for Undergraduate Admission. To ensure consideration for Saluki Step Ahead, students will need to:
List the Illinois community college you are attending
Choose a Saluki Step Ahead major.
Accounting
Business & Administration
Criminology & Criminal Justice
Early Childhood
Elementary Education
Health Care Management
Nursing (RN to BSN)
Psychology
Radiologic Sciences
Choose the term that he or she intends to transfer to SIU.
Submit the necessary credentials to be admitted to the SIU (see below).
Students with 12 or more transferable semester hours of credit must:
Submit official college transcripts from every college or university attended.
Have at least a 2.0/4.0 cumulative GPA (as calculated by SIU).
Be eligible to continue enrollment at the last institution attended.
Students with less than 12 transferable semester hours of credit must:
Submit official college transcripts from every college or university attended.
Have at least a 2.0/4.0 cumulative GPA (as calculated by SIU).
Be eligible to continue enrollment at the last institution attended.
Must meet freshman admission criteria for SIU.
Submit official high school transcripts for review.
Once you have been conditionally admitted, you will be contacted by the Undergraduate Admissions Office to start the Saluki Step Ahead program!
The Saluki Transfer Estimator Portal (STEP) is a web-based tool that integrates institutional course equivalency and degree audit data to provide an unofficial credit estimation and a more seamless transfer process.